17 July 2018

Visitors from China on Medical Robotics

Funding opportunities, PG research, Public engagement, Publishing Ali Kuczynska

Upon the invitation of Prof Hongnian Yu, the team from Chinese Academy of Sciences was visiting Bournemouth University to conducted a Newton funded project, Adaptive Learning Control of a Cardiovascular Robot using Expert Surgeon Techniques, from 26 June to 7 July 2018. Two teams have exchanged the ideas, the project progress and the future plan. They had several meetings and discussion sessions.

Prof Hongnian Yu and Dr Carol Clark visited Chinese Academy of Sciences in May 2017, and visited their labs and organized a project workshop. This Newton funded project is closely related to three of BU2025 strategic areas – medical sciences, assistive technology and animation, simulation & visualisation. The project has potential to generate some real impacts to our society and manufacturing industry which can be used for the future REF impact case.

Posted on behalf of Dr Carol Clark

16 July 2018

ADRC attend 4th EU Falls Festival, Manchester, UK

PG research jbentley

Dr Samuel Nyman and Yolanda Barrado-Martín from the Psychology Department and Ageing and Dementia Research Centre (ADRC) attended the 4th EU Falls Festival in Manchester on 2nd and 3rd July 2018.

International researchers met in Manchester to learn about current projects under the theme, “New Solutions to Old Problems: Ensuring sustainability of falls prevention interventions”. Yolanda Barrado-Martín presented a poster entitled: “How is Tai Chi received by people living with dementia and their informal carers?” Attendants showed interest in the poster over the two day conference and voted Yolanda´s as the second best poster of the conference!

This year’s conference included sessions around Cochrane Updates on falls preventions, the use of new technologies to prevent falls, epidemiology and the implementation of research into practice. This year there was also a space for specific conditions such as dementia and the use of “qigong” to improve balance and prevent falls amongst older adults, which made this conference particularly relevant for the TACIT Team.

You can learn more and keep updated about the TACIT Trial via the following links:

The TACIT Trial website.

The TACIT Trial Facebook page.
The TACIT Trial YouTube video:

11 July 2018

Working as a Student Research Assistant with the ADRC – some thoughts by Dorian Crudgington

PG research, Public engagement jbentley

After completing the second year of my Biological Sciences course I wished to gain some formal research experience so I applied to be a Student Research Assistant with the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre at Bournemouth University. Understanding the significance of dementia related problems, I was excited and proud to get involved with research on such a problematic and widespread condition, and to work alongside Professor Jane Murphy.

The project aim was to evaluate the impact and use of a learning resource and training video produced by the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre. I was provided with a well-structured plan for my 4-week project. Principally, this involved collating data from a questionnaire regarding the resource’s usefulness, analysing the results using qualitative methods, and producing a report of the results.

I got stuck in quickly and within hours I had already mastered aspects of Excel and Word I had never used previously. As the work began to develop momentum, data analysis became the next task to be executed. My course has always prioritised quantitative data analysis due to the nature of data usually obtained, and I had no prior experience working with qualitative data. By the end of the third week I had delved into various approaches in the field of qualitative research, and had conducted a thematic analysis of over 400 questionnaire answers.

Prior to this experience, the research process was alien to me. However now I have knowledge of the different stages involved and the fundamental organisational skills required, which has really helped me plan and develop ideas for the independent research project in my final year. I have really enjoyed the project and have developed incredibly useful skills as well as learning about nutritional care for people who have dementia.

26 June 2018

New multicentre international trial published in world leading respiratory medicine journal

Fusion themes, open access, Publishing, REF Subjects, Research assessment amcconnell

Prof Alison McConnell of HSS’s iWell Research Centre has been part of an international, multi-centre placebo-controlled trial of adjunctive inspiratory muscle training for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The trial, published in this month’s edition of the journal Thorax (impact factor 8.272) tested whether the addition of specific training of the inspiratory muscles enhanced the benefits to patients of traditional pulmonary rehabilitation programmes. It’s well-established that when undertaken separately, both interventions are effective; improving exercise tolerance, breathlessness and quality of life. However, there has been great controversy about whether adding the two interventions together provides superior outcomes.

