Study helps to build up accurate picture of post-op complications
HUNDREDS of patients across South Yorkshire have taken part in a week-long research study which will help provide more accurate data on why some patients may have more complications from elective surgery than others.
Although the vast majority of surgical procedures are straightforward and result in a positive outcome with no complications experienced by patients, occasionally complications do arise and research from the study will help to help further minimise the likelihood of this.
A total of 314 patients undergoing elective surgery at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust, The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust took part in the International Surgical Outcomes Study, which aims to recruit 50,000 patients worldwide.
The study involved patients agreeing to let researchers collect routine data about elective surgical procedures, if they had any pre-existing health conditions and whether they were undergoing minor, intermediate or major surgery. It was set up and delivered by the National Institute for Health Research’s Clinical Research Network: Yorkshire and Humber in a 30-day timescale.
Dr Caroline Pickstone, chief operating officer for the National Institute for Health Research’s Clinical Research Network: Yorkshire and Humber, said: “Building up an accurate data of why some patients suffer from post-operative complications after elective surgery is really important in terms of helping the NHS to deliver improved healthcare services.
“Setting up and delivering research studies is a complex and rigorous process, involving many steps, so I’m delighted that such a large number of patients took part in this study in such a short space of time. The majority of patients tell us they want to find out more about getting involved in clinical research, and by undertaking this study in a 30-day timescale we able to show how flexible and responsive research that can have real benefits to patients can be.”
Another key to the study’s success was the establishment of a unique, trailblazing nurse-led team, who worked across hospital sites to ensure patients were given the opportunity to ask questions about the study, what it involved, and explained how the consent process worked.
Sally Anne Pearson, senior clinical research sister for the National Institute for Health Research's Clinical Research Network: Yorkshire and Humber, added: “The majority of patients approached by our nurse-led team agreed to take part in the study, which is a fantastic testament to how successful our trailblazing nurse team initiative was.”
ENDS
Photo: The Clinical Research team at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital’s Theatre Assessment Unit
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