Attitudes
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An Investigation of Mental Healthcare Professionals’ and Patient’s Attitudes towards Drug Delivery options in the maintenance treatment of Schizophrenia: A Pilot Study
IRAS ID
207006
Contact name
Lawrence Ratna
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
West London Mental Health Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, days
Research summary
Schizophrenia is of its nature a chronic and enduring serious mental illness which runs a relapsing course in the majority of patients. Relapse, characterised by acute psychotic exacerbation, may have serious implications including; a risk of patients harming themselves or others, of damaging personal relationships, education or employment status. The cost of relapse (including the utilisation of hospital and community services) accounts for the majority of the financial cost of schizophrenia-related service provision. Non-adherence to medication in schizophrenia is one of the major, but preventable causes of relapse. Long Acting Injections (LAI) were developed to address this issue. However, despite the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, 2009; 2014) guidelines recommendation, the utilisation of LAIs is still very minimal and can be seen as stigmatised.
Evidences suggested that attitudes towards LAIs play a role in utilisation of LAI. However, we have found no published work exploring the attitudes of healthcare professionals in-line with the recent health care structural reform and the NICE guidelines in relation to LAIs. Further, very few studies have included both all healthcare professionals (such as nurses, doctors, social workers, healthcare assistants) and patients from the same clinical environment. It is assumed that the clinical environment is also an important factor in determining patterns and common factors that influence attitudes; this present study will also takes this into consideration, and will explore both mental healthcare professionals’ and patients’ attitudes towards LAIs from the same clinical environment.
The primary objective of this research is to examine the balance between attitudes and evidence that influence healthcare professionals and service users in the choices they make regarding continuing schizophrenia treatment and prevention of relapse. BEH-Mental Health Trust will be the single study site where data will be collected using a survey/questionnaire method.
The research will contribute to the debate concerning the role of LAIs in long term management of, and prevention of relapse in schizophrenia; ultimately seeks to improve services for individuals undertaking schizophrenia treatment and inform clinicians and policy makers.
REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1460
Date of REC Opinion
6 Oct 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion