IN-TALK: Co-producing a Hospice Intimacy Support Toolkit in England

NCT07737145 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: NIHR209649IRAS ID 360318
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 794
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

People receiving hospice care may experience concerns about intimacy, closeness and physical affection that can affect their quality of life and wellbeing. However, healthcare professionals often report feeling uncertain about how to initiate or respond to conversations about intimacy needs. This can result in unmet needs and missed opportunities to provide holistic, person-centred care. The aim of the IN-TALK study is to co-produce a hospice intimacy support toolkit to support healthcare professionals in initiating and responding to conversations about intimacy needs with people receiving hospice care in England. This prospective mixed methods observational study uses Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) as its co-production methodology to develop a hospice intimacy support toolkit. Findings from the surveys will inform a series of co-production workshops involving hospice service users and healthcare professionals. Together, participants will co-produce the content and design of a hospice intimacy support toolkit to support person-centred care in hospice services across England.

Conditions

Communication About Intimacy Needs in Hospice and Palliative Care

Keywords

Hospice care; Palliative care; Intimacy; Communication; Co-production; Mixed methods; Healthcare professionals; Education; Training; Person-centred care; Support toolkit; Hospice service users; Holistic care

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Priorities for an intimacy support toolkit

  Identification of priorities for the content, format and implementation of a hospice intimacy support toolkit through analysis of survey findings and Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) workshop discussions involving hospice service users and healthcare professionals.

  Up to 24 months

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Hospice service users' intimacy support needs and priorities

  During the cross-sectional survey data collection period (anticipated November 2026 to March 2027).

• Healthcare professionals' confidence and educational needs

  During the cross-sectional survey data collection period (anticipated April 2027 to September 2027).

Study Arms (2)

Hospice service users

Adults receiving hospice care in England who meet the study eligibility criteria and participate in the survey, the Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) workshops, or both, to inform the hospice intimacy support toolkit.

Behavioral: Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) workshops

Healthcare professionals

Healthcare professionals working within hospice services in England who meet the study eligibility criteria and participate in the survey, the Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) workshops, or both, to inform the hospice intimacy support toolkit.

Behavioral: Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) workshops

Interventions

Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) workshops BEHAVIORAL

Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) workshops are used as a co-production research method to collaboratively develop a hospice intimacy support toolkit with hospice service users and healthcare professionals. The workshops are part of the research methodology and are not a therapeutic or clinical intervention.

Healthcare professionals; Hospice service users

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population comprises adult hospice service users (including patients, partners, loved ones and bereaved people receiving palliative and end of life care or support services from hospices in England) and registered and non-registered healthcare professionals working in hospices in England.

You may qualify if:

• Hospice service users: Aged 18 years or over. Hospice service users: Patients, partners, loved ones and bereaved people who are receiving, or have received, care or support services from hospices in England.
• Hospice service users: Able to understand and communicate in spoken and written English, independently or with the support of an interpreter.
• Hospice service users: Able and willing to provide informed consent. Healthcare professionals: Registered or non-registered healthcare professionals currently working within hospices in England involved in patient care and support.
• Healthcare professionals: Aged 18 years or over. Healthcare professionals: Able and willing to provide informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Hospice service users: Cognitive impairment that impedes communication. Healthcare professionals: Registered and non-registered Healthcare professionals currently working outside of hospices; and England.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Dorothy House Hospice: lead
• St Oswald's Hospice: collaborator
• University of the West of England, Bristol: collaborator
• National Institute for Health and Care Research: collaborator

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Communication

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior

Study Officials

• Dr Kate Sugar

  Dorothy House

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Professor Candida McCabe

  Dorothy House

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

Dr Kate Sugar

CONTACT

+44 1225 722988; kate.sugar@dorothyhouse-hospice.org.uk

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 2, 2026
• First Posted: July 30, 2026
• Study Start (Estimated): November 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 30, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2028
• Last Updated: July 30, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07