Brunel Health Group and its member practices have a keen interest in participating in research within primary care to improve the health and care not only of our registered population across Swindon and Shrivenham, but also the wider population of the United Kingdom.
Our practices are working with and supported by the West of England NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) to participate in high quality research, thereby advancing knowledge and improving care. Currently engaged in 12 research studies, our aim over the next few years is to grow our research capacity both in terms of local staff and workforce but also working with partners and communities to encourage our population to be involved and benefit from new types of treatment and care.
To read more about taking part in research with BHG click the following link:
Taking part in Research information for patients
Some of our studies:
This surgery is supporting the ATHENA shingles study
We want to find out if taking amitriptyline can prevent the persistent pain that some people get after shingles.
50 years or older and recently got shingles? You may be able to take part. Ask your doctor for more information.
Shingles is a distinctive blistering rash that appears on only one side of the body and is painful.
If you think you have shingles, ask for a same day appointment as you may benefit from antiviral medication.
You may also be eligible for an NHS study (the ATHENA shingles study), to find out whether a treatment can prevent persistent pain, months after the rash has gone.
Website: www.bristol.ac.uk/athena-study
Email: athena-study@bristol.ac.uk
Twitter: @AthenaStudy
BEACON: Brain Training App for Cognition in People with Long Covid
The most concerning legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic is Long-Covid which affects at least 9.9% of people. About 25% of people with Long-Covid experience problems with their brain health, such as memory problems. People with these symptoms can find it harder to get back to their normal lives. We don’t yet know if there are any longer-term effects, but it is important that we find a way to treat these symptoms. The Reasoning Cognitive Training (ReaCT) brain training programme is available online and is known to help maintain brain health in older adults but has not yet been tested in people with Long-Covid. This BEACON study aims to establish the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the ReaCT brain training programme in adults with cognitive impairment following Covid-19. If you are interested in taking part in BEACON, please contact bswicb.researchbrunelhealthgroup@nhs.net to see if you can participate.
To access the survey click here
Further Projects we are promoting:
Further information on D-CYPHR
Further information on the HPOS Study
Past Research Projects in which some of our Patients still participate:
‘Active Brains’ is a website that aims to help older adults look after their brain and body health to prevent cognitive decline by supporting older adults to make simple behavioural changes such as increasing physical activity, playing brain training games and finding ways to eat more healthily. This study will trial the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of ‘Active Brains’.
The trial will recruit two groups of older adults:
1) those with signs of cognitive decline,
2) those without any cognitive decline.
Members of both of these groups will be randomly assigned to one of three trial groups:
1) care as they usually receive it from their GP practice
2) access to the Active Brains website
3) access to the Active Brains website plus brief support from a trained person (over the phone or by email).
The trial will last for five years. At the end of the first year the study team will compare participants’ cognitive performance in each of the three study groups. After five years the study team will compare the three study groups again and will collect medical records data about diagnosis of dementia.
The findings will reveal whether the Active Brains website is effective and cost-effective for older adults to avoid or delay cognitive decline.
