The Awareness and Knowledge of Medicines Sick Day Rules Cards (V1.0)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An exploration of the awareness, knowledge and understanding of Medicines Sick Day Rules Cards amongst patients admitted to the acute medical admissions unit at Raigmore Hospital.
IRAS ID
139281
Contact name
Jane C Adamson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Highland
Research summary
NHS Highland have recently been involved in distributing information to patients in the form of “Medicines Sick Day Rules Cards”. These are credit-card sized and give information on certain medicines which should be stopped if patients develop certain symptoms, including sickness or diarrhoea, or fever, sweats or shaking. This is to reduce the risk of adverse effects arising from the use of these medicines when dehydrated, such as an effect on how well the kidneys function.
The purpose of this study is to gather some information on how these cards have been given out to patients and whether it is easy to understand and follow the advice given on them. 120,000 of the cards have been printed, and interest in the cards have been shown by the Scottish Government and other Health Boards. It is therefore necessary to show that the cards have had the desired impact. Part of this is ensuring that the patients have received the cards and understand the information on them. This study will involve interviewing patients to find out information about their awareness and knowledge and understanding of the cards. The study will focus on patients admitted to hospital with symptoms listed on the card, and taking one or more of the medicines specified on the card; it is anticipated that other separate studies will be undertaken by pharmacists in the community to evaluate their understanding. It is hoped that the results will help direct the use of the cards in future to ensure patients receive and understand the advice appropriately.
REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SC/0175
Date of REC Opinion
15 Apr 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion