Understanding Frequent Use of the Emergency Department - Nominal Group Technique (NGT)

Summary

This study is a 2-hour online group workshop where patients, caregivers, and health care workers discuss why some people visit the emergency department many times over the course of a year and what might help.

Frequent emergency department use is common across Canada and can be hard on patients, health care workers, and the system as a whole. Past efforts to address this have had limited success, in part because people who visit the emergency department often are a very diverse group. No single approach works for everyone.

Using health data, we have already identified distinct groups of frequent visitors. Now, we want to bring together 20 to 25 people, including patients, caregivers, front-line health workers, and researchers, to discuss why each group keeps returning and to help prioritize which groups should be studied further. Their input will guide future research aimed at developing better, more tailored support for people who rely heavily on the emergency department.

Eligibility

Currently recruiting participants: Yes

Eligible ages: 18 to 100

Accepts healthy participants: Yes

Inclusion criteria:

Who Can Participate
We are looking for 20 to 25 people from across Alberta who fall into one of the following groups:

1. Patients or caregivers who have experience with frequent emergency department use and are interested in sharing their perspective.

2. Front-line health care workers in the Emergency Department or EMS who regularly work with people who visit the emergency department often, such as doctors, nurses, paramedics, or social workers.

3.Researchers who work in areas related to emergency care or health services.

4. Health care decision-makers who are involved in planning or managing health services.

Exclusion criteria:

You are not eligible for this study if you:
1.Are under 18 years of age.

2. Live outside of Alberta.

3.Are not able to communicate in English.

4.Have no personal or professional experience as a patient, caregiver or professional with frequent emergency department use (meaning multiple visits to the emergency department within one year).

Participate

Fill out the following form if you want to participate in this research

Method of contact

Additional information

Contact information

If you are interested in participating in our research, please contact Jill Vandenbrand

Principal investigator:

Jessalyn Holodinsky

Clinical trial:

No

REB-ID:

REB26-0708