The Mcast Communication Screening Tool in a branded carry case

Research: Validation of the MCAST Communication Screening Tool

Improving patient access to communication support during mental capacity assessments, so they can make better decisions.

intro

Research summary

  • March 2023 - February 2025 

This project aims to help healthcare staff to support patients with communication problems to make decisions. These may be important decisions about treatment or leaving hospital. The Mental Capacity Act (2005) says that healthcare staff need to help patients to make decisions.

Research shows that many staff do not know how to help these patients to make decisions. They do not always ask speech and language therapists for expert help. Some staff assume wrongly that these patients cannot make decisions.

We have developed a new communication test. The aim of the test is to show staff when a patient has communication problems and how to help the patient to make a decision. The test tells staff when to ask a speech and language therapist for help. We need to do this research to find out if the test gives correct and consistent results and if staff can use it accurately.

This project is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) under its Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme (Grant Reference Number NIHR203173). The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care.

Testimonial

My research highlighted that many healthcare professionals need more resources to help them identify and meet patients' communication needs. Further testing of this screening tool is intended to evidence its validity and reliability. This will provide a robust mechanism to enable decisions about a patient’s communication support.
Dr Mark Jayes
My research highlighted that many healthcare professionals need more resources to help them identify and meet patients' communication needs. Further testing of this screening tool is intended to evidence its validity and reliability. This will provide a robust mechanism to enable decisions about a patient’s communication support.
Dr Mark Jayes

Outputs

Research outputs

Academic papers

Reseach team

Research team

Lead researcher

Co-investigators:  

  • Prof Rebecca Palmer, University of Sheffield

  • Dr Paula Beech, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

  • Gill Pearl, Speakeasy Bury charity

  • Calvin Heal, University of Manchester

Collaborator:

  • Dr Nele Demeyere, University of Oxford)

Funding

With funding from

NIHR Funded by Logo

National Institute for Health and Care Research

Funded under its Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme (Grant Reference Number NIHR203173)

Contact

Contact us

For general enquiries about the Communication Disability group, you can contact research group lead Prof Janice Murray.

Project enquiries

For enquiries specifically about this project, contact Dr Mark Jayes

m.jayes@mmu.ac.uk

Related research

  • Outside the University of Ghana at night

    Speech and Language Therapy

    A collaboration with the University of Ghana to develop services for people with communication disabilities.

    Go to Research
  • A Kenyan schoolgirl stood in front of a blackboard during a maths class

    Street-connected children

    Understanding the experiences, attitudes, beliefs and wishes of children with communication disabilities and their carers.

    Go to Research