There is increasing awareness of the impact of living with multiple long-term conditions (referred to as multimorbidity) on patients and health systems. Managing multimorbidity remains a challenge for primary care providers; necessitating tailored interventions that are both clinically and cost effective. In the Irish health system, two pilot trials have demonstrated promising results for patients living with multimorbidity. The first, MultimorbiditY COllaborative Medication Review And DEcision making (MyComrade), involved pharmacists supporting the management of polypharmacy, and the second, Link MultiMorbidity (LinkMM), involved link workers delivering social prescribing. This definitive trial aims to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of both these interventions, as well as conduct a process evaluation.
This is a pragmatic, multi-arm, definitive, cluster randomised controlled trial in Irish general practices. The trial will include three arms: (1) MyComrade; (2) LinkMM and (3) usual care, acting as an efficient shared control arm for both interventions. For this trial, 672 patients will be recruited from 48 general practices. The eligibility criteria for the patients will be: (1) over 18 years of age; (2) has two or more chronic conditions; (3) taking 10 or more regular medicines and (4) attending their general practice team for chronic disease management. Outcome data will be collected for all participants, across all trial arms at baseline and 6 months. Primary outcomes include the number of medicines (reflecting the MyComrade intervention) and patient capability (reflecting the LinkMM intervention). Secondary outcomes include proportions and types of potentially inappropriate medications, patient experience of care, patient activation, self-rated health, health-related quality of life, mortality and healthcare utilisation. Quantitative and qualitative data will be collected to inform the process evaluation. Additionally, an economic evaluation will be conducted to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of both interventions compared with the control arm.
The trial protocol was approved by the Irish College of General Practice (ICGP) Ethical Review Board (ref: ICGP_Rec_2023_016). A formal knowledge dissemination plan has been developed for the trial, which includes peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and reports to healthcare professionals, commissioners and policymakers.
Explore perspectives of steering group members and external clinical supervision facilitators of developing and establishing peer group clinical supervision.
The climate of healthcare is complex which can lead to staff burnout and challenges to practice. Clinical supervision is suggested as an approach to managing and leadership of such complexities.
Qualitative descriptive.
Focus group interviews with 19 members of the peer group clinical supervision steering groups and individual interviews with five external clinical supervision facilitators from the Western region of Ireland were conducted. Data analysis followed Elo and Kyngäs' content analysis method, involving preparation, organising and reporting, to extract meaning and identify patterns from the qualitative data collected.
Developing peer group clinical supervision practice requires, clarity of purpose and function that address the pros and cons of clinical supervision. Organisational leadership is required to support and release staff for peer group clinical supervision and peer group clinical supervisors need to be credible and have a level of expertise in practice. When prepared and supported, the aspects of confidence, leadership, personal development and resilience develop.
Peer group clinical supervisors need training and ongoing continual professional development for their role, scope of practice and responsibilities. Sustainability rests on staff awareness and familiarity with the purpose and format of peer group clinical supervision and the regularity of sessions.
Peer group clinical supervision is a means of supporting improvement of patient care delivery while in parallel supporting personal and professional development of staff, building resilience in the workplace.
This study explored the implementation of peer group clinical supervision for staff across nursing and midwifery disciplines. It found that implementing peer group clinical supervision had a positive impact on staff well-being and morality and on patient care delivery. These findings influence healthcare service providers in implementing peer group clinical supervision in a sustainable way enabling nurses to continue working in complex healthcare environments delivering safe person-centred care.
The qualitative reporting guidelines Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) were followed.
Patient/public involvement was addressed in this study by staff, managers, planners, directors, leaders and educationalists being involved at all stages of the study (concept, design, analysis and reporting).