Tackling inequalities in healthcare access, experience and outcomes
A new guide sets out how to tackle inequalities in healthcare access, experience and outcomes.
It was commissioned by The Health Foundation and NHS England and co-written by the Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network with an expert reference group.
Based on 32 case studies, four key themes emerged:
- Creating an enabling system context
- Building clear and shared understanding
- Maintaining a sense of urgency and commitment to act
- Focusing on implementation, impact and evaluation
The guide highlights the importance of testing data with lived experience and co-designing solutions with communities services are intended to benefit.
It includes case studies and examples of good practice.
The impact of body image on mental and physical health
A report by the Health and Social Care Committee calls on the Government to take urgent action to tackle the issue of body dissatisfaction.
A survey by the committee found 80% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that their body image had a negative impact on their mental health.
Sixty one per cent agreed or strongly agreed that their body image negatively impacts their physical health.
The committee says a cross-government strategy should include education about self-worth and critical thinking, as well as wider health advice on spotting signs and symptoms of eating disorders and body dysmorphia. Other key recommendations include:
- Funding research to understand the causes of rising body dysmorphia
- The development of a national eating disorder strategy
- A review of the use of anabolic steroids
- An urgent review of Government campaigns related to obesity and altering any language or media which fails to mention being underweight is as big a risk as being overweight
The impact of the pandemic on population health and health inequalities
The BMA has published the results of a call for evidence into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on population health and health inequalities.
It found the pandemic has harmed people’s physical and mental health and worsened health inequalities. Key findings include:
- Opportunities had been missed before the pandemic to improve population health and address health inequalities
- By July 2022, more than 200,000 people had lost their lives and millions have seen their quality of life affected by Long COVID
- Ethnicity, age, disability status, and other factors mean some social groups have been more affected than others
- The pandemic affected social determinants of health with those already struggling before the pandemic often worse affected
NHS sets out Long COVID action plan
NHS England has set out plans which it says will help thousands of people with Long COVID.
Specialist clinics can now send people for tests at local one-stop shops and mobile clinics rather than having to go back to their GP for multiple different tests.
The updated Long COVID plan also includes ambitions for all patients to have an initial assessment within six weeks to ensure they are diagnosed and treated quickly.
Study: Impacts of an infodemic on vaccine hesitancy
A new study examines how perceived information overload and misinformation affect vaccine hesitancy and how this is moderated by structural and cultural factors.
Key findings from analysis of a cross-national survey of 6,034 residents include:
- Older and highly-educated participants were less susceptible to COVID-19 information overload and belief in vaccine misinformation.
- Perceived information overload led to an increase in vaccine acceptance and uptake while belief in vaccine misinformation caused a decrease
- Higher socioeconomic status could buffer the negative impact of misinformation on vaccine acceptance
- Cultural factors such as collectivism and authoritarian mentality also served as buffers against misinformation
The authors say effective and long-term information management and health policies must pay attention to stratified information gaps across socioeconomic groups and contextualise strategies in different cultures.
New NIHR Collection: Diabetes: putting people at the heart of services
The latest collection from the NIHR outlines how placing people at the heart of diabetes services can improve their engagement, health outcomes and experiences.
It brings together messages from research highlighted in NIHR Alerts over the last couple of years.
Topics include how to increase participation and listening to young people.
APPG on Medical Research: call for evidence
The APPG on Medical Research has launched a call for evidence for its health disparities inquiry.
It is aiming to gather examples of research which have helped to address health inequalities, as well as insights on what is needed to enable such research to take place and deliver real-world benefits.
Evidence can be submitted via the survey link below before 19 August.
New data on complex disabilities in the UK
Sense has published new data on the scale of complex disabilities in the UK.
Developed in partnership with the National Centre for Social Research, the figures show the number, geographical spread and demographics of people with complex disabilities.
One in 10 disabled people in the UK has complex disabilities, amounting to 1.6 million people.
This is projected to rise to 2 million by 2029.
For the purposes of this research, someone has complex disabilities if they have two or more of the following conditions and they report that their life is impacted by their disabilities:
- Sight loss
- Hearing loss
- Autism
- Learning disability
Study: How young people assume responsibility from their parents for self-management
A new study explores how young people with chronic kidney disease assumed responsibility for self management from their parents and the role of healthcare professionals.
Authors concluded families would benefit from HCP support over a longer timeframe.
This support should integrate assuming self-management responsibility with gaining independence in other areas of their lives and focus on young people ‘doing’ self-management.
Speaking up for psoriatic disease in Europe
The IFPA has published Speaking up for psoriatic disease in Europe, a briefing book about psoriatic disease.
The briefing book was created ahead of the IFPA Forum 2022 on 5 September.
It is part of a suite of actions to progress critical conversations around the unmet needs of people living with and affected by psoriatic disease in Europe.
Use of Twitter amplifiers by medical professionals to combat misinformation
This article outlines how healthcare professionals in the US used Twitter amplifiers to rapidly disseminate and promote accurate medical information and public health guidance.
It also discusses how to counter the harassment which can be a result of social media advocacy.
ICS Roadshow 2022
Public Policy Projects is hosting an Integrated Care Systems (ICS) roadshow with five locations from September to November.
Registration is now open for events in Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester and London.
The conference is free to attend if you are a:
- Local ICS leader
- Representative from the NHS, social care, primary care or local government
- Patient advocate
- Community leader
- Community worker or social prescribing specialist