LIFEGUARD

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Responding to people in danger: A feasibility study to co-develop a community pharmacy response service for domestic violence and suicidal ideation

Cofounded by Prof Josie Solomon, Lifeguard Pharmacy is a supportive signposting service for people who are in danger of harm from themselves or others. This includes people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts and people who are experiencing domestic abuse. The service operates out of Co-op pharmacies across Lincolnshire.

Ethics approval has been received from the Health Research Authority: North West, Preston committee (22/NW/0016/AM01).

Funded by NIHR Research for Patient Benefit, awarded £370,459. Key contact: Dr Soloman

The main aim of this study is to co-develop and evaluate the feasibility of a community pharmacy response service / intervention for people in danger from domestic violence or suicidal ideation.

TeamDr J Solomon (School of Pharmacy, University of Lincoln)
Prof G Law (CaHRU & LinCTU, University of Lincoln)
Dr E Rowan (CaHRU & LinCTU, University of Lincoln)
Dr A Latif (University of Lincoln)
Dr P Knapp (University of York)
Prof M Gussy (LIIRH, University of Lincoln)
Prof D Baines (School of Pharmacy, University of Lincoln)
Dr C Henderson (King’s College, London)
Mr M Khatri (lay representative)
Team/ConsortiumUniversity of Lincoln
University of York
King’s College, London
Overarching aimTo co-develop and evaluate the feasibility of a community pharmacy response service / intervention for people in danger from domestic violence or suicidal ideation.
Objectives1. To co-develop with patients / public and professionals a promotional strategy (i.e. poster displays, life-guard cards) to increase public awareness and engagement with the ‘Life-guard’ service

2. To co-develop with patients / public and professionals a training package and signposting resources for pharmacy staff to enable them to respond to people in danger e.g. suicidal ideation / domestic violence

3. To deliver the ‘Life-guard’ service in a purposive sample of community pharmacies to collect data on feasibility and implementation.

4. To evaluate the service through the collection of pharmacy data (e.g. service uptake) ascertain public and professional views on accessibility, acceptability and service delivery

5. To evaluate the potential for the intervention to be scaled up for a future trial, including economic and statistical considerations.
MethodsThis is a two-stage development and feasibility study to develop a complex intervention, using the MRC framework for complex interventions.
OutcomesNumber of referrals made to each of the referral services
OutputsPeer reviewed publications: 

Conference presentations:
ImpactThe hope is that a fully developed intervention will be tested in a full clinical trial.