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Summary: The James Lind Alliance (JLA) is a nonprofit United Kingdom (UK) organization that builds a set of research priorities for any given topic through the systematic involvement of practitioners, service users, carers, and stakeholders. In 2021/2022, we reviewed the impact of the JLA priority setting partnership (PSP) on adult social work research (2018). Our research question was "How has social work research responded to and changed since the 2018 JLA priority setting report; and where do we need to focus now?" We searched for research which aligned with the published priorities. We then interviewed 23 social work researchers to learn if/how they had engaged with the JLA PSP and what might be needed for future PSP exercises and research. Findings: We discuss our findings with reference to other reviews of JLA PSPs. We conclude that the JLA PSP for adult social work was uniquely suited to the field given the history of person-centered practices, and this may account for some of the positive reviews of the report. The JLA process and ethos were respected and the report potentially raised the profile of adult social work research, while highlighting unaddressed questions. Applications: Though there are many JLA PSP reviews, this study is one of the few to consider impact, we propose a review process could be applied to PSP exercises more regularly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co‐production is a collaborative way of working which emphasises the exchange of diverse forms of knowledge in an equal partnership for equal benefits. Co‐produced research is a key strategic aim of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Transforming UK Food Systems (TUKFS) Strategic Priorities Fund; this research programme brings together researchers, policymakers, industry and communities to create positive change in the way food is produced, accessed and consumed. However, more generally, there are diverse understandings of co‐production and a lack of consensus on what 'good practice' looks like. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and map examples of co‐production methods employed across the TUKFS programme. Two creative workshops (n = 15 participants), conversations with TUKFS researchers and stakeholders (n = 15), and systematic analysis of project documents were used to critically explore co‐production activities within six TUKFS projects. A range of co‐production activities were identified. Findings highlighted areas of 'messiness' and complexity, challenges associated with applying co‐production approaches and practical solutions. Four key shared principles for co‐production were identified: (1) Relationships: developing and maintaining reciprocity‐based partnerships; (2) Knowledge: recognising the contribution of diverse forms of expertise; (3) Power: considering power dynamics and addressing imbalances; and (4) Inclusivity: ensuring research is accessible to all who wish to participate. Opportunities for reflection and reflexivity were considered crucial across all these areas. Findings contribute important insights towards a shared conceptual understanding of co‐production for food system transformation research. This paper makes recommendations for researchers, practitioners, academic institutions and funders working in this area of research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: First Contact Physiotherapy Practitioners (FCPPs) provide expert care for patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions in General Practice. Access to FCPPs can facilitate timely care and efficient use of health services. However, there is little evidence about patient experiences of accessing FCPP appointments. Objective: To explore the experiences of patients with MSK conditions who have accessed an FCPP appointment in a General Practice setting in the UK. Design: Exploratory qualitative design. Methods: Patients with MSK conditions who had experience of accessing FCPP appointments were recruited via social media. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted and recorded via MS Teams. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Of 13 patients interviewed, there were 10 females and three males, with an age range between 20 and 80 years. The main themes identified were: (1) Awareness of FCPP, (2) Access routes, (3) Facilitators to access, (4) Barriers to access, (5) Likelihood of re‐accessing FCPP. Awareness of FCPP was generally low amongst participants. There were a variety of routes to access FCPP appointments; some were felt to be sub‐optimal by participants. Facilitators included quick/easy access to FCPP. Barriers included difficulty contacting General Practitioner (GP) surgeries and public perception of needing to see a GP initially. The likelihood of re‐consultation with a FCPP was low when participants had disappointing care experiences. Conclusion: This study provides new evidence about patient experiences of accessing FCPP. It explores positive and negative aspects of access from patients' perspectives. It also highlights areas for improvement in terms of GP staff/patient awareness and understanding of FCPP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-harm amongst young people in the United Kingdom is higher than in other European countries. Young people who self-harm are often reluctant to seek professional help, turning increasingly to the internet for support, including online forums. There are concerns about misinformation or harmful content being shared, potentially leading to self-harm contagion. Moderation of online forums can reduce risks, improving forum safety. Moderation of self-harm content, however, is an under-researched area. Using the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW), this study examines the barriers and enablers to moderation of self-harm content and suggests behaviour change techniques (BCTs) to address barriers. Qualitative interviews with 8 moderators (of a total of 16) from the UK's leading young people's support service for under 25s, The Mix, were conducted. Thematic analysis identified eleven enablers, four barriers and one both an enabler and a barrier. Barriers included emotional exhaustion, working with partial information, access to timely support, vagueness within the guidelines and influence of community users. BCTs selected included increasing social support through a moderation buddy. Optimisation strategies focus on increasing the support and level of information available to moderators and could be considered by other organisations providing similar services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental illnesses are the leading cause of disease burden among children and young people (CYP) globally. Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) are disproportionately affected. Enhancing mental health literacy (MHL) is one way to combat low levels of help-seeking and effective treatment receipt. We aimed to synthesis evidence about knowledge, beliefs and attitudes of CYP in LMICs about mental illnesses, their treatments and outcomes, evaluating factors that can enhance or impede help-seeking to inform context-specific and developmentally appropriate understandings of MHL. Eight bibliographic databases were searched from inception to July 2020: PsycInfo, EMBASE, Medline (OVID), Scopus, ASSIA (ProQuest), SSCI, SCI (Web of Science) CINAHL PLUS, Social Sciences full text (EBSCO). 58 papers (41 quantitative, 13 qualitative, 4 mixed methods) representing 52 separate studies comprising 36,429 participants with a mean age of 15.3 [10.4–17.4], were appraised and synthesized using narrative synthesis methods. Low levels of recognition and knowledge about mental health problems and illnesses, pervasive levels of stigma and low confidence in professional healthcare services, even when considered a valid treatment option were dominant themes. CYP cited the value of traditional healers and social networks for seeking help. Several important areas were under-researched including the link between specific stigma types and active help-seeking and research is needed to understand more fully the interplay between knowledge, beliefs and attitudes across varied cultural settings. Greater exploration of social networks and the value of collaboration with traditional healers is consistent with promising, yet understudied, areas of community-based MHL interventions combining education and social contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In celebration of the journal's 50th anniversary, the aim of the study was to review the whole collection of Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology (CDOE) publications from 1973 to 2022 and provide a complete overview of the main publication characteristics. Methods: The study used bibliometric techniques such as performance and science mapping analysis of 3428 articles extracted from the Scopus database. The data were analysed using the 'Bibliometrix' package in R. The journal's scientific production was examined, along with the yearly citation count, the distribution of publications based on authors, the corresponding author's country and affiliation and citation count, citing source and keywords. Bibliometric network maps were constructed to determine the conceptual, intellectual and social collaborative structure over the past 50 years. The trending research topics and themes were identified. Results: The total number of articles and average citations has increased over the years. D Locker, AJ Spencer, A Sheiham and WM Thomson were the most frequently published authors, and PE Petersen, GD Slade and AI Ismail published papers with the highest citations. The most published countries were the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil and Canada, frequently engaging in collaborative efforts. The most common keywords used were 'dental caries', 'oral epidemiology' and 'oral health'. The trending topics were healthcare and health disparities, social determinants of health, systematic review and health inequalities. Epidemiology, oral health and disparities were highly researched areas. Conclusion: This bibliometric study reviews CDOE's significant contribution to dental public health by identifying key research trends, themes, influential authors and collaborations. The findings provide insights into the need to increase publications from developing countries, improve gender diversity in authorship and broaden the scope of research themes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments have adopted unprecedented measures to assist in slowing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, but compliance varies among individuals. This UK study uses latent profile analysis to identify four classes of individuals on factors believed to influence compliance. Those who sought health information from authoritative sources and actively sought information from multiple sources were most compliant. Profile differences in compliance and vaccination status were also primarily driven by trust in healthcare institutions over trust in government. These findings contribute to understanding compliance profiles and emphasise the importance of authoritative information and trust in healthcare systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Athletes report poor breast/bra knowledge, breast pain, sports bras causing lacerations and chafing, negatively affecting sports performance. No bra interventions to address these issues are reported. Working with 142 UK female athletes preparing for Tokyo Olympics/Paralympics (27 sports), this multi-phase intervention assessed breast/bra knowledge, preferences, issues via surveys and breast/bra assessments. Data were used to develop two sports bras. A total of 112 athletes were prescribed one of the new bras through individual assessments. After four weeks, wear athletes completed evaluations. Pre-intervention breast/bra knowledge was low (83% ≤average), multiple breast/bra issues were reported and most athletes wore ill-fitting, loose bras, offering limited support. Post-intervention, 63% reported improved knowledge and 97% reported their prescribed bra as better than their original bra. Eighty-seven per cent reported benefitting from this intervention, with 17% reporting improved performance. This intervention effectively assessed sports bra needs, developed and implemented solutions, which improved knowledge and potentially performance for some UK athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Village model, most extensively developed in the USA, is an innovative response to ageing populations and older adults who wish to remain living independently within their community. The "Urban Villages" participatory action research study aimed to test the potential of the Village model to work with groups of older adults in two economically deprived, inner-city neighbourhoods in Manchester, UK. Design/methodology/approach: Participatory methods were used to work with residents to, first, adapt the Village model to the Manchester setting, and second, to develop and deliver community projects that supported ageing in place. The study aimed to involve marginalised individuals and groups in the co-design, leadership and implementation of the projects. Ethnographic methods were applied to observe and reflect on the development of "Urban Villages". Interviews and focus groups were organised to gather the views of the residents involved in the community projects. Findings: Residents were supported to develop and test seven projects, all aimed at reducing social isolation and supporting ageing in place. The study provides new insights into challenges related to co-production with older people in deprived neighbourhoods. These challenges are presented under the following headings: individual capacity and expectations; collective capacity including communication and knowledge; and the capacity of place. Originality/value: To date, only a limited amount of literature is available showing how co-production with older adults can be realised when working with marginalised groups and deprived communities. The paper explores the potential of participatory approaches to develop age-friendly initiatives through strengthening the capacity of older adults to age in place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide prevention policies set out government strategies and priorities for action and in doing so construct meanings, legitimise knowledge and frame possibilities. Despite their importance, prevention policies remain underexamined and taken for granted. Using Bacchi's poststructuralist 'What's The Problem Represented To Be' approach we critically analyse UK suicide prevention policies as sites of biopolitical surveillance and consider how suicide is constructed within such policy regimes. Drawing on Foucault, we contextualise suicide as an object and focus of biopolitical surveillance. We argue that suicide prevention policies seek to negate the contingency and complexity of suicide and instead represent it as amenable to biopolitical governance. Prevention policies do this by framing suicide as a visible and predictable object that can be known and governed via surveillance driven risk management. Such policies risk marginalising some publics, and diverting attention from the political, social and economic contexts of injustice in which suicides occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millions of people cross political borders yearly without having the proper documents. This has led to increased detention and deportation practices in destination countries for reasons related to security and sovereignty. The objective of the current study was to analyze and visualize research publications on the detention and deportation of migrants to identify current research hotspots, research gaps, and potential future research in the field. Relevant research articles were obtained from the Scopus database for the study period from 1900 to December 31, 2022. The analysis included presentations of key contributors to the field and visualization of topics, themes, and international collaboration. In total, 906 articles were found. The earliest was in 1982. The majority of articles were published in journals within the subject areas of social sciences and humanities. The number of publications showed a steep rise from 2011 to 2022. The Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies was the most prolific, but publications in the Citizenship Studies journal received the highest number of citations per article. Researchers from the United States contributed the most. Mexico ranked fifth in the number of publications. Oxford University was the most prolific institution, followed by three universities in Australia. The majority of articles were single-authored, indicative of limited author-author collaboration. Research hotspots in the field were "human rights" and "mental health". The detention and deportation of Mexican and other Latino migrants in the United States constituted a distinct research theme in the field. International research collaboration was limited by geographical proximity (e.g., the United States and Mexico) or common language (e.g., the United Kingdom and Australia). Future research topics should focus on alternatives to detention, family separation, and healthcare services for detained migrants. Research activity on detention and deportation is required from all world regions, including the source countries of migrants. Future research should promote alternatives to traditional detentions. The contribution of countries in Africa, the Middle East, and South-Eastern Asian regions needs to be encouraged. Future research on the detention and deportation of non-Latino migrants is highly required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: People are more likely to develop cancer as they become older, and as people live longer, the number of older adults with cancer is steadily increasing. Managing cancer in older adults is challenging because they often have long-term conditions and wider needs that complicate treatment decisions and outcomes. However, the care of older adults with cancer is not formally taught during undergraduate medical education or postgraduate training in the United Kingdom. In this review, we provide an overview of the current education that medical students and training trainee doctors receive to prepare them for caring for older adults with cancer and highlight where challenges exist. We summarise the research conducted and strategies implemented internationally and use this knowledge to provide recommendations which may improve the education and training of doctors to meet the needs of older adults with cancer. Cancer is a disease associated with ageing. Managing cancer in older adults may prove challenging owing to pre-existing frailty, comorbidity, and wider holistic needs, as well as the unclear benefits and harms of standard treatment options. With the ongoing advances in oncology and the increasing complexity of treating older adults with cancer, the geriatric oncology field must be a priority for healthcare systems in education, research, and clinical practice. However, geriatric oncology is currently not formally taught in undergraduate education or postgraduate training programmes in the United Kingdom (UK). In this commentary, we outline the landscape of geriatric oncology undergraduate education and postgraduate training for UK doctors. We highlight current challenges and opportunities and provide practical recommendations for better preparing the medical workforce to meet the needs of the growing population of older adults with cancer. This includes key outcomes to be considered for inclusion within undergraduate and postgraduate curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate breast support is recommended in sport; however, what constitutes appropriate support is complex, individual and often sports specific, particularly in elite sport given the wear duration. This intervention educated, assessed and advised elite British female athletes on breasts and bras; those with unresolved issues engaged in bespoke bra interventions. Following educational workshops (n = 80), breast/bra surveys (n = 60), individual bra assessments (n = 37); a rower, shooter, and hockey player participated in the bespoke bra intervention. Eighty-three per cent of athletes rated their breast/bra knowledge as ≤average. Fifty-one per cent experienced breast pain, affecting performance for 29%; seven used medication and one surgery to relieve symptoms. In individual bra assessments most wore ill-fitting, unsupportive bras and wanted bra advice. Bespoke bra interventions eliminated breast pain: for the rower, improved breast position and spine rotation; for the shooter, repositioned tissue and improved performance; and for the hockey player, accommodated smart devices. Whilst bespoke bra development is challenging, most elite athlete breast/bra issues are resolved via education, advice and fitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 200,000 coaches cease coaching each year in the United Kingdom alone. The reasons for this dropout are not fully understood, but they could be linked to the stressful nature of coaching and the potential for this to impede health and psychological well-being (PWB). The aim of this meta-synthesis is to systematically search for and draw together the qualitative research evidence on coaches' experiences of stressors, primary appraisals, emotions, coping, and PWB. Using a rigorous and systematic search protocol, 11 studies were identified, assessed for research quality, and synthesized thematically to generate new insight. The findings highlight the plethora of stressors that coaches can experience, the impact of coaches' appraisals on PWB, and the coping families that coaches can use to foster adaptation. In doing so, the meta-synthesis deepens our understanding of coaches' stress transactions and their experiences of PWB. There is a significant lack of qualitative research evidence on coaches' appraisals and PWB. Qualitative and or longitudinal research is warranted to develop knowledge in these areas. Such research should be used to develop interventions that are applicable to different coaching populations (e.g. working parents and part-time coaches) to help minimize stressors, facilitate positive appraisals and emotions, and foster PWB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) is a complex and often stigmatising diagnosis. Although falling under the remit of mental health services, it is not always seen as a mental health need, and research suggests that if parents or carers are not provided with more holistic support, parental mental health will deteriorate with children likely to have poorer outcomes, placing them at an increased risk of harm. This likelihood of harm increases with compounding factors such as substance misuse and domestic abuse. One organisation alone cannot effectively address the complex difficulties that people with this diagnosis may experience, thus inter-agency working is necessary. This article explores the barriers and facilitators to inter-agency working to support parental care-givers with a diagnosis of EUPD between Children's Social Care and a Community Mental Health Team within the same English area. Five mental health care coordinators and two children and families' social workers who had experience working with this client group were interviewed. Participants identified the challenges and benefits of working with their partner agency around communication, knowledge, stigmatisation and resources. The research provides suggestions to develop current inter-agency working relationships and to enhance care and support available to people experiencing the diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A critical discussion of the Brook Traffic Light Tool (TLT) is provided. The TLT supports professionals assessing sexual behaviour in children and young people (CYP). This critical commentary formed part of a wider evaluation of the TLT. The approach taken uses evidence-based, policy transfer and policy success frameworks. Conceptually, questions were raised about empirical research that underpins the TLT. The transfer of the TLT to the UK gave varied results with questions raised in relation to the suitability of the TLT for the UK context. Both successes and failures were evident within the UK. The findings suggest that more work needs to be done on TLT. Rigorous planning needs to be conducted when transferring to differing contexts. A more robust evidence base is required for the UK context and continuous evaluation is required. Yet the TLT exists where no other tool related to CYP and sexual behaviours is available for professionals. This article raises awareness around evidenced based policy, and how tools are introduced, to assess sexual behaviours in children and young people with very little consideration given to the context into which they are being introduced and how their success will be measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Research suggests that diet influences cognitive function and the risk for neurodegenerative disease. The present study aimed to determine whether a recently developed diet score, based on recommendations for dietary priorities for cardio metabolic health, was associated with fluid intelligence, and whether these associations were modified by individual genetic disposition. Methods: This research has been conducted using the UK Biobank Resource. Analyses were performed using self-report data on diet and the results for the verbal-numerical reasoning test of fluid intelligence of 104,895 individuals (46% male: mean age at recruitment 57.1 years (range 40–70)). For each participant, a diet score and a polygenic score (PGS) were constructed, which evaluated predefined cut-offs for the intake of fruit, vegetables, fish, processed meat, unprocessed meat, whole grain, and refined grain, and ranged from 0 (unfavorable) to 7 (favorable). To investigate whether the diet score was associated with fluid intelligence, and whether the association was modified by PGS, linear regression analyses were performed. Results: The average diet score was 3.9 (SD 1.4). After adjustment for selected confounders, a positive association was found between baseline fluid intelligence and PGS (P < 0.001). No association was found between baseline fluid intelligence and diet score (P = 0.601), even after stratification for PGS, or in participants with longitudinal data available (n = 9,482). Conclusion: In this middle-aged cohort, no evidence was found for an association between the investigated diet score and either baseline or longitudinal fluid intelligence. However, as in previous reports, fluid intelligence was strongly associated with a PGS for general cognitive function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health service users in the UK have become increasingly involved in research over the last 2 decades partly as a consequence of research governance. Ethnic minority service users, however, point to power imbalances stemming from marginalisation and discrimination creating barriers to knowledge co‐production (Kalathil, J. (2013). Hard to reach? Racialised groups and mental health service user involvement.). Heavily influenced by Freire's liberatory education, participatory action research (PAR) repoliticises participation where those most affected by injustice are central in both producing knowledge about injustice and implementing solutions. Ethnic minority people with lived experience of 'severe mental illness' ('the racialised mad') were appointed as coresearchers to work with academic researchers on a qualitative study exploring ethnic inequalities in 'severe mental illness'. Drawing on Foucault's notion of power as relational, we focus on three key aspects of productive power: (1) relational engagement and reciprocity, (2) positioning coresearchers as authentic researchers and (3) adopting an ethic of care, to explore complicity and resistance in reproducing hierarchies of knowledge and power when attempting to create and sustain a PAR process for collective analysis, action and solidarity. We utilise retrospective and recorded reflections over the course of the project. Finally, we discuss the ethical and methodological implications for contemporary sociological research into health and illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the Care Act (2014), there is fresh impetus for social workers to apply strengths-based approaches (SBAs) when working with adults. However, implementation challenges remain. This article presents our synthesis of seven studies that examined Making Safeguarding Personal (MSP). It was conducted as part of a systematic review that aimed to summarise research evidence on the implementation of different SBAs within adult social work in the UK. Qualitative studies were analysed using a framework synthesis approach. Four themes were identified: (1) MSP as an intervention: seen as initially demanding but with long-term advantages; (2) Culture and settings: required broad cultural changes; 'outward facing' and smaller/specialist councils tended to find this easier; (3) Individual characteristics: related to enhancing the knowledge, skills and confidence of practitioner and stakeholders in MSP; and service user willingness to engage; and (4) Embedding and sustaining MSP: depended on strong leadership and active engagement at all levels. We found a wide range of factors affecting the implementation of MSP. These may have broader relevance for other strengths-based models of social work practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current debates about assisted dying and assisted suicide cover a series of medical, legal, moral, ethical and religious aspects. Yet, public views on the subject remain underexplored and, therefore, not always accounted for in the formation of public policy. This paper reports on empirical data from a cross-sectional study in the UK in 2019, which examines public views about the legalisation of assisted dying and assisted suicide, by means of a self-administered Qualtrics-based survey (self-devised vignettes). A combination of simple random and convenience sampling was used. Participants (n = 297) state their preference that both assisted dying and assisted suicide should be legalised in the UK (n = 70%), while doctors should be legally allowed to support such wishes of patients with an incurable and painful illness from which they will die (n = 62.22%). The paper concludes that public opinion needs to be further accounted for in policymaking and discourses regarding patient autonomy and dignity of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Autism can be diagnosed from 2 years of age, although most autistic people receive their diagnosis later than this after they have started education. Research is required to understand why some autistic children are diagnosed late, and the level and nature of unmet need prior to diagnosis for late‐diagnosed children. Methods: We examined trajectories of emotional, behavioural and social difficulties (EBSDs) across childhood and adolescence, comparing 'earlier‐diagnosed' (diagnosed 7 years or younger) with 'late‐diagnosed' (diagnosed between 8 and 14 years) autistic children. Data were from the Millennium Cohort Study, a population‐based UK birth cohort. EBSDs were measured using the parent‐report Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, at 3, 5, 7, 11 and 14 years. We used Growth Curve Modelling to investigate levels and rates of change in these difficulties, and to compare earlier‐ (n = 146) and late‐diagnosed (n = 284) autistic children. Results: Aged 5, earlier‐diagnosed autistic children had more emotional (i.e., internalising), conduct, hyperactivity and social difficulties; although clinical difficulties in these areas were nevertheless common in late‐diagnosed children. There was a faster annual increase in scores for all domains for late‐diagnosed children, and by age 14 years, they had higher levels of EBSDs. These results persisted when we ran adjusted models, to account for the late‐diagnosed group having higher rates of late‐diagnosed attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, higher IQ, a higher proportion of females and older and more educated mothers. Conclusions: Emotional, behavioural and social difficulties are associated with, and may influence, the timing of autism diagnosis. Late‐diagnosed autistic children often have high levels of mental health and social difficulties prior to their autism diagnosis, and tend to develop even more severe problems as they enter adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in modes of publication over recent decades and moves to publish material freely and openly have resulted in increased amounts of research and scholarly outputs being available online. These include teaching and other material but consist mostly of research publications. There have been significant UK and European initiatives as part of the Open Agenda that facilitate and indeed mandate the move to open whether that is for educational materials, research output and data, or the mechanisms for ensuring the quality of these materials. A significant issue is that although making research outputs freely available is praiseworthy, without the data on which that research is based, reproducibility and so verification, which are fundamental principles of scholarly methodology, are not possible. When discrete datasets are linked openly and freely, are able to interact by using common standards, they become more powerful with extended possibilities for research questions that cross disciplinary divides and knowledge domains. There are always objections and resistance to new innovations, and open publication is no exception; published research, nevertheless, indicates that publishing material openly is becoming considered to be "good research practice" and that the positives of "new collaborations and higher citation" outweigh any perceived negative effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Impaired cognitive function in schizophrenia is associated with poor functional outcomes, but the role of rare coding variants is unclear.Objective: To determine whether ultrarare constrained variants (URCVs) are associated with cognition in patients with schizophrenia.Design, Setting, and Participants: Linear regression was used to perform a within-case genetic association study of URCVs and current cognition and premorbid cognitive ability. A multivariable linear regression analysis of the outcomes associated with URCVs, schizophrenia polygenic risk score, polygenic risk score for intelligence and schizophrenia associated copy number variants on cognitive ability was performed. Exome sequencing data from 802 participants with schizophrenia were assessed for current cognition using the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia Consensus Cognitive Battery and for estimated premorbid IQ using the National Adult Reading Test. Individuals were recruited from clinical and voluntary mental health services in the UK. Those with a diagnosis of intellectual disability or a neurological disorder known to affect cognition were excluded. Data collection occurred between 2007 and 2015. Data were analyzed between April 2020 and March 2022.Main Outcomes and Measures: Association between URCVs, current cognition, and current cognition adjusted for premorbid IQ.Results: Of the 802 participants, 499 (62%) were men and 303 (38%) were women; mean (SD) age at interview was 43.36 (11.87) years. Ultrarare constrained variants (n = 400) were associated with lower current cognition scores (β = -0.18; SE = 0.07; P = .005). In the univariable analysis, premorbid IQ was associated with URCVs (β = -0.12; SE = 0.05; P = .02) and partly attenuated the association with current cognition (β = -0.09; SE = 0.05; P = .08). Multivariable analysis showed that measured genetic factors combined accounted for 6.2% of variance in current cognition, 10.3% of variance in premorbid IQ, and supported outcomes of URCVs associated with current cognition independent of premorbid IQ (β = -0.10; SE = 0.05; P = .03).Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this study suggest that URCVs contribute to variance in cognitive function in schizophrenia, with partly independent associations before and after onset of the disorder. Although the estimated effect sizes were small, future studies may show that the effect sizes will be greater with better annotation of pathogenic variants. Genomic data may contribute to identifying those at particularly high risk of cognitive impairment in whom early remedial or preventive measures can be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article maps and compares four universities' policies and procedures for addressing faculty and staff sexual misconduct in higher education in the UK and US. While universities have engaged in significant work to grapple with student-student sexual misconduct, attention to misconduct perpetrated, and experienced, by higher education employees is relatively nascent. In this paper, we explore the maze of institutional processes and actors that victimsurvivors of FASSM might encounter. We describe what is known about prevalence of FASSM in the US and UK and offer an overview of the policy landscape in both settings. Inspired by Patricia Yancey Martin, we analyze publicly available policy documents on FASSM from two US and two UK universities and map out visually the range of investigative, reporting, and sanctioning processes. We introduce an analytic distinction between an actor and a practitioner within the FASSM context, whereby actors are those tasked with administrative duties in handling sexual misconduct reports, while practitioners are those with specialized knowledge and training that enables them to prioritize victim-survivor needs. These illustrative diagrams suggest that while university employees are tasked to act on reports and disclosures of sexual misconduct, it is difficult to identify specialist practitioners with expertise to support victim-survivors of FASSM. Ultimately, this work provides a deeper understanding of what practice looks like in relation to higher education FASSM, and we outline implications for future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) is a deeply-rooted tradition that affects predominantly regions of Africa and Asia. Because of migration flows, FGM is an issue of increasing concern worldwide. FGM is now carried out in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, and more specifically among immigrant communities from countries where it is common. This study aims to assess the experience, knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs related to FGM of migrant women and men from FGM-affected countries residing in Spain and the United Kingdom. A phenomenological qualitative approach was used. Participants (n=23) were recruited by using the snowball sampling technique until data saturation was reached. Data were collected through 18 open-ended interviews and a focus group. Of the 23 participants, 20 women had undergone FGM. The following five themes were generated from interviews: (a) FGM practice development, (b) knowledge about the practice, (c) reasons for performing FGM, (d) attitudes toward continuing or abandoning the practice, and (e) criminalization of FGM. The study here presented identifies a lack of information, memory, and knowledge about the practice of FGM and typology among women with FGM. The justification of the practice seems to be based on a multifactorial model, where sociocultural and economic factors, sexual factors, hygienicesthetic factors, and religious-spiritual factors take on a greater role in the analysis of the interviews carried out. The participants practically unanimously agree to advocate the abandonment and eradication of this harmful traditional practice. The knowledge displayed in this study may provide a basis for improving awareness and healthcare in such collectives, aiming the eradication of this harmful traditional practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organisations funded by Sport England or UK Sport must work towards achieving standards for safeguarding and protecting children in sport as set by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children's Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) and encourage a culture of listening to children. The present research was commissioned by the NSPCC CPSU to understand the practices of UK sports clubs regarding this objective. An electronic questionnaire was distributed through the national governing bodies of sport working with the CPSU. Some 64 clubs/squads representing 6,000+ juniors (under 18 years) responded. Quantitative data were analysed using simple statistics and qualitative data were themed utilising Foucault's theory of power and following Braun and Clark's six‐phase guide. Discourse, hierarchical judgement and docility were considered with reference to formal management and cultural environments. Semantic and latent themes were explored. The themes identified were: expectation awareness, reframing voice and preserving discourse. Clubs recognise the value of listening to children. However, existing power relations valorise adult knowledge fields over the experiences of juniors. Technology could provide an effective solution as it is remote, potentially anonymous and culturally accessible. As power is a productive force, problematisation of organisational culture could centralise children's voices and limit/prevent abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across two studies, we investigated gender stereotype knowledge and endorsement in UK schoolchildren, and their impact on academic subject choice. In Study 1, children aged 9–11 (N = 68) and 13–15 (N = 61) completed a newly developed Gender Attribute scale assessing their knowledge and endorsement of gender stereotypes relating to academic subjects and occupations. Participants demonstrated gender stereotype knowledge and endorsement, although significantly higher knowledge than endorsement scores indicated a level of stereotype rejection. Stereotype knowledge was greater in the older age group, and older girls showed significantly higher levels of stereotype rejection than all other groups. In Study 2, children aged 13–15 (N = 165) completed the Gender Attribute scale and provided information on their school subject choices. Patterns of stereotype knowledge and endorsement followed those of Study 1. Subject choice information showed that boys selected significantly more masculine than feminine subjects, while girls chose a similar proportion of each. Further, boys' level of gender stereotype endorsement predicted their subject choices, while girls' did not. We suggest that in contemporary UK some progress is being made in relation to girls challenging stereotypes that work against them but that more work is needed to encourage boys into female‐dominated disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the range and use of communication strategies by Parkinson's nurse specialists, and describe key communication strategies, to support health professionals in their healthcare interactions with people with Parkinson's. Design: A qualitative descriptive study. Methods: Due to the COVID‐19 pandemic, the study took place in an online setting. Online semi‐structured interviews were conducted with eight Australian Parkinson's nurse specialists and one UK Parkinson's nurse between August and October of 2020. Interviews explored healthcare communication, specifically (1) ways Parkinson's nurse specialists support communication during healthcare interactions, (2) factors influencing the use of communication strategies, and (3) how the nurses learned to communicate effectively with people with Parkinson's disease. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: Parkinson's nurse specialists described the importance of establishing strong therapeutic relationships, the key role of the communication partner, adapting communication to reduce cognitive load, ensuring two‐way understanding, and enabling expressive communication for people with Parkinson's. Knowing the person and family, knowing the disease and understanding the symptoms appeared to influence the choice of communication strategies in healthcare interactions. Learning through others, learning through experience and learning through education and research were considered important parts of becoming a skilled healthcare communicator when working with people with Parkinson's. Conclusion: Knowledge and use of effective communication strategies to support people with Parkinson's is crucial for all health professionals working with this population, in order to reduce the occurrence of poor healthcare outcomes. A deep understanding of how Parkinson's disease affects communication and experience in implementing communication strategies were reported as contributing to the success of Parkinson's nurses in communicating with their patients. Impact This study provides a description of the key, translational communication strategies that can be used by all health professionals to support healthcare interactions with people with Parkinson's. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish and other seafood species play an important nutritional, economic and social role within current diets worldwide, providing significant amounts of protein and micronutrients for an estimated 3 billion people. Advice to consume fish is a common feature of dietary guidelines globally, including in the UK. However, increased global demand for seafood has led to overfishing and environmental damage linked to aquaculture expansion; issues, which are exacerbated by climate change. This raises the question of whether future demand for seafood can be met sustainably. In this article, we provide professionals working in diet, nutrition and health with an insight into the challenges facing the seafood sector and offer advice on how consumers may include seafood within a healthier and more sustainable diet. While a complex and multi‐faceted challenge, fisheries scientists estimate that successful implementation of better management practices (for farmed and wild‐capture fisheries) can meet future demand, allow fish stocks to rebuild to sustainable levels, help mitigate environmental effects of aquaculture, and ensure profitable fisheries to support the ~60 million people employed by the seafood sector globally. Those working within the UK food system, including nutrition and health professionals, and businesses, can support the transition towards a more sustainable future for seafood by: encouraging consumption of a wider variety of species by UK consumers; increasing awareness of and knowledge about 'ecolabel' certifications designed to help consumers identify more sustainable choices; and engaging with