NICHE

THEO (Therapeutic Optimisation) study

NICHE workstream 2: The Therapeutic Optimisation (THEO) project

March 2025

What and why THEO?

The THErapeutic Optimisation (THEO) project developed by the NICHE Anchor Institute at the University of East Anglia, is a novel and complex intervention research study aimed at optimising the nurses and patients’ experience of care. The THEO study is a collaboration with the NICHE team, UEA , University of Staffordshire, London South Bank University, the Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust (NCHC) and the James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (JPUH). The NICHE team are leading on the THEO intervention which is described below and the University of Staffordshire team are leading on the overall research protocol development and the national ethics application. They will also be undertaking both quantitative, qualitative and process evaluation following on from the intervention.

THEO Intervention

The THEO intervention is providing an uplift of two registered nurses working as embedded researchers, combined with a process of participatory action research (PAR). This is partly influenced by evidence that showed that higher nurse staffing levels were associated with better patient outcomes, shorter length of stay and less frequent nurse burnout or job dissatisfaction. The participatory action research (PAR) intervention uses Practice Development (PD) methods as a facilitated intervention to achieve a participatory approach to inquiry. Participatory approaches to research moves away from the traditional stance of “studying a subject and making a judgement about that subject” and involves a collaborative, participatory and inclusive approach where all involved are partners in both the research and resulting actions and outcomes.

The THEO intervention co-researcher team

The participatory action research (PAR) intervention involves recruiting core volunteer co-researchers from the existing ward nursing team as bringing expertise in this innovation and collaborating with patients to understand their experiences of care. The co-research team will comprise of the THEO PD Facilitator, the new embedded researchers and the volunteer co- researchers, who will have time and space to work in collaboration, to “look” (i.e., gather evidence about a situation or context), “think” (i.e., reflect together to critically analyse the evidence), then “act” (i.e., develop a shared action plan, from which to take informed action). This process will generate both knowledge and agreed action from which to improve the experience and care for both the ward staff and the people who receive care on the ward.

What is happening now?

The new clinical embedded researchers commenced in post in February and March on ward 12 (JPUH) and the North Walsham Community Unit (NCHC). Approval from the Research Ethics Committee was granted in February and the participatory action research activities , will commence in April and May 2025.

Further reading

Odell, J (2024) Perspectives paper: Seeking a novel approach to practice driven transformation through research. Journal of Research in Nursing Vol 29 Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1177/17449871241301766.

Odell, J. (2024) Bridging role, theory and practice. May 2024.(NICHE website) NICHE BLOG - MAY 2024

For more information please contact: Jo Odell, Senior Research Fellow /THEO PD Facilitator,: Email: J.Odell@uea.ac.uk

Read the blog here: NICHE BLOG - MAY 2024 - Groups and Centres (uea.ac.uk)