The Faculty of Health and Social Care is one of the major providers of Health and Social Care education in the North West and offers a wide range of programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

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  • Supply of energy and selected nutrients in meals consumed by Moroccan students at home and on a university campus

    Elarbaoui, Maria; Jafri, Ali; Makhlouki, Houria; Ellahi, Basma; Derouiche, Abdelfettah; Hassan II University of Casablanca; Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences; University of Chester (National Institute of Public Health NIH – National Research Institute, 2022-09-27)
    BACKGROUND: Student life is often accompanied by changes in eating behavior. Adopting a balanced and varied diet and healthy eating habits can promote the health, growth and intellectual development of young people at different stages of life. According to the WHO, a healthy diet helps protect against all forms of malnutrition, as well as against noncommunicable diseases. The nutritional and energy intake must follow nutritional norms, for example energy intake must be adapted to expenditure. To avoid excessive weight gain, fat should not exceed 30% of total energy intake OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to compare energy consumption, macronutrients and selected minerals in food rations consumed by students at university campus and at home. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The subjects were chosen at random from among volunteer students from Hassan II University in Casablanca. A sample of 130 students (54 women and 76 men) aged 18 to 25, participated in this study. Anthropometric measurements were performed to assess general characteristics, and records of one-day food intakes at university and at the parental home were performed by 24-hour food diary, and as well as conducting face-to-face. Variables were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to check the normality of data. RESULTS: In accordance with the body mass index classifications, 69.5% of male university students and 77.7% of female were in normal weight categories. The overweight classes were 25.1% and 5.6%, respectively, for men and women. Assessment of the energy and nutritional intakes of university and home meals shows that students consume more calories, protein, carbohydrates, sodium, potassium, and iodine at home than at university, but these contributions remain insufficient in relation to the RDAs. Students consume more fat, especially saturated fatty acids, at university than at home. More than half of students exceed the recommended daily recommendations for saturated fatty acids. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that a university students’ diet is influenced by their behaviors, attitudes, and knowledge. Hence the importance of nutrition education, based on what foods to consume rather than what foods to avoid, a societal issue that requires a multidisciplinary, multisectoral and culturally appropriate approach.
  • Creative Health a joke or valuable learning experience; A mixed methods study

    Ridgway, Victoria; Skyrme, Sarah; Henshaw, Russell; Blain, Janet; Devine, Jenny; Mitchell, Debbie; Duffett, Mark; Bailey-McHale, Rebecca; University of Chester (Elsevier, 2025-02-10)
    BACKGROUND: Creative Health has been recognised to be beneficial for wellbeing and population health. Recommendations have been made that health care students and professionals should receive education and practical experience of the arts. This paper reports on a pilot creative health placement for undergraduate nurses at a UK University. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a Creative Health placement, investigating the placements impact on student's knowledge and understanding of arts-based activities, including social prescribing. To reflect on the overall value of Creative Health placements for nursing students and to make recommendations for future Creative Health placements. DESIGN: A mixed methods approach was adopted using the principles of ethnography to evaluate the experiences of the students, artists, service users and practice assessors/supervisors. SETTING: Data was collected from one University Centre that facilitated the Creative Health placement. PARTICIPANTS: 60 Bachelor of Nursing Students, 4 practice assessors/supervisors and 6 Creative Health artists and 89 service users participated. METHODS: Ethnographic data, including artefacts, photographs, diaries, qualitative reflections were collected alongside a quantitative evaluation survey that students completed. Service user feedback forms were used to collect user experiences and two focus groups for the artist and practice assessor were employed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: The placement provided the students insights and understanding about creative health and social prescribing, however there were challenges regarding conceptualising creative health as part of their nursing practice. Students talked about the impact the placement had on their own wellbeing. 81.8 % agreed working with the artists provided insight into Creative Health practice and 86.4 % indicated the placement enabled them to understand the impact of Creative Health on wellbeing. Creative Health artists and the practice assessors/supervisors wanted greater collaboration to support learning and assessment. Service users provided positive feedback about their experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the placement was a success and there were valuable lessons learnt for future placement plans. We concluded that creative health placements should be an essential part of the nursing programme.
  • Generative Justice in Hindsight: On Knowing, doing, and sharing participatory arts-based research with criminal justice-impacted communities

