Services must adopt anti-racist and holistic models of care to reduce ethnic inequalities in mental healthcare13 December 2022The experiences of people from ethnic minority groups with NHS mental healthcare are being seriously undermined by failures to consider the everyday realities of people’s lives in services in the UK, reports a new study led by researchers at the University of Bristol and Keele University. The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded study is published in PLOS Medicine today [13 December].
New trial to assess whether rapid tests reduce antibiotic prescribing for respiratory infections in primary care23 November 2022A new randomised controlled clinical trial, led by the University of Bristol, will investigate whether rapid microbiological ‘point-of-care’ tests for respiratory infections could reduce antibiotic prescribing in primary care, thanks to funding of £1.6 million by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The tests, which are carried out in GP surgeries rather than sent to a laboratory, detect the presence of viruses and some bacteria, with results available on the same day.
Care home staff find the Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) empowers residents17 November 2022GPs and care home staff see the Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) as positive and empowering for residents, according to an evaluation carried out by researchers at NIHR ARC West in collaboration with the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol and West of England Academic Health Science Network (AHSN).
Researchers partner with local communities to tackle health inequalities across the UK 8 November 2022A new wave of research projects, including a consortium-building initiative led by the University of Bristol, has been announced to investigate the role of community assets such as parks, galleries and creative organisations in improving health outcomes.
Inequities in access to bereavement support in the UK persist, new research finds7 November 2022New research has shown there continue to be inequities in access to bereavement support in the UK. In particular, even though minoritised ethnic communities were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic overall, proportions of ethnically minoritised clients did not increase, according to bereavement services.
The unintended consequences of giving patients online access to their health records1 November 2022Giving patients online access to their GP health records has unintended consequences that can limit its usefulness, an ARC West and University of Bristol Centre for Academic Primary Care (CAPC) study published in the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP) has shown.
Findings from one of the largest consultations on UK bereavement support published6 October 2022New findings from one of the largest ever consultations on bereavement support in the UK have been published today by the UK Commission on Bereavement (UKCB). The research, which involved University of Bristol academics, shows around 750,000 excess bereavements occurred during the pandemic in the UK.
Good Grief Festival announces a new programme and the launch of its Grief Channel on YouTube 5 October 2022Since its launch in 2020, the virtual Good Grief Festival, founded by Dr Lucy Selman, Associate Professor in Palliative and End of Life Care at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, has reached over 25,000 people. Speakers and participants have come from all walks of life, including academia, journalism, medicine, sport, politics and the arts, united in sharing their knowledge and experiences of grief.
Continuity of care associated with improved prescribing for patients at risk of heart disease 4 October 2022People at risk of heart disease are more likely to be prescribed relevant medications if they see the same GP over time (known as continuity of care) but not more likely to take their medications (known as adherence), according to researchers at the University of Bristol.
Trauma-informed health care in the UK needs top-down support and evidence-informed policy, strategy and commitment from the government and NHS27 September 2022While a trauma-informed approach in health care is being endorsed in government and NHS policies, its implementation has been driven by trauma experts at the level of organisations and local authorities, finds a new study led by the University of Bristol’s TAP CARE Study team. A coordinated, evidence-informed government and NHS position statement, guidance, and explicit commitment are needed alongside UK evidence on the effectiveness and acceptability of trauma-informed approaches in health care.
NIHR funds trial to evaluate the use of food allergy tests for eczema control13 September 2022The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is funding a definitive follow-on trial to TEST (Trial of Eczema allergy Screening Tests), which investigated the feasibility of evaluating the use of routine food allergy tests for the control of childhood eczema.
New guidance published to help researchers conduct more inclusive research18 August 2022The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) INCLUDE project found that many groups in the UK are under-served by clinical trials. To help address this, Dr Shoba Dawson from the University of Bristol and Professor Shaun Treweek from the University of Aberdeen, in collaboration with colleagues in other UK and Irish universities (for a full list, see below), have produced guidance on recruiting and retaining people from ethnic minority groups in randomised clinical trials.
