Latest News

The Behavioural Activation in Social IsoLlation trial or BASIL+ was a major clinical trial carried out during the COVID pandemic. The trial found that when older people received weekly phone calls over 8 weeks, their mental health and quality of life improved. They received calls from a specially trained coach who encouraged them to maintain their social connections and remain active. Read more here.

As part of the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Yorkshire & Humber focus on collaboration in March, we are revisiting a blog written by our Health Economics, Evaluation and Equality theme describing how collaborative working led to the development of an online resource to provide decision makers and the public, who may be new to the concept of economic evaluation, with a guide on what economic evaluation aims to achieve and introduce them to some related concepts and terminology.

Read more here.

Enhanced Maternal Care (EMC) is a new standard of care for women who become unwell during or shortly after pregnancy. Clinicians in Bradford have been at the forefront of developing  a flexible model of EMC designed to work in any size of maternity unit . The Maternal Enhanced and Critical Care Group (MEaCC) steering group, overseen by the Yorkshire and the Humber Maternity Clinical Network, has created regional guidance with a focus on maternity staff training, development of the MEaCC database and data collection. This article describes the introduction and implementation of MEaCC, supported by ARC Yorkshire & Humber through the Bradford Improvement Academy, and how the data has been used locally to inform business cases for additional staffing and training whilst on a regional level the data is informing quality improvement projects, such as improving management of obstetric haemorrhage. Read more here.

New analysis reveals autism assessment and support crisis with tens of thousands of children waiting months and years for help after demand rockets by over 300% since Covid.

A report published today by the Child of the North initiative - led by the N8 Research Partnership of Northern universities and others - and former Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield’s new Centre for Young Lives think tank, reveals a crisis in children’s autism assessment, warning that thousands of autistic children and young people are waiting months - or even years - for health and education support.

A number of ARC Yorkshire and Humber projects were used in the analysis. Including Born in Bradford and Connected Bradford. 

Read more here.

Researchers from the University of Sheffield, University of Leeds and Bradford Improvement Academy, have developed free online resources for NHS organisations, local government,  schools, nurseries and parents, as part of the BRUSH project  to better support existing and new toothbrushing programmes. Read more here.

Women with the highest levels of obesity are known to have different patterns of weight gain during pregnancy than other women. This study looked at what factors were linked to pregnancy weight gain in women with the highest levels of obesity. Pregnancy weight gain was calculated by subtracting the woman’s weight at her first pregnancy appointment from her weight at the end of pregnancy, providing she was at least 34 weeks pregnant when she was weighed.

The higher the woman’s body mass index above 40 kg/m2 at the start of pregnancy, the less weight they gained in pregnancy. Women gained less weight during pregnancy if they already had one or more children rather than were having their first baby or if they lived in households where no one worked. Weight gain was also linked to whether the woman lived in a deprived area and weight gain was higher in women from an ethnic minority. In the future any interventions during pregnancy to help women gain the correct amount of weight need to consider multiple things including how many children they already have, as well as the influence of the woman’s family and friends and where the woman lives.

Read more here.

A new research project support by the NIHR ARC Yorkshire and Humber is beginning in Bradford with the goal of empowering local communities to conduct research. The Co-Production and Peer Research (CoPPeR) Network brings together researchers from Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with community organisations such as Abilities Together and Connecting Roma CIC. Read more here.

Researchers from our ARC Yorkshire and Humber Early Life and Prevention theme have launched a new Family Advisory Group in Hull. The first meeting of the group on the 29th November 2023 was a great success, with 20 parents and carers of children under 3 who live in Hull , including mums, dads, partners, step-parents and one grandparent. 

Read more here.

December 2023

New PodcastAn insight into being a public contributor with Ruby Bhatti OBE DL 

As part of our PPIE and Co-Production focus in December, we chatted to one of public contributors and research champions, Ruby Bhatti OBE DL. Ruby explains why she is so passionate about being part of the ARC Yorkshire & Humber, and why involving the public and patients in research is so essential. Ruby gives tips for researchers working with PPIE groups, and advice to anyone thinking of getting involved. A must watch for anyone involved in research! 

Ruby Bhatti OBE DL.mp4

An ARC Yorkshire and Humber Research Team based at the University of York, that evaluated Wakefield District Housing’s Mental Health Navigator scheme has been awarded the ‘Dialogue and Change’ award from Investing in Children for their outstanding patient and public involvement (PPI) work. 

Read more here.

March 2023

New publicationDelivery of public health interventions by the ambulance sector: a scoping review

With millions of unscheduled patient contacts every year and increasing call outs clustered around the most deprived communities, it is clear the ambulance sector could have a role to play in improving population health. However, the application and value of a public health approach within the ambulance sector has not been comprehensively explored.

A scoping review was undertaken to explore the role of the ambulance sector in the delivery of public health interventions and what impact this has on population health and ambulance sector outcomes. Read more here: Delivery of public health interventions by the ambulance service 

November 2023

Today sees the start of the NIHR The Shape the Future campaign celebrating the work and impact of the NHS research workforce. It encourages researchers to learn more about research, explore research careers and how to add research to their practice, learning and development.

To coincide with the national campaign, during November ARC Yorkshire and Humber are showcasing some of our PHD students; their work and why they decided to take a path in research and help #shapethefuture of research. 

Read more here.

The Improvement Academy (IA) based at the Bradford Institute of Health Research is celebrating 10 years of its flagship Huddle Up for Safer Healthcare (HUSH) programme: an evidence-based intervention that has consistently demonstrated significant improvement in staff teamworking, improved team communication, job satisfaction and safety culture, and a reduction in patient harm. 

HUSH provides a structured approach for implementing safety huddles in healthcare settings and encourages all team members (clinical and non-clinical) to come together briefly every day with a focus on an area of harm. The shared knowledge at the huddle improves situational awareness and teamwork, thus reducing patient harm as harms are anticipated and prevented and errors are learnt from.

The IA is the implementation arm of ARC Yorkshire and Humber and in the last 10 years the it has been studying and supporting the implementation HUSH safety huddles in a variety of settings and despite challenging times, including a pandemic, teams have achieved amazing results!

Read more here.

The Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Yorkshire and Humber has announced a series of Lunch and Learn events starting this November. The online events will feature expert speakers sharing the latest research, impact, insights and advancements in their fields.

Read more here.

Our Improvement Science Theme is excited to announce new job opportunity for a Research Fellow (Band 6). 

50% home, 50% office based - Fixed term 23 months

We are seeking a researcher with a passion for patient safety, implementation or improvement science. We have a post available within our small and supportive Improvement Science team of the NIHR Yorkshire and Humber Applied Research Collaboration (NIHR YHARC). The YHARC is one of 15 ARCs across the country; ARCs foster collaboration between NHS, social care, third sector and industry organisations, and leading universities. Our team has expertise in health services research, improvement and behavioural science and the development and evaluation of complex interventions. We work with the other themes within the NIHR YHARC - older people, healthy childhood, mental health and urgent care - to support them to include improvement science methods within their projects. We also have an objective to develop improvement science skills within the region.

Our team sits within a wider research network: the Yorkshire Quality and Safety Research group . The group comprises researchers and leading academics from the Universities of Leeds, York and Bradford teamed with clinicians and managers from the Yorkshire and Humber health community, with the ultimate aim of making a real impact on the way health services are delivered

For more information and to apply, click here: https://bit.ly/48pmWA7

Closing date: 19th October 2023

September 2023

New Podcast - "There's a lot that needs de-implementing" - Four frontline doctors talk about implementation

"The voices of practitioners are not always heard in implementation. The sort of studies we do, the data we collect, the outcomes we aim for have been mostly driven by academics." Kristian Hudson, our Implementation Specialist, interviewed four frontline junior doctors to find out what their experiences have been of implementation. Click play or watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqu1GnRKMPM 

Follow the Essential Implementation Twitter account to be kept up to date with new additions to the series: @Essential_Imp1

September 2023

NEW REPORT - Calls for urgent action to prioritise children’s health and education as new analysis finds schools funding imbalance risks widening regional childhood inequalities

September 2023

NEWS - A breakthrough for BRUSH Researchers investigating how best to implement supervised toothbrushing programmes across England are developing a toolkit which could help to address health inequalities caused by dental decay.

The BRUSH project has seen a team of researchers working with ARC Yorkshire and Humber to understand how best to implement supervised toothbrushing programmes in nurseries and schools across England to help tackle dental decay in young children.

A quarter of five-year-old children in England have tooth decay, a figure which can rise to 50% in deprived areas. The impact of decay is far-reaching, affecting self-esteem, speech, eating, sleeping, and quality of life. But it can also affect a child’s school attendance, impacting negatively on life outcomes. In England, treatment of decay is the most common reason why tens of thousands of young children are admitted to hospital, costing the NHS over £50 million, every year. But tooth decay is preventable through toothbrushing with a fluoride toothpaste and reducing sugar consumption.

Read more here.

September 2023

New Podcast - What is practical implementation and how we can promote it within our health systems and across the world more?

 Check out this interview with Allison Metz and Laura Damschroder - 'What is practical implementation and how we can promote it within our health systems and across the world more?'

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phYmTiUGVkA

For more information about our implementation science work and team, click here: 

Follow the Essential Implementation Twitter account to be kept up to date with new additions to the series: @Essential_Imp1

September 2023

New Video - How our ARC & NHS Data Are Transforming Child Asthma Care 

Air pollution is an invisible danger - and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration Yorkshire and Humber (YHARC) is using data to help fight it.

Discover the hidden threat to children's health and how NHS data is contributing to the solution. Join us as we explore the link between air pollution and one-third of child asthma cases in a particular area. Learn how cities like Bradford are implementing Clean Air Zones to ensure better air quality and help our children breathe easier.

Find out more at https://digital.nhs.uk/poweredbydata

See more about our work with Born in Bradford promoting cleaner air here.

August 2023

Job opportunity: Senior Research Fellow (Qualitative Research) 

Our Academic Unit for Ageing and Stroke Research (ASR) is excited to announce new job opportunity for a Senior Research Fellow (Qualitative Research) (Band 7). 

3 years (Fixed term contract until 31/10/2026)

This is a fantastic opportunity has arisen in the Academic Unit for Ageing and Stroke Research (ASR) for a Senior Research Fellow to join a new research programme investigating inequalities in overprescribing of medications for older people with severe frailty and care home residents. Working with internationally renowned experts from the University of Leeds, Bradford Institute for Health Research, University of Bradford, University of Liverpool and University College London, the post holder will take a leading role in overseeing delivery of the qualitative work packages of the research. Funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health and Social Care Delivery Research Programme, the research is closely aligned with current NHS policy in this area and will aim to directly inform national policy and practice relating to medicines optimisation.

For more information and to apply, click here: https://bit.ly/seniorresearchfellow

Closing date: 3rd September 2023

July 2023

New Research Findings show a reduction of unplanned hospital admissions 

Our ARC supported the Bradford Inequalities Research Unit’s (BIRU) recent evaluation of a Central Locality Integrated Care Services (CLICS) which identified evidence that indicates that the CLICS intervention may reduce unplanned hospital admissions for up to 12 months after discharge from CLICS.


The project involved a group of CLICS patients along with a matched control group. The average age of those in the CLICS group was 59.8 years, 63% were female and 44% were of Pakistani heritage. You can read more about the BIRU and find the report here: https://borninbradford.nhs.uk/what-we-do/our-programmes/bradford-inequalities-research-unit/ 

June 2023

New website from our colleagues at the ASR launched

The Academic Unit for Ageing and Stroke Research (ASR), part of our Older People with Frailty theme, is excited to launch their new website: https://ageingstrokeresearch.org/.

Here you will be able to read more about who the ASR are, the research work done by the team and their latest news. 

May 2023

New Podcast Series - The Essential Implementation podcast is back for another series! 

Check out this interview with Prof Bijal Balasubramanian - 'The push of research Vs the pull of practice – Ensuring our research works with practitioners' now.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/Z0EQew10jag 

Follow the Essential Implementation Twitter account to be kept up to date with new additions to the series: @Essential_Imp1

May 2023

Job opportunity: Associate Professor in Stroke Care

Our Older People with Frailty theme's Academic Unit for Ageing and Stroke Research (ASR) is excited to announce new job opportunity for an Associate Professor in Stroke Care (Grade 9). 

This is an exciting opportunity to join an internationally recognised centre for stroke research which is undertaking world leading research. The team are seeking an Associate Professor with expertise and particular interest in stroke care to take a leading role in the existing team of applied health researchers and increase grant income from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and other funding bodies. It is anticipated that the successful candidate is likely to have expertise in a particular aspect of methodology, for example, qualitative / quantitative approaches, behaviour change or intervention development.

For more information and to apply, click here: https://jobs.leeds.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=MHIHS1354 

Closing date: Friday 16th June 2023

Following people on their GSP journey Infographic_MH_UoY.pdf

May 2023

New Findings - Taking part in outdoor and in-nature activities can help people feel less anxious #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek2023

The Humber and North Yorkshire Green Social Prescribing (HNY GSP) programme, led by HEY Smile Foundation, were commissioned as one of seven sites across England to develop a ‘test and learn’ site for GSP. A central objective of the HNY GSP programme was to ‘test the ways in which connecting people with nature could improve mental wellbeing’. To this end, a cohort evaluation was conducted (overseen by NIHR ARC Y&H's Mental Health theme at the University of York) to collect before and after outcome data to demonstrate the mental health benefits of engaging in nature-based interventions linked to the GSP initiative across the six places of the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership: East Yorkshire, Hull, North Yorkshire, Vale of York, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

Summary findings from the cohort evaluation are presented in the infographic on the left (click to download here). The findings show that by taking part in outdoor and in-nature activities, 70% of participants saw improvements in their anxiety score. Download the full HNY GSP programme cohort evaluation report here: https://www.york.ac.uk/media/healthsciences/documents/research/mentalhealthresearch/HNY_GSP_Final%20Report_%20v1_150523.pdf 

See the full HNY GSP Cohort Evaluation here: https://www.york.ac.uk/healthsciences/research/mental-health/projects/humber-north-yorkshire-green-social-prescribing/ 

May 2023

New Report - Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) National Health Economics Research Showcase Event

Hosted at the University of Sheffield on the 14th March 2023 by the NIHR ARC Yorkshire and Humber in partnership with ARC Greater Manchester, this national event brought together over 45 delegates.  The event was an opportunity for partners to learn more about the research ARC Health Economists are conducting across England and its impact in addressing specific health and social care issues.  

The event showcased research projects from six regional ARCs, including: 

The event received positive feedback from the attendees and discussions are being held on ‘what next’ and the potential to host a follow-on activity.  You can download and read the full report on the event here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qR0Iehla5FCdlM2zS0KvmYUycoslgC7v/view?usp=sharing   

May 2023

New Implementation Resource: Not sure how to research, evaluate or carry out implementation? This three part series from our implementation specialist Kristian Hudson might be able to help you out!

Kristian Hudson, Implementation Specialist in our Implementation arm, the Improvement Academy, has produced a new three-part series!

In Part 1 Kristian talks about how implementation is a complex problem and as such we need to approach it and think about it a certain way.  Watch here: https://youtu.be/sDEtiCth5YM 

In Part 2 Kristian takes us through some common implementation science frameworks and how these might be able to help us. He then shares a simple framework he uses when involved in an implementation project. Watch here: https://youtu.be/vWub0gafE8w 

In Part 3 Kristian takes us through a real world example of an implementation project and how he used the model in part 2 to help". Watch here: https://youtu.be/wg-ypyDrbRo 

April 2023

Are you ready to be involved in a research study? New Guidance for care homes

Over the past decade, research with and for care homes has increased, and the need for research to support long term care and policy is increasingly recognised. Research has the potential to inform and enhance the care and experiences of people living and working in care homes. However, there is a need to ensure staff, residents, their families and friends are supported when considering taking part in research. Our Older People with Frailty theme has created a guide to help a care home team determine whether they are ‘ready’ to be involved in a research study.  Check our theme resources here.