    Murray, Emma; Arias, Lucia; Buck, Gillian; Ryan, Kemi; Ryan, Natasha; McNeill, Fergus; Corcoran, Mary; Weaver, Beth; Anglia Ruskin University; FACT gallery; University of Chester (Bristol University Press, 2025)
    This chapter re-examines two very different participatory arts-based projects within the justice sector through the lens of Generative Justice (hereafter GJ), an emerging concept-praxis that integrates prefigurative (seed-planting) community practices with criminal justice-impacted individuals to reimagine relationships based on solidarity rather than exclusion (McNeill, 2022; McNeill, Corcoran and Weaver, 2023). GJ constitutes a disruptive social change effort, which, like participatory arts-based projects, involves ‘shifting communities and networks’ working toward localised social transformation (Frödén, 2023: 104). In fact, ‘arts-based interventions have played a key role in enriching and mobilising prefigurative movements all over the world’ (Frödén, 2023: 105). As authors, we have been involved in participatory arts-based research and praxis that aims to challenge and transform power structures by leveraging community-driven creativity. Each of our works were designed to place lived experience of criminal justice systems at the centre of knowledge production, working with imagination to create diverse research communities based on solidarity, hope and systemic change (McNeill, 2022). Despite differences between our two projects, both align with GJ, sharing interests in reciprocity, generativity, active participation, and collective action.
  • Utilising a community cultural wealth model to explore African heritage social work student stories from placement: A critical ethnographic study

    Gant, Val; Evers, Jean; Caffrey, Bridget J. (University of Chester, 2024-05)
    Post-graduate qualifying social work education programs in England generally recruit higher numbers of minoritised ethnic students than other post-graduate programmes. However, longstanding inequalities in outcomes and progression for ethnically minoritised social work students persist. Unpaid work placements constitute a key component of qualifying social work programmes but can pose additional barriers for ethnically minoritised students. Nonetheless, most successfully complete their placements and their programmes. This study utilised critical ethnography to identify the strengths and strategies employed by seven African heritage M.A. social work students as they navigated placements arranged by a higher education institution (HEI) in north-west England. Discourse in social work education regarding unequal outcomes for minoritised ethnic students is dominated by deficit thinking, whereby the assets of marginalised students are frequently overlooked, and interventions focus on 'fixing' students, ignoring HEI practice. This study challenged such discourse by illuminating the assets that seven African heritage students, four of whom were classified as ‘home’ students and three as ‘international’, brought to their practice placements. Arts-based engagement ethnography was utilised to gather stories from the participants, employing creative techniques, generating artefacts that informed individual interviews and a focus group. Participants' voices were privileged throughout, and rich, nuanced detail obtained. The impact of intersecting factors, including gender, religion, and immigration status, was apparent throughout the study. The data chronicled participants’ counter storytelling narratives, uncovering the multiple strategies they applied to 'fit' into their placements. Furthermore, elevated levels of individual agency were evidenced, utilised by participants to secure essential learning. The study illustrated the critical role dispersed families and kin, alongside religious faith, and values, contributed to sustaining participants' endeavours. However, the data also highlighted students' efforts as predominantly unnoticed, therefore unsupported by their HEI and placements. Analysis of their stories, utilising a community cultural wealth model, evidenced extensive cultural knowledge, skills, and resources. Aspirational, familial, linguistic, navigational, social, resistant, and spiritual capital were present in abundance: their interconnected nature evident. Actions to empower students to use their cultural assets were identified, with the significance of supporting social, linguistic, and spiritual capital emphasised. The study contributed new knowledge taking a strength-based perspective to identify the cultural assets a group of African heritage social work students brought to their practice placements in England. The applicability and value in using community cultural wealth models in practice settings, to identify students’ assets, was established. The findings have implications for HEIs and placement agencies, with potential to improve support and outcomes for African heritage social work students on placement.
  • An assessment of burden associated with problem joints in children and adults with moderate or severe haemophilia A: analysis of the CHESS-Paediatrics and CHESS II cross-sectional studies

    McLaughlin, Paul; De la Corte-Rodriguez, Hortensia; Burke, Tom; Nissen, Francis; Aizenas, Martynas; Moreno, Katya; O’Hara, Jamie; Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust; La Paz University Hospital; HCD Economics; University of Chester; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (BioMed Central, 2025-01-13)
    BACKGROUND: Clinical research has offered many definitions and fragmented perspectives of joint morbidity in haemophilia. As joint damage, pain and mobility impairment can be present without clinical record of persistent bleeding, a person-centric joint morbidity characterisation remained a priority for the haemophilia community, giving rise to the ‘problem joint’ concept. As diagnosing and managing joint morbidity is critical, the aim of this study was to analyse the holistic burden of problem joints in people with moderate or severe haemophilia A (HA). Data from the ‘Cost of Haemophilia in Europe: a Socioeconomic Survey’ (CHESS) cross-sectional studies were used. CHESS-Paediatrics included male paediatric patients (≤ 17 years) with congenital moderate or severe haemophilia, while CHESS II included adult males (≥ 18 years) of any severity. Both studies sought to collect detailed information on the clinical, economic and humanistic burden of haemophilia. Demographics, clinical outcomes, treatment regimen, adherence, physical activity, healthcare resource use and number of problem joints were evaluated and described by HA severity and number of problem joints (none, 1, ≥ 2). RESULTS: In total, 1171 people with non-inhibitor moderate or severe HA from CHESS-Paediatrics (n = 703) and CHESS II (n = 468) were included in this analysis. Presence of problem joints was more prevalent among CHESS II participants (44%) than in CHESS-Paediatrics (14%). Around two-thirds (67%) of CHESS-Paediatrics and 39% of CHESS II participants received prophylactic factor VIII replacement therapy. The presence of chronic pain was greater in severe HA with ‘ ≥ 2’ problem joints in both cohorts. Clinical symptoms and bleed-related hospitalizations were more prevalent in the presence of problem joints regardless of HA severity in both cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis of the CHESS population studies has expanded on previous work by examining the relevance of the problem joint measure of haemophilic morbidity and its associated burden. Adverse clinical symptoms and increased bleed-related hospitalizations were observed in the presence of problem joints in both children/adolescents and adults across HA severities. Use of person-centric characterizations of joint morbidity may improve analysis of long-term outcomes and lead to improvements in future haemophilia care.
  • Effectiveness of Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARB) and hydrochlorothiazide compared to ARB monotherapy in the control of hypertension among adult patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

    Agwu, Anthony O.; Egwu, Chinedu O.; Oyinloye, Inigbehe B.; Chukwu, Jennifer; University of Chester; Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike; World Health Organization (IMR Press, 2024-11-26)
    Background: Hypertension (HTN) is a global disease of public health concern. It is considered a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The global and regional recommendations for the management of high blood pressure are complicated, with an increasing call for several adequate measures to commence treatment, increase the dosage, or introduce a new class of medication. Evidence suggests that most people with HTN require more than one drug regime to achieve blood pressure goals, with a greater percentage of patients reporting only having access to monotherapy. This work evaluated the combined effectiveness of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) compared to ARB monotherapy in an uncontrolled hypertensive patients. Methods: The search involved screening through databases such as Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Medline, and the Web of Science, medical journals, and international registry on clinicals from the WHO were searched for primary studies not older than 13 years. Randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing the effectiveness of ARB/HCTZ versus ARB monotherapy in hypertensive patients were selected. Care was taken to include only studies that lasted at least four weeks. Meta-analysis was conducted on RevMan 5.3 statistical application software, following data extraction. Data quality and risk of bias assessment were also all assessed. A total of seven RCTs were considered for this study involving 4814 participants. Results: The result from the intervention arm revealed that ARB/HCTZ combination resulted in a higher rate of target blood pressure achievement when compared to ARB monotherapy relative risk (RR) = 1.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.42, 1.65), with p < 0.00007. The adverse effects observed in the intervention arm were not significant. Conclusion: The ARB/HCTZ combination therapy was more effective in lowering and controlling blood pressure when compared to ARB monotherapy without significant adverse drug effects reported by the participants. Health workers should therefore recommend ARB/HCTZ combination therapy for patients with uncontrolled hypertension.
  • Experiences and unmet needs among caregivers of children living with autism spectrum disorder in Nigeria: A qualitative study using the socio-ecological model

    Azubuike, Albright Obinna; Azubuike, Precious Chidozie; Onyekachi, Ebuka Light; Enyam, Michael Obule; Akinreni, Temidayo; Abuo, James; Ogbonna, Chimankpam Kingsley; Timothy, Promise Nmesomachi; Uchegbu, Eberechukwu Ruth; Adai, George Sefa; et al. (SpringerDiscover, 2024-12-23)
    Introduction: This study examines the experiences and unmet needs of caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder in Nigeria. With a high prevalence in Nigeria, autism spectrum disorder poses a heavy economic burden on society and the patients’ families, with limited social interactions and stigma. Despite this, the unmet needs and psychosocial burdens of autism spectrum disorder on caregivers have been understudied in Nigeria. The study contributes evidence and raises interest in this area of research. Methods: This qualitative study was conducted among twenty-three purposively selected caregivers. Questions from the PREPARE and Zarit Burden Interview tools were adapted for the interview and discussion guides. Data were collected among caregivers of pupils in selected special needs schools in Cross River State, Nigeria. Inductive and deductive approaches were used for the analysis using NVivo 20 pro. The socio-ecological model was used to generate the themes and quotes. Results: The study generated four themes and eleven sub-themes across four levels of the socio-ecological model. Findings from our study showed that caregivers of children undergo significant emotional distress, disbelief, and fear at the early stage of diagnosis. Furthermore, families and friends had difficulty comprehending or accepting their children’s diagnosis, which further created tension and misunderstanding. Socio-cultural contexts such as stigma and isolation were not uncommon in the society. Conclusion: Given the burden of the psychological demand and stigma attached to caregivers and children with autism, there is an urgent need for a tailor-made intervention with the key interplay of individual, interpersonal, societal/institutional, and policy in Nigeria. Advocacy efforts and awareness chaired by caregivers should be strengthened across all levels of the society in Nigeria.
  • Knowledge and attitude of women towards breast cancer screening in resource-limited setting in women aged 18–45 years

    Chukwu, Jennifer A.; Egwu, Chinedu O.; Chukwu, Chidinma; Agwu, Anthony O.; Oluwafemi, Emmanuel O.; Nwadum, Solomon K.; Oyinloye, Inigbehe B.; Anoke-Ani, Nwigbo O.; Akpabio, Francis P.; Enyanwuma, Ifeanyi; et al. (MDPI, 2024-12-03)
    Breast cancer incidence is on the rise regardless of several interventions available for its management. This scenario may be worse in resource-limited countries. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the knowledge and attitude of women towards Breast Cancer Screening (BCS) in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano State, a typically resource-limited state in Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study. The study population comprised female individuals aged 18–45 years attending the Antenatal and Postnatal clinics of AKTH. An adopted questionnaire instrument was used to extract vital information on the knowledge and attitude of women towards breast cancer screening in the Antenatal and Postnatal clinics of AKTH. Our findings showed that there is much awareness about BCS, even though most participants’ knowledge about the methods and timing of the scan is low. Much enlightenment is achieved through the availability of print and electronic media on BCS. A better attitude is shown when trained personnel conduct BCS. A good number of participants who have knowledge are yet to translate their knowledge and attitudes into practice. Based on our findings, coordinated and timely awareness campaigns should be organized by local health authorities to improve knowledge and attitude towards BCS.
  • Comparative study of hypertension, diabetes, dementia and smoking in military veterans and non-veterans: a quantitative study using primary healthcare data

    Finnegan, Alan; Salem, Kate; University of Chester (BMJ Publishing Group, 2024-12-09)
    Introduction: Primary healthcare (PHC) patient medical records contain Systematised Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms (SNOMED-CT) that include information regarding diagnosis, demographics and veterans’ status. This study intended to identify, analyse and compare the prevalence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dementia and smoking tobacco in veterans and non-veterans, including stratification by age and gender. Methods: The authors partnered with 13 PHC practices with a population of 137 410 patients. Staff extracted matched veteran and non-veteran SNOMED-CT data from patient medical records; then sent the authors anonymised data in an amalgamated format between October 2023 and January 2024. Patients were from a local community and therefore social and environmental factors would be similar. Submitted information was inputted into an SPSS database 28 for analysis which included descriptive and inferential statistics to indicate statistical significance. Results: In total, 5458 PHC electronic records were examined comprising 2729 veterans and 2729 demographically matched for age and gender non-veterans. Each group contained 86.4% (N=2359) men and 13.6% (N=370) women. The mean age was 63.8 years (SD 17.7). Rates of hypertension were 20.9% in veterans compared with 17.6% in non-veterans (p=0.002). Type 2 diabetes mellitus was 8.3% in veterans compared with 6.4% in non-veterans (p=0.007). Dementia was 2.1% of veterans compared with 2.5% of non-veterans (p=0.32). Smoking was 11.8% of veterans compared with 10.6% of non-veterans (p=0.16). Conclusion: These results reveal that veterans were statistically more likely to be diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes. This study should assist in a better understanding of the healthcare needs of the veteran population to potentially inform better patient-centred care. However, the effectiveness of using PHC patient medical records requires increased efforts to improve data quality which needs improved PHC staff knowledge, consistency in SNOMED-CT coding, better veteran medical e-record registration and coding and better data transmission between the Defence Medical Services and PHC.
  • Commentary: Relationship between resilience, social support and psychological well-being in nursing students

    Mitchell, Andrew E. P.; University of Chester (SAGE Publications, 2024-11-20)
    In the United Kingdom and internationally, the nursing workforce currently needs more nurses due to challenges in recruiting and retaining them (Buchan and Catton, 2023). Nursing is known for its demanding nature, which exposes nurses to acute and chronic stressors. This could potentially lead to conditions such as depression, anxiety, secondary traumatic stress and burnout (Mitchell, 2024a).
  • Distribution and predictors of haemophilia-related costs in the United Kingdom: analysis of the CHESS I and CHESS II burden of illness studies

    Woollacott, Ione; Chhabra, Amit; Burke, Tom; Brownrigg, Jack; Richardson, Lucy; Ferri Grazzi, Enrico; O’Hara, Jamie; Godfrey, Josie; Laffan, Michael; Pfizer; HCD Economics; University of Chester; JG Zebra Consulting; Imperial College London (BioMed Central, 2024-11-20)
    Background: Few studies have evaluated direct medical or societal costs of haemophilia in the United Kingdom (UK), and how patient characteristics impact future costs is uncertain. Cost predictors were identified and examined using cross-sectional data from the CHESS I and II studies. Methods: Patient- and physician-reported outcomes were analysed for UK adult males aged ≤ 65, with haemophilia A or B and no recent clinical trial participation. Demographics, haemophilia type and severity, inhibitors, annual bleed rate (ABR), problem joints (PJs), treatment type, and comorbidities, were utilised in regression analyses. Health-related quality of life was assessed using EQ-5D. Generalised linear models estimated expected non-drug haemophilia-related direct medical costs (DMC) and societal costs (non-drug DMC, direct non-medical and indirect costs). Average marginal effects (AMEs) determined predictors of cost. Results: Costs for 378 patients were analysed. Mean age was 33 years and 79% (299) had haemophilia A. Mean annual per-patient DMC were £165,001 (including factor treatment costs) and £4,091 when excluding factor replacement treatment costs (non-drug DMC). Mean annual per-patient non-treatment societal costs were £11,550 (standard deviation £20,171) among those with data available (n = 51). Number of PJs, ABR, and treatment regimen were significant determinants of haemophilia-related non-drug DMC (all P < 0.001). Non-drug DMC increased as ABR increased (AMEs were £2,018 for ABR 1–5, £3,101 for ABR 6–10 and £5,785 for ABR ≥ 11, vs. ABR 0) and by £1,869 per additional PJ. No significant predictors of non-drug haemophilia-related societal costs were identified. Mean EQ-5D score was 0.66, with lower scores observed for people with haemophilia B (0.48) compared with haemophilia A (0.71) and with increasing haemophilia severity. Conclusions: UK direct medical and societal costs of haemophilia are substantial. Non-drug DMC were particularly associated with ABR and number of PJs. These findings may be useful for real-world evaluations of the economic burden of haemophilia in the UK.
  • Peer mentoring as an overlooked health and social care method