Poor communication of test results poses risk for patients12 July 2022A lack of clear systems for communicating test results in primary care can lead to confusion, frustration and anxiety for patients and potential delays in diagnosis and treatment, according to research published in the British Journal of General Practice today [12 July 2022].
Dr Jessica Watson joint winner of the SAPC Doctoral prize 202223 June 2022Dr Jessica Watson, NIHR Clinical Lecturer in General Practice at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, is joint winner of this year’s Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC) Doctoral prize.
Hard Evidence goes on tour and secures evaluation funding20 June 2022Hard Evidence, a performance piece about two women affected by domestic abuse, their journey of mutual support, newfound confidence, and the empowering effect of public involvement in research is going on tour in Bristol. It has also secured evaluation funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Bristol BRC) Director’s Fund.
Child sex abuse victims reveal barriers faced in new ‘Keeping Secrets’ report9 June 2022Child sex abuse victims whose cases are going through the criminal justice process, are going through the trial alone or faced with on average a two and a half year wait to access pre-trial therapy, according to one of the findings from a new Home Office-funded report led by University of Bristol researchers.
Professor Sarah Purdy awarded OBE in Queen's Birthday Honours6 June 2022Professor Sarah Purdy is one of two University of Bristol academics to receive awards in the Queen's Birthday Honours list which recognises the outstanding achievements and service of people across the UK, in celebration of Her Majesty’s unprecedented 70 years of service.
Hospital database of serious injuries can be used to identify domestic violence and abuse, finds study26 May 2022Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) could be identified in the future using an already established national database of serious injuries, according to new University of Bristol-led research. The pilot study, published in Injury Prevention [26 May], developed a method to identify DVA victim-survivors from hospital records.
The right moisturiser for children with eczema is the one that they like to use, study finds24 May 2022The Best Emollients for Eczema trial has found that no one type of moisturiser is better than another. This study, the first in the world to directly compare different types of moisturisers, highlights the importance of patient education and choice when deciding which moisturisers to use for children with eczema. The results from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded study are published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health and British Journal of General Practice today [24 May].
New festival to support survivors of childhood sexual abuse13 May 2022Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) affects half a million children and young people every year. In Bristol alone, it is estimated that 13,000 children and young people are currently living with experiences of sexual abuse. In the first event of its kind, University of Bristol researchers and The Green House, Bristol’s only specialist provider of therapeutic support, are collaborating to stage a Festival to support survivors. The Beyond Therapy Festival of Activism Against Child Sexual Abuse will be held on Thursday 19 May at the Watershed.
Inhaled antibiotics could help reduce antimicrobial resistance12 May 2022Using inhaled antibiotics to treat lower respiratory tract infections could help reduce antimicrobial resistance, according to researchers from the University of Bristol and University of Bath.
Prescribing for anxiety has increased in those aged under 3512 April 2022Researchers from the University of Bristol have found that there have been increases in incident prescribing of most anti-anxiety medications (called anxiolytics) in recent years, which have been substantial in young adults (aged under 25).
Applications open for NIHR School for Primary Care Research funded summer internships6 April 2022We have two exciting summer 2022 internship opportunities for UK undergraduates from medicine, allied health professions or other disciplines who are interested in primary care research. These are a fantastic opportunity to get hands-on experience conducting primary care research with experts in the field.
Preventing long-term pain from shingles4 April 2022Researchers from the University of Bristol are recruiting patients with newly diagnosed shingles into a new study, to see if they can prevent the long-term pain which commonly persists after the rash has healed.
New research project aims to change how people talk about death and grief, thanks to National Lottery funding26 January 2022Grief effects everyone but is still very much a taboo subject in the UK. A new research project - Good Grief Connects - led by the University of Bristol aims to change society’s attitude towards grief, death and dying thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.