End 2016 - Where are we now?
December 2016
The project started in October 2015; it has been a busy year and we are pleased to say that we are on track and data collection is progressing well – you can find more detailed information on this in the updates for the different strands of the study (see below).
In the second year of the CATCh-uS study we will mainly focus on the analysis of the data collected for all three streams of the study. The analysis of the qualitative data (interviews with clinicians, young people and parents) will inform the second phase of recruitment: have we reached data saturation or do we need to explore themes further and thus interview more young people (and which ones)? The surveillance period has closed and follow-up period will run until mid 2017. The mapping study has received huge response: we aim to use the information received to create maps, charts and infographics to inform service users and policy makers.
In addition, the team are conducting two systematic reviews. One focuses on experiences of patients with ADHD of the transition from children's to adult services. The second review tries to collect information around transition protocols and guidelines; translation into practice; and their impact on service provision.
Surveillance study year-end update:
The surveillance study period of one year came to an end on 30th November 2016, and we are really pleased with the numbers. For BPSU – 311 notifications, with 207 returned questionnaires. For CAPSS – 256 notifications with 110 returned. Please continue to return questionnaires even if you think they are not eligible! This allows us to close the case and complete our data.
Certificates to demonstrate time committed to the study are now being sent for the surveillance period November 2015-November 2016. These will be sent via email to all clinicians who returned questionnaires during this time. Additional certificates will be issued at the end of the follow up period in August 2017 to account for the follow up questionnaires completed (and any late first round returns!).
Follow up questionnaires will now be sent at the beginning of each month (nine months after notification) to establish what has happened with each case. These are much shorter and require less information than the notification questionnaires.
Please contact Helen if you have any questions about the surveillance study.
Qualitative study year-end update:
Helen and Anna are delighted to have had the opportunity to carry out 89 interviews in total this year from all our different groups of participants, including young people of various ages, parents/carers and clinicians. We are very grateful to those who have given up their time to participate in this project.
We also want to give a big 'Thank you' to our research partners for working so hard in the background to make this possible. These include: Berkshire Healthcare Foundation NHS Trust, Coventry & Warwickshire Partnership Trust, Devon Partnership NHS Trust, Virgin Care Devon, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust.
Our team are now busy analysing information from the complete interviews. Information from our analysis will inform our next interviewing period, which is due to start in April 2017.
Mapping study year-end update:
We wanted to end the year with a huge 'Thank you' to all our partners for their ongoing support, including: ADHD foundation, UK Adult ADHD Network, AADD-UK; Royal College of Psychiatrists, British Association for Community Child Health (BACCH), Royal College of General Practitioners, Clinical Research Network South West Peninsula; NHS England and Clinical Commissioning Groups across England. Also the CATCh-uS parent advisory group and many colleagues, who have shared survey links with their networks, promoted CATCh-uS at ADHD training days and tweeted and re-tweeted about the study.
Thank you also to all the busy and committed individuals who have taken the time to complete the online survey. The results are incredible, with more than 1000 responses in total, all helping us to map local availability (or otherwise) of ADHD services for those with ADHD who are aged 18 and above. Response numbers by group (to 5th Dec 2016) are as follows:
- Young people with ADHD, their parents/carers (service users) – 359
- Clinicians who work with young people with ADHD – Psychiatrists 383, GPs 55, Paediatricians 27 and Allied Health Professionals 105
- Clinical Commissioning Groups – 154, over 70% of the 209 Clinical Commissioning Groups in England
All surveys will close on 31st December, so please share with any colleagues or friends who have not yet completed it.
We are looking forward to 2017 and hope you keep following our project updates, here or on twitter #catchusADHD.
We wish you all a festive end of year and a healthy and happy New Year!
The CATCh-uS Team