A new report outlines the scale of health inequalities facing people who are homeless.
Unhealthy State of Homelessness 2022 presents findings from 31 Homeless Health Needs Audits, representing 2,776 individuals. Key findings include:
The report says we need to understand why people experiencing homelessness report poorer diagnoses and greater barriers to healthcare and address the systematic change needed.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published a report on the experiences of being in hospital for people with a learning disability and autistic people.
It says Who I am Matters is a 'stark reminder that people with a learning disability and autistic people are still not getting the care they need, when they need'. Key findings include:
A new study aims to identify the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among South Asians in London.
Its distinguishes between people who are COVID-19 vaccine-hesitant and those who are COVID-19 vaccine-anxious.
Findings suggest some individuals may be existing in a state of 'inbetweeness' – neither pro nor anti vaccination – while simultaneously questioning the many 'truths' surrounding COVID-19.
This state is intensified by technology and social media, culminating in the Rashomon Effect where a combination of truths, fractured truths, subjective realities and unreliable or contradictory sources impact perceptions of COVID-19.
Researchers argue promoting trust and prioritising good ongoing care as a response to the effects of the pandemic is vital.
See the full study findings here.
The ALLIANCE has published a report looking at the impact of the cost of living crisis in Scotland.
The report is based on engagement with disabled people, people living with long term conditions and unpaid carers.
It highlights widespread concern among disabled people about being able to afford the energy required to power and charge essential assistive technologies.
The report makes a series of recommendations including:
Access the full report via the ALLIANCE website here.
A new study aims to integrate two theories with a critical health literacy perspective to understand online health information seeking among patients with chronic conditions.
Researchers aimed to integrate the health belief model and social support theory with critical health literacy.
The results suggest perceived risk and benefits significantly affected patients’ online health information seeking behaviours.
Informational and emotional support also impacted the perceived benefits of online sources for patients.
Critical health literacy significantly moderated the link between perceived risk and online health information seeking behaviours but not the relationship between perceived benefits.
Read the full study results here.
PIF partner the Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB) has published a new social prescribing information standard.
The standard aims to enable the sharing and recording of information for the whole patient journey, including:
PIF is an endorser of the standard.
The Coalition For Personalised Care is hosting a series of events focusing on the biggest issues encountered in discussions about doing co-production well.
The next event, which takes place from 1.30pm-3pm on 16 November, is Reality: What is really happening in co-production right now for you?.
Anyone who has taken part in co-production activities is invited to share experiences of implementing and participating in co-production, with the aim of starting an ongoing dialogue.
Workshops will be attended by guest contributors from the NHSE Personalised Care Group Lived Experience team and C4PC Partner Co-production Works.
PIF member The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has launched a new tool to help people discover which of their favourite songs are Lifesaving Beats.
Lifesaving Beats allows users to check which of their favourite songs has the perfect beat for CPR.
It then invites them to learn CPR using the charity's free RevivR tool.
Check out the Lifesaving Beats tool here.
This article for The Lancet discusses the key role healthcare workers have in realising the potential of self care.
The authors says healthcare professionals' authority can be decisive in how confidently people care for themselves and those around them.
In settings where healthcare functions well, trust between health workers and users provides a foundation to support self care.
Trust generates opportunities to improve health literacy, provide access to educational resources and support networks, and to assist in the navigation of complex health systems.
NHS England has published a resource pack to support Integrated Care Systems in developing sensory-friendly environments for autistic people.
This pack is intended to support delivery of NHS Long Term Plan commitments for autistic people and the further prevention of mental health crisis in children, young people and adults who are autistic.
It also aims to address issues raised about un-sensory-friendly environments impacting on poor quality care for autistic children and adults.
All elements have been co-produced with people with lived experience, family carers and clinicians.
Access the resource pack here.
A qualitative systematic review aims to provide an in-depth view of the experiences of patient partners in research.
In the majority of cases, patient engagement was reported to have positive psychological effects.
Patient partners found it gratifying to see the results of their contributions and were proud to have a part in the improvement of other patients’ care.
However, challenges included patient partners feeling inadequately prepared for research activities and the formation of hierarchies of powers.
Projects in which patient partners did not feel useful or competent did not lead to positive impacts.
Researchers hope the findings will allow future research teams to improve patient engagement and lead to better experiences for patient partners.
Read the findings in full here.
Pre-registration for NHS Confed Expo 2023, which takes place from 14-15 June, is now open.
Anyone who would like to attend next year's Expo can express their interest via the event website.
They will be the first to receive registration details and costs when bookings open.
NHS, local authority and wider public sector staff will be eligible for a free ticket.