News & Latest 06.10.2021

FluCare Study: Recruiting Care homes

FluCare is a research study run by the University of East Anglia and NHS Norfolk & Waveney Clinical Commissioning Group. 

The study are looking for care homes in England to take part in a randomised-controlled trial to improve staff flu vaccination rates. The study are particularly interested to hear from care homes in the East of England.

 

What is FluCare? 

FluCare is a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)-funded project exploring whether offering staff flu vaccination clinics in the care home can improve flu vaccination rates.  The project will take place this flu season and the 2022 flu season. 

What is involved? 

  • The researchers want to see if offering flu vaccination clinics specifically for staff in the care home, along with financial incentives for homes, can increase uptake.   

  • The study has tested the intervention in a feasibility study, refined the details and will now evaluate it with a large randomised-controlled trial. 

  • Some care homes will receive the flu vaccination clinics and others will not, but all homes will receive £500 for taking part in the study and providing monitoring information.   

  • The researchers will also want to interview some staff - staff who give up their time for interviews will also be paid.   

  • Within each care home, staff who complete a short online survey will be entered into a £100 voucher prize draw. 

What types of care homes can get involved?  

  • The project is looking for residential or nursing care homes for people over the age of 65 

  • The care homes need to employ more than 10 staff  

  • The care homes must be located in England.  

When will the project start?  

  • This October – see below on how to sign up 

Why should your care home get involved? 

  • Your care home will receive £500 for participating 

  • It will help you to think about your flu vaccination strategy, as you will have sight of early findings  

  • It will help to build the evidence base for government on what works to improve flu vaccination, beyond the rather blunt instrument of mandatory vaccination and set out the case for more collaboration/ support for care home staff vaccination   

What do I do to take part? 

  • Complete a FluCare expression of interest form by following this link: 

https://norwichcrtu.uea.ac.uk/redcap/surveys/?s=FYX344HTRC 

 

If you have any questions please contact: flu.care@uea.ac.uk