Improving health outcomes for young people with long term conditions: The role of digital communication in current and future patient–clinician communication for NHS providers of specialist clinical services for young people – LYNC study protocol

BackgroundYoung people living with long term conditions are vulnerable to health service disengagement. This endangers their long term health. Studies report requests for digital forms of communication – email, text, social media – with their health care team. Digital clinical communication is troublesome for the UK NHS.AimIn this article we aim to present the research protocol for evaluating the impacts and outcomes of digital clinical communications for young people living with long term conditions and provide critical analysis of their use, monitoring and evaluation by NHS providers (LYNC study: Long term conditions, Young people, Networked Communications).MethodsThe research involves: (a) patient and public involvement activities with 16–24 year olds with and without long term health conditions; (b) six literature reviews; (c) case studies – the main empirical part of the study – and (d) synthesis and a consensus meeting. Case studies use a mixed methods design. Interviews and non-participant observat...