Guidance for care home teams_FINAL 29-03-23.pdf

A national publication highlighting how National Institute for Health and Care Research Applied Research Collaborations (NIHR ARCs) rose to the challenge of COVID-19 launches today, the third anniversary of the first UK lockdown. Read more here: ARC COVID-19 response nationally 

Our implementation arm, the Improvement Academy, have been awarded funding from The MPS Foundation for a new project in collaboration with the University of York. The Shared CAIRE (Shared Care AI Role Evaluation) project will research how artificial intelligence (AI) might work with clinicians and patients in the real world. Different human-machine interaction models for shared decision-making in healthcare will be tested and their ethical and legal implications considered.

Read more here: https://improvementacademy.org/ai-in-the-real-world-new-funding-from-the-mps-foundation/

Our Urgent and Emergency Care Theme Lead Prof Sue Mason and Theme Clinical Fellow Jamie Miles, both gave evidence for the recently published report of the inquiry by the House of Lords Public Services Committee into emergency care, entitled 'Emergency Healthcare: a national emergency.' 

Prof Sue Mason was a Specialist Advisor to the House of Lords Committee, including using her role in ARC Yorkshire and Humber as evidence of that expertise (see page 50). Jamie Miles was a witness who submitted oral evidence as part of his role in the College of  Paramedics.

Read the report here: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5803/ldselect/pubserv/130/13002.htm 

Our Urgent and Emergency Care theme and the Centre for Urgent and Emergency Care Research have carried out a final report on Evaluating a Pilot of Enhanced Training for Emergency Care Advanced Care Practitioners (EC-ACPs) in partnership with Health Education England South West.  Enhanced training support for EC-ACPs shows potential for improved training outcomes. Further studies on developing EC-ACP roles required.

Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) are healthcare professionals who come from any regulated healthcare professional background (e.g. nurses and paramedics). ACPs undertake extended clinical and educational training to develop the knowledge and autonomous skills to independently assess, investigate, and treat patients. Health Education England (HEE) South West (SW) NHS England (NHSE) provided a package of support for Urgent and Emergency Care ACPs training in emergency departments in the South West, starting in 2019.  The pilot aimed to reduce variation in the delivery of ACP training; training experience and duration of the training, to provide a more coherent and sustainable training model.

Read the report here: https://bit.ly/3XMbRDG  

New Improvement Science Snapshot -  De-implementation of Low-value Care

De-implementation is the new buzzword in healthcare these days. But what does it really mean and why is there so much interest in it? In our latest Improvement Science Snapshot, hear from Dr. Andrea Patey…who breaks down the definition of de-implementation, why it’s important, and what we currently know and don’t know about it.

Watch the snapshot here: https://youtu.be/I5ebE1Qs040 

December 2022

New AHSN Network blog: Post-pandemic priorities: reducing hospital admissions

Funded by the NHS Insights Priority Programme (NIPP), the ARC YH Urgent and Emergency Care Theme is working with YHAHSN on a joint project aimed at reducing unsustainable demand on ambulance and hospital services, including reducing hospital admissions. A blog highlighting the work of this project and other related NIPP work has been published by the AHSN network and can be read here.

New report and podcast: Re-envisioning urgent and emergency care

December 2022

New report and podcast: Re-envisioning urgent and emergency care

Professor Suzanne Mason, Lead for our Urgent and Emergency Care theme in NIHR ARC Yorkshire and Humber, has led the production of a new report for the NHS Confederation. The report was produced following a number of interviews with key stakeholders. It outlines the current challenges faced by the emergency care system and suggests some solutions that should be considered in order to address existing demand and future proof the system.

Read the report here: https://www.nhsconfed.org/publications/re-envisioning-urgent-and-emergency-care 

You can also listen to the latest NHS Confederation 'Health on the Line' Podcast episode where Prof Suzanne Mason introduces the report and discusses the challenges our emergency services are currently facing. Listen here: https://play.acast.com/s/61162fa9510c6700127d4527/637cc66d91bde60010c338d0 

November 2022

New Improvement Science Snapshot -  Logic Models: moving from the ideal to the 'real world'

The latest Improvement Science Snapshot is by Dr Thomas Mills, PhD Research Fellow. In the snapshot, Tom talks about logic models and how they can be enhanced, making them more realistic and meaningful. If there are any topics relating to quality improvement and improvement science that you think would be helpful for a snapshot, please contact Andria Hanbury (andria.hanbury@bthft.nhs.uk).

Watch the snapshot here: https://youtu.be/1mSMbWYg4eI  

New Improvement Science Snapshot -  Logic Models: moving from the ideal to the 'real world'
New publication - What influences decisions to transfer older care-home residents to the emergency department?

Our Urgent and Emergency Care Theme completed a synthesis of existing qualitative reviews to explore how decisions to transfer residents from care homes to the Emergency Department are made. The synthesis encompassed the experiences of residents, family members and care home staff. Six previous systematic reviews and two full study reports were included. 

We found three important common themes. Transfer decisions are complex and involve power dynamics between residents, family members, care home staff and health care professionals. Reassuringly, some transfers are necessary and are made with the positive intent of improving resident outcomes with conditions like broken bones thought to always need treatment in hospital. However, some decisions are made with no expectation of improving resident outcome and are due to factors unrelated to clinical need such as concerns of medico-legal repercussions and lack of advanced care planning. 

Read the full publication here: https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afac257

Better research leads to better services for the public. The NIHR Your Path in Research 2022 campaign, highlights how people can make research part of their career. 

In this video, Debbie Clark, PhD student in the Improvement Science theme at Yorkshire and Humber Applied Research Collaboration, shares a glimpse into how she started a career in research and what excites her most about being a researcher.

To find more information on the NIHR Your Path in Research campaign 2022, check out the NIHR website here: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/health-and-care-professionals/your-path-in-research/ 

November 2022

New video and blog: My Path in Research by Alison Ellwood

Better research leads to better services for the public. The NIHR Your Path in Research 2022 campaign, highlights how people can make research part of their career. 

In this video, Alison Ellwood, PhD student in the Older People with Frailty theme at Yorkshire and Humber Applied Research Collaboration, shares a glimpse into how she started a career in research and her tips for others who are interested in starting a career in research.

Read her full blog to learn more about her path into research here: https://www.arc-yh.nihr.ac.uk/news-events-and-media/blogs/my-path-in-research-alison-ellwood 

To find more information on the NIHR Your Path in Research campaign 2022, check out the NIHR website here: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/health-and-care-professionals/your-path-in-research/ 

October 2022

We're proud that the collaborative work we have done with our partners has contributed to improve the health & well-being of patients & local communities.

Check out the full list of partners here: https://www.arc-yh.nihr.ac.uk/about-us/our-partners 

It's been 3 years since the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations were launched!

October 2022

Job opportunity: Two Research Associates/Research Fellows in Epidemiology.

Our Early Life and Prevention theme at the University of York are looking for an organised, motivated and enthusiastic epidemiologist to contribute to the understanding and evaluation of a programme of population health work led by the University of York and the Bradford Institute of Health Sciences. This will include analysis of routine and research data to support programmes that aim to promote a healthier, fairer future for children living in deprived areas, including Born in Bradford, the UK Prevention Research Partnership (UKPRP) ActEarly City Collaboratory and the Better Start Bradford programme. Such programmes support the identification, co-production, implementation and evaluation of upstream interventions in areas with high levels of child poverty; providing a new whole system environment where the public, scientists, policymakers and practitioners work with each other. 

This post will be appointed by the University of York, but the successful applicant will join multidisciplinary teams and have the opportunity to build networks and collaborations across multiple sectors. They will work under the supervision of Professors Maria Bryant and Kate Pickett in the Public Health & Society research group. 

The post holder will play a pivotal role, where they will help to identify policy relevant research questions, investigate associations and trends in exposures and outcomes, analyse data and produce papers/outputs to enable decision making for policies that have the best chances of improving the wellbeing of families, children and young adults. 

We are looking for someone who shares our exciting vision to join us in contributing to a ground-breaking research programme that will shape the lives of future generations.

Click on the link for more information and how to apply: https://jobs.york.ac.uk/vacancy/research-associate-research-fellow-epidemiologists-499596.html 

Closing date: Sunday 30th October

New Improvement Science Snapshot - 10 tips on evaluating changes to audit and feedback to improve care

September 2022

New Improvement Science Snapshot - 10 tips on evaluating changes to audit and feedback to improve care

The latest Improvement Science Snapshot is by Dr Alderson, GP and Clinical Associate Professor in Primary Care. It provides an overview of national audit programmes and gives 10 tips on how to design and test audit and feedback to identify the most effective design. This complements an earlier snapshot on audit and feedback by Professor Robbie Foy at the University of Leeds. If there are any topics relating to quality improvement and improvement science that you think would be helpful for a snapshot please contact Andria Hanbury (andria.hanbury@bthft.nhs.uk).

Watch the snapshot here: https://youtu.be/3gClX3cXL9k 

September 2022

Implementation of the Bradford Clean Air Zone

Research by our Healthy Childhood theme's ground-breaking Born in Bradford (BiB) research study has revealed the extent of Bradford residents’ worries about pollution in the city.

The research aims to find out the impact of changes in the city to combat pollution and was set up in response to the implementation of a Clean Air Zone in Bradford which would see older, polluting commercial vehicles pay a daily fee to enter the zone. The Bradford Clean Air Zone has officially come into play today (Monday 26 September 2022).

The team surveyed 1,996 Bradford residents, including 1,154 families who have been participating in the BiB study since their children were born. They found that only 1 in 8 of people surveyed thought that air quality in Bradford was good, and two-thirds thought that it was extremely important to improve air quality in the city.

“Born in Bradford research has provided vital evidence showing the terrible consequences that polluted air has on the health of children living in the city,” explained Professor Rosie McEachan, Co-Theme Lead for the Early Life and Prevention theme at NIHR ARC Yorkshire and Humber.

Dr John Wright, Director of our ARC, said: “The tragedy is that it is Bradford’s children who are harmed most by air pollution. Clean Air Zones are one of the most effective ways for us to protect them. Almost half the schools in Bradford will be in the Clean Air Zone and so our children will be shielded from the toxic effects of traffic-related air pollution.”

Read the full press release here: https://borninbradford.nhs.uk/news-events/news/new-study-reveals-extent-of-pollution-worries-among-bradford-residents/ 

Implementation of the Bradford Clean Air Zone
Online training: Utility Data for use in Cost-effectiveness Models

Colleagues at the School for Health Related Research (ScHARR), at the University of Sheffield are offering a series of online sessions focused on the practical requirements of measuring utility and obtaining utility data for health technology assessment for agencies such as NICE.  The course explores up-to-date research and guidance in utilities including mapping, the updated 2022 NICE recommendations for Health Technology Assessment, and identifying utility evidence and using it in cost-effectiveness models.

To find out more about the Utility Data for use in Cost-effectiveness Models sessions and to book, click here.

Our Mental and Physical Multimorbidity theme asked 249 people with severe mental ill health (SMI) questions about their digital skills and digital access, using the Essential Digital Skills framework. Most people who took part in the study had Internet access and a device to connect with. However, when we asked about digital skills, we found that 42% of people with SMI did not have foundation digital skills. These are basic skills such as using passwords and device settings, and lacking these skills leads to digital exclusion. In the general population, 19% of people do not have these basic digital skills. Those who were more able to use the Internet were likely to be younger and have bipolar disorder rather than a psychosis-spectrum disorder. The three biggest barriers to Internet use were people not being interested in using the Internet, finding the Internet too difficult to use and security concerns. Our findings have implications for the provision of mental health services and supports. Read the paper here:  https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/17579139221106399   

New publication - Measuring the digital divide among people with severe mental ill health using the essential digital skills framework

Do you want to address the critical gap between evidence and practice? Do you want to do cutting-edge research with interdisciplinary supervisors and develop a career as a research methodologist? If so, this studentship opportunity will appeal to you.

Full description

Global population projections indicate that older people (aged 65 years or older) are the fastest growing sector of the population, with the proportion set to almost double by 2050 (and trebling within the ‘oldest old’ age group aged 85 years or older).  Multimorbidity, defined as living with two or more long term conditions, is almost universal in older adults and is associated with increased demand for care.  Our ageing population has profound implications for service planning and delivery of evidence-based care.

There is a growing body of research evidence describing and evaluating interventions to improve the health and well-being of older people living in the community. These often involve interdisciplinary teams from health and social care sectors delivering various combinations of support, rehabilitation and health promotion, with the aim of enabling older people to live and function more independently.  The most robust evidence for these interventions generally comes from randomised controlled trials, whereby older people are randomly allocated to an intervention or comparison arm and followed up to examine any differences in outcomes. However, there are challenges in designing trials of such interventions and in translating evidence from trials into routine service delivery.

First, these interventions are typically ‘complex’. They involve several interacting parts and may target several groups of people and behaviours to bring about a range of outcomes.  It can be difficult to tell why complex interventions appear to work in some trials but not in others. One way forward is to learn more from process evaluations. These are quantitative, qualitative or mixed-methods studies which help explain trial results.  The success of complex interventions depends on how the intervention actually works (mechanism of action), whether the intervention is implemented as intended (fidelity), and the circumstances within which the intervention is delivered (context). Process evaluations of trials generally aim to explain whether intervention success or failure is related to one or more of these influences.

Process evaluations from recent, selected systematic reviews of complex interventions targeting older people (e.g. models of rehabilitation, intermediate care, or discharge planning) may offer valuable insights into why such interventions work or not – and therefore inform the future design and implementation of complex interventions.

Second, trial findings may be difficult to translate into routine service delivery. For example, there is a long history of excluding older adults (and particularly the oldest old) from clinical trials of interventions, despite the need for such interventions falling disproportionately in the oldest populations.  Thus, there may be difficulties in applying findings from randomised trials if study participants and resources are not typical of those in routine service settings, or previous research fails to adapt interventions developed in younger populations to suit the needs of older people. There are approaches to examine the applicability of trials to ‘real world’ conditions, which can be used to assess their relevance and feasibility to routine service settings.

Third, designing and evaluating new complex interventions is costly and time-consuming. Ideally, interventions of demonstrated effectiveness for a given patient population, service setting and targeted problem should be adapted for use in one or more of a different population, problem or setting. Adaptation may offer a more efficient route to translating evidence into practice than investing in developing new interventions.

This thesis will address these three challenges in a programme of work focused around complex interventions for older people. The programme is likely to include:

A systematic review of process evaluations of randomised trials of complex interventions for older people to explore the degrees to which mechanisms of action, fidelity and context appear to account for intervention effectiveness;

A systematic review of protocols and trial reports of trials of complex interventions for older people to assess applicability to routine service settings;

An interview study with health and social care service leads for older people to consider whether and how a selection of evaluated complex interventions can be adapted to their populations, problems, and service settings.

It is expected that the candidate will develop expertise in mixed-method research skills (qualitative and quantitative methods) with wider transferability to applied health services research.

Environment

The student will be based at the University of Leeds in the Leeds Unit for Complex Intervention Development (LUCID), a methodological research group based across LIHS and the Leeds Institute for Clinical Trials Research, focused on developing and optimising complex healthcare interventions to improve patient and public outcomes. Training will be provided in the relevant technical areas. The student will join doctoral students based in LIHS and also be linked to doctoral students funded by the Yorkshire and Humber ARC. An annual training budget of £750 will also be available to the successful candidate for this studentship.

For further information and to apply, click here: https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/1336-translating-complex-interventions-for-older-people-into-routine-service-delivery

Application deadline: Wednesday 28th September 2022

Would you like to take a leading role in a major centre for Ageing research? Do you have an excellent research track record with the vision and drive to tackle new challenges? Are you passionate about delivering world leading research and an exceptional student experience?

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development and leadership of a very successful multi-disciplinary research programme and foster collaborative relationships within the University and with external academic, NHS, local authority, care home, voluntary sector and industry partners.  You should have a significant record of successful research and publication, and you will have demonstrated the potential to contribute publications in high impact factor journals and attract grant income in ageing research.  You will be able to draw on extensive academic excellence to underpin and carry out research, teaching, leadership and management in the field of ageing research within the ASR and within the wider Institute, School and Faculty.

Click on the link for more information and how to apply: https://jobs.leeds.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx?ref=MHIHS1322 

Closing date: Thursday 20th September 2022

This is an exciting opportunity to join an internationally recognised centre for stroke research which is undertaking world leading research. We are seeking an Associate Professor with expertise and particular interest in stroke care to take a leading role in the existing team of applied health researchers and increase grant income from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and other funding bodies. It is anticipated that the successful candidate is likely to have expertise in a particular aspect of methodology, for example, qualitative / quantitative approaches, behaviour change or intervention development.

