Researchers from the School of Nursing and Midwifery have completed research on an Anticipatory Care Planning (ACP) study as part of the Cross-border Healthcare Intervention Trials In Ireland Network (CHITIN) EU INTERREGVA programme of activity.

As the percentage of older people increases across Ireland, the complexity of care to support those who choose to remain in the community has also increased demanding the development of a responsive health social care system.

Led by Professor Kevin Brazil from Queen’s University Belfast in collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland (RCSI) and NUI Galway, this cross-border research aimed to support older people residing in the community who were at risk of functional decline. The project involved eight General Practitioner (GP) practices – four in Northern Ireland and four from counties Monaghan and Louth in the Republic of Ireland–for this health intervention research.

The ACP intervention was is designed to anticipate future functional decline through early identification of at-risk older adults. A personalized care approach was realized through discussions between the patient and health professionals to clarify patient choice and preferences creating an action plan based on this joint understanding

Overall, acceptability of the ACP intervention was high among patients and GP practices. Summing up the ACP study findings, Professor Kevin Brazil said:

“Our project examined a primary care intervention to assist older adults at risk of functional decline. We found that patients were unanimous in the acceptance of the intervention. Health care providers viewed the intervention as feasible to implement in routine practice.

Key health professionals suggested that the intervention should involve an integrated service approach, GP buy-in, patient health education, and nurse training. Our findings have implications for future research and service development.”

ACP Published Papers include:

1. Brazil, K., Scott, D., Wallace, E. et al. Anticipatory care planning intervention for older adults at risk of functional decline: study protocol for a primary care cluster feasibility randomised trial. Trials 21, 168 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-020-4100-2

2. Corry DAS, Doherty J, Carter G, Doyle F, Fahey T, et al. (2021). Acceptability of a nurse-led, person-centred, anticipatory care planning intervention for older people at risk of functional decline: A qualitative study. PLOS ONE 16(5): e0251978. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251978

3. Corry DAS, Carter G, Doyle F et al. Successful implementation of a trans-jurisdictional, primary care, anticipatory care planning intervention for older adults at risk of functional decline: interviews with key health professionals. BMC Health Serv Res 2021;21, 871. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06896-1

4. Corry, D.A.S., Carter, G., Doyle, F. et al. Lessons from a feasibility study testing an anticipatory care planning intervention for older adults at risk of functional decline: feedback from implementing stakeholders. Pilot Feasibility Stud 8, 10 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-022-00973-w

5. Brazil, K., Cardwell, C., Carter, G., Clarke, M., Corry, DA, Fahey, T., Gillespie, P., Hobbins, A., McGlade, K., O’Halloran, P., O’Neill, N., Wallace, E., Doyle, F. (under review). Anticipatory care planning for community-dwelling older adults at risk of functional decline: A feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial. BMC Geriatrics.

CHITIN is a unique cross-border partnership between the Health and Social Care Research & Development Division, Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Health Research Board in Republic of Ireland (ROI). CHITIN has received €10.6 million funding from the European Union’s INTERREG VA Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) with match funding from the Departments of Health in NI and ROI.