iSWITCHED
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing and user testing iSWITCHED (implementing SWITCHing EDucational intervention) to support switching antipsychotics to improve physical health outcomes in people with severe mental illness
IRAS ID
314725
Contact name
Saeed Farooq
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Keele University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Background: Severe mental illness (SMI) is a commonly used term and includes schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other non-organic psychotic conditions. In England, there are over 490,000 people with SMI. The SMI population has 2-3 times higher risk for premature mortality than the general population; over 60% of these deaths are due to potentially preventable physical illnesses, mainly cardiovascular disease. Some antipsychotic medications used to treat symptoms of SMI, may cause physical health side-effects (e.g. weight gain, diabetes). Switching or antipsychotics could help relieve physical health symptoms; however, a lack of knowledge and confidence prevents switching.
Aim: To develop and user-test an intervention (to include: medication review tool, training package, information resources) to support decision-making regarding switching antipsychotic medication for people with SMI to improve physical health outcomes.
Methods: Work package 1 and 2 will support intervention development through a literature review, stakeholder engagement and qualitative methods with patients, caregivers and clinicians to develop components of the medication review and switching intervention, informed by behaviour change theory. Work package 3 (described in a separate application) will use quantitative and qualitative methods to evaluate end-user implementation experiences.
Implications: Research findings will have implications for patients and caregivers, clinicians and researchers. Outputs from work package 1 and 2 will include: a novel multi-component intervention to be tested in work package 3, new knowledge to extend the evidence base around switching antipsychotics, new information resources for patients and caregivers.
Service user and caregiver involvement: people living with SMI and caregivers will be invited to join an advisory group to inform key
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NW/0226
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jul 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion