Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

Health on the high street: Embedding healthy living into urban regeneration after the pandemic Social Market Foundation; January 2021

(This report argues that town centres where shops and offices fall vacant should be used to establish new ‘health hubs’ combining GP surgeries, health and social care services and gyms. The report profiles examples where local authorities and health care bodies are already developing such hubs, which it suggests could be a model for other areas in future)

New Every Mind Matters campaign Public Health England; 18th January 2021

(The new campaign launches to support the nation’s mental health, as half of adults say they are more worried during this current lockdown than in March 2020.)

SACN statement on nutrition and older adults living in the community Public Health England; 20th January 2021

(This position statement by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) provides an overview of the currently available evidence on nutrition in older adults and its impact on healthy ageing. It considers evidence relating to adults aged 65 years and over living in the community.)

Memory aids in parks and gardens for people with dementia.
Carried out by Frankie Marcelline from Brighton and Sussex on 8/1/2021
https://www.knowledgeshare.nhs.uk/index.php?PageID=literature_search_request_download&RequestID=26876
(This search report contains evidence on the use of memory aids of garden flora in the outdoor setting. Results include a study on Enrico Sassi’s conception of a garden where patients can wander around safely and has memory aids in the shape of vertical structures with fragrant plants and herbs for patients to freely touch, smell and taste. Results include reviews on the effectiveness and more general benefits of gardens as memory aids for those with neurodegenerative conditions.)

National Diabetes Audit – Care Processes and Treatment Targets, Quarterly Data Release, January to September 2020.
NHS Digital; 2021.

(This is the quarterly release of data from the National Diabetes Audit (NDA). It is the mid-year data release for the second extraction of NDA 2020-21 data. It shows progress to date covering the period 1 January to 30 September 2020. It shows partial year progress against care processes and treatment targets. It also provides the latest position on structured education. It therefore can be used as an operational planning tool to assess progress to date.)

Multidisciplinary care of diabetes.
Carried out by Kevin Burgoyne from Brighton and Sussex on 9/1/2021
https://www.knowledgeshare.nhs.uk/index.php?PageID=literature_search_request_download&RequestID=26607
(Some qualitative and mixed methods research is available on this question, including 3 systematic reviews looking at various aspects related to the question. Case studies from UK networks looking at aspects of wider integrated care have also been found and included in case they can be useful. Foot care seems to be a big driver in diabetes care in the UK at the moment, and there are more publications focused on multidisciplinary care around this which can be retrieved if necessary.)

Effects of Pfizer mRNA vaccine on female fertility.
Carried out by Frankie Marcelline from Brighton and Sussex on 11/1/2021
https://www.knowledgeshare.nhs.uk/index.php?PageID=literature_search_request_download&RequestID=26845
(It is early days and currently there is no evidence to suggest fertility is affected by the Pfizer vaccine (or any other COVID-19 vaccine). There is guidance and advice on being vaccinated while pregnant, but nothing on long/short term female fertility.)

Daily contact testing in schools: statement from PHE and NHS TT about next steps.
Public Health England (PHE); 2021.

(Position statement regarding daily contact testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) in schools from Public Health England and NHS Test and Trace.)

Predictors of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the UK Household Longitudinal Study.
Robertson E. medRxiv 2020;:doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.12.27.20248899.
(Herd immunity may be achievable through vaccination in the UK but a focus on specific ethnic minority and socioeconomic groups is needed to ensure an equitable vaccination programme. This article is a preprint and has not been peer-reviewed.)

Learning from the first wave of COVID-19.
South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System; 2020.

(A new research-led report details how health and care partners across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw were able to continue delivering non-essential patient care and services during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic through digital innovation, reconfiguring services and enhanced partnership collaboration.)

Please contact Academic.Library@lscft.nhs.uk if you are struggling to access any research articles.

Mental Health

Supporting the mental health of children and young people

Keep up to date with current awareness:

Children and young people’s mental health – policy, CAMHS services, funding and education.
House of Commons Library; 2020.
(Research briefing outlining children and young people’s mental health policy.)

Child and adolescent mental health during COVID-19
Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST); 2020.
(Charities and academics have expressed concerns that children’s mental health is disproportionately affected by the intervention measures used during the pandemic. Child and adolescent mental health may be compromised by factors such as strained family relationships, academic stress and reduced social contact with friends. Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) have been reduced during the pandemic. They are likely to be under strain to meet increased demand.)

Interventions to support children and young people who self-harm
Carried out by Frankie Marcelline from Brighton and Sussex on 3/11/2020
https://www.knowledgeshare.nhs.uk/index.php?PageID=literature_search_request_download&RequestID=25593
(This evidence search report looks for publications on interventions to support children and young people (age 4-18) who self-harm, including school-based preventative approaches.)

Library Bulletin

Digital Mental Health

The January edition of Digital Mental Health current awareness bulletin, produced by Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust, is now available to view and download.

Library Bulletin

Physical Health and Mental Health Bulletin

The physical health and mental health bulletin December 2020, produced by Greater Manchester Mental Health Trust, is now available to view and download.

Allied Health Professionals

Research project opportunity

We have joined up with UHMB Library and Knowledge Services within the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust to deliver a program on evidence based practice.

The project aims to:

  • Map the distribution of AHPs across the ICP, breaking it down by professional role, who they work for and who they serve including any cross-organisational working
  • Increase the awareness of Library services and provide support to aid with the treatment of patients
  • Facilitate links across the Trust and within local authorities to create long lasting contacts and to share knowledge and good practice
  • Offer an educational programme of evidence-based practice based on the concept of critically appraised topics supported by a series of lectures and workshops delivered by Lancaster University
  • Stimulate engagement with research and service development in the ICP and provide the groundwork for research collaboration
  • Equip staff with the knowledge, confidence and support to undertake their own research projects

The project is open to all Allied Health Professionals across the Trust. If you are interested please email your details (name, job role, contact information, place of work) to katie.roper@lscft.nhs.uk

Covid 19 mental health research

Funding boost

Six new research projects have been awarded a share of £2m funding by NIHR and UKRI to investigate and reduce the impacts of Covid-19 and the pandemic on mental health.

The projects will focus on reducing the negative effects of the pandemic on the mental health of three at-risk groups: healthcare workers, children and younger people, and those with serious mental health problems.

To find out more click here.

CINAHL Complete

Two month trial

To access this resource click here.

This useful guide explains how to navigate around their site, and includes tips on searching and refining your results.

We would love to hear your feedback and thoughts on this resource. Please get in touch with the library service academic.library@lscft.nhs.uk.