MHRA publishes first Patient Involvement Strategy

The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has published its first Patient Involvement Strategy.

The strategy for 2021-2025 sets out how the MHRA will 'involve the public and patients at every step of the regulatory journey'.

It was developed following consultation with patients and was also informed by the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review.

Click on the link below to read the strategy in full.

GOV.UK

Study: Involvement in treatment decisions – perspective of patients with a chronic condition

A new study explores the views of patients with a chronic condition on factors influencing their involvement in treatment decisions.

Four distinct views on the factors influencing active patient involvement were identified:

  • Enabled involvement: the extent to which patients are facilitated and empowered to participate.
  • Relationship-driven involvement: the relationship between patients and healthcare professionals.
  • Disease impact-driven involvement: the severity of disease.
  • Cognition-driven involvement: knowledge and information.

Authors said this shows there is no one-size-fits-all approach to involving patients. 

Strategies aiming to enhance active patient involvement among patients with a chronic condition should consider this diversity in perspectives.

Wiley Online Library

NHS Inform launches new menopause platform

NHS Inform has launched a new platform offering menopause information in one place.

The launch represents the next phase of work to build a comprehensive women’s health information platform – an action in the Women’s Health Plan.

Content includes a new series of films designed to bust menopause myths and information on treatment options.

NHS Inform

Study: Intervening on trust in science to reduce belief in COVID-19 misinformation

A new study examines whether brief exposure to an infographic about the scientific process might increase trust in science.

Authors wanted to see if this would affect belief in misinformation and intention to take preventive actions for COVID-19.

The study found briefly viewing an infographic about science appeared to cause a small aggregate increase in trust which may have reduced the believability of COVID-19 misinformation.

Authors concluded researchers should study the potential for truthful messaging about how science works to serve as 'misinformation inoculation'.

JMIR

Delivering service specification on early cancer diagnosis

PIF members Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support have launched a series of short videos to support delivery of the Primary Care Network (PCN) service specification on early cancer diagnosis.

The videos feature GPs who offer advice on delivering the directed enhanced service (DES) requirements for PCNs.

Topics of the seven short films include top tips and tackling inequalities.

Cancer Research UK

Study: Searches for digital health products before and during COVID-19

A new study has found searches for digital health products increased by 343% following the first COVID-19 lockdown in the UK.

The research by ORCHA found searches increased from 2,446 per month prior to COVID-19 lockdown measures to 8,996 per month in the period following the first UK lockdown.

Twenty three out of 25 condition areas experienced a significant increase in searches for digital health products.

Musculoskeletal conditions (2,036%), allergy (1,253%) and healthy living (1,051%) products experienced the greatest increases in searches.

Increases were sustained in the nine months following the introduction of lockdown measures.

BMJ Open

Event: Understanding how health literacy awareness can support shared decision making

An upcoming webinar aims to raise awareness of the prevalence of lower levels of health literacy and its impact on health inequalities and clinical outcomes.

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) event is aimed at clinicians.

It will include techniques and resources to support clinicians having shared decision making conversations with their patients when low health literacy may be a factor.

The webinar takes place from 1pm-2pm on 26 October.

RCGP

Libraries key partners in tackling health inequalities

The ALLIANCE has published a report into its Co-creating libraries for wellbeing project.

It says public libraries can play a key role in delivering a community-focused, person-centred model of support for health and wellbeing.

The pilot, a partnership with the Scottish Library and Information Council and the Digital Health and Care Institute, was delivered in three areas.

Outcomes included library staff having new skills to support self-management and librarians being more integrated into healthcare teams.

ALLIANCE

Digital Health Awards winners announced

PIF members have been recognised at the 2021 Digital Health Awards.

Helen Thomas from Digital Health and Care Wales won Digital NHS CEO of the Year.

Emily Wells from Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Trust won CNIO of the Year.

The awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of leaders making the biggest contributions to UK healthcare IT.

Digital Health

Brainstrust updates end-of-life care guidance

The brainstrust has updated its guidance on end-of-life care for people with a brain tumour.

The resource provides information on good end-of-life care, how to achieve it and available support.

It also includes tips to help patients ensure they are being informed and able to make the right decisions for them.

Brainstrust is a PIF member.

brainstrust

Self-help guide for people living with dementia published

PIF member Alzheimer's Society has published a new self-help guide for people living with dementia.

The guide helps people with dementia achieve their goals step-by step.

It was created by researchers from the GREAT trial in collaboration with people living with dementia.

Alzheimer's Society

New animation on shared decision making

The Centre for Perioperative Care and the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges have launched An Example of Shared Decision Making animation for patients. 

The animation uses the example of Peter's journey to highlight what effective shared decision making should look like.

The CPOC believes patient-centred care is key to reducing decisional regret, prioritising patient choice and reducing unnecessary surgical interventions.

CPOC