Medicines Use Optimisation in People Living with Dementia version 3
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Medicines Use Optimisation in People Living with Dementia
IRAS ID
166149
Contact name
Dalal Alsaeed
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCL
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2014/12/68, UCL Data Protection Registration Number
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 0 days
Research summary
The purpose of this research is to understand the barriers encountered with medicines use in people living with dementia (PLWD). This will be taken from the perspectives of PLWD, their family caregivers, and care home staff to encompass all severities of the disease. Recommendations can then be given to achieve patient-centric care regarding effective medicines use for PLWD. Recent UK government reports have been published that highlight the importance of focusing on dementia, as the population is ageing and thus the number of people suffering from dementia is on the rise. Many studies have shown that caring for a family member or friend is a difficult task that takes its toll on the carers’ life; this is more so for family caregivers of people living with dementia. One of the major activities that the family caregiver undertakes is medicines related; these range from administration to medicines management. Many family caregivers take on this responsibility on behalf of the patient without the required information and often have to make decisions regarding medicines without assistance, such as withholding medications or modifying certain medicines for ease of swallowing. Some of the same problems maybe encountered in the care home setting, especially those relating to different forms of medicines and medicines administration. In this study, family caregivers of PLWD, and the people they take care of (if they are able and willing to take part), will be recruited through local carer centres from three London boroughs. The care homes will be purposively chosen from the same areas and invited to take part in the study, which will include observations of medicines administration and individual interviews with staff members involved. The study findings will assist in understanding the issues surrounding medicines use and will inform interventions to support medicines use in PLWD and their caregivers.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0177
Date of REC Opinion
17 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion