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December 2023 Research and Evidence Bulletin |
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Thank you for subscribing to the NHS North of England Commissioning Support Unit (NECS) Research and Evidence Team bulletin.
'How quickly 2023 has gone and what a busy one it has been in the world of research & evidence. We have new staff members widening our skills and knowledge in the team, been involved in some really interesting research and evaluation projects and used webinars, events, bulletin and social media to share outcomes and learning. Please look at our NECS R&E twitter here to see our 12 days of Christmas tweets: an excellent summary of the highlights of the year. Wishing you and yours a happy relaxing time over the festive season and a peaceful 2024'
Shona Haining, Head of Research and Evidence
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Welcome Andrea, Research Manager |
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Hi, my name is Andrea, and I am joining NECS R&E Team as a Research Manager. My role is to support and manage the delivery and development of primary care non-portfolio research and evaluations in NENC ICB, supported by NHS North of England Commissioning Support (NECS).
Prior to this role I worked as a Research Project Manager at County Durham and Darlington Financial Trust (CDDFT), successfully delivering a chief investigator led research for patient benefit (RfPB) grant funded study, Multidetector CT improving surgical outcomes in breast cancer (MISO-BC). I have supported the delivery of oncology research, and as team lead of the research delivery team had high level oversight of all research activities, supporting audit, evaluation and research engagement across the organisation.
I was the National institute of health research partner organisation (NIHR PO) cancer lead, and supported multiple projects across the trust including a collaboration with Durham University and the cancer prehabilitation team. I have recently been involved with the 'Community Buddies' programme run by The British Science Association, connecting community leaders and local researchers.
Prior to this I worked in Sunderland Royal Hospital developing and delivering a spirometry training programme to primary care, supporting the implementation of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) clinics, and collecting data later used in further research and the development of a new multidimensional index to assess COPD prognosis. During this time I completed a Master of Philosophy, modelling the relationship between COPD and historic air pollution, and a Diploma in COPD care.
My interests in leadership, the potential and performance of the workforce, empowering people and building confidence, led to a coaching professional apprenticeship, and I continue to develop my skills as a coach.
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Research & New Publications |
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New NHS England health inequalities frameworks published
NHS England Healthcare and Inequalities Improvement Team are pleased to inform that they have published the first NHS England Inclusion Health Framework to mark World Homeless Day today (10 October 2023). They have also published this blog by Laura Devlin, a GP for Inclusion and Homeless Health in Somerset. They hope that NHS organisations and partners will use the framework to take practical action to reduce inequalities for those in inclusion health groups.
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The NHS England team would be grateful if you would raise awareness of the framework amongst your networks and social media and support people to use it. They are happy to support stakeholder events when they can. For any questions and to let them know how you intend to share or implement the framework, please get in touch at england.healthinequalities@nhs.net.
New paper: Exploring the implementation of the nursing associate role in general practice
Dr Annie Topping, Director of Nursing, North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, has published a paper on ‘Exploring the implementation of the nursing associate role in general practice’ in Primary Health Care.
The work aims to understand why, how and to what extent the nursing associate role has been implemented in general practice, and what the barriers and enablers have been.
Read full paper here
A recent publication from researchers, including Dr. Iain Loughran, Senior Research Manager in NECS Research and Evidence team, with the objective of exploring (i) the frequency of use of injection therapy by UK physiotherapists for MSK disorders; and (ii) the clinical reasoning for selection of injectate, dose and pre/post injection practice'.
Nick Livadas, Andrew Cuff, Iain Loughran, Paul Chester
Read full publication here.
NIHR New Collection - 8 findings to help you stay healthy as you age
This Collection brings together a sample of recent NIHR research, 8 studies that all address key risk factors for poor health in later life. All studies had important and actionable findings.
Some offer reassurance, for example, about the value of exercise or weight management programmes. Others highlight differences in risk between different groups of people.
The Collection provides some very useful information for members of the public, especially those in mid-life, to help them stay healthy as they navigate ageing. People working in public health and primary care may also be interested in reading and sharing.
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1. Even small amounts of exercise protect against early death, cardiovascular disease and cancer
An hour and a quarter per week (11 minutes per day) of moderate-intensity exercise could lower your risk of early death, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
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2. The health benefits of weight loss persist even if you regain some weight
People who took part in weight management programmes had reduced blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar for at least 5 years, despite weight regain.
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3. Not smoking can help you live longer, whether or not you have multiple health conditions
At 45 years old, people with multiple conditions could live longer if they have a very healthy lifestyle, especially if they don't smoke.
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4. Risk of diabetes differs between ethnic groups - could you benefit from diabetes prevention?
White people are at risk of diabetes if their BMI is 30+, but South Asian people with a BMI of 24, and Black Caribbean populations with a BMI of 26, have a similar risk.
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People aged 50+ who were living with obesity, were 31% more likely than others to have dementia 11 years later. Women with excess weight around their waistline were at particular risk.
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6. Blood pressure treatment decisions are best guided by your overall risk
Overall risk of cardiovascular disease (based on age, gender, cholesterol, smoking status, and other factors) indicates the need for blood pressure medicines more accurately than blood pressure alone.
