Managing Medicines

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Managing medicines for patients with serious illness being cared for at home

• IRAS ID

  211686

• Contact name

  Kristian Pollock

• Contact email

  Kristian.Pollock@nottingham.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Nottingham

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 5 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  The aim of this study is to explore how patients, family caregivers (FCGs) and healthcare professionals work together to manage medicines prescribed for the relief of symptoms at the end of life in the domestic setting. It will do this using qualitative methods in three stages. First, 20 bereaved family caregivers and 20 healthcare professionals will be interviewed about their experiences of managing medicines at home. Second, 20 family focused case studies will be compiled. These will comprise up to three interviews with patients and family caregivers over a period of three months; interviews with relevant healthcare professionals; observations of consultations when medicines are being discussed; a review of relevant sections of the patient's medical notes. Third, two workshops with approximately 25 participants in each, will be held in order to disseminate findings and to involve key stakeholders in the process of developing recommendations for service development.
  Participants for workpackages 1 and 2 will be recruited through GP practices, community and hospital palliative care services and hospices in Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. A sampling strategy will be used that ensures a socially and culturally diverse sample of patients and FCGs including, for example, patients and FCGs from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups and a translation service will be used when necessary to ensure that patients and FCGs who are not fluent in English will be able to participate. All participants will be over 18 years of age and will be able to consent to take part.

• REC name

  East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  17/EM/0091

• Date of REC Opinion

  29 Mar 2017

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion