SUPPORT Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
SUPPORT (South Gloucestershire Pain Review Pilot) Study
IRAS ID
223876
Contact name
Kyla Thomas
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
GPs have increasingly prescribed opioid painkillers, such as tramadol, for people with chronic non-cancer related pain, over the last 20 years. Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than three months. But there is a lack of evidence showing that these painkillers can actually treat this type of pain effectively. More people are becoming addicted to opioid painkillers, and there has been a rise in the number of deaths involving these medicines.
Since 2010, the rate of users of drug services mentioning use of prescription opioids has increased every year in South Gloucestershire. In 2014 the rate was six times higher than the average seen in the whole South West.
The growing number of people becoming addicted to opioid painkillers is an important public health issue because it could affect people of all ages and can have serious effects on individuals, their families and society as whole. It can affect health, finances and relationships. However, patients who become dependent on prescription opioid painkillers do not want to be treated in the same specialist drug services as those taking illegal drugs, such as heroin. Guidance recommends that separate services, are provided for people who are dependent on prescription opioid painkillers.
This pilot project is the first service in the UK that focuses specifically on these patients. A dedicated care worker will work with patients and GPs to treat patients’ addiction and help GPs to reduce their prescribing of these painkillers. The pilot was launched in two local GP practices in 2016 and will run for 18 months.
We plan to evaluate the pilot, examining the health and quality of life of patients. We will also talk to patients and practitioners to find out their views of the service. This evaluation will help to improve the pilot before it’s rolled out.REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/WM/0264
Date of REC Opinion
29 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion