Study title: The impact of an educational intervention on home support workers’ ability to detect early pressure ulcer damage.
Researcher Name: Mairead Clarke
Telephone number of Researcher: 0868151246
Research Supervisor Name: Prof Zena Moore
You are being invited to take part in a research study to be carried out at the Regional Educational Centre, Ardee. Before you decide whether or not you wish to take part, you should read the information provided below carefully and, if you wish, discuss it with your family or friends. Take time to ask questions – don’t feel rushed and don’t feel under pressure to make a quick decision.
You should clearly understand the risks and benefits of taking part in this study so that you can make a decision that is right for you. This process is known as ‘Informed Consent’. You don’t have to take part in this study. You can change your mind about taking part in the study any time you like. Even if the study has started, you can still opt out. You don't have to give us a reason. If you do opt out, rest assured it won't affect the quality of any educational training on offer in the future.
Why is this study being done?
The research study is taking place to find out if the use of an educational intervention will increase a Home Support Workers ability to assess and detect early pressure ulcer damage in a community care setting.
Who is organising and funding this study?
The research study is being part-funded by the HSE. The study is being completed by Mairead Clarke as an MSc Research project.
Why am I being asked to take part?
The purpose of this study is to find out what impact an educational intervention has on Home Support Workers (HSWs) ability to assess and detect early pressure ulcer damage in a community care setting. You are asked to take part in this study because you are a HSW presently employed by the HSE and working in the community setting.
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How will the study be carried out?
1. The Researcher will approach you at the monthly staff meeting inviting all HSWs to attend training regarding early detection of skin damage.
2. The Researcher will provide you with an information leaflet outlining the nature and purpose of the optional research study that is incorporated into this educational training. 3. The Researcher will invite you, if you are interested in participation to take a consent form and information leaflet home and to deliberate with friends and family if participation in the study is right choice for you.
4. The Researcher will advise you that if a decision has been made by you to participate, that you will be required to complete a consent form and return it to the home support department within 48hrs.in the provided enveloped sealed for the attention of Mairead Clarke.
5. All HSWs will attend a study morning delivered by me whether they consent to partake in study or not. I am a specialist in tissue viability.
6. If you consent to partake you will be assigned a unique identification number on the morning by an independent administration officer in the regional educational centre. This person will be the only person to have details of identification numbers and has no involvement in any other area of this study. This identification number will remain the same throughout the study.
7. I will establish your baseline knowledge and ability to assess and detect early pressure ulcer damage through your ability to correctly assess photographs of pressure ulcers of varying stages of severity.
8. The number of correct responses will be recorded individually per participant.
9. All HSWs regardless of participation in research study will then be provided with education pertaining to pressure ulcer classification using the PuClas 3 online educational tool.
10. The education will be followed by a workshop, tasked with reflecting on the content of PuClas 3 tool, and any questions/queries will be resolved.
11. If you consent to partake in the research study a post-test will then be completed in order to establish any changes in your ability to assess and detect early pressure ulcer damage through your ability to correctly assess photographs of pressure ulcers of varying stages of severity. The number of correct response will be recorded individually per participant. 12. A pocket guide classification tool will be given to all HSWs that attended training, to
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13. If you consent to partake in the study you will be asked to return to the same venue for approximately 30 minutes to will complete a second post-test (2 weeks post intervention) to establish sustainability of any knowledge gained on the assessment and detection of early pressure ulcer damage. This will be assessed through your ability to correctly assess photographs of pressure ulcers of varying stages of severity. The number of correct response will be recorded individually per participant
What will happen to me if I agree to take part?
1. The researcher will invite you to take an information leaflet and consent form home and to deliberate with friends and family if participation in the study is right choice for you. 2. The researcher will advise you that if you decide to participate you will be required to complete a consent form and return it to the home support department within 48hrs a sealed envelope provided for the attention of Mairead Clarke.
3. Administration Officer in the regional education centre on the day of the training will then assign you with a unique identification number and ask you to retain this identification number throughout the study.
4. You will be asked to attend a study morning in the Regional educational centre in Ardee delivered by me, a specialist in tissue viability
5. I will ask you to complete a short questionnaire regarding your duration of service, length of time as a Home Support Worker and past education history.
6. I will then ask you to assess photographs of pressure ulcers of varying stages of severity. 7. I will record the number of correct responses individually per participant.
8. You will then be provided with education pertaining to pressure ulcer classification using the PuClas 3 online educational tool.
9. The education will be followed by a workshop, tasked with reflecting on the content of PuClas 3 tool, and any questions/queries will be resolved
10. I will ask you to return to the same location for a duration of approximately 30 minutes (2 weeks post education) to assess photographs of pressure ulcers of varying stages of severity.
What happens if I don’t wish to participate?
If you don’t take part in this study there will be no judgment made regarding your choice, training will be offered to all HSWs and future study days will be offered as previous in a fair manner. There will be no change regarding any current employment arrangements with the HSE.
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What are the benefits?
The results of the research will be used to provide the HSE advice on future educational services that will be valuable to HSWs growing role in the community to assess and detect early pressure ulcer damage.
What are the risks?
Minor inconvenience could be experienced by you due to the need to travel to attend the study morning and follow up session. There are no physical risks associated with completing questionnaires, or completing online educational tool.
What if something goes wrong when I’m taking part in this study?
If you decide to take part in the study you may choose to withdraw at any time throughout the study. If there are any questions you do not wish to answer you do not have to do so.
Will it cost me anything to take part?
If you decide to take part in the study assurance has been given that there will be no loss of earnings.
Is the study confidential?
All information provided by you will be treated with strict confidentiality. The data collected will follow strict rules about how we look after it and who can use it. Every effort will be made to keep your identity safe. Each HSW taking part will have a number ID, the researcher will not be able to link any answers with individual’s names and all results will be collective not individual.
The data collected will be stored in a locked filling cabinet in the researcher’s office, which is accessed only by the researcher, and the data software will be stored on an encrypted laptop, also accessible to the researcher only. This too will be stored in a locked cabinet in the researcher’s office. Under the RSI processes, the data will be retained on a secure RCSI server for a period of 5 years. Data will be retained for period of 5 years to ascertain access to information should future publications be indicated. Following this time the data will be destroyed.
The final results will be submitted in the form of a thesis to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), as part of the work required for MSc by Research. A copy of the thesis will be given to the library of the RCSI. The findings of the study will be sent for publication in a professional journal and/ or presented
at conferences, any results published will never link identify of any particular person or location of which you work in.
Where can I get further information?
If you have any further questions about the study or if you want to opt out of the study, you can rest assured it won't affect the quality of treatment you get in the future.
If you need any further information now or at any time in the future, please contact during the hours of 09.00am-5.00pm, Monday-Friday:
Supervisor:
Prof Zena Moore
Address:
School of Nursing & Midwifery RCSI Dublin 2 Phone No: 014022569 E-Mail: [email protected] Name: Mairead Clarke Address:
Redemeer Resource Centre Coxs Demense, Dundalk Co Louth
Phone No: 0868151246
E-Mail [email protected]:
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