High Intensity Use of Urgent and Emergency CareNCT07630012
High Intensity Use of Urgent and Emergency Care: A Mixed-Methods Study
An observational study of High Intensity Use of Urgent and Emergency Care and Emergency Medicine, run by Bournemouth University.
Trial summary
This study aims to understand the health and social care needs and experiences of adults who frequently use urgent and emergency care services in Dorset. Using a mixed-methods design, the study combines analysis of non-patient-identifiable business intelligence data with qualitative interviews and co-production… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- High Intensity Use of Urgent and Emergency Care, Emergency Medicine, Health Inequalities
- How many people
- 80 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2026to 1 Apr 2029
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Adults who frequently use urgent and emergency care services at University Hospitals Dorset, their carers and health and social care professionals involved in urgent and emergency care pathways in Dorset.
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged 18 or over who have been identified as experiencing high intensity use of urgent and emergency care services at University Hospitals Dorset, defined as five or more unplanned contacts within a 12-month period Adults aged 18 or over who provide unpaid care or support to someone who experiences high intensity use of urgent and emergency care services Health and social care professionals aged 18 or over involved in urgent and emergency care pathways at University Hospitals Dorset, Dorset HealthCare, Dorset Council or voluntary sector partner organisations Able to provide informed consent Willing to take part in an audio-recorded interview-
Who cannot join
- Under 18 years of age Unable to provide informed consent Currently experiencing an acute mental health crisis requiring immediate clinical intervention Known history of violence or aggression towards health and social care professionals Currently receiving inpatient treatment at the time of recruitment No direct involvement in urgent and emergency care pathways at the participating organisations (professionals only)
About this study
Official title: High Intensity Use of Urgent and Emergency Care: a Mixed-methods Study Exploring Needs, Experiences and Priorities to Co-produce a Preventative Intervention Model
This study aims to understand the health and social care needs and experiences of adults who frequently use urgent and emergency care services in Dorset. Using a mixed-methods design, the study combines analysis of non-patient-identifiable business intelligence data with qualitative interviews and co-production activities. The business intelligence data contextualises patterns of high intensity service use and informs participant identification. Qualitative interviews will explore the personal, social and system-level factors that contribute to frequent attendance. Co-production activities with an advisory group, supported by The Lantern Trust in Weymouth, will use these findings to develop a preventative intervention model grounded in lived experience. The study will recruit up to 50 patients, up to 10 carers and up to 20 health and social care professionals. The findings will contribute to the development of more effective, person-centred approaches to supporting people who frequently use urgent and emergency care services and will inform national and local policy in this area.
- Conditions
- High Intensity Use of Urgent and Emergency Care, Emergency Medicine, Health Inequalities, Mental Health, Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
- Keywords
- High intensity use, Frequent attenders, Urgent and emergency care, Mixed methods, Co-production, Qualitative research, Health and social care needs, Preventative intervention
- Medical subject headings
- Psychological Well-Being, Alcoholism
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Patients | Adults aged 18 or over who experience high intensity use of urgent and emergency care services at University Hospitals Dorset, defined as five or more unplanned contacts within a 12-month period. | |
| Carers | Adults aged 18 or over who provide unpaid care or support to someone who experiences high intensity use of urgent and emergency care services. | |
| Health and Social Care Professionals | Description: Health and social care professionals involved in urgent and emergency care pathways at University Hospitals Dorset, Dorset HealthCare, Dorset Council or voluntary sector partner organisations. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Health and social care needs and experiences of adults who frequently use urgent and emergency care services in Dorset
Assessed through qualitative interviews and analysis of non-patient-identifiable UHD business intelligence data, including identification of personal, social and system-level factors contributing to high intensity use and co-produced recommendations for a preventative intervention model.
Measured: 24 months
Secondary outcomes (3)
Patterns of high intensity use of urgent and emergency care within the UHD population
Descriptive analysis of non-patient-identifiable UHD business intelligence data including frequency of attendance, directorate and specialty contact and temporal patterns of service use.
Measured: 24 months
Co-produced recommendations for a preventative intervention model
Recommendations developed through co-production workshops with the Advisory Group, supported by The Lantern Trust, drawing on qualitative findings and participant priorities.
