Thank you for your interest in our study. We are a team of researchers from the University of Cambridge, and we are exploring how best to support people with mental health diagnoses to go see their doctor when they are worried about their physical health.

We would like to hear about your experience of receiving a physical health diagnosis when you visit your GP (your doctor).

If you are interested in participating, you will be asked to take part in a short interview about your experience. You will receive a £25 shopping voucher to thank you for your time.

The research is led by Dr Elisa Liberati and Prof Graham Martin.

Why does this research matter?

Research has shown that people with mental health diagnoses can face challenges in getting the help they need with their physical health issues. We would like to hear about your experience: what goes well and what you may find more difficult.

The information you share will help us making practical recommendations on how to improve physical healthcare support in GP services for people with mental health diagnoses.

Why have you been contacted?

You might be wondering why you have been asked to join our study. Our team worked with three GP practices across England to find potential participants like you. We are inviting people with a mental health diagnosis who visited their GP more or less frequently in the last year, as noted in the GP’s system. These criteria (called ‘eligibility criteria’) helped us find individuals who are likely to have experiences relevant to the study. 

Please note that we, the researchers, do not have direct access to your clinical records or your personal details. The identification process was conducted by a member of staff in your GP practice, who has legitimate access to patient data and is bound to confidentiality. This staff member ran a search for patients that matched our eligibility criteria, and you were selected at random from among these patients. Your GP practice has not, and will not, share your details with us. It is up to you to decide whether you want to take part.

What will happen if you decide to take part?

Understanding your eligibility

Before we begin, we have a few questions below to confirm your eligibility for the study. This is to make sure that the study is a good fit for you. You will then be asked to share your name and contact details, so that a researcher can contact you.

Scheduling your interview

A researcher from our team will send you some more written information about the study, and ask you to read and complete a consent form. If you are happy to do so, you and the researcher will arrange an interview at a time that suits you best. We offer flexibility with timings and methods. Interviews can be conducted over the phone or via video call (via Zoom or Microsoft Teams).

During the interview

In the interview, we will have a conversation about your experiences with primary care. Your perspective is very valuable to us. There are no right or wrong answers – so do feel free to share your thoughts and feelings in your own way. Nothing that you share in the interview will be reported back to your GP.

What are the benefits of taking part?

To show our appreciation for your involvement, you will receive a £25 shopping voucher. This is a small token of our gratitude for the valuable contribution you are making to our research.

The study is also an opportunity to have your voice heard. By listening to your experiences, we hope to make suggestions for positive changes in general practice for individuals with mental health diagnoses.

Please fill in this form if you’d like to take part