The challenge

A rural Health Authority wished to explore the best ways to obtain and respond to the views of local people on topical issues. Could useful feedback be obtained by regular focus group discussions with local residents?

Objectives

• To recruit a panel of 12 local residents. They needed to demographically represent the population of a small market town in the Authority’s area
• To establish the willingness of panel members to meet regularly
• To confirm their ability to contribute useful views on two selected topics

Our approach

Health authority market research needs to be handled sensitively. We invited a random sample of residents to join the panel. We then selected a panel of 12 members to be broadly representative of the local population. They did not need to have specialist medical knowledge or recent experience of hospitals or GPs.

The panel met on two occasions in a local hotel. Both discussions were moderated by our Managing Director and attended by a representative of the Health Authority. The latter’s role was to make the panel aware, where appropriate, of current practices. However, they were not to give any indication of what was perceived to work well or badly.

The first discussion concerned local health needs in relation to the role of the local community hospital. All 12 panel members attended this. The second panel considered acceptable waiting times for hospital operations. 11 panel members were present at this panel.

Briefing notes were issued in advance of each discussion. For example, before the waiting lists discussion we asked whether certain types of operation and/or certain types of patient be given priority over others? If so, which?

The report of the findings generated considerable interest. We were asked to extend the study by convening similar discussions with members of the local Community Health Panel. We then compared their views with those of the local residents. Eight Community Health Council members took part in discussions on the same two topics. Our Managing Director again acted as moderator. He steered the discussion to cover broadly the same points covered by the local residents.

Outcomes

The research had been a pilot to establish how a panel could usefully contribute their views. We suggested future groups should be made up of two or more smaller local resident panels, each of about half the size of the original. This would allow a consistency check on the views expressed and a greater depth of discussion. We also reported how the presence of a Health Authority representative led to panel members addressing their questions to the representative rather than develop their own views.

Both panels were felt to have contributed usefully to aspects of the medical decision-making process. The general public was detached from the medical process and potentially more able to make criticisms. The Health Community Panel brought background knowledge of current procedures and what was realistic.

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The challenge

We were commissioned by a PR and communications company working with the National Hydration Council. They asked us to look at the impact of dehydration on the work of GPs.

Objectives

How much of an average GP’s time is spent with patients who are simply dehydrated? How much importance did GPs attach to greater awareness of the importance of staying fully hydrated?

The objectives of the analysis were to:

• Explore the number of patients attending GPs’ surgeries complaining of tiredness or fatigue
• Discover the percentage of patients who GPs suspect may be suffering from tiredness linked to dehydration
• Find out how many patients identify and mention symptoms of dehydration to their GP
• See whether GPs tell patients who feel tired to drink more water
• Gather whether GPs were aware of recent research showing that 60% of the population only drink one glass of water (or less) a day
• Record whether fresh water was available for free in waiting rooms
• Learn whether GPs feel there should be more done to promote the important of healthy hydration habits to the public

Our approach

We carried out this research online with 300 practicing GPs. The questions included asking how much they agreed with statements regarding:

• hydration in general
• the availability of water
• the general advice given to the public regarding healthy hydration habits

Outcomes

This research showed that GPs felt that dehydration was a contributory factor in 25% of patients visiting their surgery complaining of tiredness. From this, the National Hydration Council was able to approximate how much GP time is spent on these cases.

GPs also identified that patients are not always aware of a number of the signs of dehydration. They would welcome more promotion about healthy hydration and in particular drinking enough water during the day.

The National Hydration Council used the research to highlight the issue to the general public. They launched a campaign for greater awareness of the importance of drinking plenty of water to stay fully hydrated.

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