An observational study in Quality of Life (QOL), Decision Making and Emergency General Surgery, sponsored by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-05-14.
Sponsored by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde · Observational
Emergency General Surgery (EGS) is an umbrella term which describes all patients presenting to hospital with an acute abdominal problem. Patients can have various conditions requiring emergency operations. EGS is one of the most common reasons for an emergency admission in the UK.
EGS is often referred to as "high-risk" surgery. For those patients who do survive after their surgery, many struggle with frailty and new medical problems resulting in a reduction in their quality of life (QoL).
The goal of this observational study is to explore QoL and decision-making in EGS through questionnaires and interviews with patients, families/supporters and consultants working in EGS.
Workstream 1 will involve patients and families/supporters. Workstream 2 will involve consultants.
The investigators are interested in patients who have either undergone EGS (EmLaps) or have needed but not undergone EGS (NoLaps). The investigators are interested in exploring participants (patients, families/supporters and consultants) experiences of this EmLap vs NoLap decision.
The main questions the investigators want to answer are:
Workstream 1 participants (patients and family members/supporters) will complete questionnaires and take part in interviews at different time-points following their decision (1 month/3 months/ 9-12 months). Questionnaires and interviews will explore QoL and decision-making in EGS.
Consultant participants will be asked to complete an online survey and/or take part in an individual interview. Both will explore decision-making in EGS.
1,692 studies on the registry are indexed under Emergencies; 332 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 112 is below the median of 353 across 714 observational studies indexed under Emergencies.
Browse Emergencies studies →NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is the lead sponsor of 215 studies on the registry; 39 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Project will recruit EmLap and NoLap patients from the 6 sites across Scotland with the highest EmLaps per year (Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Ninewells Hospital, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary).
Consultants will be recruited from UK only.
Group 1 and 2: EmLap and NoLap patients (up to 30 participants)
Patient inclusion/exclusion criteria should mirror NELA inclusion/exclusion criteria and NELA NoLap guidelines. NELA is the "National Emergency Laparotomy Audit" which recruits patients in Wales and England and there inclusion/exclusion criteria are widely accepted for use in Emergency General Surgery research.
Inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
Group 3: Families/Supporters (up to 30 participants) Inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
Group 3: Consultants (interview:12-20 participants/survey: minimum 52 participants) Inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
Patients who have underwent Emergency General Surgery
Patients who have needed but not undergone Emergency General Surgery.
Family or supporter nominated by the patient participant to participate in the study alongside them.
Consultants who actively participate in Emergency General Surgery in a UK-based Hospital (Surgeons, Anaesthetists, Intensivists)
Quality of Life (QoL)
The primary aim of workstream 1 is to report on the long-term QoL of EmLap and NoLap patients and their families/supporters. For this, participants will complete validated QoL questionnaires within 4 weeks of EmLap/NoLap decision then again at 3 and 9-12 months post-decision. Questionnaires will include European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 5 Level Version (EQ-5D-5L) which will specifically quantify QoL. Maximum score= 1. Minimum scores in the UK have been reported at -0.28. A higher score reflects a higher QoL.
Time frame: 1 year
Decision-making
The primary aim of workstream 2 is to describe and explore consultant experiences of decision-making in EGS through online survey and semi-structured interviews.
Time frame: 1 year
Decision-making
Semi-structured interviews with patients and families/supporters will allow us to explore their experience and views of decision-making in EGS.
Time frame: 1 year
Consultant specialities involved in decision-making
Workstream 1 will clarify which specialties are involved in the EGS decision-making process to allow recruitment for workstream 2. We will specifically clarify the number of EGS decisions which involve * consultant surgeon * consultant anaesthetist * consultant intestivist
Time frame: 1 year
Patient Reported Outcome Measurements (PROMs) for Emergency General Surgery
The results from workstream 1 will inform the development of PROMs for EGS. These PROMS will include a number of specific EGS related questions developed from our study results.
Time frame: 1 year
Patient Reported Experience Measurements (PREMs) for Emergency General Surgery
The results from workstream 1 will inform the development of PREMs for EGS. These PREMS will include a number of specific EGS related questions developed from our study results.
Time frame: 1 year
No study locations are listed for this record.
Plan to share: No — Psuedonymized personal data will retained only for as long as required for processing (1 year after project has ended). Only depersonalised anonymous research data will be stored for a longer period of time and shared with other researchers.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Apr 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde