iCARE: helpful aspects of treatment for substance use in primary care

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    iCARE: helpful aspects of treatment for substance use in primary care from the patient perspective

  • IRAS ID

    244993

  • Contact name

    Paula Alves

  • Contact email

    p.alves@ucl.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University College London

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    Z6364106 2018 06 168, UCL Data Protection Registration

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 6 months, 25 days

  • Research summary

    In 2016 a report from the NHS indicated that 1 in 12 people aged between 16 and 59 living in England and Wales have used at least one illicit substance. Substance use represents a major public health concern in the UK affecting the health and well-being of individuals, their families and communities. Substance use treatment can be provided in various settings, including primary care services. Providing substance use treatment in primary care facilitates access to patients seeking treatment for physical and mental health problems that may, or may not, be related to their substance use. Also, it potentially destigmatises treatment, by allowing patients with the opportunity to receive substance use treatment in a generalist health care facility. Clinical guidelines and research about treatment of substance use disorders tend to overlook patients’ perspectives. In previous research, patients have reported that clinicians have no idea about their experiences, crucially leading to patients and clinicians having different views about what recovery means. Consequently, treatment provision may not match patient preferences. There is limited research on patients’ experiences of substance use treatment in primary care. This project aims to understand those experiences through interviewing patients receiving treatment in primary care and asking them what has been helpful and unhelpful in their consultations to manage substance use. This study aims to inform health professionals about what makes substance use treatment in primary care successful and unsuccessful, from the patient perspective.

  • REC name

    London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    18/LO/1402

  • Date of REC Opinion

    28 Sep 2018

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion