RecruitingObservational

Exploring the current use of remote assessment questionnaires in outpatient services to assess the feasibility of standardisation

This study, called GENESIS, is exploring how questionnaires sent home to patients (often called 'remote assessment questionnaires' or RAQs) are currently used in NHS hospital outpatient clinics. These questionnaires help doctors understand how patients are doing between appointments. Different clinics often use different questions, and they might not always be the best ones. This study aims to understand how these questionnaires are used, how they can be improved to support patient care, and if there's a way to use a more standard set of proven questions. We're asking for opinions from patients, the public, and healthcare staff to help us achieve this.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University of Liverpool

Enrolment target

160

Start

15 Oct 2025

Estimated completion

30 Nov 2026

Generic health relevance

What is this study about?

Imagine you go to a hospital clinic for an ongoing health issue. Sometimes, between your appointments, the clinic might send you a questionnaire to fill out at home. These are often called 'remote assessment questionnaires' (RAQs). They usually ask about your health and how you're feeling, helping your doctors keep track of your progress and decide the best next steps for your care.

The problem is, different hospital clinics often create their own questionnaires. This means the questions might not always be the best ones to ask, or they haven't been properly checked to make sure they collect the right information. If the questions aren't carefully designed, it could lead to misunderstandings or make it harder for doctors to make the best decisions about your treatment or care.

This study, called GENESIS, wants to learn more about how these questionnaires are being used across different hospital clinics. We want to understand what people think about them and how they could be improved. Ultimately, the goal is to find out if there's a better, more consistent way to use these questionnaires so they can help doctors and nurses provide the best possible care for patients.

Key takeaways

The study explores how patient questionnaires sent home are used in NHS hospital clinics.
It aims to improve these questionnaires for better patient care.
Participation involves sharing your views through online questionnaires, interviews, or group discussions.
Anyone over 18, including patients, carers, and the public, can take part.
The study is low-risk and hopes to benefit future patient care.
It's being run by the University of Liverpool and funded by the NIHR.

Who may be eligible?

This study is open to most adults over 18 years old. We're looking for a wide range of people to share their thoughts and experiences. This includes healthy volunteers, patients who have attended hospital outpatient clinics, family members or carers, and members of the public interested in healthcare.

We also want to hear from healthcare staff who work in hospital outpatient clinics, as well as staff who manage health information or data security within the NHS. This broad mix of people will help us get a full picture of how these questionnaires are used and how they can be made better.

However, to ensure everyone can take part safely and effectively, we can't include people under 18, those who can't understand or agree to take part, or those who find it difficult to understand or speak English.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Do you have experience with NHS hospital outpatient services (as a patient, carer, or staff member), or are you a member of the public interested in healthcare?
Do you have good enough English to understand the study information and give your consent?
Are you able to take part in online activities (like surveys or interviews)?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part in the GENESIS study, you'll be asked to share your views online. You can choose which activities you'd like to participate in:

1. **Online Questionnaire:** You can fill out an online survey to tell us what you think about these questionnaires and your experiences using or completing them. 2. **Online Interviews or Group Chats:** You might be invited to an online interview or a small group discussion to talk in more detail about your ideas on these questionnaires and what kind of questions should be included. 3. **Online Delphi Survey:** This activity involves a series of online questionnaires where we ask for your opinions on how best to use these questionnaires in the future and what information should be standard across them. This helps us find common ground.

You can choose to do all or just some of these activities, depending on your availability and interest. All activities are done online.

Potential risks and benefits

There are no direct personal health benefits to taking part in this study. However, your contribution will help us gather important information that could lead to better questionnaires in the future, ultimately improving patient care for everyone. As a thank you for their time, participants in interviews might receive a £15 voucher. This is considered a very low-risk study as it simply involves sharing your opinions. You are free to stop taking part at any time without giving a reason.

Locations (3)

Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Approximate
Liverpool, England
Aintree University Hospital
Approximate
Liverpool, England
Northampton General Hospital
Approximate
Northampton, England

Common questions

What are 'remote assessment questionnaires'?

These are questionnaires sent to patients to fill out at home, usually between their hospital appointments, to check on their health.

Why is this study important?

It helps us understand if these questionnaires are being used effectively and how we can make them better and more consistent for all patients.

How much time will I need to give if I join?

The time commitment depends on which online activities you choose to participate in. It could be a short questionnaire or multiple sessions for interviews/surveys.

Will my information be kept private?

Yes, all your responses will be kept private, and your personal details will be handled carefully by the research team at the University of Liverpool.

Do I need to have a health condition to take part?

No, you don't need a specific health condition. We're looking for opinions from general members of the public, patients, carers, and health staff.

How to find out more

Anna Kearney

a.kearney@liverpool.ac.uk - Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.