Research
The White Horse Medical Practice is actively involved in medical research. Hundreds of our patients have volunteered to take part in trials we are running. Areas of research have included asthma, diabetes, infection, heart disease and arthritis.
Evidence shows that patients who receive care in research active organisations have better health outcomes than those treated in a non-research active environment (NIHR).
You can choose whether your data is used for research or planning purposes, and can find out more information about this on the NHS website: www.nhs.uk
Current Studies
If you are interested in being involved in more complicated research, we are currently running the following studies:
ASYMPTOMATIC - A Childhood Asthma Study. A trial to find out how best to use inhaled steroids to treat children aged 6-15 inclusive with mild asthma
ATHENA - A Shingles Study to find out if taking amitriptyline can prevent the persistent pain that some people get after shingles. If you are 50 years or older and recently had a shingles outbreak (within the past 6 days) you may be able to take part. Please ask the health professional you see.
COAT - A Cellulitis study for people aged 18 and over who have cellulitis affecting one lower leg. The study is comparing the effectiveness of a 5 day course of antibiotics against a 7 day course
DaRe2Think - An AF study for people aged 55 to 73 to find out if newer blood thinning tablets can prevent serious long-term complications if used earlier (before a patient is 75 or those aged 65 with other health conditions)
PETRUSHKA - A Depression Study. The study aims to personalise treatment for people aged 18-74 with a new diagnosis of depression. It uses a Web-based decision support tool to predict which antidepressant works best for each individual patient, in comparison to usual care.
RAPTOR - A COVID-19 study for both children and adults with suspected COVID-19 infection. The study is comparing how accurate different tests are at detecting past or current coronavirus (covid-19) infection.
RESTED - An Insomnia and Depression study for patients 18 years and over who have a diagnosis of insomnia and depression. This study is testing whether using a treatment to improve sleep will also improve depression and, if so, how it works.
Tiger - An Eczema study for children aged 3 months to 2 years. This study wants to find out whether making changes to the diet of children with eczema, based on food allergy tests, improves eczema control.
Toucan - A Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) study for women aged 18 and over. The study is testing new devices that, hopefully, will quickly tell a Clinician whether a patient has a UTI and some of the devices may be able to pinpoint which antibiotic is best suited.
If you are interested in any of the studies you have read about and would like to know more, please ask the health professional you are seeing, or contact the research nurse directly by emailing Jill.Larkin@nhs.net
We also support many studies that request the practice to identify patients who may be eligible. If you are eligible, we will either send you a letter or a text message with a brief overview of the study and the study contact details if you wish to participate.
All research is voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time. Many research studies take up minimal time and there are often rewards for the time that you do give. Involvement in studies can range from filling in questionnaires (paper or online) to having health checks and scans.
Visit www.bepartofresearch.uk to see all the research studies needing volunteers across this area and beyond.
You can help to shape healthcare. Thank you.
Published Results
Studies that WHMP patients were a part of and have now published their results
ANTLER - A placebo controlled study to look at whether remaining on (or coming off) anti-depressants reduced relapses of depression
Press Release: Long-term antidepressant use is effective, but many people can come off them safely – new research (www.theconversation.com)
Publication: Maintenance or Discontinuation of Antidepressants in Primary Care (www.nejm.org)
GP Perspectives Study - This was a study of GP attitudes and understanding, to help improve clinician education about endometriosis. At WHMP all departments participate in research like this because we are passionate about our roles.
Publication: Navigating possible endometriosis in primary care: a qualitative study of GP perspectives (www.bjgp.org)
HOPE-e - This was a pilot study looking at how we might be able to treat painful hand arthritis with HRT. WHMP patients were involved in the study, as were the doctors, helping the study team refine the trial protocol for a much larger study in the future.
Psychological Impact of COVID - This was a study that many of our patients were involved in, by replying to a text link questionnaire. Over 28000 adults took part across the UK, with interesting insights into what affected mental health during the 2020 lockdown period.
STOIC - A world-leading study that proved inhaled steroids can reduce COVID illness severity and hospital admissions in some patients. WHMP and our patients were part of the hugely significant study that we are especially proud of.