UnknownNot Applicable

Social Responses to Stigma

United Kingdom200 participantsStarted 2024-05-01

Plain-language summary

The Social Responses to Stigma study will explore experiences of stigma and discrimination amongst people who are homeless in south London, and then seek to understand how this stigma is created, mediated or mitigated within health, social, housing and legal care and support systems and social contexts. The methodology is an ethnographic case study of the south London care and support system and its social context. The study will use a range of methods for data collection: interviews with people who are homeless, delivery stakeholders, and policy makers; a survey of peoples' experiences; observation within selected care sites; and gathering of documentary sources. The study will be implemented through two parallel studies. The first, with KCL-REMAS approval, will operate in non-NHS sites. The second, with NHS-IRAS approval, will operate in NHS sites. The protocols are aligned with adaptations for each type of site. A linked method to develop theory is cross-case comparison between South London and Vancouver, Canada, through secondary data analysis to linked studies ongoing there. The study will be ongoing from 2022 until January 2025. The project is funded in two phases, with potential to extend the study by a further three years, to January 2028. The results of the study will inform the design of a novel intervention strategy to address the social dimensions of stigma. Subject to additional funding applications, the intervention strategy will be piloted and evaluated from 2025 onwards. The study results will be disseminated through scientific publications, public reports and a range of public and policy engagement activities.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

People who are homeless Inclusion Criteria: Homelessness, in line with UK Government definitions, will be understood in an expansive way, to include past or current experiences of: * People who are rough sleeping (meaning people without homes who sleep outside or somewhere not designed for habitation) * people who are temporary residents of hostel accommodation (such as emergency night shelters, short-stay hostels, longer stay hostels, domestic violence safe houses, safe houses for victims of modern slavery and probation hostels) * people who are in unsupported temporary accommodation (such as B\&Bs), People who use day centres that provide support (such as food, showers, clothing and advice) for people experiencing homelessness * People staying temporarily with family and friends ('sofa surfing'), and * people with a history of homelessness (as defined by the groups above) who are at high risk of becoming homeless again because of ongoing complex health and social care needs. The study will include people over the age of 18 (and exclude those under this), and with no upper age limited. Participants would be principally based in, or frequently spend time in, the three boroughs of Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. Reflecting the effort to explore analytical generalisability of findings, the study may also include people with experience of homelessness beyond the three boroughs (but would still need to have experience, and be aged over 18). Exclusion Criteria: * Unable to…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Experiences of stigma and discrimination

Timeframe: 2022-2025

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06293105

SponsorKing's College London

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2025-01-31

Contact for this trial

Andrew Guise, PhD

+44 07585 329509 andrew.guise@kcl.ac.uk

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Stigma, Social trials