Understanding medication use V1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring patient and health professional experiences, surrounding the use and non-use of prescribed medicines, for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes: A grounded theory approach
IRAS ID
217757
Contact name
Samantha McMillan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Anglia Ruskin University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study aims to explore medication taking behaviour, and to develop and extend psychological theory pertaining to the use of medicines. A critical health psychology focus and an emphasis on the patients’ experience within the proposed study is relevant and timely. Evidence shows the involvement of patients in the ongoing management of drug treatment is largely absent (Denford, Frost, Dippe, Cooper & Britten, 2014), and that patient perspectives and person-centred care values have been under-represented in documents on medicines optimisation policy in England (Heaton, Britten, Krska & Reeve, 2016).
A qualitative research design with three linked elements:
1) Grounded theory approach, to explore the ways people with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease make sense of and use prescribed medicines. Semi-structured interviews with patients who are medicated for either type 2 diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease, will be used to explore patient experiences of medication taking, with a focus on understanding the intentional modification and non-use of prescribed medications.
2) Grounded theory approach, to understand health professionals’ perceptions of the health review and de-prescribing process; and to explore health professionals (GPs, RGNs and GPhCs) experiences of patients (diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and/ or cardiovascular disease) who intentionally modify or do not take medication as prescribed. Semi-structured interviews with health professionals.
3) Audio recording of clinical consultations (primarily medication reviews) between health professionals and patients with type 2 diabetes and/ or cardiovascular disease to explore the way medicines are discussed.Findings from the proposed research are likely to be of strong interest to patient and carer groups, NHS policy makers and health professionals – as well as the academic research community. This research sets out to draw theory from the exploration of the stakeholder experiences and interactions that may help to optimise the use of medicines among people with chronic illness (Hepworth, 2006).
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/EE/0287
Date of REC Opinion
3 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion