Tackling inequality and disadvantage – what to consider when developing digital approaches
PIF member National Voices has published a report outlining key actions to take when developing approaches to inequalities and disadvantage with a digital component.
The resource, launched by members of the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance, highlights how groups of people who experience the greatest barriers to accessing health and care are often the most likely to experience digital exclusion.
An appendix also contains additional, detailed insights into how digital exclusion affects groups who experience health inequalities.
Read more and download the full report via the National Voices website here.
Promoting good health through community organisations
A new report explores the role of large, well-established community organisations in promoting good health and preventing disease in their neighbourhoods.
Published by Locality, a national membership network supporting 1,600 local community organisations, the report contains examples demonstrating good practice across four areas:
- Maximising good practice
- Finding the right delivery approach
- Achieving collaborative commissioning
- Measuring outcomes usefully
Download the full report via the Locality website here.
Heart to Heart podcast receives positive feedback
PIF member Blood Cancer UK has launched a new podcast for carers, family members and friends of people with blood cancer.
It focuses on how they are affected by their loved one’s diagnosis and the advice they would give to others based on their experiences.
The podcast is different to other offerings because there is no 'host'. It is just honest conversations between people with blood cancer.
The first episode has already received very positive feedback.
Listen to the podcast via the Blood Cancer UK website here.
GP survey reveals health and healthcare inequalities of trans and non-binary adults
Trans and non-binary adults are more likely than the general population to experience long-term health conditions, according to new research.
The study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, found trans and non-binary adults were more likely to have mental health problems, dementia and learning disabilities, and to be autistic.
Other key findings from analysis of the GP Patient Survey included:
- Trans and non-binary adults prefer to be able to see the same GP for each appointment (64% compared to 50% of other respondents).
- Trans and non-binary adults were less likely to be involved in decisions about care and treatment (85% compared with 94%).
- Those trans and non-binary adults with mental health needs were less likely to have their needs recognised and understood (78% compared with 87%).
- Fewer trans and non-binary adults said overall their needs were met (88% compared with 95%).
Read more about the study findings via the University of Cambridge website here.
Trans and gender-diverse communities' experience of hospice care
A new report by Hospice UK explores the barriers faced by trans and gender diverse people when accessing and experiencing hospice care.
I Just Want To Be Me: Trans and Gender Diverse Communities’ Access to and Experiences of Palliative and End of Life Care, is based on first-hand research with trans and gender diverse communities and those working in end-of-life care.
The report makes a series of recommendations including that palliative and end-of-life care providers should ensure trans and gender diverse people with a terminal diagnosis are signposted to high quality and accessible information and support on accessing transition support.
Download the full report via the Hospice UK website here.
NHS campaign urges people to use their bowel cancer home testing kit
An NHS campaign urges people who have been sent a bowel cancer home testing kit to return it.
The campaign, which launched across TV, radio, video on demand and social media in February, aims to ensure more people with bowel cancer are diagnosed at an early stage.
The proportion of people choosing to participate in bowel screening has increased to 70.3% – the highest on record.
However, almost one third (30%) of people aren’t returning their test kit.
Find out more about the campaign via the NHS England website here.
Study: Provision of and trust in COVID-19 vaccines information
A new study aims to understand to the provision of, and trust in, COVID-19 vaccines information from the perspectives of people who had been infected.
Almost all respondents had been vaccinated at least once (96%), mostly after having the virus.
They were mainly middle aged and highly educated.
Most had trust in the information (89%) and perceived it as correct (71%).
However, fewer people found the information reliable (59%) and clear (58%).
Read the study findings in full via the Wiley Online Library here.
Asthma resources to support patients and the environment
PIF members Asthma + Lung UK and NHS England have developed resources to help people use their inhalers correctly.
Developed in partnership with clinicians, patients and partners, the resources help patients to:
- Use their inhalers as prescribed
- Adhere to the right inhaler technique via discussion with their healthcare professional
- Consider changing to a lower-carbon inhaler
- Return used or unwanted inhalers to their community pharmacy for appropriate disposal.
Access the resources via the Asthma + Lung UK website here.
Opportunities for the metaverse and public health
In this JMIR Publications article, the authors discuss the metaverse, built environment and public health.
They explore key opportunities and uncertainties about how a metaverse might contribute to public health aimed at reducing noncommunicable diseases.
Read the article in full via the JMIR website here.
Age UK publishes Fixing the Foundations report
An in-depth report by Age UK says the crisis in the NHS is largely a crisis in older people's preventative care.
Fixing the Foundations says the proportion of older people feeling supported to manage their health condition has fallen by a fifth in relative terms since 2016/17.
It also shows how living with multiple long term health conditions, as a significant proportion of older people do, makes it especially hard to navigate health services.
Read more and download the full report via the Age UK website here.
Video: Barriers to accessing clinical research
Patients as Partners in Clinical Research is currently running an interview series on underrepresented patient communities.
The series includes interviews with people from the LGBTQ+, sickle cell disease, autism/ADHD and South Asian communities.
Interviewees share their experience with clinical trials and give insights into the challenges they face accessing and participating in clinical research.
In the second instalment, Tina Aswani-Omprakash, patient advocate and co-founder of the South Asian IBD Alliance, shares her experiences.
Watch Tina's video directly via Vimeo here.
Access the whole series via the Patients as Partners website here.