Kent Medicine Support in Stroke and TIA (KeMiST)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identifying Stroke/TIA survivors’ needs and preferences for short and long term Medicines Support in order to develop a patient-centred service which can be integrated into current stroke care. KeMiST (Kent Medicine Support in Stroke and TIA)
IRAS ID
204029
Contact name
Sarah Corlett
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Kent
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 30 days
Research summary
Survivors of a first stroke have a 30% risk of a further stroke in the next 5 years. It is estimated that if patients adhere to their prescribed (usually 3-4) life-long secondary preventative medicines and instigate diet and lifestyle changes, then at least 80% of recurrent vascular events could be prevented. Yet up to 50% of patients do not adhere to their prescribed medicines and there is currently no provision within commissioned stroke services for medicines support. This research will use the views of stroke and Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) survivors to design a life-long medicines support service which can be provided by pharmacists.
Stroke and TIA survivors will be recruited over a 6-month period to complete 2 questionnaires (MMAS-8, LMQ3). Recruitment will be from two NHS settings (acute and rehabilitation), GP registers and Kent stroke support groups. The questionnaires provide assessment of adherence and medicines burden. In addition a separate form will request consent to a follow-up interview. From this sample respondents will be selected for qualitative interviews which will explore their experiences taking their medicines and their short and long-term needs and preferences for medicines support. The sample interviewed will reflect stroke population demographics, different levels of adherence and medicines burden, and various time periods post-stroke.
Qualitative interviews with a sample of relevant Health Care Professionals (HCPs) identified by the research co-applicants from the NHS recruitment sites and primary care will explore HCPs understanding of this patient group’s medicines support needs and how pharmacists can be involved in its provision.
The findings from both sets of interviews will be thematically analysed and will be used to develop viable patient-centred options for service delivery which take into account the needs and preferences identified by stroke/TIA survivors and which can be integrated into the stroke pathway.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1076
Date of REC Opinion
24 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion