Patients to help set the agenda for food allergy research3 December 2024Food allergies affect one in five children in the UK. To help set the priorities for future research, University of Bristol researchers are asking children and young people with food allergies, their parents, and health care professionals who care for them for their views.
Time to talk about death and loss – Good Grief Weston film launched29 November 2024As Kim Leadbeater’s Bill on Assisted Dying enters debate in the Commons, it’s a timely moment to reflect on our attitudes to death and bereavement. 59% of adults in the UK believe society still doesn’t talk enough about death and dying (Ref 1), and many of us are unsure how to support someone who’s been bereaved (Ref 2).
Intervention improves the healthcare response to domestic violence in low- and middle-income countries27 November 2024Culturally appropriate women-centred interventions can help healthcare systems respond to domestic violence, research has found. HERA (Healthcare Responding to Violence and Abuse) has been co-developing and evaluating a domestic violence and abuse healthcare intervention in low- and middle-income countries for the past five years. This National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Global Research Group will report their findings, and publish a PolicyBristol report, at a conference in London today [27 November].
Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) associated with small improvements in patient satisfaction26 November 2024The Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) is associated with a small improvement in patient satisfaction and perceptions of access, according to a new study published in the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP). However, the scheme did not improve outcomes in the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF).
Can theatre successfully disseminate messages about public involvement in research?20 November 2024A play jointly developed and performed by public contributors and a community theatre team raised awareness of domestic abuse, according to a new paper published in Health Expectations. However, opinions were divided on whether it was also able to successfully disseminate messages about patient and public involvement (PPI) in research on sensitive subjects.
Community pharmacies could expand PrEP access to help prevent HIV19 November 2024A new study has found that community pharmacies could play a significant role in expanding access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a highly effective pill for preventing HIV infection. The researchers found that pharmacies could provide a more convenient and discreet option for those who are underserved by the current model of PrEP delivery through sexual health clinics in England.
Found poem gives voice to patients’ experiences of blood tests7 November 2024Having blood tests or getting blood test results can be worrying and sometimes confusing, especially if communication around them is poor. Dr Jess Watson, a GP and academic clinical lecturer at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, has been exploring how GPs and others working in general practice communicate with patients about blood tests to see if there might be ways of doing it better.
Study highlights the need for more awareness of Sexual Assault Referral Centres22 October 2024More must be done to raise awareness of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) according to a Coventry University-led study, conducted in collaboration with the Universities of Birmingham, Bristol, Leicester, Hertfordshire and University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
Psychosis risk prediction tool could help GPs detect risk of condition early15 October 2024GPs could potentially use a psychosis risk prediction tool (P-risk) developed by researchers to detect whether their patients are at risk of experiencing psychosis. The University of Bristol team developed P-risk to help GPs identify at-risk patients as early as possible.
Live wake to pop up in suburban home for seaside town's grief festival10 October 2024Members of the public are invited to be part of a live Irish-style wake this week [Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 October] to explore how new digital technologies can influence the way we memorialise and remember loved ones.
RCGP Research Paper of the Year Award for IBS study3 October 2024A trial that showed a cheap and widely available prescription drug can improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in patients seen in GP surgeries has been awarded Research Paper of the Year by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).
Exploring co-production to tackle health inequalities through primary care services30 September 2024The Centre for Academic Primary Care/NIHR ARC West Bridging Gaps project and Liverpool’s Tackling Racial Inequalities in Health project are case studies in a new British Journal of General Practice (BJGP) paper. The analysis explores how people with lived experience can be centred and empowered in co-designing trauma-informed primary care services that address health inequalities.
Good Grief Weston: a Festival of Love and Loss returns this October9 September 2024Following the success of last year’s inaugural Good Grief Weston, the festival returns to Weston-super-Mare in October for its second edition. This year’s event, taking place from 10 to 13 October, will also see the festival extending to communities in North Somerset in a varied, creative programme that aims to open up conversations around death and bereavement, with honesty, compassion, joy and sometimes with humour.
Study reveals differences in victims’ and perpetrators’ experiences of domestic abuse during COVID-19 5 August 2024A new study by researchers at the University of Bristol has revealed differences in victims’ and perpetrators’ experiences of domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conducted as part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded REPROVIDE trial, which is evaluating a group-based programme for domestic abuse perpetrators, the research involved interviews with male perpetrators and female survivors.
£1.4m award to develop test for antibiotic resistant urinary tract infections30 July 2024A team led by the University of Bristol has been awarded more than £1.4m to develop a point of care test for antibiotic resistant urinary tract infections from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Study shows how patient safety could be enhanced through blood test management30 July 2024Researchers from the University of Bristol and the Primary Care Academic Collaborative (PACT) reviewed how GPs action and communicate blood test results and found significant differences and gaps in how blood test results are managed in primary care across the UK. A new study published in BMJ Open Quality asked GPs from PACT to review the results of 2,572 patients who had had blood tests in April 2021.