Measured: 24 months
Evidence to inform future service development for people who experience high intensity use of urgent and emergency care
Synthesis of qualitative and business intelligence data findings to identify opportunities for earlier, more coordinated and person-centred support for people who frequently use urgent and emergency care services.
Measured: 24 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Jun 2026
- Study start1 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Sep 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Apr 2029 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for High Intensity Use of Urgent and Emergency CareStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Bournemouth University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07630012
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- BU-HIU-2025-GW
- Other IDs
- IRAS Number 356859
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 1 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 5 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- High Intensity Use of Urgent and Emergency Care: a Mixed-methods Study Exploring Needs, Experiences and Priorities to Co-produce a Preventative Intervention Model
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07630012
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- BU-HIU-2025-GW
- Conditions
- High Intensity Use of Urgent and Emergency Care, Emergency Medicine, Health Inequalities, Mental Health, Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
- Keywords
- High intensity use, Frequent attenders, Urgent and emergency care, Mixed methods, Co-production, Qualitative research, Health and social care needs, Preventative intervention
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 80 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Bournemouth UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Sep 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Apr 2029 (estimated)
- First posted
- 5 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to understand the health and social care needs and experiences of adults who frequently use urgent and emergency care services in Dorset. Using a mixed-methods design, the study combines analysis of non-patient-identifiable business intelligence data with qualitative interviews and co-production activities. The business intelligence data contextualises patterns of high intensity service use and informs participant identification. Qualitative interviews will explore the personal, social and system-level factors that contribute to frequent attendance. Co-production activities with an advisory group, supported by The Lantern Trust in Weymouth, will use these findings to develop a preventative intervention model grounded in lived experience. The study will recruit up to 50 patients, up to 10 carers and up to 20 health and social care professionals. The findings will contribute to the development of more effective, person-centred approaches to supporting people who frequently use urgent and emergency care services and will inform national and local policy in this area.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Patients | – | –Adults aged 18 or over who experience high intensity use of urgent and emergency care services at University Hospitals Dorset, defined as five or more unplanned contacts within a 12-month period. |
| Carers | – | –Adults aged 18 or over who provide unpaid care or support to someone who experiences high intensity use of urgent and emergency care services. |
| Health and Social Care Professionals | – | –Description: Health and social care professionals involved in urgent and emergency care pathways at University Hospitals Dorset, Dorset HealthCare, Dorset Council or voluntary sector partner organisations. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Adults who frequently use urgent and emergency care services at University Hospitals Dorset, their carers and health and social care professionals involved in urgent and emergency care pathways in Dorset.
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Adults aged 18 or over who have been identified as experiencing high intensity use of urgent and emergency care services at University Hospitals Dorset, defined as five or more unplanned contacts within a 12-month period Adults aged 18 or over who provide unpaid care or support to someone who experiences high intensity use of urgent and emergency care services Health and social care professionals aged 18 or over involved in urgent and emergency care pathways at University Hospitals Dorset, Dorset HealthCare, Dorset Council or voluntary sector partner organisations Able to provide informed consent Willing to take part in an audio-recorded interview-
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Under 18 years of age Unable to provide informed consent Currently experiencing an acute mental health crisis requiring immediate clinical intervention Known history of violence or aggression towards health and social care professionals Currently receiving inpatient treatment at the time of recruitment No direct involvement in urgent and emergency care pathways at the participating organisations (professionals only)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Health and social care needs and experiences of adults who frequently use urgent and emergency care services in Dorset
Time frame: 24 months
Assessed through qualitative interviews and analysis of non-patient-identifiable UHD business intelligence data, including identification of personal, social and system-level factors contributing to high intensity use and co-produced recommendations for a preventative intervention model.
3 secondary outcomes
Patterns of high intensity use of urgent and emergency care within the UHD population
Time frame: 24 months
Co-produced recommendations for a preventative intervention model
Time frame: 24 months
Evidence to inform future service development for people who experience high intensity use of urgent and emergency care
Time frame: 24 months
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Jun 2026.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of High Intensity Use of Urgent and Emergency Care and Emergency Medicine, run by Bournemouth University.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Health and social care needs and experiences of adults who frequently use urgent and emergency care services in Dorset (time frame: 24 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 5 Jun 2026.