For further information and to apply, click here: https://jobs.leeds.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=MHIHS1321

Closing date: Thursday 20th September 2022

Sebastian Hinde, Research Fellow within our Health Economics, Evaluation and Equality theme has released a new video on Understanding and Addressing Inequalities.

Health inequality in economic evaluation and local decision making: same term, different meaning?  The video looks at the language and approaches used in considering inequality and health in economic evaluation methodology compared to that used by local commissioners and decision makers. It asks, why worry about health inequality, set within the context of economic evaluation.  It looks at the academic approach, along with how decision makers define and measure inequality, and whose responsibility it is at a local level. 

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL5ItvLmLVw

New YouTube video: Understanding and Addressing Inequalities
Unlocking Data to Inform Public Health Policy and Practice

As part of the ScHARR - Communicable Research Podcast, our Health Economics, Evaluation and Equality theme has released a podcast by Greg Fell, Seb Hinde and Dr Matt Franklin (Episode 11).

They discuss the extent to which decision-makers and economic evaluation frameworks are 'on the same page' when it comes to defining and quantifying health inequalities to help inform the commissioning of care services regionally, with a focus on the current care commissioning landscape across health and adult social care within England.

Listen to the Podcast here: https://anchor.fm/scharr/episodes/ScHARRs-Communicable-Research---Episode-11---Health-inequalities-to-what-extent-are-decision-makers-and-economic-evaluations-on-the-same-page--Greg-Fell-talks-to-Seb-Hinde-and-Dr-Matt-Franklin-e1kj8mr/a-a86cvrg

July 2022

PhD Studentship Opportunity in Lifecourse Epidemiology & Public Mental Health

The Department of Health Sciences, University of York, and the Bradford Institute for Health Research invite applications for a fully-funded full-time PhD studentship to start in January 2023. The project is on childhood mental health and early life experience funded by the Yorkshire and Humber Applied Research Collaboration (YHARC). 

This PhD project will explore the role of adversity, social context and economic position on child and adolescent mental health, in The Born in Bradford (BiB) study, the world’s largest multi-ethnic birth cohort. We are particularly interested in how maternal mental health and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact subsequent psychological, cognitive and educational outcomes.

For further information and to apply, click here: https://bit.ly/3zkdkao 

Application deadline: Friday 9th September 2022

July 2022

A new article, published by our healthy childhood theme, shares evidence on women’s views of weight management services during pregnancy. 

New publication: “Everything is revolved around me being heavy...it’s always, always spoken about.”

Professor Andrew Clegg (Theme Lead for Older People with Frailty, Yorkshire and Humber ARC) is the Chair of the Ageing Research Trialists (ART) Steering Committee. Established as part of Yorkshire and Humber ARC, this international collaborative brings together trialists with a common focus on transforming care for older people across nations. The team will support individual participant data meta-analysis (IPDMA) in ageing research.

The inaugural paper of the ART collaborative has just been published: https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afac090

New International Collaborative - Ageing Research Trialists (ART) Steering Committee
New Improvement Science Snapshot - The Positive Deviance Approach

April 2022

New Improvement Science Snapshot - The Positive Deviance Approach

In this snapshot, Ruth Baxter talks to us about the Positive Deviance approach and shares some considerations to make when applying it in healthcare.

Watch the snapshot here: https://youtu.be/AbSZTe51AV4 

We are pleased to announce that Recovering Quality of Life (ReQoL) Implementation Community of Practice website has undergone some changes. The website now features the ReQoL-10 online visualisation tool and a resources section. 

The idea for the online CoP came from delegates who attended the World Café workshop, facilitated during the ReQoL in Practice Event: Building a Community of Practice held in Sheffield on Thursday 29th November 2018.  Delegates proposed that the online CoP should host topic threads related to different aspects of implementing ReQoL.  

The ReQoL CoP is an online space where people implementing or wishing to implement ReQoL can come together to share learning about implementation issues, processes, barriers and facilitators. 

Access the website here: https://reqol-implementation.sites.sheffield.ac.uk/home 

ReQoL in Practice Online Community of Practice Website
Job opportunity: Senior Research Fellow Healthy Places (quantitative)

We are looking for someone with a background in epidemiology/statistics to take the lead on developing and implementing analysis protocols within theBorn in Bradford Healthy Places Team. This will include complex analyses working with big data and repeated measures of air pollution and health data. 

Further details here: https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/917124374 

Application closing date: Friday 29th April 2022

We are looking for someone with qualitative and/or mixed methods skills to take the lead on implementing our flagship NIHR funded BiB Breathes study. The post-holder will oversee all elements of the research programme with support from a multi-disciplinary team, and will take the lead on implementing a comprehensive process and implementation evaluation, as well as citizen science air quality monitoring work in schools. 

Further details here: https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/917124369 

Application closing date: Friday 29th April 2022

Job opportunity: Senior Research Fellow/ Study Manager – BiB Breathes
New report: The Proceedings of the Patient Reported Outcomes Measures (PROMs) Research Conference in Sheffield 2021, which was hosted by our Health Economics, Evaluation and Equality theme have now been published by the Quality of Life Research journal.
New report: The Proceedings of the Patient Reported Outcomes Measures (PROMs) Research Conference in Sheffield 2021, which was hosted by our Health Economics, Evaluation and Equality theme have now been published by the Quality of Life Research journal.

March 2022

New report: The Proceedings of the Patient Reported Outcomes Measures (PROMs) Research Conference in Sheffield 2021, which was hosted by our Health Economics, Evaluation and Equality theme have now been published by the Quality of Life Research journal.

You can access the report via this link: https://bit.ly/3qThNfL

The DoI is: https://bit.ly/3Lw3mpv

February 2022

Job Opportunity - Senior Research Fellow /Study Manager: Indoor air quality

Born in Bradford (BiB) is an internationally acclaimed applied research programme which aims to improve health and wellbeing through the development and evaluation of interventions to promote health, and the application of research into practice. We have a vision to promote a healthier, fairer future for children living in deprived areas through a focus on improving environments that can influence health and life chances.

 We are looking for an organised, motivated and enthusiastic senior research fellow with strong mixed methods or quantitative research skills to manage our new indoor quality project within our BiB ‘Healthy Places’ research portfolio. Funded by NERC, our Ingenious project (UnderstandING the sourcEs, traNsformations and fates of IndOor air pollUtantS) will monitor indoor air quality in the homes of our Born in Bradford cohort families to investigate how indoor air pollutants can adversely affect the health of people, and explore whether interventions to improve indoor air quality are effective. The post holder will take the lead role in planning, co-ordinating and completing the project, including developing the research protocol and obtaining approvals.

 This is a unique opportunity to be part of a new and exciting initiative which will have real impact on improving the life chances of some of the poorest children growing up in the UK by making lasting changes to the environments in which they live.

This is a full time post however, Part time working considered, minimum 26 hours a week (3.5 days). 

From 1 April 2022 all healthcare workers in settings providing regulated activity must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as a condition of employment unless they are exempt under the regulations. This will apply to everyone working in clinical roles and/or working in clinical areas

We can offer staff gymnasiums on both hospital sites, excellent pension scheme and advice on childcare.

For further information and to apply, click here: https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/917012952

Application deadline: 17th March 2022

New Improvement Science Snapshot - Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) in general

February 2022

New Improvement Science Snapshot - Normalisation Process Theory (NPT) in general

In this snapshot, Professor Finch describes how Normalisation Process Theory can help us understand challenges in health and social care improvement work.

Watch the snapshot here: https://youtu.be/hoH5HRXCg8I 

January 2022

Our Implementation arm, the Improvement Academy, have published the a new report that details NHS staff experiences of working under prolonged intense pressure, alongside four offers of support designed to respond to immediate need and learn new ways to help. Download here: https://bit.ly/3Q4cGDI  

NHS riding the waves cartoon. Caption reads: Are they 'riding the waves' OK or is that ship actually going under?

December 2021

PhD Opportunity - Systems level modelling in older people/urgent and emergency care

The School of Health related Research, at the University of Sheffield is pleased to advertise a funded PhD opportunity.  The studentship is part of a research programme for the NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (NIHR ARCs). The Health Economics, Evaluation and Equality (HEEE) cross-cutting theme aims to work collaboratively with the four core themes and in partnership with local NHS, public health and social care collaborators. This research will focus on improving efficiency and equity in the use of public resources using methods for conducting cross-sector evaluations including mathematical modelling, statistical and econometric methods. The HEEE theme are offering a PhD opportunity and strongly encourage candidates to propose topics in the following areas:

Develop a system level approach to model the economic arguments of implementing interventions to prevent/improve frailty and delayed transfers of care (DTOC) for older people with complex and heterogeneous needs. The theme will look to simulate the reality of supply side availability and constraints as well as using conventional economic theory to understand the economic incentives and outcomes for patients and stakeholders such as the NHS and Social Services.   

Develop a systems modelling approach to identify and evaluate options for preventing excessive Emergency Departments waiting times. We are particularly interested in developing simulation approaches to examine system level interventions to reduce ED attendances and manage flows through a Department. For example, work may focus on the analysis of options to avoid unnecessary attendances or to avoid delays in transferring patients out of hospital, the design of performance metrics that avoid perverse incentives, or combinations of interventions. The successful applicant will have access to a large routine data set of the ED including arrivals, investigations and treatments in hospitals within the region to help inform the model.

For further information and to apply, click here: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/systems-level-modelling-in-older-people-urgent-and-emergency-care-with-the-health-economics-evaluation-and-equality-theme-heee-of-the-arc-yh/?p134121

Application deadline: Friday 28th January 2022

November 2021

New Improvement Science SnapshotCo-production of applied health and research

In this snapshot, Dr Helen Smith walks us through what co-production is, providing some advice on how to use it in applied health research.

Watch the snapshot here: https://youtu.be/24o5w_egPoE 

New Improvement Science Snapshot -  Co-production of applied health and research

Our Mental and Physical Multimorbidity theme are looking for an enthusiastic Research Associate with experience of quantitative research and cohort studies to join the Mental Health and Addiction Research Group led by Professor Simon Gilbody at the Department of Health Sciences, University of York.

This programme, is being led by the HEY Smile Foundation and the Humber, Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership and aims to develop a ‘test and learn’ site for Green Social Prescribing across the six places of East Yorkshire, Hull, North Yorkshire, Vale of York, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.

 For further information and to apply, click here: https://bit.ly/3nMf6eD   

 Application closing date: Friday 3rd December 2021.

Our Older People with Frailty theme are looking for an enthusiastic, highly organised and motivated individual to join our exciting new research programme in the role of a Research Fellow.

The programme aims to explore current evidence and service provision, and then working closely with PPI colleagues and other stakeholders to develop service model(s) to support older people living with frailty to manage their pain and reduce its impact on their lives.

 For further information and to apply, click here:  https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916828691 

 Application closing date: Sunday 14th November 2021.

A fantastic opportunity has arisen in our Older People with Frailty theme within the Academic Unit for Ageing and Stroke Research (ASR) for a Senior Research Fellow to implement high quality health research addressing the needs of an ageing population.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, organised and motivated researcher with qualitative experience to take on the role of Senior Research Fellow. 

 For further information and to apply, click here: https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916833191 

 Application closing date: Monday 15th November 2021.

We have an exciting opportunity for an Implementation and Evaluation Research Fellow to join our Implementation team in the Improvement Academy. We are looking for a passionate and hard-working researcher with an interest in learning more about implementation science and how to apply it.

The post-holder will work with our Implementation Specialist on a number of research and implementation evaluation projects.

 For further information and to apply, click here: https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916795218

 Application closing date: Monday 1st November 2021.

Image of Improvement Academy Team

September 2021

New Improvement Science SnapshotImplementation Outcome Instrument Repository

In this snapshot, Dr Louise Hull, Kings College London, introduces a much needed, newly developed, implementation outcomes repository to help people to select suitable outcome measures when evaluating implementation efforts.

Watch the snapshot here: https://youtu.be/GXXpmRt5YeY

New Improvement Science Snapshot -  Implementation Outcome Instrument Repository
Image of Improvement Academy Team

We have an exciting opportunity for an Implementation Research Fellow to join our Implementation team in the Improvement Academy. The Implementation Fellow will support clinical staff (including nurses, doctors, healthcare assistants and other healthcare professionals), researchers and managers, in focussed implementation projects. 

The post-holder will work closely with our Implementation Specialist on a number of implementation research projects. 

 For further information and to apply, click here: https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916752014

 Application closing date: Monday 11th October 2021.

September 2021

Applications open for NIHR ARC North Thames Academy's Economic Evaluation Online course

In response to the needs of health and care professionals working across our region and beyond, NIHR ARC North Thames, with support from our Health Economics Evaluation and Equality theme, are offering a new online course, providing a unique opportunity to develop economic evaluation skills with leading trainers, irrespective of previous experience.

This fully flexible and self-paced course is intended as an introduction for frontline staff in health, social care and local government organisations, who have limited experience of conducting economic evaluations and generating evidence to inform decision-making.

There are very few introductory courses for carrying out economic evaluations of services and innovations, and so we have developed this course to meet the growing training needs of the health and social care community. 

Yorkshire and Humber ARC has 10 places reserved for its partners. For more information and to apply, click here

Applications open for NIHR ARC North Thames Academy's Economic Evaluation Online course

July 2021

PhD Opportunity - Core outcome measures for the evaluation of complex interventions targeted at sustaining independence in older people with frailty

The overarching aim of Yorkshire and Humber ARC's Older people with frailty theme is to improve physical and mental health of older people living with frailty, including care home residents, and generate major health and care efficiency savings.

This PhD provides the successful candidate with scope to explore varying directions within the objectives set out to achieve the stated aim based on their interests and skills.  They will have the opportunity to work closely with other Yorkshire and Humber ARC researchers to ensure this PhD complements ongoing research in this area.

For further information and to apply, click here: https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/947-core-outcome-measures-for-the-evaluation-of-complex-interventions-targeted-at-sustaining-independence-in-older-people-with-frailty

Application closing date: Friday 13th August 2021.

New Improvement Science Snapshot -  Video Reflexive Ethnography for Healthcare Improvement

July 2021

New Improvement Science SnapshotVideo Reflexive Ethnography for Healthcare Improvement

Video reflexive ethnography is a quality improvement method gaining traction in the health services. In this Improvement Science snapshot, Dr Siobhan McHugh tells us what it is, drawing on her own experience of using the approach with maternity care teams.

Watch the snapshot here: https://youtu.be/OjgihFfFv-E

July 2021

PhD Opportunity - Improving support for people with severe mental illness to quit smoking: comparing a bottom up with a top-down quality improvement approach

This is an exciting opportunity to undertake a PhD within Yorkshire and Humber ARC's Improvement Science theme.

People with severe mental illness (SMI) die on average 15-20 years younger than people without SMI (Brown et al., 2010).  The main cause is preventable physical diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes (Thornicroft, 2011). Health risk behaviours contribute to the increased risk of such diseases in people with SMI, with smoking being one of the most important modifiable risk factors (Firth et al., 2019). 

This PhD studentship will address this research gap, applying the positive deviance approach, which is a bottom up approach to quality improvement, to identify recommendations for how better to support people with SMI to reduce or stop smoking. The PhD will also compare these recommendations with those developed using a more traditional 'top down' approach of an evidence review. As such the PhD will compare a bottom up with a top down approach to developing improvement recommendations.

For further information and to apply, click here: https://phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/1074-improving-support-for-people-with-severe-mental-illness-to-quit-smoking-comparing-a-bottom-up-with-a-top-down-quality-improvement-approach

Application closing date: Monday 30th August 2021.

July 2021

Improving the health of people with mental and physical health problems - what are the most important questions for research?

Our Mental Health theme have created a follow-up questionnaire which includes topics that are most important to those living with both mental and physical health problems, their families, and the health and social care professionals who treat and support them.

Read more about this here: Priority Setting Follow-up Questionnaire for Mental Health 

Improving the health of people with mental and physical health problems - what are the most important questions for research?
ARCs funded for research into National Priority Area of Healthy Ageing, Dementia, and Frailty

Yorkshire and Humber ARC's Older People with Frailty theme are co-leading an NIHR approved research programme with NIHR ARCs in Wessex, Greater Manchester and South West Peninsula.

The research programme is focused on the health challenges facing our growing older population and will support three multi-regional projects.

Read more about this here: National Priority Area of Healthy Ageing, Dementia, and Frailty 

June 2021

Bradford and Craven Innovation HubImprovement Academy supporting leaders to implement innovations that will improve outcomes locally

Bradford District and Craven has been selected by the Health Foundation to be one of four Innovation Hubs. The project will involve all NHS organisations across the Bradford District and Craven ‘place’ including, the local authority working alongside the Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly; Healthwatch Bradford; Bradford Institute of Health Research; Yorkshire & Humber Academic Health Science Network; Yorkshire and Humber Improvement Academy; and the University of Bradford. There will be a dedicated post to bring innovation to life and tackle the health inequalities that affect our communities. 

YHARC’s Implementation arm, the Yorkshire and Humber Improvement Academy will act as coaches and mentors to those leading implementation of innovations so that the Innovation Hub has a strong evidence-based approach and to embed changes that help improve outcomes for people across that place. 

Read the full press release here.

Bradford and Craven Innovation Hub -  Improvement Academy supporting leaders to implement innovations that will improve outcomes locally
Unlocking real-world data to promote and protect health and prevent ill-health in the Yorkshire and Humber region

June 2021

Unlocking real-world data to promote and protect health and prevent ill-health in the Yorkshire and Humber region

The Universities of Sheffield, York, and Leeds have joined forces with Local Authorities and Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) from the Sheffield and York areas, and the Yorkshire and Humber Care Record (YHCR) to ‘unlock’ the potential of routinely collected real-world data to promote and protect health and prevent ill-health in local and regional settings.

The project’s Principal Investigator (PI), Dr Matthew Franklin (University of Sheffield), sheds some light on why unlocking routine ‘real-world data’ is important, and what needs to be taken into account in order to protect and benefit members of the public - who the data represents.

Read the blog Unlocking real-world data at http://scharrheds.blogspot.com/2021/06/unlocking-real-world-data-to-promote.html

A downloadable version of the Blog is also available here: https://doi.org/10.15131/shef.data.14723685.v1

June 2021

New Improvement Science SnapshotA quick guide to effective audit and feedback

In this Improvement Science snapshot, Professor Robbie Foy runs us through the evidence on how to make audit and feedback more effective. Robbie has also produced a helpful audit and feedback glossary term and references document.

Watch the snapshot here: https://youtu.be/0n__SXHvjjk

New Improvement Science Snapshot -  A quick guide to effective audit and feedback

June 2021

New Publication - Patient compliance with NHS 111 advice: Analysis of adult call and ED attendance data 2013-2017

The NHS 111 telephone advice and triage service is a vital part of the management of urgent and emergency care (UEC) services in England. Demand for NHS 111 advice has increased since its introduction in 2013, and the service is of particular importance in light of the current pandemic and resulting increased demand for emergency care. Currently, little is known about the effectiveness of NHS 111 in terms of the appropriateness of the advice given, or about the compliance of patients with that advice. Our Urgent and Emergency Care theme aimed to address this issue by analysing a large linked routine dataset of all NHS 111 calls (n = 3,631,069) and subsequent emergency department (ED) attendances made in the Yorkshire & Humber region from March 2013-March 2017. 

Read the full publication here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33970946/

June 2021

PhD Opportunity - What is primary care epileptology?

This is an exciting opportunity to undertake a PhD within Yorkshire and Humber ARC's Urgent and Emergency Care theme.

Epilepsy care is suboptimal and the role of primary care poorly defined. Mobilisation of primary care could lead to improved outcomes. The PhD candidate will work with leaders in the field to develop expertise in research methods, synthesise the published evidence, create a conceptual framework, based on the theory of expert medical generalism, and make policy and training recommendations. 

 For further information and to apply, click here.

 Application closing date: Sunday 11th July 2021.

New Improvement Science Snapshot -  Behaviour change techniques: what are they and how do I use them?

May 2021

New Improvement Science SnapshotBehaviour change techniques: what are they and how do I use them?

In this Improvement Science snapshot, Professor Rebecca Lawton from our Improvement Science theme walks us through behaviour change techniques: what they are and how to make use of them.

Watch the snapshot here: https://youtu.be/KAbOn2hijBA

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted an increase in ‘quit smoking’ initiatives in the wider population. A study from our Mental Health theme has been published which reports on heavier smoking and high levels of nicotine dependence among people with severe mental ill health (SMI) during the pandemic. 

Read more about the key findings from this study here: https://www.arc-yh.nihr.ac.uk/news-events-and-media/news/heavier-smoking-in-people-with-smi-during-covid-19 

High levels of nicotine dependence and heavier patterns of smoking in people with severe mental ill health reported during the COVID-19 pandemic
Job opportunity: Research Assistant in Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) health services research

We have an exciting opportunity for a Research Assistant to join our Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) theme. The post holder will have quantitative and qualitative skills to work in the dynamic field of urgent and emergency care (UEC) health services research and join the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR). 

The post holder will join a team of health service researchers, data managers and statisticians in the our Urgent and Emergency care theme and assist in research activities to improve the organisation and delivery of UEC both regionally and nationally.

 For further information and to apply, click here: https://tinyurl.com/vb6ptjcw 

 Application closing date: Thursday 27th May 2021.

April 2021

Collaborating to improve child and maternal health PenARC and ARC Yorkshire and Humber

The Child Health and Maternity priority programme, led by PenARC and ARC Yorkshire and Humber, have worked collaboratively on a prioritisation process, bringing together stakeholders from across England to identify the most pressing national child and maternal health interventions. 

The ARCs are excited to now be able to share which four they are in this news story: https://www.arc-yh.nihr.ac.uk/news-events-and-media/news/collaborating-to-improve-child-and-maternal-health 

Collaborating to improve child and maternal health – PenARC and ARC Yorkshire and Humber
New Improvement Science Snapshot -  Realist methods for design and evaluation

April 2021

New Improvement Science SnapshotRealist methods for design and evaluation

Here is the second Improvement Science Snapshot developed by our Improvement Science team. It is on realist methods in design and evaluation and is presented by Professor Rebecca Randell from our Improvement Science theme.

Watch the snapshot here: https://youtu.be/A93aHmR2GmE

March 2021

PhD Opportunity- De-implementation of low value practices (clinical and non-clinical): A patient perspective

This is an exciting opportunity to undertake a PhD within the Yorkshire and Humber Applied Research Collaboration funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). 

This is one of two scholarships currently available within our Improvement Science Theme. The scholarships will be hosted within the School of Psychology within the University of Leeds. You will also be part of a stimulating and supportive network of students working across the NIHR Yorkshire and Humber ARC and the Yorkshire and Humber Patient Safety Translational Research Centre.

 For further information and to apply, click here.

 Application closing date: Tuesday 27th April 2021.

March 2021

PhD Opportunity- Improving professional practice through individualised feedback: accelerating “learning-on-the-job” in complex clinical settings

This is an exciting opportunity to undertake a PhD within the Yorkshire and Humber Applied Research Collaboration funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). 

This is one of two scholarships currently available within our Improvement Science Theme. The scholarships will be hosted within the School of Psychology within the University of Leeds. You will also be part of a stimulating and supportive network of students working across the NIHR Yorkshire and Humber ARC and the Yorkshire and Humber Patient Safety Translational Research Centre.

 For further information and to apply, click here.

 Application closing date: Tuesday 27th April 2021.

Launch of Improvement Science Snapshots -  How to identify barriers to improving clinical practice

March 2021

Launch of Improvement Science SnapshotsHow to identify barriers to improving clinical practice

Designed and delivered by our Improvement Science theme, these short videos introduce practitioners, researchers and anyone else with an interest in improvement science to key methods and approaches in an accessible way. 

The first snapshot in the series covers how to identify barriers to improving clinical practice, and is provided by Dr Andria Hanbury from the Improvement Science theme of the Yorkshire and Humber ARC.

