IMPPP Trial
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving Medicines use in People with Polypharmacy in Primary Care
IRAS ID
238586
Contact name
Rupert Payne
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN90146150
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 11 months, 30 days
Research summary
Polypharmacy (the use of multiple medicines in one person) is common. It is often necessary to help a person keep well, but polypharmacy can also cause problems such as side effects or confusion about exactly what medicines are to be taken when.
We need to find ways of improving the use of medicines in people with polypharmacy so we can reduce some of these problems. However, there is no good scientific evidence to help health care professionals decide how to most effectively do this.
This study aims to develop and test a new general practice approach for improving the use of medicines in people with polypharmacy attending primary care (IMPPP).
We will develop the IMPPP approach based upon what we have learnt from similar approaches our team has used in Scottish GP surgeries. Firstly, we will test the IMPPP approach in 5 Bristol-based GP surgeries. We will interview individuals in these surgeries to find out about any problems with IMPPP so we can improve it. We will then carry out a clinical trial in Bristol and the West Midlands comparing 27 surgeries using IMPPP to 27 surgeries using current, normal practice. We will check whether IMPPP results in improved medicines safety, less use of health services, and better quality of life and less burden of treatment for the patients. We will also check whether IMPPP is acceptable to patients, doctors and pharmacists and will find out the cost implications of IMPPP for the NHS. The research will provide us with valuable information about which people with polypharmacy might benefit most from having improvements made to their medicines, and tell us what approaches work best for improving the use of medicines in people with polypharmacy, including how GPs and pharmacists can work together most effectively to achieve this.REC name
Wales REC 6
REC reference
19/WA/0090
Date of REC Opinion
5 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion