3i-o - WP1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Impact of an Intervention on Inequalities in Overprescribing - the 3i-o study
IRAS ID
331542
Contact name
Sarah L Alderson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 7 days
Research summary
Overprescribing is strongly linked to health inequalities. It especially affects vulnerable people, those from deprived areas and Black and Minority Ethnic communities. Most NHS prescribing (and overprescribing) happens in general practice. We have already run a feedback campaign that reduced overprescribing of addictive painkillers and antibiotics in general practice.
We want to find out the feedback works without making health inequalities worse. We also want to find out what clinicians and patients think is the right balance between reducing overprescribing overall and reducing inequalities in overprescribing.
We have chosen three locations to study in the North of England with high levels of poverty, ethnic diversity and which cover both rural and urban places. Our study has four research goals:
Firstly, we will analyse changes in prescribing by practice and patient characteristics using data from primary care health records and NHS England before and after the feedback was delivered. This will help us understand any impacts on prescribing inequalities for practices and patients.
Secondly, we will interview patients about their experiences of reduced prescribing and its impact on inequalities. We will ask clinicians and practice managers about their views on the impacts of the feedback on health inequalities and how local patterns of care changed.
Thirdly, we will examine the economic impacts of changes in prescribing by practice and patient characteristics using the same data for the first goal. We will also examine what people think is an acceptable balance between improving everybody’s health or reducing health inequalities in specific groups of people.
Finally, we will bring all the study findings together in workshops including patients, clinicians and policymakers. We will develop practical guidance on how to deliver audit and feedback in general practice to reduce both overprescribing and inequalities.
This application relates to the first and the first part of the the third research goals only.
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0174
Date of REC Opinion
16 Apr 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion