Using cognitive behavioural therapy techniques to improve medicines-related consultations in cardiac health Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Project led by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, in partnership with Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre, 10 Minute CBT, Health Education England in Thames Valley, and the University of Oxford.
- Aiming to positively affect patients’ adherence to medication, beliefs about medicines and quality of life in the area of cardiac health.
- Will upskill health care professionals with training from a newly developed cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)-based intervention.
Research has shown that, in primary care, around £300 million of medicines per year are wasted. It is estimated that up to half of all patients do not take their medicines as recommended, which costs the NHS an estimated half a billion pounds a year in lost patient benefits.
Poor treatment adherence is particularly prevalent in people with cardiovascular disease. This increases poor outcomes by 25% and increases the likelihood of further coronary and cerebrovascular events in these patients.
This innovative project aims to increase medicine adherence among cardiac patients using CBT-based techniques at the point of interaction with a specialist cardiac clinic. It is hoped that this will enable patients to identify barriers to medicines adherence and formulate solutions tailored to them.
The project team has developed a ‘CBT Techniques for Medicines-Related Consultations’ intervention, based on an existing 10-minute CBT training programme. It has been tailored specifically to improve adherence beliefs. The training can be delivered by health care professionals during routine consultations. Training will be provided to staff through a programme involving interactive lectures and group working.
The intervention aims to positively affect patients’ adherence to medication, beliefs about medicines and their quality of life. It will also improve staff work satisfaction, the efficiency and effectiveness of care delivery, and indirectly affect medicines waste and the local health economy.
The project team aims to create a national platform whereby the intervention can be adapted, span the full health economy and be made accessible across all aspects of clinical care.
Contact information
For more information about this project, please contact Dr Lindsey Roberts, Medicines Optimisation Research and Development Lead, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
About this programme
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