Hilltops Medical CentreResearch
Hilltops Medical Centre actively supports clinical research studies within primary care.
The NHS constitution states that research is a core function of the NHS. Clinical research is a major driver of innovation, and central to NHS practice for maintaining and developing high standards of patient care. Ultimately, clinical research means patients get access to new treatments, interventions and medicines. Investment in research means better, more cost effective care for patients.
Please see below research that we are currently active in:
DEFINE FeNO
Determining the Effectiveness of a FeNO-guided asthma management INtervEntion in primary care (DEFINE) is a research study conducted by the University of Oxford.
Its aim is to help health care professionals in GP surgeries provide a more personalised approach to managing patients’ asthma by using FeNO to guide decisions about their treatment.
FeNO stands for Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide and is measured using a simple breath test.
Nitric oxide is a gas which everyone breathes out. People with inflamed airways breathe out more nitric oxide than people whose airways are not inflamed. These patients are more likely to have an asthma attack if their inflammation remains untreated.
FeNO is already measured in patients with severe asthma who are seen in hospital clinics. However, very few GP surgeries routinely use FeNO to help them monitor treatment.
A copy of the FeNO Patient Booklet can be found below:
If you or your child would like to take part in this research project and have received an invite, please see the Research Information Sheets below for more information: