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Tackling racism in UK health research / Ethnicity and health experts highlight the challenges
The newly published BMJ paper ‘Tackling racism in UK health research’ from researchers at NIHR ARCs Northwest London and South London highlights the challenges the health research sector faces in becoming truly equitable. The paper, which is the first ever systematic analysis of racism, discrimination and inequality in UK health research, provides practical insights into areas that need addressing as well as potential solutions.
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Children pay the price of pollution / Study into air quality near schools highlights urgent need for action
A new study into air quality outside schools in the North East has highlighted an urgent need to protect children from vehicle pollution. The researchers, from NIHR ARC North East and North Cumbria, have recommended a number of steps to improve air quality around schools as part of their findings.
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Crucial insights / Obesity ‘accelerates’ COVID-19 mortality risk amongst ethnic minorities
A stronger association exists between deaths from COVID-19 and obesity in people of Black, South Asian and other ethnic minority groups than in White people, research supported by NIHR ARC East Midlands demonstrates. The research, published in Nature Communications, shows that as BMI levels increase into obesity, Black, South Asian and other ethnic groups are substantially more at risk of dying from COVID-19 than White people.
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Research findings / Vitamin D supplements do not improve symptoms in people with psychosis
New research supported by NIHR ARC South London involving 149 participants found no evidence that vitamin D supplements taken over six months improves mental or physical health symptoms in people with psychosis. Participants did however show high rates of vitamin D deficiency, which could have longer term health impacts not captured in the study, according to researchers.
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Focusing on what matters most / How using ‘smart’ GP review templates could improve fragmented care
At review appointments, GPs monitor their patients’ conditions using computerised templates which provide checklists specific to each condition. However, many people have more than one long-term condition. Now, research at NIHR ARC West will aim to improve review appointments for people with multiple long-term health conditions by evaluating the implementation of a smart template.
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Zoom or room / Guidelines launched to support children and families accessing online mental health services
A team of researchers at the University of Sussex have launched a set of guidelines to help practitioners provide better support to parents and children accessing mental health services online. The Guidelines for Using Online Therapeutic Intervention follows research funded by the NIHR ARC Kent, Surrey and Sussex that looked at the effectiveness and guidance for in-person versus online intervention sessions.
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A message of hope / Musician living with dementia writes song for research project
A musician who has dementia has written an uplifting song to help support others living with the condition, as part of a major research project. Paul Hitchmough, a songwriter and recording artist was commissioned by the dementia research team at the University of Exeter and NIHR ARC South West Peninsula to write a song to share a message of hope. Paul worked with his long-time collaborator and friend Tommy Dunne, who also lives with dementia, to create the music and lyrics.
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Food, with care / ARC East of England helps develop a vision for good food at Cambridge Children's Hospital
In January, NIHR ARC East of England co-hosted the 'Food, with Care' online conference to help shape the vision for the region's first dedicated children's hospital. With a multidisciplinary programme of talks considering approaches to food as nutrition and therapy, delegates explored how good food provision can be interwoven into the design, build and delivery of the new hospital.
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Building research capacity / ARC West Midlands helps develop a research culture in adult social care
NIHR ARC West Midlands have been working closely with adult social care practice partners in the region to help address the historical lack of investment in adult social care research. The West Midlands Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, with support and guidance from ARC West Midlands, have recently secured a grant. This will enable the region to build research capacity, contribute to strategic research priorities and help to develop a positive culture of research in practice.
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PUMA / ARC North West Coast's new publications exploration tool
Dr Olly Butters outlines how ARC North West Coast are making their extensive library of publications accessible for stakeholders and the public via the new PUblications Metadata Augmentation (PUMA) online exploration tool. PUMA makes it easy to search for specific authors or keywords and provides metrics on publications.
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SUSTAIN / Helping mental health service users manage the hunger side-effects of antipsychotic medication
NIHR ARC Greater Manchester have launched SUSTAIN, a new study aiming to develop a non medication-based support package to help mental health service users manage the hunger side-effects of antipsychotic medication. The researchers plan to review the current evidence and learn more about people’s experiences of antipsychotic-induced hunger, before co-designing a support package based on their learnings, working alongside a Lived Experience Advisory Panel.
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Improvement science snapshot / Normalisation Process Theory explained
Researchers from NIHR ARC Yorkshire and Humber’s Improvement Science theme have created a series of short videos to introduce practitioners, researchers and anyone else with an interest in improvement science to key methods and approaches in an accessible way. In the latest video, Professor Tracy Finch describes how Normalisation Process Theory can help us understand challenges in health and social care improvement work.
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"Discovering an alternative world view" / Revealing the (enabling) Matrix
In this blog, Dr Diana Ramsey from ARC Kent, Surrey and Sussex writes about her experiences from the past four months as a Darzi Fellow, during which time she has taken a journey into what she's come to view as the "enabling Matrix" of health and social care research.
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The equivalent of a litre of vodka each week / Heavy drinkers increased their consumption the most during lockdown
What impact did COVID-19 pub closures have on drinking and therefore our health? Did people drink more or less at home as a result? And were these trends the same across society? Professor Eileen Kaner, Director of ARC North East and North Cumbria explores the latest research.
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“Take me to your leader” / Reflecting on leadership for involvement in research
NIHR ARC South London's patient and public involvement and engagement coordinator, Savitri Hensman reflects on leadership for involvement, and what this means in practice.
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Meet our Fellows / Improving professional wellbeing and patient safety through partnerships in midwifery
In this blog, NIHR ARC Northwest London Fellows Tina Prendeville and Susan Barry talk about how the Improvement Leader Fellowship allowed them to explore new ways of working for midwives in obstetric units. Using quality improvement methodology and stakeholder engagement, the duo built meaningful connections with opinion leaders in their field and successfully piloted the Partnerships in Midwifery Study.
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"Academic research is changing" / On the way to open research
Carlos Sillero Rejon is part of the ARC West health economics team. The team’s applied research aims to strengthen decision-making across the health and care system in the face of limited resources. Here Carlos advocates for open research, which aims to improve transparency, reproducibility and efficiency.
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A change in practice / Removal of all ovarian tissue at time of hysterectomy
In 2017 researchers from NIHR ARC West Midlands published an observational study in the BMJ on the health effects of removing versus conserving ovarian tissue at the time of hysterectomy for benign disease. This study showed a number of negative effects in patients who had all ovarian tissue removed. The researchers have now tracked the use of oophorectomy during hysterectomy over the time of publication, in order to test for any discontinuity.
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The only card game allowed at work / The A-Z of Health Inequalities
The work of ARC North West Coast is underpinned by a commitment to reduce health inequalities. This work is reflected in the A-Z of health inequalities resources: a set of cards and a guide booklet co-produced with a group of public advisers. The cards are a playful way to raise awareness, trigger discussion, and support the implementation of equity. Hear from the public advisers involved in the creation of these resources in this short video.
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NHSX Data Science Internship / Working towards improved patient care pathways through simulation and artificial intelligence
In June 2021, ARC North Thames researcher Tiyi Morris was accepted into the new NHSX Data Science PhD Internship programme. Tiyi’s project focused on how the NHS might better use artificial intelligence to analyse and improve patient care without compromising patient privacy. In this blog, Tiyi shares her experiences of the internship and the opportunities it offered for both her professional development and research.
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Contributing to change for the better / What are the top 10 priorities of older people living with frailty?
The population of older people living with frailty is increasing, and research needs to focus on improving areas of health and wellbeing for this population. In this blog, Liz Graham, Senior Research Fellow discusses the ongoing work within the Older People with Frailty theme at NIHR ARC Yorkshire and Humber.
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Interactive seminar / Reflections on the Researcher-in-Residence model 2016-2021
15 February, 12pm - 1pm
Location: Online
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Join the NIHR ARC South West Peninsula Team in an interactive seminar to reflect on learnings from the five year Researcher-in-Residence programme, embedding researchers as partners within local health and care services.
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Short course / Critical Appraisal Skills
22 February, 10am - 12pm
Location: Online
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This session will move through the different stages of collecting evidence and then deciding what’s relevant as well as what tools we can use to help us. The session will consider the grey literature as well as the accepted academic sources. We will also talk about predatory journals and pre-print materials.
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Conference / Centre for Dementia Studies Research Conference
23 - 24 February, 10am - 4pm
Location: Online
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Join ARC Kent, Surrey and Sussex for a two day event showcasing the latest in dementia research hosted by Professor Naji Tabet, Director, Centre for Dementia Studies. There will be a range of speakers focusing on key themes of implementation of findings in clinical services and improving quality of life for people with dementia and their families.
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Inside Research seminar / Identifying inequalities in health and care: the power of health data
2 March, 6pm - 7:30pm
Location: Online
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In this seminar, researchers and members of the public involved in NIHR ARC South London’s applied informatics work will show how they are using health data analysis to identify inequalities in health and social care.
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Workshop / HDR UK North Digital Care Homes Workshop
4 March, 10am - 12:30pm
Location: Hilton Leeds City, Leeds
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The Health Data Research (HDR) UK North Digital Care Homes Project is evaluating the impact of new technologies in care homes that facilitate digital referrals for residents who become unwell. Join this workshop to hear and discuss interim findings, and help guide future priorities of the project and beyond.
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Short course / Implementing Change – practical know how
9 March, 10am - 12pm
Location: Online
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In this session, we’ll discuss some of the operational aspects of implementation, such as identifying your audience, developing a strong value proposition, and actually knowing what ‘thing’ is resulting from your work. The session will make most sense for individuals / teams who have something (in development or finished) that is implementation-ready.
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Conference / 4th International Social Prescribing Conference
10 - 11 March, 8:30am - 5pm
Location: Online
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Join the Social Prescribing Network's conference to learn about the latest developments in social prescribing commissioning, the utilisation of Integrated Care Systems, workforce development, international models of social prescribing and key sectors, including children and young people, green prescribing, arts and culture and much more. There will be opportunities to share knowledge and network.
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Short course / Qualitative Interviews & Focus Groups
14 March, 10am - 12pm
Location: Online
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Drawing on academic approaches and personal experience, this session will provide an introduction to the ways in which interviews and focus groups are used in qualitative health research and offer some insights for good practice.
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Seminar / Creating better public involvement adverts
14 March, 1pm - 2pm
Location: Online
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Mike Bell, Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Facilitator for NIHR ARC West and Bristol BRC gets sent a lot of ads for public involvement opportunities. Some are good, some are… not so good. Last year, Mike talked to members of the public to find out what they want to see in a PPI ad. In this seminar he will present his findings.
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Short course / Systematic Review
Workshop 1: 16 March, 10am - 12pm
Workshop 2: 4 May, 10am - 12pm
Location: Online
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Workshop 1: Discussion of the resources required to conduct a systematic review, development of a systematic review protocol, search strategies and comprehensive literature searching.
Workshop 2: Discussion on data extraction tools, understanding the role of critical appraisal and risk of bias, synthesising the evidence and communicating findings.
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Abstract submissions now open / National PROMs Annual Research Conference
Deadline for abstracts: 16 March
Conference: 14 and 15 June
Location: Online
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Colleagues at the Welsh Value in Health Centre are hosting this year’s UK PROMs Annual Research Conference on 14 and 15 June. The conference will include plenary sessions, expert panels, oral presentations and posters from PROMs researchers across the UK and beyond. The call for abstract submission is now open.
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Applications open / Economic Evaluation Online introductory course
Application deadline: 20 March
Course runs: 25 April - 24 June
Location: Online
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Applications are open for the NIHR ARC North Thames Academy’s ‘Economic Evaluation Online’ introductory course. Developed for frontline staff in health, social care and local government organisations to gain economic evaluation skills with leading trainers. Free places are available to staff working in partner organisations of ARCs for North Thames, Yorkshire and Humber, and South West Peninsula. The fee for staff in non-partner organisations is £150.
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Conference / Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre 22nd Anniversary Conference
28 March
Location: Durham and online
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This conference is a celebration of more than 20 years of work at Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre. Several international speakers will be sharing how they've implemented aspects of recent research in practice, aiming to inspire delegates to use research to make change.
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Save the date / Implementation Science Research Conference 2022
14 and 15 July
Location: Online
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This year, NIHR ARC South London will host its fifth International Implementation Science Research Conference. The theme is: “Beyond trials: the rise of pragmatic approaches to implementation science in health and social care research.” Read about last year's conference.
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