NICE technology evaluations and pharmacy
NICE technology evaluations and pharmacy
- Sleepio: NICE made a strong recommendation in relation to the Sleepio app saying it was recommended as “a cost-saving option for treating insomnia and insomnia symptoms in primary care for people who would otherwise be offered sleep hygiene or sleeping pills”. Sleepio is a digital self-help programme that includes CBT‑I (cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia). The cost is reported as £45 per person. Clinical evidence shows that Sleepio reduces insomnia symptoms compared with sleep hygiene and sleeping pills.
- myCOPD: This is an app to help people with COPD gain a better understanding of their condition and manage their symptoms. Clinical trial evidence is currently limited but suggests that use of the app may improve COPD symptoms, walking distance and inhaler technique compared with standard care. The trials also suggest that pulmonary rehabilitation using myCOPD may work as well as conventional face-to-face sessions. NICE concluded that the app “could provide significant patient and healthcare system benefits if uncertainties in the evidence are addressed”.
- YOURmeds: A NICE Medtech innovation briefing for the YOURmeds system for medication support was published in 2022. YOURmeds is a digital medication dosage system that allows real-time monitoring of medicines-taking using a mobile phone. The technology includes a monitored dosage system (MDS) with smart tabs, a smartphone app and web-based monitoring portal that allows healthcare professionals to monitor whether/when the patient is taking their medication.
The MDS system is filled by a community pharmacist and delivered to the patient each week. The briefing summarises evidence from three small case studies involving 69 patients and concludes that YOURmeds increases adherence – and costs less – than standard care.
Making a planned CPD entry – some pointers
Use this learning module about clinical developments in 2022 to make an entry in your revalidation record.
This year the GPhC standards to base your reflective account on changed to:
- Standard one: Providing person-centred care
- Standard two: Working in partnership with others
- Standard five: Using your professional judgement.
As part of your account, you need to provide evidence of where your practice has met one or more of the three standards. Possible reflections to consider could be based on your answers to the exercises that are part of this module. For example:
How have you developed your team’s skills in delivering person-centred care for:
- Strengthening safety procedures when dispensing valproate for pregnant women
- Helping patients who may be eligible for antivirals for Covid-19.
How have you worked in partnership with:
- Your team when women ask for Gina vaginal estradiol tablets
- Your team and local GP practices to manage respiratory tract infections and avoid unnecessary antibiotic use (part of antimicrobial stewardship).
How have you used your professional judgement in:
- Deciding when to recommend e-cigarettes to people who want to stop smoking
- Counselling patients who are keen to use St John’s Wort for symptoms of depression.
Can you give a real example(s) taken from your practice to illustrate the points above?