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7. Statins for high cholesterol do not commonly cause muscle pain and stiffness
Statins were no more likely than placebo to cause troubling muscle symptoms such as pain, cramp and stiffness.
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8. Using local parks and open spaces can improve your wellbeing
Aspects of where you live, such as housing conditions and your sense of belonging, relate to wellbeing; use of local parks and open spaces was most strongly linked.
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For more information about each study please visit the NIHR website here: 8 findings to help you stay healthy as you age (nihr.ac.uk)
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NIHR funded OLIVIA Research Study
The NECS Research and Evidence team have become aware of a NIHR funded research study, called Olivia, which looks into the delivery, impact and acceptability of the NHS England Evidence Based Interventions (EBI) scheme. The study is currently looking for commissioning colleagues in ICBs to share their experiences via a survey.
Involved in developing treatment policies in your ICB? Please consider taking part in our survey about responses to the EBI programme: https://socs.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/olivia-survey-summer-2023
Can you help our investigation of ICB’s responses to the EBI programme? If you’re involved in developing treatment policies please take part in our survey: https://socs.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/olivia-survey-summer-2023
Further information or questions about the survey and/or please contact: nicola.farrar@bristol.ac.uk or Leila.Rooshenas@bristol.ac.uk
The 4Ps Researcher Development Programme
The 4Ps Programme has been developed by Newcastle’s Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals (NMAHPs) and designed to support your needs no matter where you are on the “research interested” to “Aspiring Clinical Academic” continuum.
The Newcastle Hospitals’ 4Ps Programme supports the needs of all NMAHPs regardless of where they are on their research journey.
For more information see below or visit: https://skillsacademy.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk/series/the-4ps-research-programme/
 Cohort 4 is now sold out, but to book onto Cohort 5 please follow link here: https://skillsacademy.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk/course/the-4ps-research-development-programme-cohort-5-apr-sep-2024/
9:30-10am
Boost your Occupational Therapy research in 2024 with funding from Royal College of Occupational Therapists
Are you an occupational therapy researcher ready to make impact with your next project in 2024?
Apply for one of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists’ Research Foundation Grants.
There are up to five awards available to support your research, career goals or leadership potential – whether this is your first piece of doctoral research or you’re a seasoned academic.
Submissions are open until 5pm, Wednesday 14 February 2024. However, we recommend starting much earlier as this is a full proposal and must be peer-reviewed before you submit it.
Download your application pack via RCOT’s website - rcot.co.uk/news/research-foundation-grants-2024.
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Upcoming Events & Training |
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 The Research and Evidence Team provide a range of training sessions to help people develop their understanding of using evidence and conducting service evaluations. These sessions are all delivered remotely using Microsoft Teams. Our currently available sessions are advertised and bookable on the NECS Learning Website.
Designing and carrying out an evaluation
This session is aimed at staff who would like to commission or design and carry out an evaluation of an aspect of healthcare such as a treatment, intervention, pathway or changes to staff organisation or management.
Date: Tuesday 19th December 2023
Time: 9am-12pm
Location: Microsoft Teams
Questionnaire Development
This session is aimed at staff who may need to develop questionnaires as part of their role, and need a working knowledge of how to design, share and interpret evidence from a questionnaire. It is also suitable for those who may want to develop a research idea involving use of a questionnaire. It is a useful follow-up to the Research and Evidence Team’s ‘Designing and Carrying Out an Evaluation’ training session. The session will give people the opportunity to discuss their experience of delivering and/or completing questionnaires and ask questions.
Date: Tuesday 16th January 2024
Time: 9:30-10am
Location: Microsoft Teams
*NEW* NECS R&E Bitesize training sessions
The Research and Evidence Team have developed new bitesize training sessions which can be used as an introduction to the different topics, or as a refresher if you have been to one of our courses before. Each session is 30 minutes long, with time afterwards for individual support if required. All sessions are open to ICB employed staff, primary care staff and NECS employees, and can be booked via the NECS learning site Events – learning (necsu.nhs.uk). The sessions are as follows:
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R&E Bitesize: What do the NECS Research and Evidence Team do?
Join this session to find out what the NECS Research and Evidence team do and how they can support you. This will include support and advice that can be offered to various groups of staff, and how robust evaluations can be commissioned.
Date: Tuesday 23rd January 2024
Time: 9-11am
Location: Microsoft Teams
R&E Bitesize: What do the NECS Research and Evidence Team do?
This is an ideal introduction or refresher about where to find evidence to use in commissioning decisions, evaluation projects or research, and also a preview of what you should look out for to help you determine if the evidence you found is quality evidence. It will include information about using the NHS Knowledge and Library Service knowledge hub and OpenAthens.
Date: Tuesday 13th February 2024
Time: 9:30-10am
Location: Microsoft Teams
R&E Bitesize: How do I evaluate a service?
This is an ideal introduction or refresher about how to go about evaluating a service. The steps you need to go through will be explained as well as some of the methods that could be used such as service metrics, surveys, and interviews.
Date :Tuesday 12th March 2024
Time: 9:30-10am
Location: Microsoft Teams
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Contact us for advice, or to discuss our services
 We can support and advise on developing research projects and proposals, research governance, working collaboratively to support and deliver research, disseminating results, and using evidence in practice. We can also scope, develop, and deliver evaluation services to meet your requirements.
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