multi‐stakeholder initiatives addressing sustainability challenges facing the seafood sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To understand the impact of the UK Clinical Librarian (CL) workforce and benchmark the results against a study undertaken in the North West region of the English National Health Service (NHS). Methods: An online survey was distributed by CLs to their service users regarding literature searches that had been carried out on their behalf in the 6 months from April to October 2017. Interviews were later carried out in person with selected respondents to the questionnaires. Results: CLs across the UK contribute to a wide range of outcomes, with 41% of search requests contributing to the choice of intervention, and 41% also to the advice offered by the clinician requester to a patient or their carer. These results are in line with the previous work undertaken in the North West. Discussion: CLs provide diverse services to clinical teams. They support the continuing professional development and personal research needs of team members, service development needs of organisations, and the information provided contributes to improved quality and safety of patient care. Conclusion: The survey confirms the findings of the earlier NW study. It demonstrates the impact of services based around literature searching on patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Existing evidence suggests links between brain and cardiovascular health. We investigated associations between cognitive performance and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) phenotypes in the UK Biobank, considering a range of potential confounders. Methods and results We studied 29 763 participants with CMR and cognitive testing, specifically, fluid intelligence (FI, 13 verbal-numeric reasoning questions), and reaction time (RT, a timed pairs matching exercise); both were considered continuous variables for modelling. We included the following CMR metrics: left and right ventricular (LV and RV) volumes in end-diastole and end-systole, LV/RV ejection fractions, LV/RV stroke volumes, LV mass, and aortic distensibility. Multivariable linear regression models were used to estimate the association of each CMR measure with FI and RT, adjusting for age, sex, smoking, education, deprivation, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, prior myocardial infarction, alcohol intake, and exercise level. We report standardized beta-coefficients, 95% confidence intervals, and P -values adjusted for multiple testing. In this predominantly healthy cohort (average age 63.0 ± 7.5 years), better cognitive performance (higher FI, lower RT) was associated with larger LV/RV volumes, higher LV/RV stroke volumes, greater LV mass, and greater aortic distensibility in fully adjusted models. There was some evidence of non-linearity in the relationship between FI and LV end-systolic volume, with reversal of the direction of association at very high volumes. Associations were consistent for men and women and in different ages. Conclusion Better cognitive performance is associated with CMR measures likely representing a healthier cardiovascular phenotype. These relationships remained significant after adjustment for a range of cardiometabolic, lifestyle, and demographic factors, suggesting possible involvement of alternative disease mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on a U.K. research study encompassing two surveys which used evidence-based scales of awareness, confidence to intervene, and intervention opportunities and action regarding sexual and domestic abuse on campus. They were sent to all first-year incoming undergraduates (> n = 7,000) at one post-1992 U.K. university and received n = 1,604 responses. The study finds that survey respondents demonstrated low awareness of sexual and domestic abuse as a problem on campus. In the analysis of Survey 2, respondents were divided into three groups, those receiving active intervention, passive intervention, and no intervention from a university social norms marketing campaign challenging abuse on campus. The study drives the field forward by considering how confidence to act mediates the relationship between awareness and positive action. It finds associations between active intervention and raised awareness that is not noted in passive or no intervention. Active intervention potentially brings together the mediating variable of confidence where awareness + confidence = positive action. This article makes recommendations for first-year incoming undergraduates to receive awareness raising information about sexual and domestic abuse, prior to coming to university. Universities may also consider working with schools to counter a lack of awareness, which may emanate from normalization discourses learnt prior to coming to university and perpetuated once there. Managing low awareness of sexual and domestic abuse should be a priority of bystander programs and some form of active intervention is potentially beneficial as early as possible in university student journeys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining work and care can be very challenging. If not adequately supported, carers' employment, well‐being and relationships may be at risk. Technologies can be potential solutions. We carried out a scoping review to find out what is already known about technologies used by working carers. The search included academic and grey literature published between January 2000 and June 2020. Sixteen relevant publications were analysed and discussed in the context of the broader discourse on work‐care reconciliation. Technologies discussed can be classified as: (a) web‐based technologies; (b) technologies for direct communication; (c) monitoring technologies; and (d) task‐sharing tools. Technologies can help to make work‐care reconciliation more manageable and alleviate psychosocial and emotional stress. General barriers to using technology include limited digital skills, depending on others to use technologies, privacy and data protection, cost, limited technological capabilities, and limited awareness regarding available technologies. Barriers specific to some technologies include work disruptions, limited perceived usefulness, and lacking time and energy to use technologies. More research into technologies that can address the needs of working carers and how they are able to use them at work is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Concerns have been raised that patients requiring emergency care may not have accessed healthcare services during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown. Methods This case control study aimed to understand changes in characteristics and diagnosis of patients attending a large UK Emergency Department (ED) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (March–May 2020) compared with equivalent weeks in 2019. Results We found a 50.7% drop in first attendances to the ED in 2020. Likelihood of attendance and admission decreased for paediatric patients and increased for patients ≥ 46 years, and for men. Likelihood of admission increased for all Black ethnic groups and for patients from the most deprived index of multiple deprivation quintiles. This shift to an older, male, more deprived patient population with greater representation of ethnic minority groups was amplified in the 'Infections' diagnostic category. Conclusions COVID-19 has dramatically impacted ED usage. Our analysis contributes to local resource planning and understanding of changes in healthcare-seeking behaviour during the pandemic. Future research to identify positive behaviour changes could help sustain a reduction in non-urgent visits in the longer term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To have population-level impact, physical activity (PA) interventions must be effectively implemented and sustained under real-world conditions. Adequate Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) is integral to children being able to actively participate in play, games, and sports. Yet, few FMS interventions have been implemented at scale, nor sustained in routine practice, and thus it is important to understand the influences on sustained implementation. The study's aim was to use Collective Intelligence (CI)—an applied systems science approach—with stakeholder groups to understand barriers to the implementation of FMS interventions, interdependencies between these barriers, and options to overcome the system of barriers identified. Methods: Three CI sessions were conducted with three separate groups of experienced FMS intervention researchers/practitioners (N = 22) in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Participants generated and ranked barriers they perceive most critical in implementing FMS interventions. Each group developed a structural model describing how highly ranked barriers are interrelated in a system. Participants then conducted action mapping to solve the problem based on the logical relations between barriers reflected in the model. Results: The top ranked barriers (of 76) are those related to policy, physical education curriculum, and stakeholders' knowledge and appreciation. As reflected in the structural model, these barriers have influences over stakeholders' efficacy in delivering and evaluating interventions. According to this logical structure, 38 solutions were created as a roadmap to inform