The cause of high blood pressure is not always known, most individuals develop high blood pressure due to their lifestyle, diet, or another medical condition.

The Evidence Study aims to compare the safety and effectiveness of Bendroflumethiazide and Indapamide, which are very similar and widely prescribed medications that are used to treat high blood pressure. We aim to determine if one is more effective and safer than the other or if they are the same. The results will aid GPs in making the best medical decisions in the future. The doctors in your practice has agreed that everyone in your practice who has been prescribed one of these high blood pressure medications will be given the same medication. The effectiveness of the medicine you are prescribed, and your safety will always be our top priority.

The study is being funded by and conducted by researchers at the University of Dundee, working with GP practices in Scotland and is supported by the NHS. A Study Doctor and Pharmacist will oversee the study and will be accountable to the Chief Investigator.

The EVIDENCE Study is expected to run for a minimum of 3 years.

The study results will be known shortly after the study has been closed and the results communicated to your GP Practice.

Yes. The EVIDENCE Study has been fully supported by your GP, and your practice is happy for you to be prescribed one of the medications.

NO. you do not have to take part and can opt out at any time. If you decide you do not want to take part, you can inform the EVIDENCE team via telephone, email, or the contact form on our webpage. The EVIDENCE team will contact your surgery to ensure your prescription is amended accordingly. Please make sure that you provide us with:

• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• GP Practice
• Contact details

Yes. Protecting your privacy is very important. We will always protect the use of personal data with the appropriate security measures. No identifiable information will be removed from your GP practice.

The EVIDENCE Study complies and adheres with all the requirements of General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act 1998, and NHS Scotland Code of Practice on Protecting Patient Confidentiality. Please see our privacy notice: https://www.memoresearch.com/evidence/Home/PrivacyNotice

There will be no change to how your medication is prescribed or collected.

Yes. Your new medication has been prescribed by your GP because it will work the same as the previous one.

We do not anticipate any problems with this change. If you are concerned about any symptoms which you believe may be related to the change, please contact the study team so we can discuss this with you. If you believe your problem is urgent, please contact your GP.

There will be no requirements for additional blood pressure measurements to be taken or health checks to be carried out.

You are not required to take any action. The work will be completed by your GP practice. If you are already on the medication selected for your practice, then nothing will change. Should you need to be switched to the new medication this will take place when you make the request for your repeat prescription. This means that when you request your next repeat prescription in the usual manner, you will receive the medication that your practice has agreed to prescribe.

If your medication is changing to Bendroflumethiazide/Indapamide please finish your current medication and order your repeat prescription as usual. Your next repeat prescription will include the new tablets. Start taking them only after you have finished your current diuretic medication.

Yes. Your new Indapamide dose of 2.5mg is equivalent to the 5mg of Bendroflumethiazide that you were previously taking and has been checked by your GP/pharmacist. So, although the milligram (mg) dosage has halved, you are still receiving the same effective dose of medication. If you have any concerns please contact the EVIDENCE study team, who will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Yes. They are equally clinically effective. There is no evidence indicating any clinically significant difference between them.

If you have any questions or problems, please speak with our EVIDENCE Study Team. You can contact us via:

• Email: evidence@dundee.ac.uk
• Contact form on our webpage: https://www.memoresearch.com/evidence#contactform-section
• Telephone: 01382 383865

Please provide us with the following information:

• Full Name
• Date of Birth
• GP Practice
• Contact details

Clinical research cannot begin without the approval of the relevant regulatory authorities. Before and during the study, all study-related materials are reviewed. The regulatory authorities evaluate the protocol's scientific design, the safety of participants, any ethical implications and the feasibility. The protocol is a document that describes the plan for how the research study will be conducted. It ensures the safety of the study patients and integrity of the study data.

Our research studies, including EVIDENCE, are reviewed and approved by the relevant regulatory authorities. EVIDENCE has been approved an NHS Research Ethics Committee (REC) and all of the Scottish Health Boards.

All our staff members involved in conducting research studies, such as doctors, nurses, trial managers, and pharmacists, are fully trained and employed by the University of Dundee. Everyone on the research team is trained in the principles of Good Clinical Practice, which covers the rules and regulations for conducting and managing research.