Past Research Studies

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OSCAR

OSCAR is a National Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) project funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), and sponsored by the University of Oxford.

The OSCAR study aims to understand how Structured Medication Reviews for patients with multiple long-term conditions are being conducted in England, what the challenges are, and how to best optimise them in the future.  A Structured Medication Review (SMR) is an appointment where a pharmacist (or other primary health care professional) goes through all of the medicines a patient is taking to ensure they are working safely and effectively for them. SMRs are primarily for people with several different medical conditions (multimorbidity); people taking many different medicines (polypharmacy); people living with frailty; and people in care homes. These reviews can either happen face-to-face or remotely. We will gather information from surveys of pharmacists conducting SMRs across England, and observe what actually happens in a sample of these reviews with a diverse group of patients from different GP surgeries. We will invite some of the people whose reviews we have observed, as well as the pharmacists conducting them and relevant managers, to a research interview where we will ask them to tell us about their experiences.

In addition to this, de-identified routinely-collected data about past SMRs will be collected from a national primary care database called Oxford Royal College of GPs Clinical Informatics Digital Hub (ORCHID). This information will include the characteristics of patients who have had a structured medication review, and any adjustments made to their medicines as a result of that review (e.g. whether any medicines were stopped or changed).

This study has now ended.

COVID-19 Study: PANORAMIC

This study, sponsored by the University of Oxford, is now considered the fastest recruiting trial for COVID-19 with over 26,000 participants taking part from across 65 sites. 

The eligibility criteria for this trial:

• You are currently experiencing COVID-19 symptoms beginning in the last 5 days
• And: You have had a positive PCR or Lateral Flow test for COVID-19
• And: You are aged 50 or over, or aged 18 or over with a listed pre-existing condition

Currently active: Yes, recruitment ongoing until end of March 2024

CHIP

Care of housebound patients in primary care (The CHIP Study)

A survey for clinicians about what impact COVID-19 has had on care delivering to housebound patients (defined here as  people who are unable to attend the GP surgery). 

 These are an under researched group with complex health and social needs. The purpose of the clinician survey is to find out about the workforce involved in home visits, initiatives for housebound and/or frail patients and changes to the care of housebound patients due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Aims:

• To explore clinician views on changes to the delivery of care to housebound patients due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• To assess the feasibility of using a new network of trainees and health professionals in primary care to carry out high quality research

This study has now ended. 

Integrated Bipolar Parenting Intervention

This study has now closed for recruitment. 

CLASP

Cancer: Life Affirming Survivorship support in Primary care

The CLASP study aimed to evaluate an online intervention offering lifestyle and wellbeing support for cancer survivors, called Renewed. The intervention was developed using feedback from patients and healthcare professionals and provides modules for lifestyle (healthy eating, weight management, physical activity) and well-being (coping with emotional distress, reducing fatigue). The primary objective was to investigate whether the web-based Renewed programme resulted in a difference in quality of life at 6-month follow-up compared to treatment as usual. We are still awaiting the findings of this study.

This study has now ended. 

Convalescent Serology

This study, led by Public Health England and the University of Oxford, is looking at blood samples from patients who have recovered from COVID-19. Blood samples taken from patients who have had and are recovering from a confirmed COVID-19 infection help researchers to understand the antibody response following infection. This in turn will help to develop new tests for detecting the coronavirus infection. Blood samples are taken at the following dates post infection: 3-6 weeks, 12 weeks, 20 weeks, 9 months and 12 months.

This study has now ended. 

IsoFit-BP

Isometric exercise for people with raised Blood Pressure

Support a local piece of research developed through the University of Kent, Canterbury Christ Church University and East Kent Hospitals University Foundation Trust, IsoFIT-BP!

Within the UK approximately 8 million people are affected by high blood pressure (BP). Standard treatment normally includes changes in lifestyle and/or medication, however, more than half of patients fail to control their BP due to unpleasant side effects associated with medication, and the difficulty of complying with exercise recommendations (at least 150 minutes a week of moderate intensity activity) and dietary changes. The aim of IsoFIT-BP is to find out whether a particular form of static exercise - isometric exercise - is efficient in reducing BP in those with mild hypertension and subsequently whether nurses and allied health professionals can deliver these exercises in a primary care NHS setting.

This study has now ended. 

Low Mood and Anxiety Clinic

Newton Place Surgery previously worked in partnership with P1vital Products Ltd, Canterbury Coastal CCG, the University of Kent and Mind on a research project funded by Innovate UK to provide a walk in clinic to patients registered with a Faversham GP practice for depression and anxiety. The project involved implementing a new service incorporating digital technology (i-spero®) within a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals with specialist training.

This study has now ended. 

RECAP

Remote COVID-19 Assessment in Primary Care

The RECAP project was a collaborative effort between the University of Oxford and Imperial College London, that aimed to develop a tool to assist primary care providers in the identification of COVID-19 patients who may be at risk of becoming severe. It also aimed to facilitate the early escalation of treatment in order to improve patient outcomes. The study found that both RECAP models were valid tools to assess COVID-19 patients in the community.

Newton Place successfully recruited 13 patients to take part in the trial.

REDUCE

ReviEwing long term anti-Depressant Use by Careful monitoring in Everyday practice

Newton Place Surgery are working alongside the University of Southampton to identify feasible, safe, reliable and cost-effective ways of helping patients withdraw from long-term antidepressant use, where appropriate. The researchers are looking to explore the difficulties people experience when withdrawing and identify factors that patients and practitioners think might help people to withdraw.

This study has now ended. 

Relieve IBS-D

Double-blinded randomised placebo controlled trial of Enterosgel (polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate) for the treatment of IBS with diarrhoea (IBS-D)

This study looked at the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS-D). The primary objective was to test the effectiveness of a treatment called Enterosgel compared with a placebo in terms of patient reported outcomes for stool consistency and abdominal pain. Enterosgel was shown to improve stool consistency, abdominal pain, stool frequency and urgency and is now considered safe and effective in IBS-D, providing an alternative to the limited current treatment option.

This study has now ended. 

Retrospective Survey of Prevention, Treatment, Occurrence and Outcomes of Covid-19 in the community

Newton Place Surgery asked patients to complete a survey run by the University of Southampton to help researchers understand how to beat Coronavirus. This online survey aims to inform the management of the Covid-19 pandemic by describing use of preventive behaviours, transmission to household contacts, occurrence of infections, the clinical features, use of treatments, and outcomes of people who have experienced suspected COVID-19 illness or any respiratory tract infection during the global pandemic, whether confirmed COVID-19 or not, and the preventive behaviours and treatments of those who have not experienced a suspected COVID-19 illness.

This study has now ended. 

Psychological Impact of Covid-19

To help increase our knowledge of how coronavirus and the changing restrictions have impacted mental health, patients were asked to complete a short, 15 minute questionnaire on how they are coping during the pandemic. The responses are being used to support our understanding of how mental health and wellbeing has been affected by the pandemic and also what may be helpful for people during this time. Newton Place was overwhelmed with the response rate for this research project and would like to thank all patients who took the time to participate.

This study has now ended. 

The PRINCIPLE Trial

PRINCIPLE is another clinical trial led by the University of Oxford exploring treatments for COVID-19. So far over 11,000 patients have taken part in this study from practices across England. The eligibility criteria are as below:

• You are currently experiencing COVID-19 symptoms for 14 days or less
• AND: You have had a positive test for COVID-19 in the last 14 days
• AND: You are aged 18 or over

This study has now ended

SAFER

Screening for Atrial Fibrillation with ECG to Reduce stroke

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common irregular heartbeat, and is a major risk factor for stroke unless treated with medication.

We (researchers at the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford) want to find out whether a national screening programme for atrial fibrillation (i) is possible/achievable, (ii) will prevent strokes and (iii) is good value for money for the NHS.

We are inviting patients aged 70 years and over to take part in a research trial that aims to answer these questions. If you have atrial fibrillation you may still be able to take part.

If you agree to take part, we will ask for your consent to give us access to relevant information from your medical and other health-related records. This will be information related to stroke and associated conditions (you can read more about this later in this information sheet). We will make sure that this information is looked after securely, remains confidential and is only used for the purposes described – all in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation.

You may or may not be offered screening for atrial fibrillation as part of the trial. If you are offered atrial fibrillation screening we will send you further information about this and you can choose then whether you would like to be screened or not.

This study has now ended

HipDyS

Evaluation of aid to diagnosis of congenital dysplasia of the hip in general practice: controlled randomised trial.

When you come for baby's 6-8 week check, the GP will examine your baby's hips. A research trial is being conducted which seeks to improve the way the 6-8 week checks are carried out. The research team will follow your child's care through the NHS for 2 years. This is needed to find out if your child has always had normal hips, or if the child has ever been to hospital for a hip problem. Also, as part of the research, the surgery staff may send you questionnaires to ask you about your appointment. 

You can opt out of this research study. Opting out means the doctor will continue the examination as routine care and no date will be collected by the research team. You will also not be contacted to complete the questionnaires. 

This study has now ended. 

The PAPER study

We know that there are differences between ethnic groups in the amounts and types of medications prescribed. We are interested in understanding the prescribing of antidepressant medication, particularly focussing on the experiences of patients from a South Asian minority ethnic background, who are living in the UK.

We wish to focus on antidepressants for a number of reasons:

• Depression presents itself differently in different patients so it can be difficult to diagnose.
• Even if diagnosed, depression can be very difficult to treat effectively, and many patients do not respond to treatment at all.  
• Depressed patients do not always take the medications they are prescribed. 

All these things may contribute to inappropriate prescribing of antidepressants.

We wish to focus on South Asian patients because:

• They are the largest minority ethnic group in the UK.  
• Previous research has shown they may be particularly vulnerable to depression and not get the treatment they need or want.  

Therefore, it is important to understand the specific needs of these patients and what changes can be made to the healthcare system to better support them.

For more information please visit The PAPER Study at University of Surrey

Snackivity

Currently active – recruitment open

• For more information please visit their website
• Snacktivity Participant Information video

Athena

Some people can have “nerve pain” months after the shingles rash has gone. Called post-herpetic neuralgia, we don’t have any treatments to prevent this. Patients buy, and GPs prescribe painkillers such as paracetamol, but they often don’t help. The study aims to find out whether taking a low dose of amitriptyline soon after getting shingles can prevent long-term nerve pain associated with shingles.

Currently active – recruitment open

For more information please visit their website

DESCALE

De-escalation of opioids post-surgical discharge 

The role of the clinical pharmacist in reducing opioid dependence at the interface between hospital and primary care.

A local study looking at supporting patients coming home from surgery with a specific group of medicines, known as opioids. 

A research study involving the management of opioid medication following a surgical procedure in hospital. We are asking particular patients who meet with the criteria listed below to undertake an early medication review with your practice pharmacist.

• Are over the age of 18 years old.
• Have undergone a surgical procedure in Margate, Canterbury, or Ashford and are a Newton Place Surgery patient.
• And who were discharged with and continue to take opioid medicine to manage their pain.

Currently active 

Virology Surveillance - Giving swab samples for disease surveillance 

Virology surveillance is a programme to measure the effectiveness of the influenza/flu and COVID-19 vaccinations using results from swabs taken by patients who are unwell. The swabs are used to monitor the spread of respiratory viruses, like flu and COVID-19, in different regions throughout the winter. 

The anticipated burden of flu and COVID-19  during winter season on the National Health Service (NHS) is significant. By providing this swab, you are enabling public health bodies to make crucial public health decision. 

Currently active: Yes, recruitment ongoing

STATIC

This clinical trial will aim to definitively prove that 5ASAs have no role in the management of CD, and it is indeed safe to stop these medications when CD is in remission (i.e. currently not flaring). The study aims to show that stopping or continuing 5ASAs will not have any effect on disease flares and complications related to CD. 

Who can take part in the study?

Patients over 18 with Crohn’s Disease (CD) that is in remission and are currently taking a type of medication known as an aminosalicylate (5-ASA or mesalazine).

For more information please visit their website

Currently active 

ATTACK

Aspirin To Target Arterial events in Chronic Kidney disease

Does low-dose aspirin reduce the chance of a heart attack or stroke in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD)? This is a large-scale academic study led by the University of Southampton, to see whether or not patients with chronic kidney disease should be taking aspirin daily to prevent a first heart attack or stroke. It is recruiting patients from GP practices across the UK, and looks to invite 198,000 patients.

Currently active: Recruitment ended December 2023

For more information please visit their website

DaRe2THINK

DaRe2THINK is a study developed by the University of Birmingham targeting those with Atrial fibrillation (AF). AF is a common heart rhythm condition that leads to a high chance of stroke, frequent hospital admissions, a higher risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Blood thinning tablets called anticoagulants greatly reduce the number of patients with AF that will suffer a stroke, but are usually only given to older patients or those with other health issues. DaRe2Think aims to determine whether direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) therapy reduces premature death, stroke and other consequences of AF in younger patients, including the prevention of cognitive decline and vascular dementia. The trial is aiming to recruit 3,000 patients from up to 600 GP surgeries across England.

If you have received an letter from the practice inviting you to DaRe2THINK and you are interested in taking part, please contact our Research Team.

Currently active: Yes, recruitment ongoing.

Duration

UTIs are the commonest bacterial infection seen in primary care and far more common in women than men. Over four million prescriptions for UTIs are issued to women in the UK every year. However, there is little evidence to help GPs decide how many days of antibiotic treatment are necessary. We need to make sure that the antibiotics are taken for long enough to treat the infection, but avoid over treating which increases the likelihood of bacteria becoming antibiotic resistant, which would mean that future UTis could be harder to treat.

The study aims to recruit 2248 adult women with UTI symptoms who visit a clinician in either a hospital or GP surgery, and for whom the clinician judges that antibiotics are needed for a suspected bladder (cystitis) or kidney (pyelonephritis) infection.

The clinician will randomise women with cystitis to receive one of two commonly used antibiotics for this condition, then randomise them again to one of five different treatment durations. Women with pyelonephritis will be offered one of a family of antibiotics which work in similar ways, depending on the local prescribing policy, and will be randomised to take their antibiotic treatment for one of six different treatment durations.

Visit their website for more information 

Currently active: Yes, recruitment ongoing.

Discover Me

By collecting health and genetic information on thousands of people, Discover Me aims to help us find out why diseases may affect some people more than others. This could help transform healthcare.

As part of Discover Me, you can learn more about your own health, supporting you and your doctor to make better decisions about your health and care.

Optimise 2

The population of the UK is getting older and more people are living with multiple illnesses, taking lots of tablets to manage these illnesses. High blood pressure is one of the most common medical conditions in older people and many take two or more drugs to treat it. Recent scientific studies suggest that large reductions in blood pressure, and too many drug prescriptions, may be associated with an increase in falls and death in older patients. We have previously undertaken a trial which showed that reducing the number of blood pressure lowering drugs prescribed to older people is safe in the short term (over a three month period). However, we do not know what the longer term effects of stopping blood pressure lowering drugs are. This trial aims to assess this in people aged 75 years or older, who have blood pressure in a normal range, are taking two or more medications and are at a higher risk of drug-related side-effects. 

Currently active: Yes, recruitment ongoing

For more information please visit the Optimise 2 website

Toucan

Half of all women will experience a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) at least once in their lifetime. The most common treatment is with an antibiotic. However, the number of bacterial infections which are resistant to antibiotics is rising because women are being prescribed antibiotics which they don’t need. This happens because GPs don’t have rapid, accurate diagnostic tests to be sure whether a woman needs antibiotics and, if she does, which antibiotic would be most effective.  

Currently available UTI diagnostic tests are slow, may not be 100% accurate, or even both. GPs use a combination of symptoms, signs and a simple dipstick test to predict whether someone may have an infection. New, rapid diagnostic tests are now in the early stages of development aiming to indicate whether a woman does indeed have a UTI, and to suggest which antibiotic will be effective. Doctors and patients will then have the knowledge to make immediate and appropriate treatment decisions.  

The TOUCAN study is investigating some of these new tests. We will compare the results from the new tests, performed in GP surgeries, with established tests performed in a specialised laboratory to make sure that the new tests give reliable information.

Starting shortly

For information please visit the Toucan website

The third study of infectious intestinal disease in the UK (IID3)

This research project aims to estimate the burden and causes of infectious intestinal disease (IID) in the UK population
Infectious Intestinal Disease (IID) usually presents as diarrhoea and vomiting. In the UK, IID usually has no long-term health effects, but has a high associated cost due to the numbers of people who fall ill, and the consequences of absence from work or treatment cost. However, in some cases, IID can lead to death for high-risk individuals.

IID is caused by a range of microorganisms, including bacteria (e.g. Salmonella, Campylobacter and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli), viruses (e.g. norovirus and rotavirus) and parasites (e.g. Giardia or Cryptosporidium), and transmission can occur through a variety of pathways.

Two previous IID studies have been undertaken examining the rates of IID: In 1993-1996, the Study of Infectious Intestinal Disease (IID) in England  (IID1 study) and in 2007-2009, the Second Study of Infectious Intestinal Disease in the community (IID2 study). Both previous IID studies indicated that the number of cases of IID in the UK is significantly underreported and cases are often not assigned to a pathogen, with under-reporting due to numerous factors, including the individual not seeking medical care, samples not being taken at point of contact with primary healthcare, and negative test results despite meeting the criteria for an IID diagnosis. 

This third study will follow similar strategies to the previous IID studies, aiming to provide data that allows comparisons across the three, but will also utilise technologies unavailable at the time of previous studies, such as whole genome sequencing.

Currently Active

For more information please visit The Food Standards Agency website

Relief

Approximately 10% of UK adults have asthma. Many have “mild” asthma, requiring a reliever (blue) inhaler for symptoms with or without, low-dose-inhaled steroid treatment. Asthma causes airway inflammation, so treatment with regular inhaled steroids is important. Blue inhalers provide symptom relief but cannot help inflammation. Increasing use of blue inhalers and decreasing use of preventer (usually brown) inhalers is associated with poorer asthma outcomes.

The Global Initiative for Asthma (world-wide asthma recommendations) suggest replacing the first-choice standard blue inhaler for all asthma patients with a combination inhaler containing both reliever and a preventer medicine.

The study aims to determine;

• How effective a combination inhaler might be versus standard care for symptom relief in mild asthma
• Overall costs and savings of the two treatments
• Health care providers and patients views of the new way to treat mild asthma

Currently Active

For information please visit the University Of Nottingham website

Asymptomatic

Asthma is the commonest long-term disease in children in the UK. It causes cough and difficulty breathing. The main treatment for asthma is a preventer inhaler, containing corticosteroids, which prevents irritation of the airways.

The ASYMPTOMATIC study aims to find out whether taking a preventer inhaler only when a child, with mild asthma, has symptoms is as effective as taking it every day.

The study will involve around 250 GP practices in England and around 2000 children and young people with asthma.

Currently active: Yes, recruitment ongoing

For information please visit the Asymptomatic website

DESTINIES

Do you want to help see our most vulnerable patients properly monitored in times of pandemic? And do you have 1 hour to spare to make a difference?

Researchers at the University of Oxford recently completed a study that has built international agreement on the diagnoses that cause immunosuppression and their different risks for COVID-19 infection. They hope to use this information to improve how these patients are monitored and protected when disease spreads rapidly in the community - but they need your help!

These researchers are looking for volunteers to join their Immunosuppressed Patient Panel. These panellists will be asked to give feedback on this study and its findings from their own lived experience - no special knowledge or skills are required. Time commitment is a maximum of 1 hour.

If you identify as immunosuppressed and are interested in supporting this work, then please sign up at the link below. Your input will make all the difference!

Recruitment Drive for the DESTINIES Patient Panel - Sign up here.