Research Impact
Our Research Impacts on how we promote health and well-being and deliver patient care throughout Northern Ireland and internationally
LATEST RESEARCH IMPACT STORIES
Necessary Discussions
Necessary Discussions
A new online resource to support conversations about future care in the context of COVID-19
‘Necessary Discussions’ is a new online resource for nursing home staff and family members of residents developed to raise awareness of advance care planning, and support shared decision making in the context of a COVID-19 outbreak in a nursing home.
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LBGTQ+ Health Research Project
LBGTQ+ Health Research Project
A new research project is being undertaken focusing on the inclusion of LGBTQ+ health concerns within pre-registration nursing and midwifery programmes. The research project is a collaboration between Queen’s University and Trinity College Dublin and is being led by Professor Michael Brown and Dr Edward McCann.
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mySupport Study
mySupport Study
A new research project is being undertaken focusing on an educational resource called the Family Carer Decision Support (FCDS) intervention, which has been developed to assist nursing home staff in supporting family carers when they need to make diffifult decisions about end-of-life care for their relative with advanced Dementia.
Guidelines: Cancer Cachexia
Guidelines: Cancer Cachexia
Research led by Professor Joanne Reid on cancer cachexia has informed evidence based guidelines, developed to translate current best evidence into recommendations for multi-disciplinary teams responsible for the identification and treatment of reversible elements of cachexia and improvement in quality of life for both patients who have cancer cachexia and their carers. Guidelines include;
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Renal Arts Group (RAG)
Getting Creative with Health
The Renal Arts Group (RAG) is a collaboration between patients, carers, clinicians, academics and artists to develop a programme of research with the ultimate aim of improving the physical and psychological quality of life of those living with kidney disease through the medium of art.
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Marie Curie Belfast
Marie Curie Hospice Belfast Joint Appointment
Dr Tracey McConnell took up post in April 2019 as a Senior Research Fellow as a joint post between Marie Curie Hospice Belfast and The School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast.
This joint post has brought together Palliative Care clinicians and Academica passionate about improving care for those with any type of terminal illness and their families/carers.
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Passion-HF Project
Modernising the day-to-day management of patients living with chronic heart failure
A team of researchers and clinicians at Queen's university and Belfast Health and Social Care Trust are the UK clinical partner in a multi-centre European study.
The 'Passion-HF' study aims to develop an e-health product named “Abby” that will encourage patients to take more responsibility for their personal wellbeing, including self-care of their heart failure and self-prescription of medication.
The project has already been highlighted in the Northern Ireland's achievement in the Transnational programmes booklet published by SEUPB (LINK HERE)
Dick Luvs Doot
Introducing Sexual Health as an Integral part of Prison Healthcare
Dr Carmel Kelly together with her team (Dr Michelle Templeton and Professor Maria Lohan) has completed a research project which has led to:
- The establishment of the first nurse-led asymptomatic screening service for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) within prison healthcare across all of the prisons in Northern Ireland and,
- Dick Luvs Doot the health promotion video made with men in prison, for men in prison, which is available on YouTube
Find Short Impact Report here
Launch of Improving sexual health of men in NI prisons at Hydebank Wood College (March 2018)
Included from L-R Catherine Baxter, Jaqueline Magennis (Nurses at HBW), Dr Michael Mc Bride (Chief Medical Officer), Professor Maria Lohan (School of Nursing and Midwifery QUB), Dr Carmel Kelly (Clinical Nurse Lead for sexual health SET, QUB), Dr Michelle Templeton (Research Fellow QUB), Prof Donna Fitsimons, Rachel Gibbs
Read more via: http://www.setrust.hscni.net/3932.htm
Cancer Caring Coping
A dedicated resource for those who care for patients with Cancer
‘Cancer Caring Coping’ (www.cancercaringcoping.com) is a new online resource created by cancer caregivers for cancer caregivers. It is based on research by Dr Olinda Santin from Queen’s University Belfast, who found that cancer caregivers have poorer health compared to caregivers of other chronic conditions.
The project, led by Queen’s University, is a partnership between Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and The Northern Health and Social Care Trust, as well as involvement from the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland and Charis Cancer Care.
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HPV Action
Gillian Prue’s research is cited in Westminster Parliament
Dr Gillian Prue is a member of HPV Action, a collaborative partnership of 50 global organisations that are working together to reduce the health burden of HPV.
Gillian and her colleagues recently called for the HPV vaccine to be extended to all adolescent boys on the basis of their research evidence.
This research was cited as follows as part of the most recent parliamentary debate on the topic.
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Care Planning at End of Life
Care planning with family carers in dementia care homes
Professor Kevin Brazil, leading a research team from QUB, University of Ulster and Lancaster University, has developed an evidence based family carer decision support intervention to assist on care decisions for a family member living with dementia at the end of life
The booklet for patients & families can be accessed HERE
Evidence for this approach can be accessed HERE
End of Life Care Decisions
Care-planning for people with end-stage kidney disease
Dr Helen Noble's research supports shared decision-making between patients & health professionals around patients' end of life care decisions.