policy, practice, and research. Collectively, solutions suggest that efforts in implementation and sustainability need to be coordinated (i.e., building interrelationship with multiple stakeholders), and a policy or local infrastructure that supports these efforts is needed. Conclusions: The current study is the first to describe the complexity of barriers to implementing and sustaining FMS interventions and provide a roadmap of actions that help navigate through the complexity. By directing attention to the ecological context of FMS intervention research and participation, the study provides researchers, policy makers, and practitioners with a framework of critical components and players that need to be considered when designing and operationalising future projects in more systemic and relational terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the lived experience of people with inflammatory bowel disease and anxiety/depression. It utilised a deductive biopsychosocial framework. Overall, 24 patients and 20 healthcare professionals from two countries participated. In the United Kingdom, the main themes included (1) bidirectional relationship between inflammatory bowel disease and mental health, (2) the need for healthcare integration and (3) lack of awareness about the disease. In Australia, (1) the 'vicious cycle' of inflammatory bowel disease and psychosocial health, (2) the need for biopsychosocial healthcare integration and (3) the stigma of a hidden disease. Better communication around mental illness is essential in improving inflammatory bowel disease healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Schizophrenia is a clinically heterogeneous disorder. It is currently unclear how variability in symptom dimensions and cognitive ability is associated with genetic liability for schizophrenia.Objective: To determine whether phenotypic dimensions within schizophrenia are associated with genetic liability to schizophrenia, other neuropsychiatric disorders, and intelligence.Design, Setting, and Participants: In a genetic association study, 3 cross-sectional samples of 1220 individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia were recruited from community, inpatient, and voluntary sector mental health services across the UK. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to create phenotypic dimensions from lifetime ratings of the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms, Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms, and the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery. Analyses of polygenic risk scores (PRSs) were used to assess whether genetic liability to schizophrenia, other neuropsychiatric disorders, and intelligence were associated with these phenotypic dimensions. Data collection for the cross-sectional studies occurred between 1993 and 2016. Data analysis for this study occurred between January 2019 and March 2021.Main Outcomes and Measures: Outcome measures included phenotypic dimensions defined from confirmatory factor analysis relating to positive symptoms, negative symptoms of diminished expressivity, negative symptoms of motivation and pleasure, disorganized symptoms, and current cognitive ability. Exposure measures included PRSs for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and intelligence.Results: Of the 1220 study participants, 817 were men (67.0%). Participants' mean (SD) age at interview was 43.10 (12.74) years. Schizophrenia PRS was associated with increased disorganized symptom dimension scores in both a 5-factor model (β = 0.14; 95% CI, 0.07-0.22; P = 2.80 × 10-4) and a 3-factor model across all samples (β = 0.10; 95% CI, 0.05-0.15; P = 2.80 × 10-4). Current cognitive ability was associated with genetic liability to schizophrenia (β = -0.11; 95% CI, -0.19 to -0.04; P = 1.63 × 10-3) and intelligence (β = 0.23; 95% CI, 0.16-0.30; P = 1.52 × 10-10). After controlling for estimated premorbid IQ, current cognitive performance was associated with schizophrenia PRS (β = -0.08; 95% CI, -0.14 to -0.02; P = 8.50 × 10-3) but not intelligence PRS.Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this study suggest that genetic liability for schizophrenia is associated with higher disorganized dimension scores but not other symptom dimensions. Cognitive performance in schizophrenia appears to reflect distinct contributions from genetic liabilities to both intelligence and schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are increasing levels of concern about policy and practice related to Lyme disease testing and diagnosis in the UK. A complex debate has emerged, with patient groups challenging clinical and testing practices. This paper focuses on four dimensions of diagnostic testing: accuracy, types of test, clinical application and test interpretation, to illustrate the divergence amongst and between official and patient group views. We explore these issues via analysis of information from sources including patient organisations' documents and statutory policy and professional publications, supplemented by data from an online questionnaire survey. Our analysis shows a lack of consistency in policy, consumerist strategies among patients, and official policy that inhibits illness identity and maintains hard boundaries between patients' experience and public health practice. We suggest that medical policy and practice have become entrenched in defensive testing and clinical protocol. We note recently emerging trends in consultation and patient group involvement, illustrating more participative public health governance. As a joint patient organisation-academic project, we contribute to understanding of patient organisation activism in public health by demonstrating our own collaborative, reflective 'evidence-based' activist research. Notably, in doing so we deploy a variety of forms of knowledge and 'evidence' beyond the often-acknowledged 'experiential' and 'embodied' forms. On this basis, we recommend that shared-decision-making and 'facilitational' advocacy would improve patients' empowerment and their experiences of testing and diagnosis. We argue that such reforms will enhance the perceived legitimacy of 'chronic' Lyme disease claims even under the prevailing conditions of scientific and medical uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While certainly not a new phenomenon, the exploitation of children and vulnerable adults in 'county lines' drug distribution and sales now attracts considerable attention and concern. In this study, we explored professionals' perspectives on understandings of and responses to this issue in the West Midlands, UK. We conducted in‐depth interviews with 11 participants from policing, prosecution, government and the third sector. Participants typically saw county lines‐related exploitation as insufficiently understood, especially where individuals are both victimised and commit offences are concerned. They also characterised responses as hampered by factors such as variable use of legislation, inconsistent intelligence sharing and insufficient resources – particularly to support vulnerable people. More robust multiagency collaboration could help address these issues, although it also involves challenges. Our exploratory study focuses on criminal justice responses to county lines‐related exploitation in particular, a relatively narrow set of professionals and one specific geographical location, meaning findings must not be overextended. Nevertheless, it provides novel insights into a complex, important and understudied phenomenon. We situate the work against the broader literature on exploitation, drawing parallels with child sexual exploitation and 'modern slavery' that could inform further research. 'Provides novel insights into a complex, important and understudied phenomenon' Key Practitioner Messages: The term 'county lines' may obscure the complexities and harms of criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults in this context.There can be a challenging interplay between victimisation and offending. Although those exploited have agency, they also often face obvious power imbalances and heavily constrained choices.Enforcement alone is insufficient: addressing vulnerabilities and complex needs is vital from a preventative perspective.Improved training on the use and applicability of relevant legislation would likely support investigations and prosecutions.Implementing and abiding by a consistent framework for information sharing could facilitate more effective responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Socioeconomic factors have been suggested to influence the effect of education- and intelligence-associated genetic variants. However, results from previous studies on the interaction between socioeconomic status and education or intelligence have been inconsistent. The authors sought to assess these interactions in the UK Biobank cohort of 500,000 participants.Methods: The authors assessed the effect of socioeconomic deprivation on education- and intelligence-associated genetic variants by estimating the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) heritability for fluid intelligence, educational attainment, and years of education in subsets of UK Biobank participants with different degrees of social deprivation, using linkage disequilibrium score regression. They also generated polygenic scores with LDpred and tested for interactions with social