A new way to recruit participants into research.

Mark Sidaway (Haelo/University of Manchester)

Salford Integrated Care Programme

• The transformation of the health and social care system, for older people in Salford (2013 -)

• Delivery of more integrated care

• Salford Population 234,000

• Salford residents 65+ years = approx 35,000

The CLASSIC survey:

Recruit 4000 people over 65 with a long term conditions across Salford CCG

Aim was to recruit 40 practices and send the questionnaire to 250 patients from each practice

CLASSIC = evaluation of the SICP

But how do we target the right patients??

CLASSIC = evaluation of the SICP

•Enlist 40 GPs•Search EMIS/VISION at 40 sites for specific LTCs•Produce patient lists, exclusions•Stuff envelopes at site•Mail out from site

Engage the GPs directly..............

Time consuming and bureaucratic

Or use FARSITE.....

•Systematic•Efficient•Intelligent

FeasibilityAndRecruitment System for Improving Trial Efficiency

•The study is set up centrally in FARSITE by NWeH

•The Protocol parameters are entered and stored centrally.

•The system process the results•Only GPs with relevant patients are selected

•These GPs are contacted •If they agree to take part they are issued with secure logins•Patient lists can then be generated from their access

Working with Docmail

•The mailing is taken care of by Docmail NOT the GP....•The list is reviewed by the GP, the GP letter head selected....

Docmail automated mailing

• Saves time• This facility improved Practice Manager

engagement as there was 1. No envelope stuffing!2. No need to claim money back for postage. 3. No need to supply stationary.

Why Docmail?

We could identify number of suitable patients in each practice before we targeted practices for recruitment:

• Patients over 65• Patients with one or more long term conditions

(QOF registers)• Exclusions • Patients with Alzheimer’s/Dementia

CLASSIC Capability

CLASSIC Recruitment

• We recruited 34 practices across Salford CCG• Impact on GP and Practice staff time was

minimal, practices were keen to send out more questionnaires

• In total, 13033 questionnaires were sent• Received 4478 back – 34% response rate

Advantages

• Improve GP engagement • Minimises impact on GP and practice team time.• Changes to the system could be implemented if

we needed them• Systematic, efficient, standardised searches• Targets the patient rich environment

Any Questions?Mark Sidaway

07 888 666 349

mark.sidaway@nhs.net

Independent research funded by the NIHR, project 12/130/33. Views and opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the

NHS, NIHR, NETSCC, HS&DR or DoH