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Abstract Background Smoking prevalence is high among Pakistani and Bangladeshi men in the UK, but there are few tailored smoking cessation programmes for Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. The aim of this study was to pilot a cluster randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of Pakistani and Bangladeshi smoking cessation outreach workers with standard care to improve access to and the success of English smoking cessation services. Methods A pilot cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted in Birmingham, UK. Geographical lower layer super output areas were used to identify natural communities where more than 10% of the population were of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin. 16 agglomerations of super output areas were randomised to normal care controls vs. outreach intervention. The number of people setting quit dates using NHS services, validated abstinence from smoking at four weeks, and stated abstinence at three and six months were assessed. The impact of the intervention on choice and adherence to treatments, attendance at clinic appointments and patient satisfaction were also assessed. Results We were able to randomise geographical areas and deliver the outreach worker-based services. More Pakistani and Bangladeshi men made quit attempts with NHS services in intervention areas compared with control areas, rate ratio (RR) 1.32 (95%CI: 1.03-1.69). There was a small increase in the number of 4-week abstinent smokers in intervention areas (RR 1.30, 95%CI: 0.82-2.06). The proportion of service users attending weekly appointments was lower in intervention areas than control areas. No difference was found between intervention and control areas in choice and adherence to treatments or patient satisfaction with the service. The total cost of the intervention was £124,000; an estimated cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained of £8,500. Conclusions The intervention proved feasible and acceptable. Outreach workers expanded reach of smoking cessation services in diverse locations of relevance to Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. The outreach worker model has the potential to increase community cessation rates and could prove cost-effective, but needs evaluating definitively in a larger, appropriately powered, randomised controlled trial. These future trials of outreach interventions need to be of sufficient duration to allow embedding of new models of service delivery. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN82127540

Abstract Background Despite having high smoking rates, there have been few tailored cessation programmes for male Bangladeshi and Pakistani smokers in the UK. We report on a qualitative evaluation of a community-based, outreach worker delivered, intervention that aimed to increase uptake of NHS smoking cessation services and tailor services to meet the needs of Bangladeshi and Pakistani men. Methods This was a longitudinal, qualitative study, nested within a phase II cluster randomised controlled trial of a complex intervention. We explored the perspectives and experiences of five outreach workers, two stop smoking service managers and a specialist stop smoking advisor. Data were collected through focus group discussions, weekly diaries, observations of management meetings, shadowing of outreach workers, and one-to-one interviews with outreach workers and their managers. Analysis was undertaken using a modified Framework approach. Results Outreach workers promoted cessation services by word of mouth on the streets, in health service premises, in local businesses and at a wide range of community events. They emphasised the reasons for cessation, especially health effects, financial implications, and the impact of smoking on the family. Many smokers agreed to be referred to cessation services, but few attended, this in part being explained by concerns about the relative inflexibility of existing service provision. Although outreach workers successfully expanded service reach, they faced the challenges of perceived lack of awareness of the health risks associated with smoking in older smokers and apathy in younger smokers. These were compounded by perceptions of "lip service" being given to their role by community organisations and tensions both amongst the outreach workers and with the wider management team. Conclusions Outreach workers expanded reach of the service through taking it to diverse locations of relevance to Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. The optimum method of outreach to retain and treat Bangladeshi and Pakistani smokers effectively in cessation programmes needs further development.

Abstract Background The prevalence of smoking is higher among Pakistani and Bangladeshi males than among the general population. Smokers who receive behavioural support and medication quadruple their chances of stopping smoking, but evidence suggests that these populations do not use National Health Service run stop smoking clinics as frequently as would be expected given their high prevalence of smoking. This study aims to tackle some of the main barriers to use of stop smoking services and adherence to treatment programmes by redesigning service delivery to be more acceptable to these adult male populations. The study compares the effectiveness of trained Pakistani and Bangladeshi smoking cessation workers operating in an outreach capacity ('clinic + outreach') with standard care ('clinic only') to improve access to and success of National Health Service smoking cessation services. Methods/design This is a pilot cluster randomised controlled trial based in Birmingham, UK. Super output areas of Birmingham will be identified in which more than 10% of the population are of Pakistani and/or Bangladeshi origin. From these areas, 'natural geographical communities' will be identified. Sixteen aggregated agglomerations of super output areas will be identified, separating areas from each other using buffer regions in order to reduce potential contamination. These natural communities will be randomised to 'clinic + outreach' (intervention) or 'clinic only' (control) arms. The use of stop smoking services and the numbers of people quitting smoking (defined as prolonged self-reported abstinence at four weeks, three months and six months) will be assessed in each area. In addition, we will assess the impact of the intervention on adherence to smoking cessation treatments and patient satisfaction. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN 82127540.

Abstract Background Although it is now widely endorsed that children should as far as possible rate their own health related quality of life (HRQL), there are situations where proxy information on child HRQL may be useful, especially where a child is too ill or young to provide their own HRQL assessment. There is limited availability of generic HRQL scales that have a parallel child and parent version and that are reliable, valid, brief, comprehensible and suitable for use in UK populations. The aims of this study were therefore to develop and validate a parent version of the anglicised Manchester-Minneapolis Quality of Life child form (MMQL-UK (CF)) and to determine the level of association between the child and parent versions of this form. Methods This study was undertaken concurrently with the anglicisation and validation of the MMQL, a measure of HRQL developed for use with children in North America. At that time, no parent version existed, so the MMQL form for children (MMQL-UK (CF)) was used as the basis for the development of the MMQL-UK parent form (PF). The sample included a control group of healthy children and their parents and five exemplar groups; children diagnosed with asthma, diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease and their parents, children in remission from cancer and their parents and children in public care and their carers. Consistency of the MMQL-UK (PF) components were assessed by calculating Cronbach's alpha. Validation of the parent questionnaire was undertaken by comparing MMQL-UK (PF) component scores with comparable components on the proxy PedsQL™ quality of life scales, comparing MMQL-UK (PF) component scores between parents of healthy and chronic disease children and by comparison of component scores from children and their parents or carers. Reproducibility and responsiveness were assessed by retesting parents by follow-up questionnaires. Results A total of 874 children (completing MMQL-UK (CF)) and 572 parents or carers (completing MMQL-UK (PF)) took part in the study. The internal consistency of all the MMQL-UK (PF) components exceeding the accepted criterion of 0.70 and the construct validity was good with moderate correlations being evident between comparable components of the MMQL-UK (PF) and the proxy PedsQL™. Discriminant validity was demonstrated with significant differences being identified between parents of healthy children and those with chronic conditions. Intra-class correlations exceeded 0.65 for all MMQL-UK (PF) components demonstrating good reproducibility. Weak to moderate levels of responsiveness were demonstrated for all but social functioning. The MMQL-UK (PF) showed moderate parent-child correlation with the MMQL-UK (CF) for all components. The best correlations were seen for those components measuring the same construct (Pearson's r ranged from 0.31 to 0.61, p < 0.01 for equivalent components). Conclusion The MMQL-UK (PF) showed moderate to good correlations with the MMQL-UK (CF) component scores. The MMQL-UK (PF) will be of use when comparing child and parent/carer perception of the impact of a child's condition on their HRQL or where the child is too ill or young to provide their own report.

Abstract Background Health related quality of life (HRQL) has been recognised as an important paediatric outcome measurement. One of the more promising measures to emerge in recent years is the Pediatric Quality Of Life Inventory (PedsQL™), developed in the US. Advantages of the PedsQL™ include brevity, availability of age appropriate versions and parallel forms for child and parent. This study developed a UK-English version of PedsQL™ generic module and assessed its performance in a group of UK children and their parents. Methods PedsQL™ was translated to UK-English. The psychometric properties of the UK version were then tested following administration to 1399 children and 970 of their parents. The sample included healthy children, children diagnosed with asthma, diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease and children in remission from cancer. Results Psychometric properties were similar to those reported for the original PedsQL™. Internal reliability exceeded 0.70 for all proxy and self-report sub-scales. Discriminant validity was established for proxy and self-report with higher HRQL being reported for healthy children than those with health problems. Sex differences were noted on the emotional functioning subscale, with females reporting lower HRQL than males. Proxy and self-report correlation was higher for children with health problems than for healthy children. Conclusion The UK-English version of PedsQL™ performed as well as the original PedsQL™ and is recommended for assessment of paediatric HRQL in the UK.

The challenges facing UK higher education are both well documented and controversial; however, pitted against this context is the requirement for psychology departments to provide an increasingly rich and diverse university experience for students, whilst ensuring progression and retention remain central to undergraduate provision. Despite the recognition that induction is of upmost importance in ensuring a successful transition from pretertiary to higher education, many universities are faced with changing budgets in the post-Browne era (Browne, 2010) across all aspects of academic life. Such a challenge presents departments with a unique paradox since student expectations continue to rise as the dominance of consumerism reaches fruition, whilst budgets continue to decrease. In acknowledging the importance of induction for both the overall student experience and for retention, the University of Worcester designed and successfully implemented an induction programme on a considerably reduced budget. A satisfaction questionnaire was completed by 136 undergraduate students inducted in 2011 and the results compared to those of 87 students from 2010 (where the induction budget was considerably higher). The results indicate similar levels of satisfaction and engagement with induction activities and whilst an off-site activity remains key to the success of induction, such an activity doesn't have to present considerable expense. This paper provides an overview of designing an induction programme on a reduced budget, presents satisfaction results from undergraduate students who completed induction in both 2010 and 2011, and presents suggestions for best practice in the design of induction events for psychology undergraduates.

Although assessment is acknowledged as being of central importance to the student learning experience, assessment practices have been consistently highlighted as one of the weakest features by the Quality Assurance Agency and identified by many as a crisis within higher education. This paper explores the use of Patchwork Text Assessment within a level 6 undergraduate psychology module and considers the potential of this method for enhancing the learning experiences of psychology undergraduates, facilitating the process of self-reflection and allowing students to make explicit the nature of their learning "journey". (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)

There is a push for universities to equip graduates with desirable employability skills and "hands-on" experience. This article explores the perceptions of students and staff experiences of a research assistantship scheme. Nine students from the University of Worcester were given the opportunity to work as a student vacation researcher for up to 10 weeks. This opportunity gave "hands-on" experience to students to understand real world research, thereby enabling the development of academic and research skills and increasing a student's employability. The scheme received positive feedback from both students and academic staff and was recommended as a means to enhance student's future employment.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the evidence base of the Food Dudes healthy eating programme, specifically the short- and long-term effectiveness of the intervention for consumption of fruit and vegetables both at school and at home and displacement of unhealthy snack consumption. Design/Methodology/Approach: Articles were identified using Academic Search Complete, PsycARTICLES, Medline and PubMed databases keywords for the period January 1995 to August 2013. Articles were included if they reported an empirical evaluation of the Food Dudes programme aimed at children aged between 4-11 years. Articles were included regardless of geographical location and publication type (i.e. published and "grey" literature). Findings: Six articles were included for review. Findings indicated that the programme was moderately effective in the short term; however, the long-term effectiveness of the programme is unknown. The ability of the programme to generalise to the home setting and to displace unhealthy snack foods also requires further investigation. Originality/Value: This is the first independent review of the Food Dudes programme. In light of the extensive roll out of the Food Dudes programme, an appraisal of the evidence surrounding the programme is timely. The review highlights that sustaining fruit and vegetable intake cannot be achieved through behaviour-based interventions alone and the long-term maintenance of fruit and vegetable consumption requires more than the implementation of an intervention found to be effective in a controlled research environment.

British mothers (n=362) and fathers (n=103) of randomly selected children from 366 two-parent families were interviewed concerning physically punishing their children. The proportion of mothers and fathers who had used physical punishments were similar. Percentages of types and severity of punishments varied. These findings are discussed in comparison to earlier studies. (Author/MKA)

The feminisation of ageing observed across the world is a significant challenge in many societies. Women's greater longevity is associated with the increased likelihood of age-related disability and morbidity. Furthermore, gendered disadvantage and poverty can make access to health care increasingly problematic in later years. Among the Indian states, Kerala has the highest number of residents above the age of 60 and many are older widows. Given this context, this paper explores what promotes access to health care for older widows living alone in the south Indian state of Kerala. Thirty-two in-depth interviews, eight focus group discussions and eight units of participant observation were carried out among widows, health-care providers and key informants. Applying a reflexive inductive approach to our analysis, the main barriers to access that emerged were altered family structures and loneliness, whilst enablers included good social networks and access to neighbourhood clinics. Our participants' social networks were drawn from three levels: family, neighbourhood and the wider community. The ability to form a personal community from their social networks and the quality of relationships within this community strongly predicted the capacity to access health care. Efforts to improve access to health care for older widows requires a response that is rooted in the socio-cultural context of the community. Comprehensive social protection policies that promote initiatives to engender social capital among the older population, decentralised primary health-care services, and the training and sensitisation of health service staff would be key to promote equitable access for older widows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sharing research findings with participants is recognized as an ethical imperative for the research community. However, most discourse on this topic in mainstream public health takes a paternalistic approach, with researchers retaining the power to choose if, when, and how research findings are shared. Methods: Fieldwork took place from August 2018 to January 2019 and again from August 2019 to December 2019 among two communities in the south Indian state of Kerala. We integrated participant engagement with study findings into the research protocol, using various collaborative strategies identified during the design stage, forming partnerships with participants and determining appropriate forms of dissemination for different participant groups during fieldwork. Results: Findings from previous research projects undertaken with these communities by other researchers had not been shared with them. This was interpreted by the communities as researchers not being interested in making a difference to their situation. In the current study, building reciprocal relationships that minimized power disparities, and providing outputs in tailored formats that promoted active engagement were key factors that enabled participants to engage with results. This engagement added value by enabling us to co‐develop study recommendations. This process also enabled the community to have ownership of the results and use them to advocate for health system change to improve access to health care. Conclusion: Research should be transformative for participating communities. Participants have a right to know the results of the research they participate in since their knowledge provides the research data which can in turn promote community change. Operationalising this requires researchers to build partnerships with participants and their communities from the outset. The role of participants must be reimagined, and adequate resources should be built into the research process. This is both socially responsible and ethical, but also improves the impact and legitimacy of research for the participants and the communities that they represent. Patient or Public Contribution: Participants of our research contributed to the design of various aspects of the engagement processes including the venue, the formats used for engagement, interpretation of the findings and recommendations from our research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring natural resource management (NRM) positively impacts the quality of life of a farmer is important to farmer mental health and persistence with adoption. Evidence suggests the well-being co-benefits of NRM are related to either ‘doing’ NRM practices or applying socioecological systems (SES) principles to guide NRM. We examine the relationship between a common NRM practice—tree planting, and farmer well-being, psychological distress, and social connectedness. Using hierarchical regression models, we test to see if these relationships remain with the addition of a measure of SES principles. Results show that while NRM practice was associated with improved social connectedness, only SES principles were associated with well-being. Neither NRM practice nor SES principles were associated with psychological distress. Both NRM practices and SES principles have the potential to positively impact farmers’ lives and ensuring NRM programs have co-benefits to farmer well-being may help to encourage long-term engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Office for Students’ (OfS) aims are clear that it wants to increase robust evidence to understand the impact of outreach activities. There are different mechanisms to collate this evidence which outreach departments can use. To support the collection of robust evidence, this paper outlines the development of Students’ Intentions towards University (SITU), a survey that practitioners can use as part of evaluating outreach activities such as ad hoc events or intensive interventions. This paper outlines the four stages that were undertaken to develop SITU to ensure a reliable and valid measure was constructed. At each stage, young people (aged 13 to 18) were consulted to ensure the measure was fit for purpose. The final survey comprises 15 items and is a quick, easy-to-administer survey that practitioners can use confidently. It is proposed that the survey will provide a valid data-collection tool to measure the outcome of outreach activities and the paper will be used as a guide for outreach departments to construct their own measures. Further research is required to test the application of the measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Food security is defined by four dimensions: food availability, access, utilisation and stability. Resettled refugees face unique struggles securing these dimensions and, thus, food security when moving to a new country. This systematic review aimed to identify the challenges Australian refugees experience in achieving the four dimensions of food security. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed; the SPIDER tool was used to determine eligibility criteria. Three databases were searched using terms relating to food in/security and refugees from 2000 to 20 May 2017. Results: Seven articles were retained for analysis. Studies were categorised against the four dimensions, with four studies identifying challenges against all dimensions. Challenges contributing to high levels of food insecurity in each dimension included: availability and cost of traditional foods, difficulty in accessing preferred food outlets, limited food knowledge and preparation skills and food stability due to low income and social support. Conclusions: Food insecurity adversely impacts refugee health and integration. Methodical research framed by the four dimensions of food security is imperative to address challenges to securing food security in refugee groups and assisting in the development of sustainable interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This review assesses the caregiving literature to understand what is known about health and well-being outcomes for informal carers in the context of caring for people living with chronic wounds. Part 1 provided background information on caregiver characteristics, as well as physical and psychological deficits related to caregiving. Part 2 looks at the positive aspects of caregiving through a number of moderating variables: social support, caregiving mastery, and subjective caregiver qualities. Method: A structured literature review was carried out using the databases, CINAHL Plus, PsychARTICLES, PsychINFO, and PubMed. Keywords were: ['caregiving' or 'carer' or 'caregiver'] and ['health'] and ['well-being' or 'wellbeing'] and ['quality of life' or 'QoL']. Articles written in the English language and published in peer-reviewed journals were considered for inclusion. Relevant book chapters and web references were also assessed for inclusion. A total of 52 references were used in the review. Result: The relationship between caregiving, health and well-being is a complex one. Much research indicates detrimental physical and psychological outcomes for caregivers. However, a number of moderating variables appear to 'buffer' the stress of caregiving and may even lead to positive outcomes. Conclusion: Much of the caregiving literature focuses on people caring for relatives with specific health and/or mental illnesses. To date, there has been insufficient attention paid to health and well-being outcomes for carers of people living with chronic wounds. Given the predicted rise in the incidence of chronic wounds in this country over the coming decades, it is vital that we understand how to maximise health and well-being outcomes for the carers of chronic wound patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Although previous research has shown the Food Dudes Programme increases children's lunchtime fruit and vegetable consumption, research has seldom evaluated whether the intervention can decrease the consumption of high-fat and high-sugar foods. This study is the first, independent evaluation of the Food Dudes Programme to explore whether the programme could change children's lunchtime fruit and vegetable consumption and consumption of high-fat and high-sugar foods following the intervention and explore any relationship between these variables. Methods: The Food Dudes Programme was evaluated in 15 primary schools in the West Midlands, United Kingdom (n = 2,433) at baseline (pre-intervention), and three months and 12 months post-intervention. Consumption was measured across five consecutive days in each school using weighed intake (school-provided meals) and digital photography (home-provided meals). Results: A significant increase in the consumption of lunchtime fruit and vegetables was found at three months for children in the intervention schools, but only for those eating school-supplied lunches. For children consuming school meals, consumption of high-fat and high-sugar foods for children in the intervention and control schools increased over time. No relationship was found between increases in fruit and vegetable consumption and decrease in consumption of high-fat and high-sugar foods following the Food Dudes intervention. Conclusions: The Food Dudes Programme has a limited effect on decreasing consumption of high-fat and high-sugar foods at lunchtime. Targeting unhealthy food consumption in addition to increasing fruit and vegetable consumption may facilitate this. Restricted access to high-fat and high-sugar foods may also reduce intake; however, this needs to be part of a multi-faceted approach to changing children's dietary patterns involving the whole school community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family-based programmes that emphasise lifestyle and behaviour change using psychological principles have been shown to be effective in targeting childhood obesity. While there is some evidence that evaluates UK familybased obesity interventions at a local level, no review to date has addressed this nationally. This review presents the available evidence from UK family-based childhood obesity interventions. Ten articles that met the inclusion criteria were included for review. The majority of programmes reviewed lasted 12 weeks, with only three studies providing follow-up data at 12 months or longer. Change in adiposity may be a short-term benefit of participation in a child weight management programme, but there is insufficient robust evidence to indicate that this benefit is long lasting and many studies were methodologically weak with limited internal validity. There is insufficient evidence to suggest how the inclusion of parents and the wider family may impact on the effectiveness of UK community based weight management programme for children and young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Although previous research has shown the Food Dudes programme increases children's fruit and vegetable consumption at school, the evidence for the effectiveness in the home setting is more equivocal. The school environment is identified as a logical setting for targeting children's fruit and vegetable consumption; however, to produce sustainable changes in behaviour, it is equally important that interventions target consumption in the home setting. This study aimed to establish whether the Food Dudes intervention can influence home consumption of fruit and vegetables and the extent to which any changes in eating behaviour following the intervention were maintained in the long term.Methods: A total of 34 children aged 4-11 years from eight primary schools (four intervention and four control groups) in the West Midlands, United Kingdom, completed a 7-day photographic food diary at baseline (prior to the intervention), a 3-month follow-up (post-intervention) and a 12-month follow-up.Results: The Food Dudes programme did not influence either short- or long-term changes in children's consumption of fruit and vegetables at home during weekdays or at the weekend.Conclusions: The Food Dudes programme had no effect on changing children's fruit and vegetable consumption in the home environment. Further development of the programme could consider how parental and home environmental factors may be combined with the principles of the Food Dudes programme to influence children's fruit and vegetable consumption in this setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Muslim population worldwide have a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease than that of the non-Muslim population, and this may become exaggerated during the religious observances of Ramadan. This review assessed the evidence regarding the impact of Ramadan on lifestyle behaviours in Muslims with cardiovascular disease. Method: This article reviews the literature concerning the impact of Ramadan on lifestyle behaviours and its effects on cardiac rehabilitation between 2000 and 2012. Studies were identified, using Academic Search Complete, Google Scholar, Psyclnfo, PsycARTICLES, Medline and CINAHL Plus. The search terms used were: 'cardiac rehabilitation'; 'cardiovascular disease'; 'Ramadan'; 'fasting'; 'physical activity'; 'exercise'; 'diet'; 'smoking'; 'sleep'; 'behaviour change'; 'medication'; and 'treatment'. Findings: Evidence suggests that fasting during Ramadan can have a beneficial effect on factors such as cholesterol levels, body weight and blood pressure; however, benefits are rarely sustained in the long term. Other behavioural changes such as non-adherence to medication, and diet and exercise regimes have more negative consequences for sufferers of cardiac disease. Conclusions: Lifestyle behaviours adopted during Ramadan can have a negative impact on cardiovascular disease. Health professionals are urged to find innovative ways to engage this population in healthy lifestyle choices throughout this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesAlthough previous research has shown that the Food Dudes programme increases children's fruit and vegetable consumption at school, there has been limited evaluation of the extent to which changes are maintained in the long term. Furthermore, despite knowledge that the nutritional content of home-supplied meals is lower than that of school-supplied meals, little consideration has been given to the programme's impact on meals provided from home. The present study therefore assessed the long-term effectiveness of the Food Dudes programme for both school- and home-supplied lunches.DesignTwo cohorts of children participated, one receiving the Food Dudes intervention and a matched control group who did not receive any intervention. Consumption of fruit and vegetables was assessed pre-intervention, then at 3 and 12 months post-intervention. Consumption was measured across five consecutive days in each school using weighed intake (school-provided meals) and digital photography (home-provided meals).SettingFifteen primary schools, six intervention (n 1282) and seven control schools (n 1151).SubjectsParticipants were children aged 4–11 years.ResultsA significant increase in the consumption of fruit and vegetables was found at 3 months for children in the intervention schools, but only for those eating school-supplied lunches. However, increases were not maintained at 12 months.ConclusionsThe Food Dudes programme has a limited effect in producing even short-term changes in children's fruit and vegetable consumption at lunchtime. Further development work is required to ensure the short- and long-term effectiveness of interventions promoting fruit and vegetable consumption in children such as the Food Dudes programme. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study determined the feasibility, test–retest reliability and responsiveness of the Quality of Life in Care (QOLIC), a measure of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) developed specifically for children in public care. Based on the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory™ (PedsQL™) model, this questionnaire has previously demonstrated good validity and internal reliability. Two forms of the questionnaire are available, a self-completed report for children and a parallel proxy report for completion by carers. Thirty-five children aged between 8 and 17 years, and their carers, completed the PedsQL generic module and QOLIC on two separate occasions. At the second completion, carers and children were asked to rate whether the child's physical and emotional health had changed (improved, got worse or stayed the same) since the first questionnaire was completed to enable test–retest reliability and responsiveness to a change in health to be calculated. Both measures demonstrated good feasibility with missing responses of less than 1%. No floor effects and minimal to moderate ceiling effects were found. Test–retest reliability could not be established due to the small numbers reporting no change in their health status. However, it can be argued that responsiveness is more important, when looking at a changeable population such as this one. Good responsiveness was established for self-reported PedsQL and QOLIC measures, and for the proxy version of QOLIC. Therefore, this study provides further evidence that QOLIC provides a valid and reliable measure of HRQoL. QOLIC is easy to use and therefore has the potential to have a major impact on clinical practice with children in public care. It is recommended that future studies focus on assessing the ability of the measure to differentiate between groups of “looked-after” children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is widely accepted within patient care as it ensures health care professionals remain informed of recent evidence and research relating to their clinical practice. However, the particular characteristics detrimental to the successful implementation of EBP within Allied Health Professionals' (AHP) clinical practice are unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess and characterise adoption of EBP within AHP's clinical practice. Methods: Questionnaires comprising the Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (EBPQ; Upton and Upton, 2006a) were administered to 154 (response rate=27.3%) newly qualified practitioners (NQPs) from NHSScotland. Data were analysed to determine attitudes, knowledge and skill of EBP; K-means cluster and chi-square analyses were conducted in order to differentiate profiles of NPQs within high-, medium- and low- categories on the EBPQ practice and knowledge/skills sub-sections. Findings: Moderate scores were recorded for NQP's implementation, knowledge, and attitudes toward EBP. Chi-square analysis performed on the high-, moderate- and low- practice and skills' profiles revealed no significant results for NQP's year qualified, age, or year of clinical practice. Conclusions: The findings illustrate that the majority of NQPs have a good understanding of the application and importance of EPB, and suggests the improvement in NQPs training with regards to EBP enables them to successfully transfer acquired knowledge within their clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored how friendships made at antenatal classes preserve new mothers' well-being, postnatally. Eight women from the United Kingdom who had attended antenatal classes in the third trimester were interviewed following the birth of their first baby. Transcripts were analyzed using a constant comparative method. Findings suggest that friendships made at antenatal classes are not only unique but also support women's mental health and enhance self-efficacy because the women give and gain reassurance that their babies are developing normally. Such friendships may reduce demands on overstretched social and health-care services. Childbirth educators, midwives, and nurses can be encouraged to capitalize on the opportunity provided by antenatal classes to facilitate the formation of friendships that can help mothers to find "a new equilibrium." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite having high smoking rates, there have been few tailored cessation programmes for male Bangladeshi and Pakistani smokers in the UK. We report on a qualitative evaluation of a community-based, outreach worker delivered, intervention that aimed to increase uptake of NHS smoking cessation services and tailor services to meet the needs of Bangladeshi and Pakistani men. Methods: This was a longitudinal, qualitative study, nested within a phase II cluster randomised controlled trial of a complex intervention. We explored the perspectives and experiences of five outreach workers, two stop smoking service managers and a specialist stop smoking advisor. Data were collected through focus group discussions, weekly diaries, observations of management meetings, shadowing of outreach workers, and one-to-one interviews with outreach workers and their managers. Analysis was undertaken using a modified Framework approach. Results: Outreach workers promoted cessation services by word of mouth on the streets, in health service premises, in local businesses and at a wide range of community events. They emphasised the reasons for cessation, especially health effects, financial implications, and the impact of smoking on the family. Many smokers agreed to be referred to cessation services, but few attended, this in part being explained by concerns about the relative inflexibility of existing service provision. Although outreach workers successfully expanded service reach, they faced the challenges of perceived lack of awareness of the health risks associated with smoking in older smokers and apathy in younger smokers. These were compounded by perceptions of "lip service" being given to their role by community organisations and tensions both amongst the outreach workers and with the wider management team. Conclusions: Outreach workers expanded reach of the service through taking it to diverse locations of relevance to Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. The optimum method of outreach to retain and treat Bangladeshi and Pakistani smokers effectively in cessation programmes needs further development [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]