Reducing barriers and improving access to support for young carers (REBIAS-YC)

ISRCTN ISRCTN13478876
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13478876
Secondary identifying numbers NIHR129645
Submission date
11/12/2020
Registration date
15/12/2020
Last edited
27/09/2024
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Other
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
The study aims to improve support and quality of life for the many children and young people in England who provide support to family members or friends who are disabled, have mental or physical ill health, or misuse drugs or alcohol. These are sometimes called young or young adult carers. In our study, we will focus on the experiences of children and young people aged 9-25. Research shows that some young carers and the people they care for do not receive all the services and support that they need. Some young carers may face additional difficulties. Research is needed to understand why this is the case and ensure support is given to those most in need of it. We want this study to help answer two main questions. Firstly, what are the difficulties faced by young carers and the people they support in seeking, accessing, and receiving the right type of support at the right times? Secondly, what services and support do they find helpful, what support would they like, and what needs would it meet?

Who can participate?
Children and young people aged between 9 and 25 providing unpaid care in England and the people they support

What does the study involve?
Focus groups and in-depth interviews.

What are the possible risk and benefits of participating?
The possible risks are the time taken to read the Information Sheet and take part in a focus group or interview and that the questions we ask about what services and support people get or do not get, may feel uncomfortable or upsetting to some people. Such questions will be kept to a minimum and participant do not need to answer any questions they do not wish to and can withdraw from the interview or focus group at any time without giving a reason. Support measures are in place for people taking part, as needed. The possible benefits to taking part are both direct and indirect. There may be benefits to sharing experiences and hearing about other people’s experiences in a supportive environment. There may also be a benefit from contributing to research that may lead to improved support for young carers and the people they support. That support may help young carers in the longer term.

Where is the study run from?
Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2021 to December 2022

Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Nicola Brimblecombe
n.s.brimblecombe@lse.ac.uk

Contact information

Ms Nicola Brimblecombe
Scientific

London School of Economics and Political Science
Houghton Street
London
WC2A 2AE
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-6147-5726
Phone +44 (0)207 955 6376
Email n.s.brimblecombe@lse.ac.uk

Study information

Study designIn-depth qualitative study utilising focus groups and in-depth semi-structured interviews
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designQualitative study
Study setting(s)Community
Study typeOther
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participant information sheet.
Scientific titleWhat are the barriers to young carers accessing carer support services and/or services for the recipient of care, and what interventions and support services are acceptable to these groups and the persons they look after?
Study acronymREBIAS-YC
Study objectivesThe aims and objectives are to explore the following questions:
1. What components, features and/or types of interventions, services and other support are, or would be, acceptable to young carers and the people they support?
2. What additional support is perceived as needed?
3. What are the barriers experienced by young carers in seeking and accessing services for themselves or the person they support?
4. What are the barriers and facilitators for practitioners in providing support and services perceived as acceptable by young carers and the people they support?
5. What are the estimated costs of providing support and services perceived as acceptable? How do these compare to the estimated economic implications of not meeting those needs?
Ethics approval(s)Approved 11/05/2021, LSE Ethics Committee (London School of Economics and Political Science, Houghton Street, London, WC2A 2AE, UK; no telephone number available; l.grove@lse.ac.uk), ref: 1247
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedChildren and young people aged between 9 and 25 providing unpaid care and the people they support
InterventionCurrent intervention as of 28/01/2022:
This is an in-depth qualitative study that aims to ask questions about services and support received and needed, and barriers to accessing and receiving support.

A total of 6-8 focus groups will be held in each of four localities in England, with approximately 8 participants per group. Focus groups will be co-facilitated by project workers in the local areas and will aim to discuss participants’ experiences with services, features of services and support needed, and barriers to seeking support. One-to-one in-depth semi-structured interviews (approx. 18 in total) will be conducted where participants prefer this alternative. Data will be collected at one point in time with no follow up.


Previous intervention:
This is an in-depth qualitative study that aims to ask questions about services and support received and needed, and barriers to accessing and receiving support.

A total of 6-8 focus groups will be held in each of three localities in England, with approximately 8 participants per group. Focus groups will be co-facilitated by project workers in the local areas and will aim to discuss participants’ experiences with services, features of services and support needed, and barriers to seeking support. One-to-one in-depth semi-structured interviews (approx. 18 in total) will be conducted where participants prefer this alternative. Data will be collected at one point in time with no follow up.

'Workshops' refer to practitioner workshops to explore the applicability of the findings to practice. Mention of workshops should be deleted from the current trial registration. I apologise for this error.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureDifficulties in seeking, accessing, and receiving support measured using focus groups and one-to-one interviews at one point in time analysed using inducive thematic analysis
Secondary outcome measuresThere are no secondary outcome measures
Overall study start date01/03/2019
Completion date31/12/2022

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Mixed
Age groupMixed
SexBoth
Target number of participantsUp to 144
Total final enrolment133
Key inclusion criteriaCurrent participant inclusion criteria as of 28/01/2022:
Children and young people aged between 9 and 25 providing unpaid care and the people they support in four specific pre-defined (confidential) localities in England

Previous participant inclusion criteria:
Children and young people aged between 9 and 25 providing unpaid care and the people they support in three specific pre-defined (confidential) localities in England
Key exclusion criteriaCurrent participant exclusion criteria as of 28/01/2022:
1. Carers aged 26+ and the people they support
2. Children and young people aged between 9 and 25 providing unpaid care not living in one of the four specific pre-defined (confidential) localities in England


Previous participant exclusion criteria:
1. Carers aged 26+ and the people they support
2. Children and young people aged between 9 and 25 providing unpaid care not living in one of the three specific pre-defined (confidential) localities in England
Date of first enrolment01/05/2021
Date of final enrolment01/05/2022

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

London School of Economics and Political Science
Houghton Street
London
WC2A 2AE
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

London School of Economics and Political Science
University/education

Houghton Street
London
WC2A 2AE
England
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)20 7405 7686
Email research.ethics@lse.ac.uk
Website http://www.lse.ac.uk/home.aspx
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/0090zs177

Funders

Funder type

Government

National Institute for Health Research
Government organisation / National government
Alternative name(s)
National Institute for Health Research, NIHR Research, NIHRresearch, NIHR - National Institute for Health Research, NIHR (The National Institute for Health and Care Research), NIHR
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/09/2023
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot expected to be made available
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication of papers in peer-reviewed academic journals; articles in practitioner journals; presentations at academic and practitioner conferences; findings workshop; policy/briefing papers.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are not expected to be made available as data generated are not suitable for sharing beyond that contained within the project outputs because of privacy, safety and data protection

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article 01/09/2024 27/09/2024 Yes No

Editorial Notes

27/09/2024: Publication reference and total final enrolment added.
28/01/2022: The following changes have been made:
1. The ethics approval has been added.
2. The study design has been changed from "In-depth qualitative study utilising focus groups, workshops and in-depth semi-structured interviews" to "In-depth qualitative study utilising focus groups and in-depth semi-structured interviews".
3. The overall trial end date has been changed from 31/03/2022 to 31/12/2022.
4. The intervention has been updated.
5. The participant inclusion criteria have been updated.
6. The participant exclusion criteria have been updated.
7. The recruitment end date has been changed from 01/01/2022 to 01/05/2022.
8. The plain English summary has been updated to reflect the changes above.
21/01/2022: The overall trial end date has been changed from 31/12/2022 to 31/03/2022 and the plain English summary has been updated accordingly.
04/01/2021: The recruitment end date has been changed from 01/01/2021 to 01/05/2021.
15/12/2020: Trial’s existence confirmed by National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).