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Research

Studies recruiting

We are one of the leading research sites nationally and are extremely grateful for the continued support of our patients. We have many studies either ongoing or recruiting:

Mental health

  • RESTED Insomnia study using sleep restriction therapy treatment to improve sleep which may improve depression

Memory

  • DARE2THINK aiming to improve the health outcomes of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), by reducing the risk of stroke, blood clots and potentially cognitive decline and vascular dementia.

Communication

  • GP-SUS This study aims to describe and compare what happens, long term to general practices that have introduced innovations designed to improve access to appointments

Heart and kidney

  • OPTIMISE2 – This trial will establish whether deprescribing common drugs that lower blood pressure is safe or effective in older people in the longer term (a year or more).

Vaccine studies

  • E.mbrace A study looking at a new vaccine preventing systemic infections from urinary tract infections
  • AReSVi A study to demonstrate the efficacy of a new vaccine preventing RSV infections.

Diabetes

  • We have several Diabetes research opportunities starting soon

Respiratory

  • We have several Respiratory research opportunities starting soon

Allergy

  • TIGER study aiming to identify early childhood allergies in relation to eczema
  • OBSERVATARI Point of Care testing study for viral infections. This study can test nasal samples for a range of virus’
  • ATHENA Study looking at neuropathic pain relief in early shingles infection
  • TAKE A TEST – respiratory viral testing as part of a public health and research programme.
Studies completed

We have now finished recruiting people for these studies:

  • ARCHIE – (early use of antibiotics for at risk children with influenza)
  • ALIC4E – (antivirals for influenza like illness? An RCT of clinical and cost effectiveness in primary care)
  • Garfield– an international study taking place in 55 different countries aiming to identify the best treatment for patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation.
  • BIOTIPP (Brain Imaging of Opioid Therapy in Individuals with Persistent Pain)– a study aiming to find out whether Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain can help predict how much pain relief a person gets from taking opioids.
  • TASMINH4 (telemonitoring and/or self monitoring of blood pressure in Hypertension)– a study looking into the potential to change blood pressure monitoring in future primary care where patients are monitored either in the surgery, at home or at home and using text messages to update their readings.
  • INTENSE (real world effectiveness of Lixisenatide and other intensification therapy in the management of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus)– a study monitoring how diabetes patients respond to increasing specialist medications when already on insulin.
  • OSAC (oral steroids for acute cough)– a study aiming to find out whether giving people a 5 day course of steroid tablets can help treat their chest infection. Please click here to read about the results of this trial.
  • 3C plus (cough complications cohort plus throat swab)– a study looking at which people who go to see their doctor or nurse with a cough might go on to develop a chest infection (pneumonia).
  • AUDIT (alcohol use disorder identification test) – a study looking at ways of helping young adults lead healthier lifestyles and cut down on alcohol.
  • BUMP (blood pressure monitoring in pregnancy)– a study looking at the feasibility of getting women to check their own blood pressure during pregnancy.
  • EDGE (self management and support programme for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)– a study looking at whether a mobile support programme designed for tablet computers might be useful for helping people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Please click here to read about the results of this trial.
  • HEAT (Helicobacter Eradication Aspirin Trial)– a study looking at whether treating a type of stomach infection called ‘Helicobacter’ in people who take aspirin might reduce their risk of developing stomach ulcers.
  • HOLDFAST (a study of unplanned hospital admission for heart failure)– a study looking at ways of improving care and preventing hospital admission in people with heart failure. Please click here to read about the results of this trial.
  • POWeR2 (Positive Online Weight Reduction)– a study looking at whether an online support programme might be effective in helping people lose weight.
  • RCT2– a study of steroid injections for shoulder pain.
  • STILTS 2– a study examining common and rare genetic variants associated with thinness.
  • BWeL (Brief Interventions for Weight Loss)– a study aiming to find out whether GPs can help people lose weight by providing them with brief support or advice about this during their appointment. Please click here to read about the results of this trial.
  • RetroMASTER– a study aiming to find ways of targeting treatments for type 2 diabetes at people in whom these are most likely to be effective.
  • DARE (Diabetes Alliance for Research in England)
    A study aimed at improving our understanding of diabetes and its complications.
  • ECO( a study offering an education intervention to help patients self-treat eczema)
  • OxREN/NEWKI(Oxford RENal cohort study)
  • TASMINH-5(improving self-monitoring of blood pressure to achieve better control)
  • TOUCAN Point of Care testing study for urine infections. This study can test samples and provide preferred antibiotic information
  • Salt Swap(dietary education and change in salt content in foods to improve blood pressure and health)
  • I-WOTCH(improving the Wellbeing of People with Opioid Treated Chronic Pain)
  • HABIT( insomnia study randomising sleep hygiene and sleep restriction therapy)
  • CONDUCT(effectiveness and acceptability of two urine collection devices)
  • METRIC (measuring temperature in children)
  • MERIT(studying the potential benefit of D-Mannose as a prophylaxis in women with recurrent urinary tract infections)
  • CUTI(testing cranberry tablets as a treatment for early urinary tract infections)
  • STARR- 2 (studying the different characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary care using near-patient testing and relating this to treatment responses during an acute exacerbation)
  • UNDERSTANDING RSV[snotty nose] – (sse of swabs from a baby’s runny nose to identify a measure to predict which babies are most at risk of developing severe respiratory disease)

Thank you very much to everyone who took part in these studies. We will provide links to their results when they become available.

