Clozapine use: competence and confidence of professionals.

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A study investigating factors influencing competence and confidence in managing clozapine.

  • IRAS ID

    334366

  • Contact name

    Agostina Secchi

  • Contact email

    a.secchi@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of Kent

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    CRD42022346000, PROSPERO

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    2 years, 1 months, 4 days

  • Research summary

    Aim
    This study aims to find ideas to address identified issues in competence and confidence in prescribing and managing clozapine.
    Background
    Clozapine is the only medicine that can be given where other medicines have not worked well in improving patients' experiences and beliefs that are not based in reality.
    In the UK only 30% of eligible patients are offered clozapine despite its efficacy.
    The idea for this study developed after a discussion with a group of patients and carers called the patient and public involvement (PPI) group and after reviewing the literature. The PPI group told me that there is a lack of understanding on how clozapine can be best used and that they would like to be involved in finding new ways to overcome this problem.
    Methods
    This study uses a mixed approach where information is gathered from other studies (review of the literature) and from interviewing professionals, patients and carers.
    The study is made up of 3 stages.
    In the first stage, I reviewed what previous studies have found about factors affecting competence and confidence in managing clozapine amongst the health care professionals, and the impact this has on patients and carers.
    After this stage, I invited a patient, a carer, two professional from the PPI group to form an advisory group. The role of this group is to review the information obtained from the literature and to help me in the development of the interviews that will be used in the second stage.
    In the second stage, I will interview professionals from different disciplines and background, patients and carers who have some experience in the use of clozapine. At this point the information gathered are used to generate ideas to support the prescribing and management of clozapine
    The third stage will look at feasibility/adaptability of these ideas .

  • REC name

    Social Care REC

  • REC reference

    24/IEC08/0026

  • Date of REC Opinion

    24 Oct 2024

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion