Protocol for a realist evaluation of Recovery College dementia courses: Understanding coproduction through ethnography

Birt, Linda, West, Juniper, Poland, Fiona ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0003-6911, Wong, Geoff, Handley, Melanie, Litherland, Rachael, Hackmann, Corinna, Moniz-Cook, Esme, Wolverson, Emma, Teague, Bonnie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3248-2257, Mills, Ruth, Sams, Kathryn, Duddy, Claire and Fox, Chris ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9480-5704 (2023) Protocol for a realist evaluation of Recovery College dementia courses: Understanding coproduction through ethnography. BMJ Open, 13 (12). ISSN 2044-6055

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Abstract

Introduction: Support following a dementia diagnosis in the UK is variable. Attending a Recovery College course with and for people with dementia, their supporters and healthcare professionals (staff), may enable people to explore and enact ways to live well with dementia. Recovery Colleges are established within mental health services worldwide, offering peer-supported short courses coproduced in partnership between staff and people with lived experience of mental illness. The concept of recovery is challenging in dementia narratives, with little evidence of how the Recovery College model could work as a method of postdiagnostic dementia support.   Methods and analysis: Using a realist evaluation approach, this research will examine and define what works, for whom, in what circumstances and why, in Recovery College dementia courses. The ethnographic study will recruit five case studies from National Health Service Mental Health Trusts across England. Sampling will seek diversity in new or long-standing courses, delivery methods and demographics of population served. Participant observations will examine course coproduction. Interviews will be undertaken with people with dementia, family and friend supporters and staff involved in coproducing and commissioning the courses, as well as people attending. Documentary materials will be reviewed. Analysis will use a realist logic of analysis to develop a programme theory containing causal explanations for outcomes, in the form of context-mechanism-outcome-configurations, at play in each case.   Ethics and dissemination: The study received approval from Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee (22/WM/0215). Ethical concerns include not privileging any voice, consent for embedded observational fieldwork with people who may experience fluctuating mental capacity and balancing researcher 'embedded participant' roles in publicly accessible learning events. Drawing on the realist programme theory, two stakeholder groups, one people living with dementia and one staff will work with researchers to coproduce resources to support coproducing Recovery College dementia courses aligned with postdiagnostic services.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Funding information: This study is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (NIHR Health and Social Care Delivery Research NIHR131676, 2022-2024). This project is affiliated with the Inclusive Involvement in Research for Practice-led Health and Social Care within the NIHR East of England, which has supported Poland and Birt’s time on this study. It develops work undertaken by West in her Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research & Care (CLAHRC) East of England fellowship.
Uncontrolled Keywords: sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Health Sciences
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Institute for Volunteering Research
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Dementia & Complexity in Later Life
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Mental Health
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 13 Mar 2024 12:30
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2024 00:52
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/94667
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-078248

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