QResearch Information for Patients

 

Q:  What is QResearch?

A:   QResearch is a non-profit making collaboration between the University of Nottingham and EMIS (a company which provides computer systems to GP surgeries). With the permission of the GP surgery, QResearch takes data from the computer system, sorts it, links it to other medical information centrally held by the NHS, then makes the information available to medical researchers.

 

Q:   What sort of information is taken from your GPs computer system?

A:  Information is taken from the GP computer system about the illnesses people have had and what treatment the doctor gave them. Before the information is taken, it is ‘de-identified’ which means it has had all the information which might identify a patient stripped off including the name, address, postcode, date of birth etc. Only coded medical information (such as blood pressure measurements, diagnoses and prescriptions) is extracted. The free text notes which a GP makes are not included. You cannot be identified from this information.

 

Q:   What is this information used for?

A:   The information is used to study patterns of diseases and compare different treatments used. It is also used to discover if, for example, having one type of illness makes people more likely to get another type of illness. It is also used to compare the safety of different types of medicines. A recent example include a study which has looked different types of the oral contraceptive pill to see which ones have the highest risk of side effects such as blood clots and which have the lowest risk. QResearch has also been used to develop algorithms, such as QRISK, which calculates a person’s risk of having a heart attack or stroke so that they can lower their risk.  The QCancer tool helps doctors identify patients at risk of cancer early. The information is never used for insurance purposes. QResearch is solely used for research purposes where there is a clear research question.

 

Q:   Who supplies this information?

A:   The information is supplied from GPs who use the EMIS computer system. A sample of approximately 1500 GP practices is used (there are approximately 9,800 practices in the UK overall). The database covers a population of over 36 million over the last 25 years.

 

Q:   Exactly what information is sent to QResearch?

A:   Only coded medical information is sent.   No personal details about you are ever sent.   You cannot ever be recognised from the information sent to QResearch.   In fact, it would be against the law for personal or recognisable information to be sent.   The GP computer system allocates your information a unique number but the link between you and that number never leaves your GP’s practice.

 

Q:   How is the information given to researchers?

A:   The information is given to researchers, who are approved by the QResearch team based at the University of Nottingham, in the form of tables. Approved researchers are employed by UK universities and the team always includes at least one medically qualified doctor.  No personal information (your name, address etc.) can be given to the researchers because QResearch does not have this information.

 

Q: can I opt out of QResearch?

A: yes you can opt out by asking you GP to flag your records with a special code which will prevent the uploads. The code is EMISNQOP15. You can find out if your GP surgery is taking part by looking at the surgery website or leaflet. Practices may also display a notice in the waiting room.

 

Q:   Who runs QResearch? 

A:   QResearch is managed by the chief medical officer of EMIS – the company who supplies your GP with their computers – and a Professor of General Practice at Nottingham University.   QResearch has an Advisory Board​ made up of medical professionals and patient representatives. The Advisory Board ensures that the system is run ethically and is accountable.

 

Q:  Does anyone profit financially from the use of my information?

A:   No.   Apart from the computer technicians who are paid by Nottingham University, no one is paid for their role in QResearch. QResearch reimburses reasonable expenses for members of its advisory board, covering cost of travel and attendance at meetings.

 

More detailed information on QResearch and the results of research projects can be obtained from our website: www.qresearch.org.  

 

Originally drafted by Terence Wiseman, Patient Representative, QResearch Advisory Board and last updated August 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ​