Understanding how post-ICU follow-up is delivered within the role of critical care outreach teams
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN14138257 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN14138257 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) | 353261 |
| Protocol serial number | 69232 |
| Sponsor | University of Oxford |
| Funder | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
- Submission date
- 09/10/2025
- Registration date
- 14/10/2025
- Last edited
- 14/10/2025
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Most patients that are discharged from an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) expect to recover well enough to be discharged home. Sadly 1 in 12 of these patient die unexpectedly on the wards. For those who are well enough to be discharged home unfortunately nearly a third are readmitted as an emergency within 3 month of hospital discharge. This all happens despite established ICU follow up/ recovery services in up to three quarters of ICUs in the UK. There are currently no standardised pathways that exist for this particular patient group. This study is the first step in the Enhanced Recovery after Critical Care (ERACC) programme. The programme aims to create a new care pathway to better support patients after they leave intensive care. To do this, we first need to understand how critical care outreach teams currently support patients in the UK. This knowledge is essential to help shape the design of this new pathway
Who can participate?
This qualitative study will include observations of staff as well as interviews with staff, patients who have been in ICU and their families (When referring to family members within this protocol this encompasses, spouses, children, siblings, close friends etc)
What does the study involve?
The study involves participants undertaking one interview exploring their perception of how ICU follow up care is delivered currently. Staff members will be observed completing their role in caring for post-ICU patients.
What are the potential benefits and risks of participating?
Benefits to participating include helping to inform and determine how future post-ICU care looks with current NHS provision.
There are no known risks to this study, but interviews have the potential to cover some distressing topics, the researchers will be experienced in conducting interviews with this patient group and will offer support and signpost participants for further support if required.
Where is the study run?
University of Oxford (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
July 2025 to June 2026
Who is funding the study?
National Institute of Health and Care Research (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Sarah Vollam, eracc@ndcn.ox.ac.uk
Contact information
Public, Scientific, Principal investigator
Kadoorie Centre
John Radcliffe Hospital
Oxford
OX3 9DU
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0003-2835-6271 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 (0)1865 231456 |
| eracc@ndcn.ox.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Observational |
|---|---|
| Study design | Multicenter qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and ethnographic observations |
| Secondary study design | Qualitative study |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Enhanced Recovery After Critical Care (ERACC): Qualitative study |
| Study acronym | ERACC: qualitative study |
| Study objectives | 1. To understand how post-ICU follow-up care is delivered within the wider remit of Critical Care Outreach team (CCOT) workloads 2. To understand different models of post-ICU care delivery 3. To understand what proportion of CCOT time is spent on ICU follow-up care and how this is prioritised (e.g. internal/external drivers) 4. To understand the competing demands on CCOT time 5. To understand the experience of CCOT staff of providing ICU follow-up care within their role 6. To understand the wider staff perception of current ICU follow-up care provision and perception of what follow-up care should look like 7. To understand patient and family member perceptions of ICU follow-up care provision |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 11/07/2025, London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee (Research Ethics Committee (REC) London Centre, 2 Redman Place, Stratford, London, E20 1JQ, United Kingdom; +44 (0)207 104 8141; chelsea.rec@hra.nhs.uk), ref: 25/PR/0773 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Post-intensive care unit in-hospital ward stay |
| Intervention | Semi-structured interviews: Critical Care Outreach team (CCOT) members, multidisciplinary staff working within these teams, patients discharged from ICU and their family members will take part in one semi-structured interview, exploring their perception of how follow-up care is delivered within the workload of CCOT. Ethnographic observations: Members of staff within the CCOT and follow-up teams will be observed within their role collecting data on the tasks they perform, people they interact with, and proportion of time spent on each activity they undertake. Direct patient care will not be observed. |
| Intervention type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
The delivery of post-ICU follow-up care within the wider remit of CCOT workloads will be explored using ethnographic observations of CCOT activity within the acute ward environment. |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Models of post-ICU care delivery, CCOT time allocation and prioritisation and demands on CCOT will be explored using ethnographic observations of CCOT activity within the acute ward environment. |
| Completion date | 30/06/2026 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient, Health professional, Other |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 30 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Semi-structured interviews: 1. Patient/family member/staff member aged 18 years or over 2. Is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study 3. Is a patient discharged from ICU to the ward, or a family member of a patient discharged from ICU to the ward, or a staff member who supports patients discharged from ICU to the ward 4. Is willing and able to participate in an interview about their experiences Ethnographic observations: 1. A member of the CCOT at participating sites 2. Is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study 3. Is willing and able to be observed during their clinical practice |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Not consenting to participate 2. Patient not wishing for family member to take part |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/10/2025 |
| Date of final enrolment | 30/06/2026 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centres
London Road
Reading
RG1 5AN
United Kingdom
Pensnett Road
Dudley
DY1 2HQ
United Kingdom
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Site
King's Lynn
PE30 4ET
United Kingdom
Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom
Beckett Street
Leeds
LS9 7TF
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Not expected to be made available |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are not expected to be made available due to the fact REC approval has not been sought as the data generated will be specific to the research question |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Protocol file | version 1.0 | 03/06/2025 | 14/10/2025 | No | No |
| Study website | Study website | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Additional files
- 48154 ERACC_WP1_Protocol_Qualitative_V1.0_03Jun2025.pdf
- Protocol file
Editorial Notes
10/10/2025: Study's existence confirmed by the London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee.
