Self-care survey results published; How health inequalities impact cardiovascular health; Views sought for men's health strategy

Study finds disparities in health literacy and access to digital resources

Results from the Living Self-Care Survey Study have been published in preprint. The study was carried out by PIF member The Self-Care Forum and the Imperial College London Self-Care Academic Research Unit (SCARU). It aimed to explore self-care confidence, the role of healthcare professionals in supporting self-care and the health literacy landscape among UK adults. Key findings from the survey of 3,255 UK adults included:

• 8 in 10 respondents reported confidence in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
• 6 in 10 felt confident managing common illnesses.
• Half of people had difficulty evaluating treatment options.
• 4 in 10 people had difficulty finding information on mental health.
• Digital health resources provided mixed outcomes.

The study also found healthcare professionals overwhelmingly endorsed the importance of self-care. Nine in 10 said self care was important or very important. Healthcare professionals said the main barriers to self-care were patient reluctance to engage or take responsibility, understanding, time constraints and health literacy challenges. Detailed analysis of validated health literacy questions confirmed particular problems with assessing treatment options and finding illness prevention information online.

The study concluded, while most individuals value and engage in self-care, critical disparities persist, particularly in health literacy and access to digital resources. The study's authors said targeted interventions, including improved health literacy strategies and enhanced professional support structures, are necessary to optimise self-care engagement and address inequalities. 

Read the full study via the Figshare website here.

New guidance for pharmaceutical conferences and events

PIF member the ABPI has published new guidance on the planning and execution of conferences and events sponsored by pharmaceutical companies in the UK. The resource is designed to support industry personnel, patient organisations and event organisers in delivering events that are ethical, professional and compliant with the ABPI Code of Practice. It covers general principles and specific scenarios that may arise in the context of congresses and events. These include the types of attendees, the nature of the activities and materials, the venue and hospitality, considerations for sponsorships and social media. 

Read the full guidance on the ABPI website here.

How health inequalities impact cardiovascular health

A new report considers how level of deprivation, sex and ethnicity can impact a person’s cardiovascular health. The British Heart Foundation report –Bridging Hearts: Addressing inequalities in cardiovascular health and care – found: 

• People living in the most deprived areas are more likely to have poorer heart health, die young from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and have worse access to healthcare. Much of this is driven by higher levels of obesity, smoking, and poorer provision of preventative healthcare services.
• In the UK, more men live with CVD and die early from it than women. Some of this is down to biological factors, however, it is also due to social and behavioural factors, like men being less likely to go to the GP, and being more likely to smoke.
• The data available on cardiovascular health and access to care across different ethnic groups is poor. However, the evidence suggests there are higher rates of CVD and risk factors in South Asian and Black ethnic groups and access to care for Black groups is worse.

Read the full report on the British Heart Foundation website here.

Insights needed to help shape first men's health strategy

The government is calling for views on what needs to be done to close the life expectancy gap between men and women. Evidence will be gathered from the public, health and social care professionals, academics and employers. The findings will be used to inform England’s first men’s health strategy. The call for evidence is open until 17 July. It is seeking responses on how the government’s Plan for Change can work across the board to improve the health and wellbeing of men, through:

• Prevention – finding the right areas and the right ways to promote healthier behaviours.
• Diagnosis and treatment – improving outcomes for health conditions that hit men harder.
• Encouragement to come forward –  improving men’s access to, engagement with and experience of the health service.

Find out more about call for evidence on the GOV.UK website here.

Kidney charity invests in patient education platform

Kidney Research UK has invested in Healthinote, the patient engagement platform from Cognitant Group Ltd. PIF member Cognitant Group is a provider of digital education and support tools that improve the management of long-term conditions. The charity’s decision to invest follows the success of the Kidney Essentials programme, co-created by Cognitant and the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. Kidney Essentials has been shown to significantly improve patient understanding of their condition and, as an important element of a hybrid care model, reduce waiting times.

Find out more about the investment via the Health Tech Digital website here.

New online tool to help young people manage stress

A new resource has been launched to support young people when they are experiencing feelings and emotions related to stress. The online tool, StressLESS, was co-created by the Mental Health Foundation and young people aged 10-25. StressLESS is a nine-week programme containing sessions on the causes of stress, managing stress, relationships, communication and stigma. It has been brought up-to-date from its original format and transformed into a more accessible tool. The StressLESS pack can be used by practitioners, within schools and in community settings.

Find out more and access the StressLESS resource on the Mental Health Foundation website here.

Trial for new maternity patient safety tool

A new patient safety tool to help understand the impact of organisational culture on patient safety in maternity settings is being trialled across 12 NHS trusts. The COMPASS tool was created by Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigations (MNSI). MNSI carries out independent investigations at NHS trusts after patient safety incidents in maternity care. The new tool has been created to provide a standardised process for MNSI staff to articulate, analyse and feedback observations about organisational safety culture. The cultural assessment tool is based on work carried out by the Patient Experience Library which conducted a literature review of avoidable harm enquiries over 10 years. This included reports on the maternity services at East Kent and Morecambe Bay. 

Find out more about the COMPASS tool on the MNSI website here.

People are avoiding eye-care due to costs 

Healthwatch is calling for a review of eye care support to ensure additional costs do not deter those on the lowest incomes from visiting opticians. The call comes after research revealed costs of additional eye care services are likely to stop some people from visiting opticians altogether. As well as calling for a review of support for those on the lowest incomes, Healthwatch said the Government and the NHS should consider a targeted communications campaign through direct channels to low-income eye care patients.

Read more about the research on the Healthwatch website here.