Access to medicines study (Phases 3 + 4)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Accessing medicines at end-of-life: a multi-stakeholder, mixed method evaluation of service provision (Phases 3 + 4)
IRAS ID
253133
Contact name
Sue Latter
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
CRD42017083563, PROSPERO; SRCTN12762104, ISRCTN registry
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 25 days
Research summary
Patient/carer access to medicines at end-of-life (EoL) is critical for control of symptoms, including pain and distress and recent evidence confirms EoL medicines optimisation is a research priority for patients and carers. Anecdotal data
from our recent studies suggests the prescription, dispensing, supply and associated information given about medicines (medicines access) is experienced by patients as often difficult, complex, demanding, lacking co-ordination and involves a multiplicity of professionals and services. Whilst there are promising innovations in EoL service delivery, little is known about the impact of these on patient access to medicines, and their cost effectiveness remains largely un-evaluated. We will investigate these issues, evaluating patient and carer access to medicines at EoL within the context of models of service delivery, highlighting best practice, challenges and generating expert informed solutions.For the purposes of this application, we are applying for HRA and REC approval for case studies and interviews (Phases 3 & 4 in the research protocol).
The objectives of these study phases are:
1. To evaluate and compare patient and carer experience of medicines access within models of EoL service delivery, including those featuring innovations in care, and to investigate their integration and sustainability through undertaking mixed methods case studies of practice (Phase 3)
2. To estimate the cost-effectiveness of service models (Phase 3)
3. To map patient ‘access to medicines pathways' at EoL, including time-lines of problems, decisions, actions and use of services (Phase 3)
4. To identify barriers and facilitators to maximising the contribution of the nurse and pharmacist workforce to medicines access at EoL (Phase 3)
5. To interview community pharmacists and wholesalers and distributors to evaluate supply chain processes and identify challenges in providing access to EoL medicines (Phase 4)REC name
South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SC/0675
Date of REC Opinion
6 Feb 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion