Community pharmacists optimising treatment for patients with psoriasis

ISRCTN ISRCTN67700775
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN67700775
Secondary identifying numbers 16412
Submission date
22/05/2014
Registration date
22/05/2014
Last edited
16/03/2017
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Psoriasis is a long-term inflammatory skin condition that affects up to 2% of the people in the UK. There is no cure for psoriasis and the condition tends to come and go but once it has developed it is normally life-long. The majority of people with psoriasis need to use creams or ointments on a daily basis. This requires a high level of commitment yet research shows that many people don’t get enough advice from anyone on how to use them. As a result, psoriasis is often poorly managed by patients. In this study we want to see if advice given by community pharmacists can lead to better management of psoriasis and ultimately improvements in the severity of the condition.

Who can participate?
The study is open to anyone over the age of 18 who is prescribed creams or ointments to manage their psoriasis.

What does the study involve?
Patients who visit participating community pharmacies to collect their prescriptions for topical psoriasis treatments will be invited by the pharmacist or a member of staff to join the study. The study involves two consultations with the pharmacist. At the first appointment the pharmacist will use a specially designed guide to ask the person several questions to assess their understanding of psoriasis and if they know how to use their treatments. The pharmacist will also ask the person to complete two further questionnaires; one of these looks at the impact of psoriasis on their quality of life and the second asks them to rate the severity of their psoriasis. Both of these questionnaires have been used previously in research studies and are very quick and easy to complete. During the initial appointment the pharmacist will provide advice to help the person use their treatments properly. A second appointment will then be arranged for about 4 weeks later to go through the same initial questions to see if the person now has a better understanding of what to do with their treatments. The two questionnaires will also be repeated to see if the person’s quality of life is improved and if they think their psoriasis is less severe.

What are the possible benefits and risks to participants?
The benefits for the patients are that they should have a better understanding of their condition and how to manage it. It is also likely that improvements in both quality of life and disease severity will occur once the person knows more about how to use treatments properly. There are unlikely to be any risks associated with the study.

Where is the study run from?
The study will be run from participating pharmacies and is being co-ordinated by Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.

When is the study starting and how long it is expected to run for?
We hope to start the study in September 2014 and it will continue until we have recruited and completed two interviews with 30 patients.

Who is funding the study?
The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance (UK).

Who is the main contact?
Dr Rod Tucker
rodtucker@rodtucker.karoo.co.uk

Contact information

Dr Rod Tucker
Scientific

LLoyds Pharmacy, 4 Market Place
Hornsea
HU181AW
United Kingdom

Email rodtucker@rodtucker.karoo.co.uk

Study information

Study designNon-randomised Interventional Design type: Process of Care
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designNon randomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeQuality of life
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleIs it feasible for community pharmacists to deliver an educational programme designed to help people with psoriasis self-manage as effectively as possible?
Study objectivesThis study attempts to explore whether advice provided by community pharmacists to patients with mild to moderate psoriasis can lead to an improvement in their ability to self-manage their psoriasis.
Ethics approval(s)Office for Research and Ethics Committees Northern Ireland, 16/12/2013, ref. 13/NI/0207
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedTopic: Primary Care; Subtopic: Not Assigned; Disease: All Diseases
InterventionThe pharmacists will opportunistically approach patients who present with prescriptions for themselves for psoriasis. Eligible patients who agree to participate will be asked to complete the SAPASI and DLQI forms and will have a private consultation with the pharmacist to discuss the PEDESI tool. The tool will identify and gaps in patients’ knowledge and understanding of their condition and its management. A follow-up appointment will be made approximately 4 weeks later to reassess the outcome measures and revisit the PEDESI tool to determine whether patients now feel more confident at self-managing their psoriasis.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measurePedesi; Timepoint(s): at follow-up after 6 weeks
Secondary outcome measuresDermatology quality of life index (DLQI); Timepoint(s): 6 weeks, at the follow-up appointment; sapasi; Timepoint(s): 6 weeks, at follow-up appointment
Overall study start date30/07/2014
Completion date31/12/2014

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participantsPlanned Sample Size: 30; UK Sample Size: 30;
Key inclusion criteria1. Patients aged over 18 with a diagnosis of chronic plaque psoriasis currently prescribed topical treatment
2. Male & Female
3. Lower Age Limit: 18 no age limit or unit specified
Key exclusion criteriaPatients under 18 years, prescribed oral therapy or receiving phototherapy
Date of first enrolment30/07/2014
Date of final enrolment31/12/2014

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

LLoyds Pharmacy
4 Market Place
Hornsea
HU181AW
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Robert Gordon University (UK)
University/education

School of Health Sciences
Garthdee Road
Aberdeen
AB10 7QG
Scotland
United Kingdom

ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/04f0qj703

Funders

Funder type

Charity

The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance (PAPAA) (UK)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planNot provided at time of registration.
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/04/2017 Yes No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Editorial Notes

16/03/2017: Publication reference added.