Opiate users' views and experiences of opioid medications
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patient perceptions and experiences of different types of medication formulation: part one - opiates
IRAS ID
216788
Contact name
Keith Brennan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
There many different medications for the treatment of opiate dependence, available in a variety of forms. These include tablets, liquids, depot injections, and implants. Yet, we do not know how patients perceive these different medication formulations and how different formulations may relate to clinically important factors, such as medication adherence. Furthermore, experimental studies of new opiate medications frequently encounter difficulties with recruitment, participation, and completion. This may be because opiate users are rarely involved in discussions about the design, execution, and acceptability of these kind of studies.
An established team of Addictions researchers has developed this research study to try to fill some of these gaps in knowledge. The Addictions Department Service User Research Group (SURG) have been heavily involved in the study design and consultations with them have informed the proposed methods for data collection. Funded by Mundipharma International Ltd., the study will use qualitative research to explore opiate users’ views and experiences of medications for opiate dependence with a particular focus on a) different medication formulations and b) experimental study designs.
Participants will be current or former opiate users. They will be recruited from drug and alcohol services in South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and from Aurora Peer Support Services in South London. The research involves conducting a total of 8 focus groups, each with between 6-8 participants. They will take place within the drug and alcohol and peer support services. The groups will be facilitated by a highly experienced and trained qualitative researcher, along with the help of a second facilitator. Each group will last a maximum of 2 hours, with a 15 minute break in the middle and all attendees will be reimbursed for taking part.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/SC/0037
Date of REC Opinion
8 Feb 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion