News & Latest 15.06.2022

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 (2022/2023)

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 - payments will be made for staff giving up their time for interviews.

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.  

Why should your care home get involved? 

  • Your care home will receive £500 for participating 

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

What do I do to take part? 

For more information go to the FluCare website www.flucare.co.uk,  from where you can submit an expression of interest.  Alternatively go to Twitter @flu_care, or get in touch with our team at flu.care@uea.ac.uk.