Footprints in Primary Care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Testing the feasibility of a consultation-level intervention for patients in primary care who attend more significantly than the norm with clinically inexplicable symptoms
IRAS ID
155355
Contact name
Rebecca Barnes
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 0 days
Research summary
For some patients who attend primary care more significantly than the norm, although they experience persistent symptoms, a cause cannot readily be identified. Often, GPs may feel a pressure to do something and may prescribe medications or refer them for investigations and specialist appointments that they do not need. This may do patients more harm than good and incur unnecessary costs. One general practice has recently taken the initiative to change the way they look after this group of patients. The GPs have received expert training in a technique called BATHE, that enhances the therapeutic relationship with their patients. When a patient seeks medical advice, either in a telephone or face-to-face consultation, after obtaining information about their complaint, the doctor applies the technique. The patients report high satisfaction with their care and consulting rates have dropped.
We would like to take this model and observe whether it works in a wider range of patients in different types of practices. We also want to find out whether the intervention could be evaluated in a large randomised controlled trial.
We will recruit six practices: four will use the intervention and two will act as ‘controls’; patients from all six will be invited to take part. We will collect data from practice records and, using a questionnaire, from the patients themselves, about the service they receive over a period of 12 months, related personal costs, and any change in their health. We will also record a sample of consultations to see how well the GPs are applying their training and we will interview a group of patients and practice staff about their experiences.
The results will be used to inform the design of a large study which will provide evidence about the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of this method of caring for this patient group.REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SW/0085
Date of REC Opinion
30 Apr 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion