Category: News

Call to reduce repeat ‘within-episode’ antibiotic prescriptions for respiratory tract infections in primary care

Posted on by capcbristol

A new study exploring the use of repeat antibiotic prescriptions for the same respiratory tract infection (RTI) episode – known as repeat ‘within-episode’ prescriptions – in primary care has found high rates of their use in England, despite evidence that they are of little benefit. The study authors, from the Universities of Bristol and Bath, King’s College London, and University Medical Center Utrecht, are calling for a reduction in their use and to make them a target for antimicrobial stewardship interventions.

Pills scattered on a white table top next to a white pill container.

RTIs are one of the most common reasons people visit a GP in the UK. Many RTIs are caused by viruses and current primary care guidelines recommend a no or delayed antibiotic prescribing strategy in the vast majority of patients. Despite this, 54% of RTI consultations in UK primary care result in an antibiotic prescription, and RTIs account for 60% of antibiotic prescribing in primary care worldwide. As such, RTIs are one of the key drivers of antimicrobial resistance.

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Improving access to healthcare for and with people with multiple disadvantage

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General practice teams changed their services to better include patients with severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD) after facilitated collaboration with people with lived experience according to a paper published in the British Journal of General Practice. Implementing these changes brought joy and satisfaction to general practice staff and increased connections with patients and community organisations.

People sitting on a beach watching the sunset with their hands joined together to make a heart shape.

The changes which were implemented using existing funding available to general practices included:

  • using care coordinators and a micro-team to advocate and work with a specially created patient list
  • prioritising flexible access and longer appointments to patients in greater need
  • promoting a trauma-informed approach throughout the whole practice team.

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New cancer and domestic abuse toolkit launched

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Content warning: This article contains information about domestic abuse, which some may find upsetting.

A new toolkit to support cancer professionals to identify and respond to signs of domestic abuse in patients with cancer and their carers is being launched today [26 March]. The toolkit has been developed in partnership with the University of Bristol, Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse, and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Older woman looking pensively out a window
‘a thousand words’ commissioned by Scottish Womens Aid and Zero Tolerance. Copyright Laura Dodsworth

Domestic abuse and cancer are common, and a cancer diagnosis can trigger abusers to escalate their abuse or use new types of abuse. The toolkit has been designed to equip cancer professionals in secondary and tertiary care with an understanding of different types of domestic abuse and cancer-related vulnerabilities, red flags to look out for in the cancer context, and what to do if they suspect someone is experiencing domestic abuse. The toolkit is designed to complement existing domestic abuse training in NHS Trusts.

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£2.2M for clinical trial to improve general practice response to men and children affected by domestic abuse

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A new clinical trial of a general practice programme to improve the identification and referral of men and children affected by domestic abuse begins in May thanks to a £2.2 million National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) award to University of Bristol researchers, in partnership with Oxford University and the social enterprise IRISi.

A family group in a living room. Mother and children sitting unhappily on the floor. Father sitting on a sofa with a drink in hand in the background.

The programme, IRIS+, is an expanded version of the successful IRIS (Identification and Referral to Improve Safety) general practice training and support programme, which has been shown to increase referrals of women experiencing domestic violence and abuse (DVA) to specialist services. IRIS+ broadens the scope of the intervention to include men and children, without diminishing the response to women.

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NIHR School for Primary Care Research PhD studentship

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Applications are invited from individuals with a strong academic record who want to develop a career in primary care research and are able to start a PhD September 2024. Applicants should have a first degree relevant to primary care research.

Students having a coffee, chatting and smiling.

The NIHR School for Primary Care Research studentship will fund tuition fees up to the value of UK fees. This will be an annual tax-free stipend normally of £18,622 and £6,000 contribution towards research and training costs. Students with overseas status are welcome to apply but will need to fund the remainder of their fees from alternative sources.

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Applications open for NIHR School for Primary Care Research-funded summer internships 2024

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We have two exciting summer internship opportunities for UK undergraduates who are interested in primary care research. These are a fantastic opportunity to get hands-on experience conducting primary care research with experts in the field.

Smiling male and female students sitting together.

The offer

The NIHR School for Primary Care Research (SPCR) Student Internship Programme provides students with experience in a research environment and access to a team of specialised mentors and supervisors. All internship projects are offered as virtual opportunities or in-person at the relevant university. The programme is open to all undergraduate students, from any degree, based at a UK university.

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Sharing prescription medications is common and a public health concern

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Sharing prescription medications is common and a public health concern, according to researchers at the Universities of Bristol and Sheffield, whose study investigating the behaviour was published in the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP) today [20 February].

Blister packs of pills of different colours and sizes.

The study reviewed data from 19 primary research studies. Prevalence of the behaviour occurring in a person’s lifetime ranged from 13% to 78% in the studies reviewed. Painkillers were found to be the most commonly shared, followed by antibiotics and allergy medications.

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National partnership to tackle health inequalities in coastal communities awarded £2.4 million

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Blackpool, Weston-super-Mare and Hastings are focus areas under the scheme.

Synchronised swimmers at festival event in Weston-super-Mare.
Synchronised swimmers at festival event in Weston-super-Mare. Image credit: Paul Blakemore

A national partnership led by researchers at the Universities of Bristol and Liverpool has received £2.4 million to tackle health inequalities in coastal communities. The award is one of a number announced today [15 February] by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under its Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)-led Mobilising Community Assets to Tackle Health Inequalities programme, which aims to improve health through access to culture, nature and community.

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‘Loneliness loop’ risks trapping young people in repeating cycle of abuse

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A detailed study of intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA) among young people in the UK has found that a ‘loneliness loop’ risks trapping young people in a repeating cycle of abuse. The University of Bristol-led research, which analysed survey data from 3,000 young people, recommends early intervention to prevent young people from experiencing IPVA.

Collage of images of young men and women of diverse ethnicities.

Approximately one third of young people in the UK have experienced IPVA by the age of 21.

The Medical Research Council-funded research, summarised in a new policy report published by PolicyBristol today [1 February], sought to understand the risk factors which make young people more vulnerable to IPVA. The study also explored the types and frequency of abuse they experience, and their experiences of getting help and support.

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IRIS+ programme extends the health care response to domestic abuse

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Expanding the IRIS (Identification and Referral to Improve Safety) domestic abuse programme to include men and children and young people is both feasible and potentially cost-effective, University of Bristol researchers have found.

Shot of a little girl looking unhappy as her parents argue in the background.

Success in identifying women affected by domestic abuse through IRIS — a specialist domestic violence and abuse (DVA) training, support and referral programme for general practices — is growing. However, men and children and young people are rarely identified and referred for specialist support. Recognising this gap, a study by researchers from Bristol’s Centre for Academic Primary Care has looked at the feasibility of expanding the scope of support to include them.

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