Newcastle University

Work package 2: Understanding current practice 

We will quantify the numbers of PWD with a fall-related injury presenting to primary care, paramedics and the emergency department (ED). Usual care will be captured through prospective diaries.

We will interview selected PWD, carers and health and social care staff providing or commissioning their care to identify care needs; explore the opportunities for and the barriers to improvement in their care; and identify and prioritise the outcomes. We will also observe existing falls interventions (e.g. exercise classes; falls clinics).

Objectives of Work Package 2

• to quantify PWD presenting to health services with a fall related injury in 3 UK sites
• to understand current care pathways (“usual care”) experienced and the services used, by a subgroup of PWD identified in WP 2 through the use of participant completed diaries
• to identify the care needs and prioritise the outcomes which are important to participants and their carers in a further sub-group

Design

prospective observational study over 6 months with qualitative study

Settings

3 UK sites (Newcastle, Stockton, Norwich) each including 3 settings: primary care consultations, paramedic attendances and ED attendances.

Health technology assessed

Procedure for ascertaining person has a diagnosis of dementia, estimation of number of PWD presenting in each setting, identification of services they are directed to after the fall. In each site a subgroup of 20 PWD and their carers will keep a diary of service usage for 3 months, to describe the type and quantity of care accessed and care pathways followed by such individuals. Qualitative interviews to explore their perceptions of what their care needs were, whether they were met, what might have been improved and what outcomes were important to them. Qualitative interviews of care professionals they encounter, to identify their perceptions of the health and social care needs of PWD, ideas for service improvement, barriers and facilitators to change.