The United Kingdom National Eye Health and Hearing Study (UKNEHS)

Phase 2: Community Study

Practice Pro-Forma

The UK National Eye Health and Hearing Study (UKNEHS) is an essential public health research project aimed at understanding the prevalence and causes of vision and hearing impairments among adults aged 50 years and older. Despite the significant impact these sensory impairments have on quality of life and overall health, there is currently a lack of comprehensive, population-based data in the UK to guide effective healthcare policies and interventions.

The study is designed to fill this gap by collecting data from a representative sample of adults within the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care Board (ICB). Participants will be randomly selected from the community and invited to take part in detailed sensory health assessments, including questionnaires and physical examinations. The study’s findings will provide critical insights into the extent of unmet needs in sensory healthcare, barriers to accessing care, and the effectiveness of current management strategies.

Benefits to GP Practices

Enhanced Patient Care:

  • Participation in this study offers your practice an opportunity to contribute to research that will directly
    benefit your patients, particularly those who may have undiagnosed vision or hearing impairments.

  • Early detection of sensory impairments can prevent further deterioration and improve patient outcomes, reducing the burden on healthcare services in the long term.

Population Health Insights:

  • The data collected will provide valuable insights into the sensory health of the population served by your practice, including the prevalence of common conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related hearing loss.

  • This information can be used to inform local healthcare planning and resource allocation, ensuring that services are tailored to the specific needs of your patient population.

Support for Public Health Initiatives:

  • By participating in this study, your practice will contribute to a larger body of evidence that can influence national health policies and the development of new interventions to address sensory impairments.

  • This aligns with the goals of Integrated Care Systems (ICS) to improve population health and reduce health inequalities.

Minimal Disruption to Practice Operations:

  • The study team will handle all patient contact and data collection, ensuring minimal disruption to your practice’s daily operations.

  • Patients will be contacted by SMS and telephone to invite them to participate, and all data will be collected by the research team, either at community-based sites or in participants’ homes.

Request for Permission

We are seeking your practice’s permission to participate in the UKNEHS by allowing us to contact your patients who are eligible for the study. Patients will be contacted via SMS and telephone, and their participation is entirely voluntary. All patient data will be handled in accordance with GDPR and other relevant data protection regulations, ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of your patients are maintained at all times.

Your practice’s involvement in this study is crucial to its success and to advancing our understanding of sensory health in the UK. We believe that the insights gained from this research will not only benefit your patients but also contribute to improving healthcare services across the country.

If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact the study team via the email. We greatly appreciate your support and look forward to working together on this important initiative.

If your practice would like to take part: Please complete the below pro forma, expressing your interest and permissions for patient engagement.

Please note that your practice will be informed before any engagement with your patients.