![The Mcast Communication Screening Tool in a branded carry case](https://www.mmu.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/page_header_half/public/2023-06/MCAST%20product%20shot.jpg?h=414f808f&itok=3-Qzznnz)
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.
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.
Outputs
Research outputs
Academic papers
- Jayes, M., Borrett, S., & Bose, A. (2021) ‘Mental capacity legislation and communication disability: A cross-sectional survey exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of specialist decision-making support by UK SLTs‘ International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 57 172– 181
- Jayes, M., Austin, L., & Brown, L. J. E. (2021) ‘Supported decision-making and mental capacity assessment in care homes: A qualitative study‘ Health & Social Care in the Community, 00, 1– 9
- Jayes, M., Palmer, R. & Enderby, P. (2020) ‘Giving voice to people with communication disabilities during mental capacity assessments‘ International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 56: 90-101
- Jayes, M., Palmer, R. & Enderby, P. (2020) ‘Evaluation of the MCAST, a multidisciplinary toolkit to improve mental capacity assessment‘ Disability and Rehabilitation, 44:2, 323-330
- Jayes, M., Palmer, R., Enderby, P. & Sutton, A. (2019) ‘How do health and social care professionals in England and Wales assess mental capacity? A literature review‘ Disability and Rehabilitation, 42:19, 2797-2808
- Jayes, M., Palmer, R. & Enderby, P. (2017) ‘An exploration of mental capacity assessment within acute hospital and intermediate care settings in England: a focus group study’ Disability and Rehabilitation, 39(21), 2148-2157
Reseach team
Research team
Lead researcher
- Dr Mark Jayes, Manchester Metropolitan University
Co-investigators:
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Prof Rebecca Palmer, University of Sheffield
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Dr Paula Beech, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
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Gill Pearl, Speakeasy Bury charity
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Calvin Heal, University of Manchester
Collaborator:
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Dr Nele Demeyere, University of Oxford)
Funding
With funding from
![NIHR Funded by Logo](/sites/default/files/styles/logo_scalable/public/2023-03/funded-by-nihr-logo%20%281%29.png?itok=NivQ_2sS)
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