Health Disparities: Why Medical Research is a Crucial Tool for Change
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Medical Research has launched a new report, Health Disparities: Why Medical Research is a Crucial Tool for Change.
The report follows a year-long enquiry exploring the role of medical research in addressing health inequalities.
It highlights examples of good practice and says health disparities can be reduced by:
- Creating a Government-led, cross-sector research strategy that identifies priorities
- Giving an annual update to parliament on health disparities to track progress
- Prioritising research that addresses health inequalities.
Read the full report via the AMRC website here.
Vaccine messaging guide
The UNICEF Demand for Immunisation team and the Yale Institute for Global Health have published an evidence-based vaccine messaging guide.
It is designed to help users create efficient messages to foster demand for immunisation through social and behaviour change communications.
It can be used by public health professionals, communicators, advocates and anyone creating pro-vaccine content.
Access the guide via the Vaccination Demand Hub here.
Watch: Using graphics to tell accessible digital stories
In this webinar, hosted by WHO and GAVI, topic experts discuss the role of accessibility in creating effective visualisations.
The event guides viewers through best practices for designing charts, graphs and other data visualisations that are easy to understand for all audiences.
It includes tips and resources to tell stories more effectively and inclusively through data visualisation.
Watch the webinar via the LEAD Innovation Challenge YouTube Channel here.
Study: Do patient information leaflets meet the needs of people with dementia and their families?
A new study aims to establish the information needs of people with dementia and their families at the point of admission to a mental health ward, and whether existing ward leaflets meet those needs.
While information needs varied, focus group participants wanted ‘honest, accurate and up-to-date information’. They also wanted:
- It to be clear who the information was aimed at
- Leaflets in accessible formats
- Information on aim of admission, timeline and how families can be involved
- Practical information, for example, what to pack
Participants also spoke about the need to consider the tone of the information.
Researchers concluded existing ward information leaflets do not meet the information needs identified by focus group participants and recommended the use of co-creation with users.
Read the full study findings via the Wiley Online Library here.
Watch: Developing a culture of co-production
The Coalition for Personalised Care has released a new video – Developing a culture of co-production.
Working alongside partner organisations and people with lived experience, the coalition recently added to its Co-production Model to highlight how organisations can effectively embed co-production.
A number of operational focus areas were identified which combine to form the basis of an effective co-production culture.
Watch the video via the Coalition for Personalised Care website here.
Analysis of 2021 Census shows 'glaring health inequality gap'
A visual analysis by Nuffield Trust shows variation in self-reported health data from the 2021 Census.
The census asked everyone in the UK to report their general health from 'very bad' to 'very good'.
Sophie Julian and Sally Gainsbury explore the data to show how people from the most deprived areas of the country experience significantly poorer health than those in better off areas.
View the full analysis on the Nuffield Trust website here.
Population health and health inequalities resources
Health Education England has published a training newsletter of population health and health inequalities digital resources.
The resources are designed to help users support population health and health improvement, and tackle health inequalities.
View the full training newsletter, hosted on Sway, here.
Study: Usability of telehealth for non-communicable diseases in primary care
A new review brings together evidence on healthcare professionals' views of telehealth for non-communicable diseases in primary care.
Researchers found there were generally favourable perceptions of telehealth.
The most reported challenges, more than infrastructure challenges, were those related to empowering people for digital health.
Read the full review findings via the JMIR website here.
NHS programme uses tech to identify and support high-risk patients on waiting lists
A new regional NHS programme is using technology to begin identifying high-risk patients on waiting lists to help reduce their risk of deterioration.
Led by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside integrated care board (ICB), the Waiting Well initiative is helping to locate and provide support for some of the most vulnerable patients awaiting surgery.
Surgeons say the programme now has national relevance and has already shown improved outcomes, reduced complications and shorter stays for participating patients.
Read more about the programme via the Digital Health website here.
ALLIANCE Digital Gathering 2023 highlights
A summary of the ALLIANCE Digital Gathering 2023 and a highlights video are now available.
Almost 300 people from across the UK took part in sessions exploring health inequalities and human rights over two days.
The Innovate Awards 2023
The Innovate Awards 2023, celebrating innovation in healthcare, are now open for entries.
There are 11 categories in the awards, developed collaboratively by the AHSN Network and NHS Confederation.
They include: Excellence in Patient and Public Involvement in Transformation and Innovation, and Innovation Helping Address Health Inequalities.
The closing date for submissions is midnight on 19 May.
Find out more and enter via the Innovate Awards website.
Webinar: The unequal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic
PIF member National Voices is hosting a two-hour online event exploring what lessons can be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The meeting will include voices and experiences of minoritised and marginalised communities.
It aims to identify a set of practical lessons on addressing inequalities from the pandemic and suggest action for the future.
Findings and recommendations will be published and shared with the Covid Inquiry.
Register for your free place via the Eventbrite website here.