Chief investigator: Dr Leire Ambrosio, Lecturer, School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton.

Team:

Professor Mari Carmen Portillo, School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton

Dr Lindsey Cherry, School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton

Dr Kinda lbrahim, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine. University of Southampton

Dr Michelle Myall, Principle Researcher, School of Health Sciences, University of Southampton

Ms Rashmi Kumar, PPI representative

Partners: Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Foundation Trust, University of Southampton, Diabetes UK, SO:Linked (Southampton Voluntary Services).

Start: 1 October 2024

End: 31 March 2026

Why is this research important? In the England over 15 million people are living with at least one long-term conditions (LTC). People from under-served groups, are at greater risk of having one or more than one LTCs. This not only affects a person’s physical health, but other aspects of their lives, such as emotional, cultural, and socio-economic wellbeing. It is key for healthcare professionals, to understand and assess how a person is living with an LTC to provide person-centred care. We recently developed the Living with Long Term Conditions (LwLTCs) scale for English-speaking populations. This is a person-centred questionnaire to evaluate how well a person lives with a long-term condition, to inform care for people based on their individual needs.

What is our aim? To better understand the barriers, enablers as well as contextual factors to successfully use the LwLTCs scale within primary care for underserved groups living with LTCs and liaise with healthcare professionals to support and deliver the future implementation study.

What do we plan to do? We will explore potential barriers and enablers to using of the LwLTCs scale in routine primary care. We will interview (n=20) people with LTCs from under-served groups and (n=15) healthcare professionals including General Practitioners (GPs), Specialist Nurses, or Podiatrists who support LTCs patients, across Hampshire. We will also identify and engage with key healthcare professionals to guarantee their support through the later implementation process. All this will help us on developing an implementation strategy to test how feasible it is to use the scale in primary care.

How have we involved patients and the public? This study has been developed with public and patient involvement (PPI). Our PPI co-applicant is from a Mixed Asian background from Africa with a family history of type 2 diabetes and living in an area of high socio-economic and health care diversity where high numbers of the population have diverse LTCs. He has been living with an LTC, particularly type 2 diabetes for 20 years. He will chair the PPI group (n=4), help to develop patient information, review data collection materials, and validate and disseminate findings. The PPI group will also assist with reaching out to communities engaged less frequently in research. Three meetings will be scheduled with the PPI group.

How will we share our findings? We will publish in academic journals, with public contributor involvement and co-authorship. A lay summary of findings will be provided to participants who wish to receive them. Findings will be shared with clinical teams at primary care practices and healthcare decision makers.

How long will it take?18-months, starting the 1st of October 2024.

How will we share our findings? We will publish in academic journals, with public contributor involvement and co-authorship. A lay summary of findings will be provided to participants who wish to receive them. Findings will be shared with clinical teams at primary care practices and healthcare decision makers.