COAC Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Consultation Open and Close study on using health information systems to address patients concerns in general practice: an Intervention Development and Feasibility Study
IRAS ID
259186
Contact name
Mairead Murphy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
When patients visit their doctor, problems are missed 50% of the time. This might be because appointments are too short, or because doctors don’t let patients explain their problems fully. Sometimes, patients are confused by the doctor’s advice but don’t have time to get it clarified. \n\nTo improve this situation we will develop and test the Consultation Open and Close (COAC) intervention. Patients will be asked to fill in an online form before they see the doctor, which will be shared with the doctor. Afterwards patients will get a printed report. The online form will say why they have come and give details of their health problems. This means the patient can tell the doctor everything they are concerned about. The printed report the patient gets at the end will show what the doctor and patient agreed. Having the doctor’s advice in writing should make it easier to remember. \n\nWe will do two studies: one to develop the intervention and one to test it. In study 1 the online form and printed report will be tried out in 3 health centres one after the other (15 patients from each). We will talk to patients, doctors and practice staff and use their feedback to improve the form and report. Each improved version will be tried in the next health centre. Study 1 will result in a final version intervention ready to test. \n\nIn study 2 we will try the intervention in 4 health centres with 72 patients and also collect information about how well the consultations worked. We will collect the same information from 2 health centres (36 patients) that aren’t using the new online form and final report. Study 2 will let us work out if it is practical to do a larger study to compare the two groups.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SW/0096
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jun 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion