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Medicines Management

Exploring the Frontiers of Health and Social Research

Science and healthcare have remained intertwined throughout their growth and evolution, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the development of new drugs and pharmaceuticals.

The development of drugs is subject to a rigorous process of clinical trials and evaluation before they are licensed for use there is always the risk of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurring, especially when other medications are involved.

Our research into medication monitoring and adverse drug reactions explores ways in which the risks of ADRs can be minimised, without compromising the beneficial effects of medications. Such is the importance of medication management that it is one of five essential skill clusters specified by the UK statutory body for the nursing curriculum.

The development of guidelines and checklists for minimising adverse drug reactions associated with antipsychotic medication is an important area of our work and has been well-received internationally. For example, the West Wales Adverse Drug Reaction profile developed in collaboration with service users and mental health clinicians is being used across the UK and Holland.

One notable area in which major impact has been achieved is in medicines management and infant feeding.

Read more about the Adverse Drug Reaction Project

More Information about our Medicine Management Research

Projects

Some of our projects are detailed below:

New vital signs chart aimed at improving patient care

The MEWS chart is a tool that provides a structured assessment of six bedside observations to assess the severity of patient illness. Its development was inspired by the UK’s National Early Warning Score. Through the tool’s improved detection system, patient safety is helped in three ways: by limiting emergency admission of ward patients to the ICU, preventing avoidable in-hospital cardiac arrest and reducing patient deaths.

Medicine Use in Pregnancy: Vasoconstrictors and Congenital Abnormalities

A £2.5m study funded through Framework 7 to bring together experts from across Europe in the fields of drug use safety in pregnancy. The aim of the project is to provide a framework which can be used to improve our understanding of drugs, leading to better informed ‘risk-benefit profiles’ in relation to the risk of birth defects through their use during pregnancy.

Nurse-led Medication Monitoring for Patients with Dementia in Care Homes in South West Wales: A Feasibility Study for a Stepped Wedge Trial

Over one-third of care home residents received antidepressants, however, their use is associated with serious adverse events.  This study funded through the Wales School of Primary Care Research/NISCHR, £23,077 looks to assess whether medication monitoring (through the introduction of the West Wales ADR Profile for Mental Health) has an effect on clinical gains, patient functioning, documentation and medication use within the care home setting

Researchers Publications

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