Potential patient participants (PPPs) were recruited with Consultant agreement and HCP’s were invited by email/direct invitation. All potential participants received an information pack with 2 weeks to make a decision. PPPs were consented by a clinical team member who was also present during their interview (condition of ethics approval). Thematic analysis was used to produce themes for the CIG. Anonymised transcripts for each group were analysed separately and then across groups to show thematic commonality and diversity. Coding accuracy was
checked by peer review and joint superordinate coding sessions. The draft CIG was circulated to research participants for comment. Eight people taking clozapine and 14 HCPs were interviewed. RG-7204 The superordinate theme was Patient Safety with three underpinning themes: Management of People Taking Clozapine; Multidisciplinary Team Working and Knowledge of Clozapine. Management of people taking clozapine centred on risk reduction of cardiovascular, metabolic disease and agranuloyctosis. These were the most well known whereas constipation and interactions with caffeine/smoking were not. Multidisciplinary team
working was viewed as liberating by people taking clozapine as they arranged appointments themselves and felt more integrated with and supported by local pharmacy and GP services. HCPs described feeling uncertain of action to take/who to contact in emergency situations. SAHA HDAC Astemizole Knowledge of clozapine varied within and across HCP groups with two demonstrating depth and breadth, whereas others knowledge was limited to agranulocytosis. Some felt they had insufficient knowledge to make prescribing decisions whereas others felt competent but were unaware of major clozapine interactions. Patient participants’ knowledge increased on discharge from hospital as they took responsibility for organising blood tests and medication repeats. However, most participants were unaware that severe constipation was a serious adverse effect. The draft CIG received excellent feedback. Mortality from
clozapine-related constipation is increasing and caffeine and smoking increase/decrease clozapine serum levels respectively leading to increased toxicity/risk of relapse. Shared care services would benefit from an accessible CIG to highlight potential adverse effects needing proactive monitoring plus emergency information. An e-version of the CIG is planned, free to download for people taking clozapine and those HCPs supporting them. 1. Bleakley, S; Taylor D. The Clozapine Handbook. Lloyd-Reinhold Communications LLP ISBN-10: 0956915612 ISBN-13: 978-0956915610 2. S. Jespersen, K. H. (2008). Side-effects and treatment with clozapine: A comparison between the views of consumers and their clinicians. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 2–8. R. Dickinsona, D. Raynora, P. Knappb, J.