Phase 1 In the first phase of the project, the study team have been looking at the types of prescriptions received by patients with memory problems in Northern Ireland during the year 2013, using data from the Enhanced Prescribing Database (EPD).
Phase 2 In the second phase of the project, the study team will be speaking to patients with memory problems and their carers to explore their views and experiences of their medicines in more detail. We will also be speaking to GPs and community pharmacists as they are responsible for prescribing and dispensing medicines, and may have different views and experiences to patients and their carers.
The research team are recruiting study participants by two methods. Firstly, we are approaching a small number of patients through their GP surgeries. Secondly, we are approaching patients and carers through memory clinics in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (in Belfast City Hospital and Musgrave Park Hospital).
Phase 3 The study team plan to use all of the information we gather during the first two phases of the study to see if we can come up with a way to improve the use of medicines for people with memory problems, which we will then test in the final phase of the project.