Helen's research is developing and testing a new decision aid to help patients, along with doctors and nurses, to make the best decisions on whether or not to continue with kidney dialysis towards end of life.
Download Dr Noble's Research Article HERE
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Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
Choice & control, a necessity for patients with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator in the palliative stages of illness.
International research led by Prof Donna Fitzsimons and Dr Loreena Hill has impacted clinical practice by identifying that all too often information concerning Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator deactivation is discussed “too little, too late” with patients and family members.
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Track and Trigger Protocols
Checklists are no substitute for experience in spotting patients who are deteriorating
Dr Jenny McGaughey’s research provokes new thinking on National Institute of Clinical Excellence Guidelines (NICE) guidelines on “track and trigger” protocols relating to acutely ill patients as well as staff training requirements.
Tiny Life
At home with your premature baby
Prof Fiona Alderdice and international research team have developed ‘At home with your premature baby’ - an evidence informed, online resource, co-produced with parents of premature babies.
TinyLife helps lessen the huge needs of the parents of tiny babies at the start of their long lives.
Prepared To Care
HIV and Pregnancy Education for Healthcare Professionals
Dr Carmel Kelly’s research leads to the launch of an online patient informed educational resource to help doctors and nurses prepare to care for women and men affected by HIV and who are pregnant or who want to have children.
The resource is used in all Trusts in in Northern Ireland and is accessed and used throughout the world.
NICPR
Northern Ireland Cerebral Palsy Register
Dr Claire Kerr and Dr Oliver Perra are directors of the Northern Ireland Cerebral Palsy Register for Northern Ireland.
Founded in 1991, the NICPR is used for the monitoring and surveillance of cerebral palsy in the Northern Ireland population, and to support research into the condition. The register is a unique resource as it is the only active cerebral palsy register in the UK.
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If I Were Jack
New relationship and sexuality educational programmes in schools and in prisons
Professor Maria Lohan and Dr Carmel Kelly and team’s research generates new relationship and sexuality educational programmes in schools and is pioneering relationship and sexual health in prisons.
A cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) of If I were Jack in eight post-primary schools among 831 pupils in NI demonstrated that this RSE programme is acceptable to schools, pupils, teachers and parents (including in faith based schools), can be feasibly implemented and is cost-effective (under £14 per pupil).
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Preconception Care
The use of psychotropic medication preconception, in pregnancy and postpartum
Dr Breidge Boyle’s work with EUROCAT and EUROmediCAT has influenced the development of UK guidelines on the use of psychotropic drugs in women of childbearing age as a primary prevention measure for preventing congenital anomaly.
Involving men
What works to include Men in Sexual and Reproductive Health
Maria Lohan is working as a consultant to the World Health Organization Human Reproduction Programme.
She and team (Dr Avni Amin, Mr Rahat Khoshla, Dr Esther Reid, Dr Fiona Lynn, Dr Eimear Ruane-McAteer & Dr Jennifer Hanratty) recently published a systematic review of reviews relating to involving men, alongside women, in sexual and reproductive health. This included an evidence and gap map of systematic reviews.
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"Think Families” Approach to Parental Mental health
Dr Anne Grant and team establish the baseline of a “Think Families” Approach to Parental Mental health
The aim of the Think Family NI initiative is to enhance greater partnership working between statutory agencies and organisations working with children and young people, and those working with adults to improve outcomes for family members with mental health issues, their parents and carers by establishing a ‘Think Child, Think Parent, Think Family’ approach to planning and delivery of services.
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BE AWARE OF THERMAL CARE IMMEDIATELY AT BIRTH
Emma McCall and Prof Fiona Alderdice create infographic to convey key findings to those who care for preterm babies.
Cochrane Review Team led by Emma McCall and Professor Fiona Alderdice, in collaboration with the Design Team at NPEU, create a simple infographic to convey key findings quickly and clearly to those who care for preterm babies.
Available for download: ‘Interventions to prevent hypothermia at birth in preterm and or low birthweight infants.’ https://neonatal.cochrane.org/our-work/infographics
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Factors associated with a successful transition
Factors that contribute to a successful transition to adult services for young adults with life-limiting conditions
Factors that contribute to a successful transition to adult services for young adults with life -limiting conditions were identified by young adults, parents and services providers.
Dr Helen Kerr’s study identified eight factors associated with a successful transition to adult services for young adults with life-limiting conditions.
Helen was awarded the International Journal of Palliative Nursing, Researcher of the Year award, and was also runner up in the Royal College of Nursing, Northern Ireland Nurse Researcher of the Year, for this research. Helen secured the national Florence Nightingale Travel Scholarship award in 2016 to continue developing this research.
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Honorary and Visiting Staff
Honorary and Visiting Staff