INP versus PGD in sexual health
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A comparison in the clinical application, patient experience and health economics between independent nurse prescribing and patient group directions in sexual health services.
IRAS ID
148264
Contact name
Christine Norton
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 16 days
Research summary
Background: Over the past two decades nurses in the United Kingdom (UK) have gained increasing powers to deliver medication without involving a doctor. Within Sexual Health there are two common methods nurses provide this: by independent nurse prescribing or pre-determined medication protocols (i.e. Patient Group Directions). Evidence suggests that generally nurses use these powers responsibly, yet it is essential to ensure patients receive medication in a safe, appropriate and cost-effective way. The project aims to investigate these issues across 5 separate sexual health services in the UK.
Design: Six data collection ‘tasks’ explores the implications of nurses’ independently delivering medication under 3 main themes: how is it used in clinical practice; the patients’ experience of receiving medication in this way; and the associated health economics of embedding it within NHS services.Methods: Interviews with key NHS stakeholders will provide an explanatory basis to the project to understand the perceived benefits and barriers of nurses independently delivering medication within sexual health. Nurses trained to use prescribing or pre-determined protocols will then be invited to complete a questionnaire to explore their demographics, attitudes towards their skill and any personal expenditure. A clinical diary and notes audit then assesses how frequently nurses provide medication, and if they do so in a safe and appropriate way. During this task, patients will be requested to provide feedback on their confidence and satisfaction by completing a questionnaire. An observational study will subsequently assess the interactions between the nurses and patients during consultations. Using multiple methods in this way provides a deeper exploration of nurse medication delivery by compensating for the weaknesses in individual data collection approaches. Finally, a Health Economics assessment will use the range of data collected to measure the costs versus the returns of investing in nurses to independently provide medication in sexual health.
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
15/WA/0120
Date of REC Opinion
28 May 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion