SNIFS - Optimising Materials for SNIFS Saline Irrigation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
To optimise the SNIFS instruction materials to ensure that they are engaging and acceptable for patients with recurrent sinusitis.
IRAS ID
250595
Contact name
Paul Little
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 28 days
Research summary
Acute sinusitis is one of the commonest infections managed in primary care. Saline nasal irrigation involves rinsing the sinuses through the nose with saline (salt) solution. A large study in people with chronic sinusitis showed that most people can do nasal irrigation with simple advice, find it acceptable and will keep doing it over weeks. However, nasal irrigation could be made even more effective by dealing with key problems some people have.
The SNIFS instructions will help patients to use saline nasal irrigation to improve their quality of life with recurrent sinusitis. Paper version and DVD-based versions of the SNIFS materials have already been tested in a large study in 72 GP practices, with patients who used saline irrigation reporting reduced symptoms and being less likely to go to the doctor.
This study will update these paper and DVD instructions to be accessible online. We will ask 10-15 patients with recurrent sinusitis (from 4 local GP practices) to try the materials, and suggest ways that they can be improved. We will ensure that the participants we ask to take part are diverse in order to accurately reflect likely patients.
Participants in this study will appraise the materials however we will not be asking them to engage in the intervention (i.e. conduct saline irrigation). After each patient has used the materials, we will address any points that they have raised, and ask the next patient to review the updated website. When participants no longer suggest any issues that need to be addressed, we will consider the materials to be ‘optimised’.
The effectiveness of these materials will later be tested in a planned trial (for which we will submit a further ethics application once we have developed these new materials).
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
18/NI/0162
Date of REC Opinion
17 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion