Resources for Effective Sleep Treatment – Utilising Community Pharmacists (REST UP)

 

PROJECT TITLE RESOURCES FOR EFFECTIVE SLEEP TREATMENT – UTILISING COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS (REST-UP)
Funding body  University Strategic Research Investment Fund (RIF) 14/SC/0156
Total funding £39,688
Team / Consortium 
  • Professor A. Niroshan Siriwardena, Professor of Primary & Pre-Hospital Health Care, Community and Health Research Unit (CaHRU), University of Lincoln
  • Dr Karen Windle, Reader in Health, CaHRU, University of Lincoln
  • Jo Middlemass, Research Assistant, CaHRU, University of Lincoln
  • Dr Paul Grassby, Head of School of Pharmacy, University of Lincoln
  • Dr Susan Chipchase, Lecturer in Psychology, University of Lincoln
  • Coral Sirdifield, Research Assistant, CaHRU, University of Lincon
  • Ana Godoy Caballero, Research Fellow, CaHRU, University of Lincoln
  • Rebecca Porter, Research Assistant, CaHRU, University of Lincoln
Overarching aim To explore how community pharmacists can improve the quality of their support to adult service users with sleep problems through the development of a community pharmacy based complex intervention, based on problem-focused therapy.
Objectives  The objectives of this project are;

  • How can a problem focused therapy model for service users with sleep problems be adapted, developed and implemented in the community pharmacy setting?
  • What is the impact of this complex intervention on the broader themes of quality of care and outcomes as experiences by the stakeholders?
Methods A mixed method design using;

  • A survey of pharmacists
  • Interviews of service users and practitioners
  • Problem focused therapy within a comparative case study framework
Outcomes  The outcomes will be:

  • An analysis of the view of pharmacists and service users on the current provisions for insomnia in a pharmacy setting.
  • Development and understanding of the adaptation of an existing validated tool (REST) in a previously untested area of primary care.
  • An increased understanding of the process of application and implementation of a new service into practice.
  • New collaboration between partners involved, including pharmacy, primary care and psychology and providing development for future community pharmacy research.
  • REST-UP can be used as the basis for future funding bids to increase the scope of the research.
Outputs Main outputs from this project are;

  • Publication in high impact journals such as BMJ, BJGP and other peer-reviewed and professional journals.
  • Oral presentions at national primary care and pharmacy conferences as well as local conferences and educational events to practitioners and commissioners.
Impact  REST-UP project will create an impact by;

  • Developing a new module to increase the role of community pharmacists in treating common conditions such as insomnia.
  • Lead to better management of insomnia and a reduction in associated direct and indirect costs.
  • Providing an important contribution to development for future community pharmacy research.