Medication adherence before elective surgery.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploration of adherence to medication instructions prior to elective surgery: A qualitative study.
IRAS ID
372627
Contact name
Sarah Tinsley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research shows there is a significant lack of understanding about how well surgical patients adhere/ follow instructions relating to their pre-operative medications. Patients often have to manage long-term medications that are not related to their surgery, and failure to do so can lead to complications. This study aims to clarify the factors influencing patients' decisions to continue their medications before surgery.
The main goals of this research are:
a) To find out what factors affect medication adherence decisions before elective surgery.
b) To examine challenges and common reasons for not following medication plans.
c) To suggest practical ways to improve adherence rates.This study will use a qualitative method, conducting semi-structured focus groups with 24 patients who have recently had elective surgery. Participants will be selected from post-operative patients who meet the eligibility criteria and voluntarily agree to participate, but we will ensure representation from different socioeconomic groups and ethnicities. Discussions will be recorded and transcribed to ensure accurate responses.
Thematic analysis will help identify and interpret patterns in participants' stories, providing a better understanding of why some patients do not adhere to their medication plans.
This study aims to address a research gap in pre-operative medication adherence. The findings are expected to inform the development of effective strategies to improve patient adherence, leading to better surgical outcomes and fewer cancellations, thereby enhancing the overall quality of surgical care.
By focusing on this important aspect of surgery, the study hopes to deepen the understanding of patient behaviours and improve the success of surgical interventions.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
26/YH/0129
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jul 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion