INSPIRE study: INvestigating Social and PractIcal suppoRts at the End of life.

• Register: ISRCTN
• Last refreshed on: 26 June 2019
• Main ID: ISRCTN18400594
• Date of registration: 18/02/2015
• Prospective Registration: No
• Primary sponsor: Dr Kathleen McLoughlin
• Public title: INSPIRE study: INvestigating Social and PractIcal suppoRts at the End of life.
• Scientific title: Exploratory delayed intervention randomised controlled trial to investigate the feasibility, acceptability and potential effectiveness of a volunteer-led model of social and practical support with community dwelling adults living with advanced life-limiting illness in Limerick, Ireland.
• Date of first enrolment: 02/02/2015
• Target sample size: 80
• Recruitment status: Completed
• URL: http://isrctn.com/ISRCTN18400594
• Study type: Interventional
• Study design: The evaluation will be guided using the MRC Framework for the Evaluation of Complex Interventions. (Not Specified)
• Phase: Not Applicable

Countries of recruitment

Ireland

Contacts

• Name: Kathleen McLoughlin

Key inclusion & exclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Community dwelling adults (over 18 years) living with a life-limiting illness in Limerick, considered by a member of the primary care / hospice at home team to be in their last year of life and/or their carer are eligible to participate in this study. Those who meet the criteria on the brief screening tool as having unmet social / practical needs are eligible for inclusion in the RCT.
Exclusion criteria: In the event that a person with a life limiting illness is not able to engage in the study, as indicated by the nurse responsible for their care, due to their condition or a cognitive impairment, data will not be collected from them directly, but their carer will instead be given the option to engage and complete measures relevant to them.

Age minimum:
Age maximum:
Gender: Both

Health Condition(s) or Problem(s) studied

Palliative and end of life care.
Not Applicable
Palliative and end of life care

Intervention(s)

The Good Neighbour Partnership (GNP).

The Good Neighbour Partnership can assist the person affected by advanced illness, and their family, to find the extra social and practical support required from within their community by making links with those living close-by who would like help. The Partnership can find additional help for activities such as walking the dog, doing the shopping, collecting a prescription, going to the library, filling a coal bucket, lighting the fire, mowing the lawn, making a snack, tidying up or sitting with a person who needs a break. It does not involve providing personal or physical care, heavy lifting of people/objects and nor does it provide help with medical or financial matters.

At least 15 Compassionate Communities volunteers will be recruited and trained to facilitate the Good Neighbour Partnership over an 8-week intervention period. The role of a Compassionate Community Volunteer with the Good Neighbour Partnership is to make the link between a person / family living with palliative care needs at home, and those in their circle of community who are able to offer support ? to seek out and enlist the ?Good Neighbour? capacity within local communities.

All volunteers will be expected to demonstrate:
? Maturity, common sense and the ability to be discrete and sensitive
? A good understanding of ethical/confidentiality issues
? The ability to confident and out-going, relate well to others and communicate effectively
? A respectful and non-judgmental approach at all times
? A good sense of humour
? Good organisational skills and ability to complete paperwork
? A good sense of personal boundaries and a clear understanding of purpose of the role

Volunteers will be nominated by a community organisation, or by a person of good standing. They will h

Primary Outcome(s)

Effect of the intervention on Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) after eight weeks.

Secondary Outcome(s)

Effect of the intervention on quality of life, social connectedness, psychosocial wellbeing, unscheduled health service utilisation, caregiver burden, adverse impacts, and satisfaction with intervention after eight weeks.

Secondary ID(s)

N/A

Source(s) of Monetary Support

All Ireland Institute of Hospice (Ireland), Palliative Care and Irish Cancer Society Research Fellowship (Ireland)

Ethics review

Status:
Approval date:
Contact:

Mid-West University Hospitals Group Regional Ethics Committee, Limerick Ireland, 22/11/2014.

Results

• Results available: Yes
• Date Completed: 17/10/2016