Table 2.
Description of interventions in phase 2
| Abbreviated name for trial | Aim of trial | Setting and wider context | Nature of intervention | Nature of control intervention(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 2: Multiple explanatory case study | ||||
| Aim: To seek empirical support for the theoretical propositions and assess likely validity across multiple trial types and contexts | ||||
| Trial 1: Waiting list |
To determine whether patients and their partners who receive an extended home-based programme of pre-cardiac surgery education and support demonstrate equal or greater benefit compared with those who receive a short hospital- based programme |
NHS Health Board covering a large geographical area with no cardiac surgery. Contract with a neighbouring Health Board for cardiac surgery. Mixed urban/rural, affluent/ deprived population, with a range of GP practices (single-handed to group practices) |
Education and support intervention for patients on waiting list for coronary artery bypass surgery, delivered over six months with alternate monthly home and practice nurse visits |
One-off three-hour education and support class delivered in hospital setting for patients in the same target group, soon after joining the waiting list |
| Trial 2: Information |
To evaluate the benefits of a new information leaflet given to parents/guardians when their child is discharged from hospital following a benign febrile convulsion |
Paediatric unit in large teaching hospital in Scotland |
An information leaflet for parents of children with benign febrile convulsions, designed to meet current standards of written information |
An information leaflet for the same target group, not designed to meet current standards of written information |
| Trial 3: Exercise |
To determine the acceptability and effects of an aerobic exercise intervention during radiotherapy for localised prostate cancer on fatigue |
Cancer centre in Scotland |
Exercise intervention to reduce fatigue in patients undergoing four weeks of radiotherapy for prostate cancer. One to one session with physiotherapist for tailored exercise instruction |
A weekly phone call with a clinical nurse specialist. No specific exercise guidance |
| Trial 4: CBT |
To assess the relative efficacy in routine practiceof clinical nurse specialists providing cognitive-behaviour therapy for psychotic patients suffering from chronic, distressing symptoms only partially relieved by medication |
Hospital and community psychiatric services in a large Health Board in Scotland |
Twenty sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy, delivered over nine months, for patients with medication-resistant psychotic symptoms |
Two controls: 1) usual psychiatric care 2) twenty supportive psychotherapy sessions |
| Trial 5: Guidelines |
To determine the effectiveness of a national guideline in improving quality of life in epilepsy sufferers. To evaluate the effectiveness of two different implementation strategies for this guideline |
General practices in a large Health Board area in Scotland |
Interactive workshops, structured record sheets and specialist nurse facilitation to improve the management of epilepsy through clinical guidelines |
Two controls: 1) guideline only sent to GP practices 2) interactive workshops and structured record sheets but no specialist nurse input |
| Trial 6: Sleep |
To examine the impact of disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep on mothers’ mental health. To evaluate the cost effectiveness of a tailored sleep programme, provided by health visitors, in improving the mother’s mental health and the child’s sleep disorder |
Fifteen GP practices within a large Health Board area in Scotland parents for children’s sleep |
Tailored behavioural intervention programme delivered to disorders by a health visitor over six weekly sessions |
Two controls: 1) information booklet only 2) waiting list for programme |
| Carers | To evaluate the effectiveness of a community mental health nurse (CMHN)-led intervention in supporting carers who look after a person who is diagnosed with schizophrenia. The intervention was compared with support that is normally offered to carers by CMHNs | Two Health Board areas in Scotland. Recruitment also took place through local carer support groups | Supportive intervention to meet the needs of carers of people with schizophrenia, delivered at home over twelve weeks by nurses trained to provide a carer-focused intervention | Supportive intervention to same target group, delivered over twelve weeks by nurses not trained to provide a carer-focused intervention |
CMHN, community mental health nurse; GP, general practitioner; NHS, National Health Service.