Ask to take part

Contact the study team using the details below to take part. If there are no contact details below please ask your doctor in the first instance.

Contact Information:

Dr Fiona Graham
+44 (0)7511046947
fiona.graham@newcastle.ac.uk


Dr Karen Marshall
+44 (0)191 208 3463
Karen.marshall1@newcastle.ac.uk


More information about this study, what is involved and how to take part can be found on the study website.

Study Location:

Find another location


Questions to ask
Skip to Main Content
English | Cymraeg
Be Part of Research - Trial Details - Can shared medical appointments in general practice support people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the North East and North Cumbria region of England?
Back

Can shared medical appointments in general practice support people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the North East and North Cumbria region of England?

Not Recruiting

Open to: All Genders

Age: Adult

Newcastle upon Tyne Tyne and Wear

Medical Conditions

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

This information is provided directly by researchers, and we recognise that it isn't always easy to understand. We are working with researchers to improve the accessibility of this information. In some summaries, you may come across links to external websites. These websites will have more information to help you better understand the study.


Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung condition that affects over a million people in England. It is most common in people living in deprived areas. The main symptom is breathlessness, which can suddenly worsen resulting in hospital care. There is no cure for COPD, so we need to support patients to manage their condition themselves, by monitoring symptoms, using inhalers and other medication correctly and by seeking help only when needed.
Self-management support is given during check-up appointments in general practice, yet patients report there is not enough time for discussion. Some practices are trying shared medical appointments (SMAs), where a group of 6-12 patients, with the same condition, share a longer appointment. Patients can ask staff questions and share their experiences with the group.
It is not known how well shared medical appointments work for patients with COPD or whether it is more costly than usual care. Recently, more care is being delivered by video, but it is not known if this is possible in groups of patients. This study will test these ideas in a small study to help decide if a larger, more expensive, trial is possible in the future.

Start dates may differ between countries and research sites. The research team are responsible for keeping the information up-to-date.  

The recruitment start and end dates are as follows:

07 Feb 2024 31 Aug 2024

Participants will be randomly allocated to attend a shared appointment in person or by video link, or receive usual care. The researchers will:
1. Measure the number of patients that take part and remain in the study
2. Interview patients about experiences in the study
3. Test how to collect information from patients about NHS use
4. Interview staff about how well shared appointments work
5. Test how to collect information about the time and money needed to run SMAs
6. Use their findings to decide if a larger trial is possible


Patients aged 18 years or older with a diagnosis of COPD under ongoing management in a GP practice in the North East and North Cumbrian region of England

You can take part if:



You may not be able to take part if:


1. Without the capacity to consent i.e., with dementia or significant learning difficulties2. With severe mental ill-health3. Requiring palliative care4. Diagnosed with a condition likely to limit life expectancy to <1 year


Below are the locations for where you can take part in the trial. Please note that not all sites may be open.

  • NIHR CRN: North East and North Cumbria
    Regent Point Regent Farm Road Gosforth
    Newcastle upon Tyne Tyne and Wear
    NE3 3HD

Participants will help the researchers to better understand how well these shared appointments work and who they work for. Participants who attend an SMA as part of the study will receive support from healthcare professionals and other people living with COPD. Participants who attend usual care as part of this study will be helping to provide the researchers with important information that allows them to compare SMAs with usual one-to-one appointments. If SMAs are found to be as good as or better than usual appointments, they might become a part of routine COPD care in future.
With regards to risks, participants may find completing study questionnaires, attending an SMA and/or an interview time-consuming. If they attend an SMA they may feel uncomfortable discussing their health condition in front of people with COPD. Participants can choose not to share information about themselves during the session if they wish. Everyone who participates in the study is required to agree not to discuss the health issues of others with people outside the group.

Dr Fiona Graham
+44 (0)7511046947
fiona.graham@newcastle.ac.uk


Dr Karen Marshall
+44 (0)191 208 3463
Karen.marshall1@newcastle.ac.uk



More information about this study, what is involved and how to take part can be found on the study website.


The study is sponsored by Newcastle University and funded by Research for Patient Benefit Programme.



We'd like your feedback

Your feedback is important to us. It will help us improve the quality of the study information on this site. Please answer both questions.


Is this study information helpful?

What will you do next?
Read full details for Trial ID: ISRCTN88389291

Or CPMS 54981

Last updated 06 August 2024

This page is to help you find out about a research study and if you may be able to take part

You can print or share the study information with your GP/healthcare provider or contact the research team directly.   

Back to the top