A study looking at improving the way cancer pain is managed in the community (IMPACCT)

Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.

Cancer type:

All cancer types

Status:

Closed

Phase:

Other

This study is part of a programme called IMPACCT which aims to improve the lives of people with cancer and their carers. This part of the programme is focused on medicines and is looking at ways that community pharmacies can help.

More about this trial

Many people with cancer have pain at some point. This can often be managed with advice on the use of medicines and coping techniques. But some people with cancer have pain that could be managed better.

Pharmacists based in the community provide services to help people with their medication, including painkillers. This study aims to plan and test a new pain medicine service that will focus on the needs of cancer patients.

The aims of the study are to

Learn more about how cancer patients currently deal with their pain medication
Find out what people think of having a service specifically tailored to their needs
Design a community pharmacy service that focuses on pain medication and see what people think of it

The study is in 3 parts. The researchers need patients to join part 1 and part 3. In part 2, they are talking to healthcare professionals.

Who can enter

You cannot volunteer to take part. You may be asked to join the 1st part of the study if all of the following apply. You

Are registered with 1 of 5 GP practices in the Bradford area that are taking part in this study
Are at least 16 years old
Have advanced cancer
Have pain from your cancer and have been having a strong opioid painkiller such as morphine, fentanyl or oxycodone for more than 2 weeks
Can speak and write English

You may be asked to you join the 3rd part of the study if all of the above apply and you have been regularly using one of the pharmacies taking part in the study for at least 3 months.

Trial design

If you join the 1st part of the study, the researchers will arrange an interview with you. This will take up to an hour and will be at a time and place that suits you.

They will ask about how you deal with your medicines and who gives you help with this. They want to find out what is important to you and which things make your use of pain medicines harder or easier. They will also ask what you would think about a service specifically tailored to your needs.

All the information you give is confidential Open a glossary item . There are no right or wrong answers. They are just interested in your thoughts. With your permission, the study team will make an audio recording of the interview.

In the 2nd part of the study, the researchers will also talk to doctors, nurses, pharmacists and patient representatives about their views on how to improve pharmacy services for people with cancer.

All the information collected in parts 1 and 2 will help the study team to design a service specifically catering for people with cancer and their families.

In the 3rd part of the study, they will test the service with patients to see what they think of it. If you agree to join this part, the study team will send you a questionnaire to fill in. This will ask about any problems you currently have with medication and how well your pain is controlled. They will give you a stamped addressed envelope to return the questionnaire.

They will give you a little book containing details of your medicines. This can be a source of information for you and any healthcare professionals you come into contact with. It will include information from your GP’s records about your medicines and your cancer diagnosis. It will be designed to make the information as useful as possible.

The study team will then arrange for you to have a consultation with your pharmacist that will concentrate on pain medicines. The consultation will be with a pharmacist who has had extra training on how they can help you get the most from your pain medication. They will talk you through your medication and help with any questions you may have about it.

As is usual in this type of consultation, if the pharmacist spots a problem with your medication, or thinks you may need some extra medication, they may need to contact your GP.

The consultation with the pharmacist will take about 20 minutes. The study team will ensure this is at a time and place that suits you.

About 2 weeks after filling in the first questionnaire, the study team will send you another one. This will ask how well your pain is controlled and how useful you found different parts of the study. They will give you another stamped addressed envelope to return it. It takes about 10 minutes to fill in each of the 2 questionnaires.