RecruitingInterventional

Evaluation of Quality Improvement for People with Type 2 Diabetes

Called 'EQUIPD2', this study aims to improve care for young adults in England who have Type 2 diabetes. Many young people with this condition have high blood sugar, which can lead to serious health problems. The study wants to find out the best way to help groups of GP practices (called Primary Care Networks or PCNs) to give better care. Researchers will look at three different types of support given to these PCNs to see which is most effective and cost-effective. The findings will help national health bodies decide how to offer support in the future to improve patient care, not just for diabetes but for other conditions too.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Northumbria University

Enrolment target

1,263

Start

17 Mar 2025

Estimated completion

31 Mar 2027

Type 2 diabetes

What is this study about?

Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition that can cause problems if not managed well, especially if blood sugar levels stay high. In England, many young adults with Type 2 diabetes have high blood sugar, which can unfortunately lead to serious health issues and even a shorter lifespan. GP practices play a big role in helping people manage their diabetes, but how well they do this can vary a lot between different areas.

This study, called EQUIPD2, wants to understand the best ways to support these GP practices, specifically those organised into 'Primary Care Networks' (or PCNs). The main goal is to find out if giving PCNs extra help can improve the care they offer to young adults with Type 2 diabetes. They also want to see if the support methods are good value for money for the NHS.

To do this, all PCNs in England will be randomly placed into one of three groups. Each group will receive a different level of support. Researchers will then look at patient information to see if there are improvements in things like blood sugar levels. The results will help the National Diabetes Audit, and other similar national health programmes, decide how best to support healthcare teams across the country to improve the care people receive.

Key takeaways

This study aims to improve care for young adults with Type 2 diabetes.
It's about helping groups of GP practices (PCNs) work better.
Patients don't take part directly, but their care could improve.
There are no extra risks for patients participating in this study.
The results could help improve care for many different health conditions in the future.

Who may be eligible?

This study is a bit different because it's not looking for individual patients to take part. Instead, it's focusing on entire groups of GP practices, known as Primary Care Networks (PCNs), across England.

So, if you are a patient, you don't need to sign up for this study directly. Your local GP practice, if it's part of a PCN in England, might be involved as a healthcare provider.

No PCNs are being specifically excluded, so all of them in England have a chance to be included in one of the study groups.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you a patient seeking medical treatment?
Do you live in England?
Is your GP practice part of a Primary Care Network (PCN)?
Are you a healthcare professional working in a PCN in England?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

This study doesn't involve patients directly. Instead, it focuses on helping groups of GP practices (Primary Care Networks, or PCNs) improve the care they offer. All PCNs in England will be randomly put into one of three groups:

* **Group 1:** Will receive medium-level support, which includes online meetings and special feedback about their performance. * **Group 2:** Will get lower-level support, which involves emails and the same special feedback about their performance. * **Group 3:** Will only receive the special feedback at first, with further support planned for later.

Researchers will then look at existing health information for patients to see if there are improvements in care, such as blood sugar levels. They will also record the online meetings from one of the support groups. As a patient, you won't have any extra appointments, tests, or changes to your medication because of this study. Your medical information will be used in an anonymous way to help the researchers understand if the different types of support for GP practices are working.

Potential risks and benefits

For patients with Type 2 diabetes, there are no extra risks from this study. This is because the study aims to make sure GP practices are following the best recommended advice for patient care. Your care team would receive support to improve their services whether or not they are part of this study. The main benefit is that the study could lead to better ways for GP practices across the country to manage Type 2 diabetes and other conditions, potentially improving care for many people in the future. For healthcare professionals involved, there are also no added risks, and they will receive support that would be available to them anyway. You always have the right to discuss your healthcare with your doctor, and if you have concerns about your data, you can speak to your GP practice.

Locations (1)

NHS England
Approximate
London, England

Common questions

What is a 'Primary Care Network' (PCN)?

A PCN is a group of local GP practices that work together to offer better care to their communities.

Will my GP practice know if they are in the study?

Yes, PCNs involved will know which support group they are in.

Will my personal medical information be shared publicly?

No, researchers will use information about patient care and outcomes in a way that protects your privacy and identity, focusing on overall PCN performance rather than individual patient data.

What is 'NDA feedback'?

NDA stands for 'National Diabetes Audit'. It's feedback that helps GP practices understand how well they are doing in treating diabetes compared to others.

Who is paying for this study?

The study is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) in the UK.

How to find out more

Michael Sykes

michael.sykes@northumbria.ac.uk +44 (0)191 232 6002 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.