Self-Management of Analgesia and Related Treatments in Palliative Care (SMART)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Self-Management of Analgesia and Related Treatments at the End of Life (SMARTE)
IRAS ID
162114
Contact name
Michael Bennett
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN35327119
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
ISRCTN, ISRCTN35327119
Research summary
The SMARTE study is aimed at improving the management of pain, nausea, constipation and drowsiness for patients approaching the end of life and their carers living in the community.
Despite there being a good understanding of patient and carer concerns regarding opioid analgesia and related side effects, much less is known about the optimal means of addressing these concerns which is why they have been highlighted by NICE guidance. We aim to develop a set of materials (the "toolkit") to be delivered by healthcare professionals to patients approaching the end of life and their carers to support and improve their self-management of medications for pain relief, nausea and constipation. Our toolkit will be developed within a theoretically informed behaviour change framework. The expected benefits of the self-management support toolkit (SMST) for patients will be improvements in symptom relief and increased confidence in managing medicines and related side effects by themselves, jointly with their informal carer, and in partnership with their healthcare professional.
The SMARTE study will result in a SMST based on evidence synthesised within a behaviour change framework and a delivery strategy informed by self-efficacy theory. Using these theoretical frameworks we will develop a SMST that will characterise patients' and carers' self-management knowledge and skills and encourage patients approaching the end of life and their carers to be actively involved in the management of their medications and symptoms. We will link this to behaviour change strategies designed to help patients and their carers feel empowered with increased knowledge and skills to recognise worsening symptoms, be able to self-initiate therapeutic adjustments and know how and when to access help from the medical system.
REC name
North East - Tyne & Wear South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NE/1155
Date of REC Opinion
24 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion