Taskforce on Multiple Conditions to hold webinar

The Taskforce on Multiple Conditions is planning a ‘learn and share’ webinar in January 2020.

It will be an opportunity to showcase learning from the case study sites and project team. There will also be a question-and-answer session.

The Taskforce on Multiple Conditions is a cross-sector partnership between The Richmond Group of Charities, The Royal College of General Practitioners and Guy's and St Thomas' Charity.

Its overarching aim is for people with multiple long-term health problems to live as well as possible for as long as possible.

If you would like to receive an invitation to the webinar email [javascript protected email address].

The Richmond Group of Charities

Study: Improving organisational health literacy

An Australian study has used a co-design process to gain the views of culturally diverse groups on their experiences of accessing healthcare.

The aim was to identify the strengths and weaknesses of an organisation's health literacy.

Authors said previous interventions to improve health literacy have demonstrated moderate improvements in health service use. However, most focus on simplifying communication rather than navigation support. 

They argue a comprehensive and multilevel response is required if the health system and organisations are to be more responsive to different levels of health literacy. 

This includes obtaining feedback from patients on their experience of accessing health care. 

Healio

An equitable digital public health era

This article reviews evidence on the impact of digital technologies on public health equity.

Health literacy is presented as a lens through which to approach research and policy on access, uptake and use of digital technologies. 

In the short term, based on a review of published literature, the authors conclude it is likely digital technologies will increase health inequities associated with ageing, lower level of educational attainment and lower socio-economic status. 

They argue programmes to enhance health and digital literacy and monitoring across all groups in society can help to ensure digital technologies act to reduce rather than reproduce or exacerbate existent health inequalities.

European Journal of Public Health

The telehealth literacy project

A study has indicated group videoconferencing can deliver social support for older people.

It involved the co-design, testing and evaluation of a health literacy, chronic disease self-management and social support intervention for older people.

The intervention was delivered by group videoconferencing into the home.

Researchers concluded remote monitoring with video conferencing can deliver group patient education, group videoconferencing can deliver social support, and the use of home-based patient education using technology is 'feasible' for older people.

ScienceDirect

Patient non-adherence – the costly paradox

This White Paper explores the costs of patient non-adherence and what interventions can be used to improve the figures.

It says patient-related factors for non-adherence include misunderstanding of the disease, misunderstanding of instructions and feeling stigmatised.

Low levels of education and illiteracy are cited as socioeconomic factors.

It says there is a 'wealth of evidence' to show that patient-to-patient peer support networks can improve adherence and health literacy.

PMLiVE

Meaningful patient involvement must be embedded in research

Patient involvement must be embedded in clinical research according to a new industry report.

The call is one of seven key recommendations to ensure the success of UK medicines development in ABPI's report on clinical trials.

Welcoming the move, Aisling Burnand MBE, chief executive of the Association of Medical Research Charities, said: “The recommendation to embed meaningful patient involvement in clinical research is a welcome one and one the AMRC has been working closely with ABPI to implement. 

"We look forward to continuing to work together, providing leadership in this area and helping to develop a system-wide approach to embedding patient involvement in clinical trials. 

"Done right, it will help the UK retain and strengthen its position as a global hub for clinical trials.”

ABPI