    Buck, Gillian; Aris, Sarajane; Rao, Amra; Roycroft, Patrick; Clutterbuck, David; University of Chester (Pavilion, 2024-03)
    Peer mentoring, delivered by people with shared experiences, has grown rapidly across the globe in recent decades (Munn-Giddings and Borkman, 2017). This (multi)national development is underpinned by ‘lived experience’ movements pressing for democratic inclusion, and consumerist notions of user involvement as a lever of efficiency and effectiveness (Beresford 2002). Peer mentoring is a ‘method’ to implement the ‘theory’ of lived experience involvement and the closely related theories of participation, and coproduction, but it has largely been overlooked in health and social care texts and consequently in professional training. To bridge this gap, this chapter will introduce lived experience involvement in health and social care and examples of peer mentoring, before focusing on criminal justice as a case study to explore how the strengths of peer mentoring can be harnessed and the pitfalls avoided.
  • All our justice: People with convictions and ‘participatory’ criminal justice

    Gillian, Buck; Harriott, Paula; Ryan, Kemi; Ryan, Natasha; Tomczak, Philippa; McLaughlin, Hugh; Beresford, Peter; Cameron, Colin; Casey, Helen; Duffy, Joe; et al. (Routledge, 2020-08-11)
    Criminalised people play varied roles in the development and delivery of criminal justice services and advocacy around the world, yet rarely feature in texts on service user involvement. The chapter explores how people with lived experiences of the criminal justice system are involved with, and too often excluded from, formal criminal justice knowledge production. We reflect on ‘leaders’ with lived experiences and how they produce, contribute to and constitute criminal justice knowledges. These reflections highlight the importance of being sensitive to the needs of people sharing their shame/trauma-invoking life experiences, offering substantial opportunities beyond volunteering or insecure contracts and real commitments to power sharing. As a single ‘user voice’ is not possible, it is also important that a range of perspectives are represented from activist/practitioner to managerial levels. Importantly, this should include black and minority ethnic men and women, who are overrepresented as recipients of punishment and underrepresented as leaders and influencers, with or without lived experience.
  • Curated Immersion: An Exploration of Participatory Arts Practice in Healthcare Contexts

    Liggett, Susan; Shepley, Alec; Jackson, Anthony C. A. (University of ChesterWrexham Glyndwr University, 2023-08)
    Research into the nature of participatory arts practice in health is scarce. Literature discussing this practice lists successful components but there are few conceptualisations of the practice that draw these components together. Assemblages available are specific to health contexts or art-forms and therefore this research investigates the common componential nature of participatory arts practice in health (PAPH) and aims to map a casual network of this practice. Artist ‘case studies’ are formed from data gathered through social-science methodologies (observations and semi-structured interviews). These case studies are coded and then displayed as data matrices, used to collate common components across the diversity of practices. Causation networks then plot the causal relationships of these components and a map is created to visualise the collective whole. This map is then analogised as a terrarium, an emblem of the whole practice, describing both the constituent parts of PAPH and its assembly. The findings reveal that, despite the diversity of PAPH, common components - and their assembly - exist. This research suggests that PAPH consists of a carefully curated and attentively adapted space in which an immersive, co-created, participatory experience is nurtured.
  • Training of food handlers using a virtual reality environment on handwashing is more effective than traditional training approaches in a randomized trial

    Faruk Karabulut, Ömer; Çelikcan, Ufuk; Ellahi, Basma; Dikmen, Derya; Hacettepe University; University of Chester (Taylor & Francis, 2024-11-10)
    Handwashing is an essential prevention step in foodservice, This randomized comparative study assessed the effectiveness of three training methods -virtual reality (VR), Glo-Germ (GT), and traditional face-to-face training (CT)- in improving handwashing practices among foodservice workers (n = 129). Training focused on the World Health Organization’s 11-step handwashing process. Handwashing in the workplace was observed, in a pre- and post-test design, with microbiological swabs also taken. There was an increase in time spent on handwashing that was noticeable across all three groups (p < 0.05) with the highest in the VR group (50.16 ± 26.04 sec.). The mean number of handwashing steps increased across all groups, and the highest increase (8.91 ± 1.49 steps) was observed in the VR group. A statistically significant difference was observed among all groups regarding correctly performed steps, and the VR group showed the highest number of steps (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that VR-based training has value for enhancing hand hygiene practices in foodservice settings.
  • An Exploration of Physiotherapists’ Perceptions and Experiences of Risk in Discharge Planning

    Chapman, Hazel M.; Rees, Anna; University of Chester (Chartered Physiotherapists working with Older People, 2022-08)
    An Exploration of Physiotherapists’ Perceptions and Experiences of Risk in Discharge Planning.
  • Women Prisoners Regulating Prisons: Did Corston Achieve Networked, Participatory Regulation?