COVID-19 studies

During COVID-19 we were one of the leading Covid-19 research sites in the UK.

  • PRINCIPLE(Platform Randomised trial of Interventions against COVID-19 In older peoPLE)
  • PANORAMIC (Platform Adaptive Trial of Novel Antivirals for early treatment of COVID-19 in the community)
  • ENSEMBLE2 VACCINE STUDY

Taking part in Research

Windrush Medical Practice is involved in medical research and from time to time you may be approached to take part. Taking part in research is voluntary: you can freely accept or decline, and this will not affect the care that you receive in any way. Even if you agree to take part, you can still withdraw at any time, without having to provide justification. Withdrawing from a study will NOT affect the care we provide for you.Participation in research is entirely voluntary and you have the right to say ‘No’.  Nobody will put pressure on you to take part in research if you do not wish to.  You do not have to give us a reason if you decide not to take part.

All research projects carried out have been thoroughly checked and approved by the relevant health authorities & ethical committees ensuring it is appropriate and safe to perform. You will always receive clear information about what taking part in a research study would involve and will have the opportunity to ask questions and obtain further details about a study. All projects are fully compliant with all UK laws (incl. GDPR).

  • You may receive a text message, NHS App notification, email or a letter in the post offering you the opportunity to take part in a study (the letter will include some information about the project).
  • Your doctor or nurse may also discuss research opportunities during your usual appointment.
  • You may also be approached by a member of the study team in the waiting area; be assured that this person and their activity will have been approved by the practice.
  • What you will be asked to do as part of the research will vary from study to study. The Patient Information Sheet for each project will detail what is expected of you. The study team is also there to answer all questions you may have.

Things you may want to know

  • Your care and your relationship with your doctor or nurse will not be affected in any way if you decide not to take part in a research study.
  • You will always receive clear information about what taking part in a research study would involve.  The practice will usually provide you with a patient information sheet; then, if you agree to take part, the study team will explain the study to you in more detail and you will have the opportunity to ask questions about it.
  • Nobody from outside this practice will be given your contact details or have access to your medical records without your prior consent.  If you do agree to take part in a study, you will be asked to sign a consent form – this will clearly state which parts of your notes (if any) may be looked at for the purposes of the research.
  • You will not be asked to take part in a large number of studies.  Most researchers are very specific about the criteria that people need to meet in order to enter their study.  Usually this means that only a relatively small number of patients at the practice will be suitable for any one study.

Your data for Research

If you do agree to take part in a study, you will be asked to sign a consent form. This will clearly state which parts of your medical notes (if any) may be looked at for the purposes of the research study. Nobody from outside your practice organisation will be given your contact details or have access to your medical records without your prior consent.

Through the electronic clinical system, we use to record medical notes, a completely anonymous (i.e. no identifiable patient details are shared at all) extract is taken which is used for medical research.  This clinical data is then catalogued and provides continuous monitoring of infection and disease around the UK.

We are part of Clinical Practice Research Datalink which means that we contribute de-identified data to CPRD (Clinical Practice Research Datalink) for public health research. CPRD is a real-world research service supporting retrospective and prospective public health and clinical studies and is jointly sponsored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the National Institute for Health Research (National Institute for Health and Care Research), as part of the Department of Health and Social Care. Individual patients cannot be identified from this information, but you are able to opt out if you prefer. Protecting the confidentiality of patient data is paramount, and only anonymised patient data is provided to researchers

We are part of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research Surveillance Centre (RSC) which means that we contribute de-identified data to the RSC for public health research.  The RSC is an active research and surveillance unit that collects and monitors data, in particular Influenza, from practices across England. Individual patients cannot be identified from this information.

What if I don’t want to be involved in Research?

We recognise that some people may not want to receive information about research studies by post or text message. If you do not want to be contacted about research studies that we may run at the practice in the future, please let us know. If you change your mind at a later date, you can still opt back in at any time. To opt out of participating in any research studies visit the NHS Your Data Matters website to set your preferences

What are the benefits of your practice being active in research?

Evidence suggests that patients who receive care in research-active institutions have better health outcomes than those who are treated in a non-research environment.

By joining the research community, we are actively helping to improve the standard of healthcare for our patients.

Research provides an opportunity for you, the patient, to better understand your health conditions as well as give something back to the NHS and wider community.

Sometimes it can provide patients with access to new treatments, as well as bringing a new dimension to practice and added skills to those involved.

The practice will receive funding to cover any additional costs of taking part in research (it does not come out of our own budget and so routine patient services will not be affected).

Here are a few quotes from patients who have taken part in research:

“The process has made me much more aware of my condition and that advice and care was immediately available”

“With the close monitoring / treatments from everyone, I now feel a lot healthier”

“I do feel as though I’m contributing to the improved care for future generations”

“I felt being part of the research helped my case, maybe got treatments that I would not have had otherwise”

Research Ethics within General Practice

Please view our patient leaflet (PDF) regarding research ethics within the practice.

The document and the information contained therein is the property of the Windrush Medical Practice.