This project is testing a new questionnaire to measure medical dismissal. The questionnaire asks people living with long-term conditions, like lupus, about times they’ve felt dismissed by healthcare services.  

To read about this study in a different format: 

The research team want to learn more about: 

  • What makes these experiences feel positive or negative 
  • How they affect people emotionally and physically 
  • What could improve them in the future 

 

Developing a new scale may help them to:  

  • Better understand medical dismissal and how it impacts health and wellbeing  
  • Improve training for healthcare professionals  
  • Improve the quality of healthcare services 

 

Deadline: 31st August 2026 

Location: Online  

 

What’s involved: 

  • You will be asked to fill in 4  surveys: a baseline questionnaire, and a follow-up at 1 week, 3 months and 6 months 
  • These will range from 5 to 40 minutes  

 

For more information:  

 

Who: 

You can take part if you: 

  • Are aged 18 or over  
  • Live in the UK 
  • Have a diagnosis of a long-term condition (for example, lupus, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, IBS, depression)  OR have experienced a symptom for a period of 6 months 
  • Have used or tried to use healthcare services at least 5 times in the past two years for any kind of health issue 

 

Payment: £10 voucher (if all surveys are completed) 

Feedback: You can opt in to receive information about the study findings if you take part. 

Interested in taking part?  

 

Contact: If you have any questions, you can email the study team at [email protected] 

Funded by: This research has received no specific funding. The lead researcher and principal investigator (Dr Natasha Seaton) is part-funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). (Grant code: NIHR203318). It has received ethical approval from a university ethics committee ([email protected]; HR-24/25-53098).