Watch the snapshot here: https://youtu.be/9QmiKYL5hY8 

March 2021

Yorkshire and Humber ARC & PSTRC Newsletter -  In collaboration with the Yorkshire and Humber Patient Safety Transitional Research Centre

This month's newsletter shares some of the fantastic research to form the COVID-19 response in Yorkshire. We're excited to have collaborated with our colleagues in the Y&H PSTRC to create this bulletin which includes the following articles:

YH PSTRC 2021 PSTRC_ARC Newsletter.pdf
Virtual Primary Care Mental Health Research Conference 2021 - 'Mental Health: person and place' (26th May 2021)

Hosted by the Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC) and the Yorkshire and Humber ARC's Mental and Physical Multimorbidity theme, this year's conference theme is 'Mental Health: person and place' and  will showcase primary care mental health research currently being undertaken in the UK. 

Conference themes include: ‘online spaces and green places’; ‘inequalities’; ‘connections and connecting’; ‘wellbeing and self-care’ and ‘adapting and transitioning’.

We are now inviting abstract submissions (250 words) for elevator pitches. These presentations will consist of a single slide; the speaker will have three minutes to present their slide, followed by 2 minutes for questions. We particularly welcome submissions from early career researchers. 

You can submit your abstract by emailing it to ruth.wadman@york.ac.uk (deadline 5pm 26th February 2021). 

February 2021

COMING SOON: Improvement Science Snapshots

Our Improvement Science theme are currently developing ‘Improvement Science Snapshots’ which are short pre-recorded sessions covering improvement science methods and approaches. 

The videos, hosted on the Yorkshire Quality and Safety Research (YQSR) Group’s YouTube channel, are targeted at health professionals and researchers with an interest in learning more about improvement science and will cover a range of topics delivered by different presenters. 

Click here to subscribe to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/YQSR 

Improvement Science Snapshots

November 2020

Yorkshire and Humber ARC Newsletter - Read our latest newsletter here

This month's newsletter includes articles on the following topics:

Nov 2020 YHARC Newsletter.pdf

November 2020

Emerald Literati Award awarded to our Health Economics, Evaluation and Equality (HEEE) theme

Noted by the Emerald Insight editorial team as: “one of the most exceptional pieces of work they saw throughout 2019’, our HEEE theme's paper has been awarded for research on an extensive analysis of the Harrogate Vanguard programme.

The paper Does the integration of response services lead to meaningful change in healthcare activity? A case study evaluation looks at the NHS England Vanguards of new care models was to improve healthcare provision and integration through the coordination of services, seeking to deliver the Five Year Forward View.

The purpose of our paper is to report on an extensive analysis of one of the Vanguard programmes, exploring whether the implemented integrated response service (IRS) based in Harrogate, England, resulted in any meaningful change in secondary healthcare activity.

Emerald Literati Award awarded to our Health Economics, Evaluation and Equality (HEEE) theme
Patient Reported Outcome Measure resource and checklist launched to support those using PROM data for evaluation

October 2020

Patient Reported Outcome Measure resource and checklist launched to support those using PROM data for evaluation

Led by Dr Clara Mukuria, from the University of Sheffield, along with her colleagues on the Health Economics, Evaluation and Equality theme, Professor Tracey Young and Dr Alexis Foster.  They have developed a Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) resource and checklist. 

The resource aims to support the process of selecting and implementing PROMs in different contexts where PROM data is used for evaluation.  The checklist, found within the resource and as an accompanying document, should be used from the early stages of any evaluation work to ensure appropriate PROMs are selected and that implementation is planned.

You can access the PROMs Resource and checklist here.

We would really like to know how you use the resource and if you have any questions relating to its use, please contact us at ARC_HEEE@Sheffield.ac.uk.

October 2020

The experiences of lockdown for families in Bradford during the COVID-19 pandemic - new findings from the Born in Bradford study

Crucial findings from the first in a series of Born in Bradford (BiB)1 COVID-19 research studies have been published in a paper on the Wellcome Open Gateway2.  Since 2007, Born in Bradford has been following the lives of over 36,000 Bradford residents, including ethnically diverse and socio-economically deprived populations. The findings are part of a broader series of adaptive research activities3 (Figure 1) supporting the Bradford District COVID-19 Scientific Advisory Group4 response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Born in Bradford and other research infrastructure at Bradford Institute for Health Research5 have been harnessed to answer some of the key questions that local policy and decision makers are asking as they determine and co-ordinate the local response to COVID-19.  Engagement and consultation with the community, including those seldom-heard, and decision makers is central in shaping and are shaping the study design and content through this adaptive process. 

These first findings in the series, covering the period April - June 2020, report the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions on mothers and families during this time.  They showed that a large number of families were experiencing housing, food and employment insecurities, with one in three reporting being worse off financially than the three months prior to lockdown.  Insecurities were also associated with being furloughed, self-employed and not working or being unemployed.  There was evidence of increasing inequalities and of families being pushed into poverty. 

Clinically significant depression and anxiety symptoms were reported by 18% and 16% of mothers respectively.  Nearly one in four households included a member who was considered clinically vulnerable to COVID-19 (advised to shield, over 70 years of age, pregnant etc).  The most common worry of respondents sharing their lived experience of the pandemic was that their children or wider family members might catch COVID-19 and become seriously ill or die. Financial insecurity, mental health and home schooling were other reoccurring concerns in responses. 

Further survey rounds are planned with parents, children, pregnant and postpartum women over the course of the next 12 months as part of a longitudinal study to understand the changing impact of the pandemic.  Recent data collection and linked data for the cohort provides a pre-pandemic data baseline, supporting better understanding of the pandemics’ impact.  These surveys are being complemented by in-depth qualitative research with community leaders, parents, children, pregnant and postpartum women and their partners over the same period.  Collectively, this body of research offers a unique view into the lives of families and children during the COVID-19 pandemic and will go some way to address the local research and intelligence needs of communities and decision makers responding to it.

https://www.bradfordresearch.nhs.uk/c-sag/

https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/5-228/v1

https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/5-191/v1

https://www.bradfordresearch.nhs.uk/c-sag/ 

https://www.bradfordresearch.nhs.uk/

The experiences of lockdown for families in Bradford during the COVID-19 pandemic - new findings from the Born in Bradford study
Figure 1

September 2020

Survey: Improving the health of people with mental and physical health problems - what are the questions you would like to see answered by research?

We want to give people living with both mental and physical health problems, their families, and the health and social care professionals who treat and support them, a voice in deciding the most important questions to be answered by future research.

Dr Liz Newbronner, who is leading this work comments “we are really interested to hear what people think we should be looking at in our research projects, and this will be crucial in developing our research over the coming years”.

To do this, we have created a short survey where people can tell us what is important to them, about improving the health of people with mental and physical health problems.  The survey will be open until the end of October 2020.

If you would like to take part in this survey, click here. (paper copies available on request)

Our aim is to identify unanswered questions about what would help people with mental health problems look after their physical health. For example, what treatments and services, if examined by research could make a real difference to peoples’ lives. Working with communities and partner organisation from across Yorkshire and Humber we will then prioritise those that are the most important for research to address and plan how we might respond to them.

Our work is being guided by our fantastic priority setting Steering Group, which includes people with experience of mental health problems and clinicians.

Survey: Improving the health of people with mental and physical health problems - what are the questions you would like to see answered by research?

September 2020

PhD Opportunity - Addressing the needs of older people with frailty

The Academic Unit for Ageing and Stroke Research is pleased to announce an excellent PhD scholarship opportunity - Addressing the needs of older people with frailty.

 The scholarship is part of the Older People with Frailty theme in the NIHR Yorkshire and Humber Applied Research Collaboration.

 For further information and to apply, click here.

 Application closing date: Wednesday 7th October 2020.

September 2020

PhD Opportunity - The management of acute paediatric episodes of care within the urgent and emergency care system.

Based at the University of Sheffield, this PhD opportunity is part of the ARC YH Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Theme, led by Professor Suzanne Mason. Aims include: to deliver improvements to demand and flow through the UEC system using a learning health systems approach, prioritising outcomes important to patients and providers and building on a track record of delivery and impact in this area of national NHS priority.

 For further information and to apply, click here.

 Application closing date: Saturday 31st October 2020.

January 2020

Inspiring videos show smokers with mental health conditions who successfully quit

As part of an output from the CLAHRC SCIMITAR+ study, former smokers with mental health conditions have shared their inspiring journeys on how they conquered their addiction in a series of powerful short films. Watch the videos and read the full article here.

Inspiring videos show smokers with mental health conditions who successfully quit