Society for Academic Primary Care Annual Scientific Meeting 2024 – Welcome to Bristol!1 July 2024From 3-5 July, we will be welcoming over 400 delegates from the UK and internationally to Bristol for this year’s Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC) Annual Scientific Meeting. SAPC is the leading organisation championing academic primary care in the UK.
Festchrift for Professor Chris Salisbury6 June 2024This week we celebrated the distinguished career of our esteemed colleague, Chris Salisbury, Professor of Primary Health Care at the Centre for Academic Primary Care (CAPC) and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator, who will be retiring at the end of the month.
Professor Gene Feder elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences Fellowship22 May 2024Professor Gene Feder OBE, Professor of Primary Care at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, has been elected to the Academy of Medical Sciences’ respected and influential Fellowship. He joins 58 biomedical and health scientists selected for their exceptional contributions to the advancement of medical science.
RAPID-Test trial completes recruitment early8 May 2024A major clinical trial investigating whether GP use of rapid diagnostic tests for respiratory (chest) infections can reduce same-day antibiotic prescribing in primary care has completed recruitment early.
Call for submissions to Turning the Tide exhibition2 May 2024As part of the programme for this year’s Society for Academic Primary Care Annual Scientific Meeting (SAPC ASM), which we are hosting in Bristol on 3-5 July, we are inviting submissions for an art exhibition on the theme of water and health. Successful submissions will be displayed at the conference and online. There will be prizes of £150 for outstanding entries. Anyone is welcome to make a submission, including delegates to the conference.
CHICO intervention helps GPs decide whether to prescribe antibiotics for children with respiratory infections30 April 2024Clinicians have found the ‘CHIldren with acute COugh’ (CHICO) intervention valuable in supporting decision-making around antibiotic prescribing and facilitating discussions with carers about concerns and treatment options, according to University of Bristol led research published in the British Journal of General Practice.
New Centre for Applied Excellence in Skin and Allergy Research25 April 2024The University of Bristol is home to a new Centre for Applied Excellence in Skin and Allergy Research (CAESAR), which has been established to improve the diagnosis and treatment of common skin and allergy problems in primary care.
Exploring health inequalities in primary care: ethnicity, antibiotics and respiratory health18 April 2024First-year University of Bristol PhD student, Anna Pathmanathan, is exploring respiratory health outcomes and antibiotic prescribing trends among different ethnicities. She shared information about her project during one of the People in Health West of England’s researcher coffee catch-ups.
Exploring knowledge sharing approaches in NIHR research: a systematic review17 April 2024Evidence on the effectiveness of knowledge sharing techniques and approaches in National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded research could be improved, according to a newly published systematic review, which was supported by the NIHR Dissemination and Knowledge Mobilisation team.
Call to reduce repeat ‘within-episode’ antibiotic prescriptions for respiratory tract infections in primary care8 April 2024A new study exploring the use of repeat antibiotic prescriptions for the same respiratory tract infection (RTI) episode – known as repeat ‘within-episode’ prescriptions – in primary care has found high rates of their use in England, despite evidence that they are of little benefit. The study authors, from the Universities of Bristol and Bath, King’s College London, and University Medical Center Utrecht, are calling for a reduction in their use and to make them a target for antimicrobial stewardship interventions.
Improving access to healthcare for and with people with multiple disadvantage4 April 2024General practice teams changed their services to better include patients with severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD) after facilitated collaboration with people with lived experience according to a paper published in the British Journal of General Practice. Implementing these changes brought joy and satisfaction to general practice staff and increased connections with patients and community organisations.
New cancer and domestic abuse toolkit launched26 March 2024A new toolkit to support cancer professionals to identify and respond to signs of domestic abuse in patients with cancer and their carers is being launched today [26 March]. The toolkit has been developed in partnership with the University of Bristol, Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse, and Macmillan Cancer Support.
£2.2M for clinical trial to improve general practice response to men and children affected by domestic abuse14 March 2024A new clinical trial of a general practice programme to improve the identification and referral of men and children affected by domestic abuse begins in May thanks to a £2.2 million National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) award to University of Bristol researchers, in partnership with Oxford University and the social enterprise IRISi.
NIHR School for Primary Care Research PhD studentship1 March 2024Applications are invited from individuals with a strong academic record who want to develop a career in primary care research and are able to start a PhD September 2024. Applicants should have a first degree relevant to primary care research.
Sharing prescription medications is common and a public health concern20 February 2024Sharing prescription medications is common and a public health concern, according to researchers at the Universities of Bristol and Sheffield, whose study investigating the behaviour was published in the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP) today [20 February].
‘Loneliness loop’ risks trapping young people in repeating cycle of abuse1 February 2024A detailed study of intimate partner violence and abuse (IPVA) among young people in the UK has found that a ‘loneliness loop’ risks trapping young people in a repeating cycle of abuse. The University of Bristol-led research, which analysed survey data from 3,000 young people, recommends early intervention to prevent young people from experiencing IPVA.