deprivation.Results: SNP heritability increased with socioeconomic deprivation for fluid intelligence, educational attainment, and years of education. Polygenic scores were also found to interact with socioeconomic deprivation, where the effects of the scores increased with increasing deprivation for all traits.Conclusions: These results indicate that genetics have a larger influence on educational and cognitive outcomes in more socioeconomically deprived U.K. citizens, which has serious implications for equality of opportunity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to develop a virtual youth center, providing a safe and supportive online space for sexual minority young men to talk and learn about HIV, sexuality, relationships and sex – topics rarely addressed inclusively in mainstream education. Eleven male participants aged 15–19 years living in South England completed the full programme of three text-based chatroom sessions. Participants were guided through discussions to introduce new knowledge and build emotional resilience. Self-report measures were taken before and after the programme. Recruitment to the project was challenging owing, in large part, to appropriately rigorous safeguarding protocols. All those taking part either maintained or improved their level of HIV knowledge and felt more confident about their sexuality. Participants described the experience as "informative" and "enjoyable". Further iterations of the model could seek to measure behavioral change and use more robust evaluation methods, such as a comparison group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A death cafe is an event where people drink, eat and discuss death. Death cafes do not follow a set structure and the events are held for free. The mission of death cafes is 'to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives'. Death cafes have a proven track record in providing a safe place for people to have conversations about dying, death and grief. Aim: This study aims to contribute to the literature by providing a simple synthesis of comments made on the day of a death cafe in Wales by the attendees, and to allow the identification of further research questions. Method: A death cafe event was organised in the South Wales valleys, to encourage discussions about death during Dying Matters Awareness week in the UK, 10 May to 16 May 2019. Result: The event was well attended, and attendees recorded their thoughts about the event. Conclusion: Emerging themes were categorised into the following themes: communication, digital legacy, stigma, humour and a request for future events. Feedback showed that the death cafe had encouraged a greater dialogue about death and dying and facilitated conversations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Forced migration is at record levels, leading many European countries to seek to limit immigration or control access to public services. The UK has introduced upfront healthcare charging for overseas patients, with exceptions for certain groups and services. Confusion over these regulations amongst healthcare professionals risks care being inappropriately delayed or denied. This is pertinent within sexual and reproductive health and HIV care where sensitivity and timely management are essential. Methods We conducted a survey exploring clinicians' knowledge of healthcare charging regulations and terminology, their confidence and experience on this topic and their ability to evaluate case-based scenarios. Results Of 343 valid responses, 78% reported encountering refugees, asylum seekers or undocumented migrants in practice. Only 39% felt confident in their understanding of healthcare entitlements. Terminology was appropriately defined by 66%, but only 53% of case-based scenarios were answered correctly. About 71% reported needing further training in this area, and many comments indicated a desire for educational resources. Conclusions SRH and HIV professionals demonstrated limited knowledge of healthcare charging for migrants, despite working with these groups. This could undermine their ability to deliver appropriate advice and care to these potentially vulnerable patients. Training and support for these staff is essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational preventing violent extremism (EPVE) programs have had (to date) little if any theoretical underpinning. Given their proliferation in jurisdictions such as Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and other European countries, such an absence is notable but not unexpected given the political sensitivities attached to them. These programs remain an emerging policy area which is still "finding its feet," around which their legitimacy and efficacy is keenly debated. This paper argues for adopting theoretical principles drawn from information science research based upon information behavior models to provide a framework for the design and development of such programs and against which their efficacy can be tested. We demonstrate how this approach can be applied through thematic analysis of the theory of change models of EPVE programs implemented in England and Wales, designed to increase awareness and understanding of radicalization among young people, their carers, and professionals. This article is ground breaking and of international significance, being the first to apply learning from information science to practice in furthering policy goals around countering radicalization and extremism in the United Kingdom and other jurisdictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teacher knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) plays a key role in the successful inclusion of children with the disorder in public schools. It therefore becomes important to understand what impacts upon teachers' knowledge of ASD. As such, we aimed to investigate the role of experience and culture on teachers' knowledge of ASD. Public teachers working in the United Kingdom (UK; n = 51) and People's Republic of China (n = 59) completed questionnaires measuring the experience of teaching children with ASD and levels of knowledge about the disorder. Analysis was then conducted to examine how knowledge of ASD differed as a function of culture and experience. Results showed that teachers who had experience of working with children with ASD demonstrated a higher level of knowledge relating to the disorder. Further, teachers in the UK had significantly more knowledge of ASD than teachers in China. The results suggest cross-cultural differences in teachers' understanding of ASD. Training opportunities which allow teachers to work with children with ASD should be provided in both the UK and in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attrition in child abuse cases is of continuing concern. International research has produced evidence to suggest that the form and quality of the evidence available in many child abuse cases is of insufficient quality to allow progression through the judicial system. Recent revelations have led to an increase in public and professional awareness of the prevalence of child sexual abuse, and how this is managed by the legal and social care systems. The aim of this research was to explore the opinions of ex-Police Officers who had direct experience relating to the management of child abuse cases about the factors affecting case progression. Seven ex-Police Officers were interviewed and the transcribed data were thematically analyzed. The five main themes derived from the data were Global Myths, Assumptions, and Misconceptions; Suitability; Resources; Professionals' Attributes; and Working Together. These themes demonstrated that the primary issues indicated by ex-Police Officers were more about relationships between professionals, an understanding of the child's perspective, and their subsequent involvement in the legal processes than simply being related to a lack of resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A Guardian Newspaper survey of social workers in the UK published in 2015 suggested that 'The happiest social workers are in Wales'. In exploring why this may be so, the authors undertook an in-depth national online survey in 2017 of all social workers in Wales registered (n = 5564) as employed at that point and from which some 997 responded. The survey sought a wide field of information about the occupational experience, and this article reports on selected aspects of knowledge, evidence-base, aims, competence and quality as perceived by respondents. Findings: The workforce, durable, mostly white, aging and female, consider their services of good quality despite insufficiencies in staff capacities and material resources. While most acknowledged the influence on their practice of psycho-social, cognitive and systems paradigms, they also cited as major sources of knowledge, their clients, work experience, colleagues, case-procedures and in-house training. There seemed much less affirmation of evidence-based techniques and relatively little use of social work journals, books and professional magazines once qualified and in practice. Applications: The emphasis by many upon the bureau or department as both 'habitus' and heuristic for much everyday practice raises important questions for how we understand and enhance practitioner knowledge and ensure equivalent social worker competence across the workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]