The Clear Conversations Project

Summary

Understanding health information can be difficult. This means some people struggle to know how to manage their health. Also, people may not know what health services to use or when to use them. This can lead to poorer health.

It is therefore important health workers can communicate information clearly. This is so people using health services can understand it and know what to do. Having clear conversations with service users could help them to improve their health. More research is needed into this area. This is so we can understand and improve health conversations.

In this research project health workers will be provided with training. The training will teach them ways to improve their communication skills. Health workers will also receive support from a Health Literacy Officer. The Investigators want to see if this can improve service user outcomes and reduce health inequalities.

The investigators will ask health workers and service users from a Local Authority and an NHS service to take part. Service users will attend the health programmes as normal. Staff who have and have not received the training will deliver the programmes.

The investigators will ask service users to complete questionnaires. The investigators will also collect service user data from the programmes. This data will be collected before and after they attend. The investigators will compare this data with the previous year.

The investigators will observe health workers delivering the programmes. The investigators will use a check list to see how they use the skills they have learnt. The investigators will ask health workers to complete a questionnaire before and after they attend the training. The investigators will run focus groups with the health workers six months later. The investigators want to understand if the training was useful. The investigators also want to know if the health workers are using the skills they learnt in their practice.

Conditions

• COPD
• Weight Loss

Interventions

OTHER

Verbal Health Literacy training session

Five respiratory physiotherapists and half (6/12) weight management programme advisors, will receive a two hour Verbal Health Literacy training session. The training session will focus on three techniques: simple language, 'Teachback' and 'Chunk and check'. They will also receive implementation support from a Health Literacy Officer. All pulmonary rehab patients will attend programmes run by physiotherapists trained in Verbal Health Literacy techniques. Weight management programme service users will attend programmes run by trained and untrained staff.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Debyshire County Council

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• University of Sheffield

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Cheryl Grindell, PhD · University of Sheffield

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

90 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-07-01

Primary Completion

2025-03-31

Completion

2025-06-30

Countries

• United Kingdom

Study Locations