Skip to main content
Wolfson Institute of Population Health

Living with socioeconomic deprivation and MLTCs

  1. WIPH
  2. Centres
  3. Centre for Psychiatry and Mental Health
  4. Unit for Psychological Medicine
  5. Our Research
  6. Living with socioeconomic deprivation and MLTCs

Overview

This project explores how socioeconomic deprivation impacts self-management of multiple long-term conditions (MLTCs). The first phase of this project was originally funded by the NIHR School for Primary Care Research (SPCR) and commenced on 1st November 2021. The first phase comprised of systematic reviews and a large qualitative study with the population and their carers. The second phase comprises an additional qualitative study with primary care health care professionals and the development of a taxonomy and started 17th April 2024.

Team

Principal Investigator: Dr Megan Armstrong

Lead researcher of phase one: Dr Abi Woodward

Lead researcher of phase two: Elle Wyke

Co-investigators: Professor Steph Taylor (QMUL); Dr Jamie Ross (QMUL); Professor Kate Walters (UCL); Dr Nathan Davies (UCL); Professor Fiona Stevenson (UCL); Professor Carolyn Chew-Graham (University of Keele); Professor Jo Protheroe (University of Keele); and Professor Caroline Mitchell (University of Keele). 

Background

Long-term health conditions are one of the biggest challenges to health care with 70% of all health and social care funding going to people with long-term health conditions, including 50% of primary care appointments. People experiencing socioeconomic deprivation have a 60% higher prevalence of having a long-term health condition, a 30% increase in severity of the condition and are twice as likely to have multiple long-term conditions compared with those from the higher socioeconomic groups. There is evidence that self-management interventions have reduced effectiveness in this population and the reasons why this is, or how it can be addressed, has seldom been explored.

Findings of phase one

Systematic review of interventions for people experiencing socioeconomic deprivation

Systematic review of barriers and facilitators for people experiencing socioeconomic deprivation and living with MLTCs

Qualitative study of 28 people experiencing socioeconomic deprivation and living with MLTCs

Plans for phase two

  • Qualitative interviews with up to 18 health care professionals working in primary care within areas of deprivation. The aim is to explore how MLTCs are currently managed within these areas and implementation barriers.
  • Development of a taxonomy of components needed to support this population manage their MLTCs. 

Engagement with people experiencing socioeconomic deprivation

 

Contact us

If you'd like to find out more, please contact Megan Armstrong on megan.armstrong@qmul.ac.uk 

Back to top