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End of life care in UK care homes - controlled drugs: systematic review and narrative synthesis
Background Controlled drugs (CDs) such as opioids and midazolam are commonly used in end-of-life care symptom management for care home residents. Aim To review the published evidence concerning the prescribing, storage, use and disposal of CDs for end-of-life care for care home residents in the UK. D…
Experiences of Carers and People with Dementia from Ethnic Minority Groups Managing Eating and Drinking at Home in the United Kingdom
Eating and drinking difficulties, such as loss of appetite and swallowing problems, are common in dementia, but little is known about the experiences of ethnic minority groups who are managing these difficulties at home. The purpose of our study was to explore the meaning of food, the impact of dementia on eati…
Introducing genetic testing with case finding for familial hypercholesterolaemia in primary care: qualitative study of patient and health professional experience
Background Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a common inherited condition causing elevated cholesterol, premature heart disease, and early death. Although FH can be effectively treated, over 80% of people with FH remain undetected. Aim To explore patient and health professional experiences of intro…
Inter-arm blood pressure difference and cardiovascular risk estimation in primary care
Background Systolic inter-arm differences (IAD) in blood pressure (BP) contribute independently to cardiovascular risk estimates; this can be used to refine predicted risk and guide personalised interventions. Aim To model the effect of accounting for IAD in cardiovascular risk estimation in a primary care popula…
Exploring the experiences of people and family carers from under-represented groups in self-managing Parkinson's disease and their use of digital health to do this
Introduction Digital health is thought to enable people to better manage chronic conditions, such as Parkinson's. However, little is known about how people from under-represented groups with chronic conditions use digital health to self-manage. Objective The objective of our study was to explore the experienc…
Community-based anticipatory prescribing during COVID-19: a qualitative study
Objectives To understand healthcare professionals’ experiences of delivering anticipatory prescribing (AP) during the first wave of the UK COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 16 healthcare professionals involved in community p…
Cost-Effectiveness of Antihypertensive Deprescribing in Primary Care: a Markov Modelling Study Using Data From the OPTiMISE Trial
Background: Deprescribing of antihypertensive medications for older patients with normal blood pressure is recommended by some clinical guidelines, where the potential harms of treatment may outweigh the benefits. This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of this approach. Methods: A Markov patient…
The experiences and needs of supporting individuals of young people who self-harm: A systematic review and thematic synthesis
Self-harm in young people is a serious international health concern that impacts on those providing informal support: the supporting individuals of young people. We aimed to highlight the experiences, views, and needs of these supporting individuals of young people. We conducted a systematic review and th…
Transitional Care Interventions for Older Residents of Long-term Care Facilities A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Importance Residents of long-term care facilities (LTCFs) experience high hospitalization rates, yet little is known about the effects of transitional care interventions for these residents. Objective To assess the association of transitional care interventions with readmission rates and other outcomes for reside…
Why do people take part in atrial fibrillation screening? Qualitative interview study in English primary care
Objectives There is insufficient evidence to support national screening programmes for atrial fibrillation (AF). Nevertheless, some practitioners, policy-makers and special interest groups have encouraged introduction of opportunistic screening in primary care in order to reduce the incidence of stroke through earli…
The association between anxiety and disease activity and quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
In people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), mental health problems are common, but often not recognized or treated, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. Most studies examining the impact of mental health problems in RA have focused on depression. We aimed to determine the association between…
Barriers and Facilitators to Staying Smoke-Free after Having a Baby, a Qualitative Study: Women’s Views on Support Needed to Prevent Returning to Smoking Postpartum
Background: Postpartum return to smoking (PPRS) is a common and important public health problem. Interventions to prevent PPRS have not been shown to be effective. We aimed to qualitatively explore the barriers and facilitators to staying smoke-free after having a baby, and women’s views on the support ne…
How do people with knee osteoarthritis perceive and manage flares? A qualitative study
Background Acute flares in people with osteoarthritis (OA) are poorly understood. There is uncertainty around the nature of flares, their impact, and how these are managed. Aim To explore understandings and experiences of flares in people with knee OA, and to describe self-management and help-seeking s…
Non-antibiotic treatment of acute urinary tract infection in primary care: a qualitative study
Background The views of women with acute, uncomplicated urinary tract infection (auUTI) on the acceptability of non-antibiotic treatment options are poorly understood. Aim To establish women’s thoughts on and experience of non-antibiotic treatment for auUTIs. Design and setting Qualitative interview study wit…
The long-term impact of vaginal surgical mesh devices in UK primary care: a cohort study in the CPRD
Objective Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) are treated with surgical mesh devices; evidence of their long-term complications is lacking. To examine long-term complications in women with SUI and/or POP, with and without surgical mesh implants. Design Longitudinal open cohort st…
Prescribing of long-term antibiotics to adolescents in primary care: a retrospective cohort study
Background Antibiotic overuse is linked to increased risk of antimicrobial resistance. Long-term antibiotics are commonly used for treating acne and prophylaxis of urinary tract infection. Their contribution to the overall burden of antibiotic use is relatively unknown. Aim To describe the volume of common…
Determining propensity for sub-optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol response to statins and future risk of cardiovascular disease
Background Variability in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) response to statins is underappreciated. We characterised patients by their statin response (SR), baseline risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and 10-year CVD outcomes. Methods and results A multivariable model was developed using 1…
Navigating possible endometriosis in primary care: a qualitative study of GP perspectives
Background Endometriosis affects approximately 6–10% of women, with well documented delays between initial presentation with symptoms and diagnosis. In England, women typically seek help first in primary care, making this setting pivotal in women’s pathways to diagnosis and treatment. English GP perspec…
Urine collection devices to reduce contamination in urine samples for diagnosis of uncomplicated UTI: a single-blind randomised controlled trial in primary care
Background Urine collection devices (UCDs) are being marketed and used in clinical settings to reduce urine sample contamination, despite inadequate supporting evidence. Aim To determine whether UCDs, compared with standardised instructions for urine sample collection, reduce the proportion of conta…
Clinicians’ and patients’ experiences of managing heart failure during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study
Background Severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), also known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), resulted in unprecedented societal and healthcare provision change, which has been implemented at pace. Little is known about the indirect impacts of these changes and what the future eff…
Latest news
New Handbook Offers Guidance for Supporting Loved Ones Facing Domestic Abuse
29 July 2025
A study funded by the NIHR School for Primary Care Research (SPCR) has led to the creation of a new Friends and Family Handbook, offering vital guidance for those supporting someone who may be experiencing domestic abuse.
SPCR IN Focus | World Hepatitis Day
28 July 2025
To mark this year’s World Hepatitis Day (28 July 2025), the NIHR School for Primary Care Research (SPCR) is highlighting projects that raise awareness of hepatitis and related health inequalities.
SPCR members awarded at SAPC ASM 2025
21 July 2025
SPCR colleagues were well represented at the SAPC Annual Scientific Meeting held in Cardiff this July, with several members receiving awards in recognition of their work in primary care research.