    Buck, Gillian; Tomczak, Philippa; University of Chester; University of Nottingham (Wiley, 2024)
    Prison regulators across scales hold potential to illuminate harms of imprisonment and influence alternatives, yet criminologists rarely engage with these mechanisms. We analyse prisoners’ participatory roles in the ‘transformative’ Corston Report (2007) and The Corston Report 10 Years On (Women in Prison, 2017), using actor-network-theory to guide document analysis. Corston called for a radically different, woman-centred approach to criminal justice, but women’s voices were often peripheral, or they were constructed as ‘pathetic’. There is unrealised potential for regulatory efforts to network imprisoned women and their families with other regulators, deepening understanding of problems connected to prisons, for broader social benefit.
  • Coproducing recovery with people affected by substance use and criminalization

    Buck, Gillian; Pratt, Emma; Yarwood, Peter; Arnold, Victoria; O’Mara, Sarah; University of Chester; Red Rose Recovery (Oxford University Press, 2024-10-29)
    This study details the coproduction approach taken by Red Rose Recovery (RRR), a non-profit organization that coproduces recovery systems with people affected by substance use and criminalization. RRR is ‘lived-experience-led’ in that those who manage and work for the organization use their own experiences of recovery or desistance from crime to provide inspiration and hope to others. We explored people’s experiences of working with RRR using a ‘photovoice’ research design, where people use cameras to document their realities. Data were analysed collaboratively, offering a depth of insight into the perspectives of people involved. The images and words produced by photographers illustrate this article and indicate that, in contexts of pain, shame, exclusion, and disconnection, coproduced services can offer valued relationships, community, and a sense of belonging within built and natural environments.</jats:p>
  • Three and Twelve Month Body Mass Outcomes After Attendance at a Community-Based Weight Management Intervention in the North West of England

    Broom, David R.; Colledge, Nick; Flannery, Orla; Coventry University; University of Chester; Manchester Metropolitan University (MDPI, 2024-10-31)
    Research suggests that commercial weight management services are efficacious in helping people manage their body mass, but they typically only include education and advice on physical activity. The objective of this analysis was to assess 3- and 12-month body mass after attendance at a community-based weight management programme delivered by a commercial slimming group, which included the provision of tailored physical activity sessions by a local leisure trust between January 2009 and November 2014. Methods: After institutional ethical approval and participants giving informed consent, a retrospective analysis of a 12-week multi-component intervention, tier 2 community weight management service for adults in Wigan, North West England, United Kingdom, was undertaken. Participants’ (n = 8514) mean ± SD age was 47.4 ± 14.3 years and starting body mass was 86.7 ± 14.3 kg. The main outcome measure was body mass (kg) at 0 months (baseline), 3 months (immediately post intervention) and 12 months. Significant differences in body mass were ascertained if p < 0.05 using repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc test, with effect sizes calculated using partial eta squared. To confirm and account for missing data, the Last Observation Carried Forward (LOCF) approach was used. Results: Repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant effect of time (p < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.36). Post hoc tests revealed there was a significant reduction in body mass from baseline to 3 months (86.7 ± 14.3 kg vs. 81.2 ± 13.6 kg) and baseline to 12 months (79.7 ± 14.0 kg). The difference between 3 months and 12 months was also significant. LOCF confirmed a significant effect of time (p < 0.01, ηp2 = 0.42), with all previously highlighted significant differences remaining. Conclusions: Significant reductions in body mass were reported at 3 and 12 months, providing evidence for the efficacy of the community weight management programme that included tailored physical activity opportunities for participants. Whilst comparisons to a resting control group cannot be made, partnerships between commercial slimming groups and local leisure providers should be encouraged and explored nationally.
  • Safeguarding care home residents and staff against infectious disease outbreaks: Development of a new toolkit

    McSherry, Robert; Blain, Janet; Kumah, Elizabeth; University of Chester; Foundations – What Works Centre for Children & Families (MA Healthcare, 2024-12-03)
    This commentary introduces the PROTECToolkit (referred to as the “Toolkit”) which aims to address the relevant factors associated with infectious disease outbreaks and infection prevention and control (IPC) in nursing and residential care homes.

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