Keith looks for and circulates research opportunities that may benefit patients and general practices in the Wakefield area to take part in, the studies benefit both patients and practices. Funding for admin, patient travel, GP time, and a fee for each patient that takes part in the study is covered. The practices surveyed have been very impressed by the part Keith plays in the process as a whole – he takes on most of the paperwork and data collection, which reduces the workload for the practices.
What Is the Alabama Study?
The aim of the national Alabama Study is to find out whether the penicillin allergy assessment pathway intervention is effective for improving patient outcomes.
It is a randomised trial, 50% of patients are offered the chance to undergo penicillin allergy testing pathway (PAAP). The other half receive their normal care, both groups have antibiotic usage and clinical outcomes monitored for up to 10 years. Patients have to have had an antibiotic within 2 years to be considered for the trial. Allergy testing takes around 3 hours to complete in Leeds immunology clinic and involves assessment questions, a skin-prick test, drinking a weakened penicillin solution twice in the clinic and further doses at home, with a diary and phone number to call in case of problems.
If there are no adverse effects to taking penicillin, the penicillin allergy warning is removed from the patient’s medical record. So far most tested patients do not have a penicillin allergy.
Why Should GP Practices Take Part?
- It’s quick to get started email alabama@phc.ox.ac.uk to express an interest in the study. once accepted onto the trial the search for suitable patients takes a few minutes and is done via a template you import to SystmOne.
- The study is run by Oxford University and Leeds University, Leeds Immunology Clinic is the clinical site.
- Keith can consent the patients and refer them via SystmOne to the clinic and complete any paperwork.
- New sites are still needed – recruitment for the study is open in Wakefield until 2022.
Why Should Patients Take Part?
- Improved treatment options – patients can find out once and for all if they are allergic to penicillin and ultimately improve their treatment options should penicillin be the best line of defence for their condition.
- Funding – practices are paid for taking part, and travel costs are covered.
What’s Happened At Trinity Medical Centre, Orchard Croft and Health Care First So Far?
19 patients at Trinity 18 at Orchard Croft and 25 at Health Care First have been recruited. The study is considered important by the National Institute of Health Care Research (NIHR) that for research league tables each practices recruits have been multiplied by 11 to give 209, 198 and 275 recruits on the recording system.
If you are interested in finding out information on research that is taking place in general practices in the Wakefield District, including open studies and any upcoming training, get in touch here.