The trial involved five centres in Europe and Canada, and 219 patients with COPD, taking 6 years to complete. The data indicated that exercise endurance time and breathlessness improved to a greater extent in patients who received rehabilitation plus inspiratory muscle training. The study also found that, irrespective of group allocation, those participants who achieved the greatest improvement in their inspiratory muscle function, also showed the greatest improvements in functional and clinical outcomes.

The full paper is available via Open Access here:

http://thorax.bmj.com/content/thoraxjnl/early/2018/06/18/thoraxjnl-2017-211417.full.pdf

12 June 2018

Your vote is needed please!!

Public engagement jbentley

Over the last 3 years, Prof Jane Murphy from Faculty of Health & Social Sciences and The Ageing and Dementia Research Centre has been working with The Nutrition in Older people Programme team at the Wessex Academic Health Science Network as Clinical Lead. The team has been shortlisted in the ‘ Community Nutrition Professionals of the Year’ category for the Complete Nutrition awards in the Community Nutrition Professional of the Year category that recognises their contribution to support nutritional developments in the community.

Please click on below for further details and would be great if you can add your vote!

Just select Wessex Academic Health Science Network – Nutrition in Older People Programme Team ‘ Community Nutrition Professional of the Year’ and any other categories to suit.

https://www.nutrition2me.com/cn-awards/2018-cn-awards-voting-form

https://www.nutrition2me.com/cn-awards/2018-cn-awards-the-shortlist

DEADLINE 23^rd July 2018

14 May 2018

Exciting PhD studentship opportunity for an aspiring individual with an interest in older people’s health and wellbeing.

Funding opportunities, PG research, Public engagement jbentley

PhD Studentship – Physical and Psychological Effects of a Whole Systems Wellness Intervention for Older Adults Living in Care HomesWith an aging population and increased numbers of older people aged 85 years and over, there are increased demands for long-term care. Many residents living in care homes are dissatisfied, lonely or depressed and the majority of their time they are inactive. Lack of engagement in physical activity has detrimental effects on both physical and mental health and quality of life, and contributes to a lack of meaningful social interaction. Whilst the provision of regular exercise can improve physical function of frail older people, if combined with cognitive training, there could be improvements in both physical and cognitive functional status in older adults with and without cognitive impairment. This is a fully-funded PhD studentship to start 17 September 2018 (36 months), which includes a stipend of £14,777 each year to support your living costs.Closing date for applications 4 June 2018.

For further details and how to apply click here.

30 April 2018

“Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint” (Banksy)

PG research, Public engagement jbentley

On the 10^th April 2018, Dr Ben Hicks (Psychology Lecturer and ADRC) presented on the graffiti work that was undertaken at the Brooke Mead assisted living facility in Brighton. The event was used to mark the opening of Brooke Mead, a facility with 45 self-contained flats for people with dementia and their care partners, and was attended by the Brighton Mayor and local councillors.

Over the past month, as part of a British Psychological Society funded project, Ben has worked with Dr Shanti Shanker (Psychology Lecturer), Angela El-Zeind (Graffiti Artist) and James Skinner (documentary film maker) to deliver a series of graffiti workshops to residents of Brooke Mead who are living with dementia. The workshops focussed on exploring participants’ sense of ‘self’ and identity since the on-set of dementia and their transition into a new environment. As part of this, they were encouraged to ‘get creative’ by crafting their own stencils, developing their own ‘tag’ (a symbol that is personal to them) and expressing their message on a canvass board using spray cans. A short film documenting the workshops was created as part of the project and was premiered at the opening alongside the residents’ art work.

The art work was warmly received by those attending the event, and informal discussions highlighted the potential that graffiti has for providing a creative platform whereby people with dementia can challenge negative public perceptions of their capabilities. As Brooke Mead continues to fill its rooms with local Brighton residents, they are keen for further graffiti workshops to take place. Boosted by these positive findings, the researchers will use this preliminary data alongside the short film to seek funding for a more substantial project that will examine how graffiti arts can be used as a medium to support identity and social inclusion in people with dementia.

For more details on Brooke Mead please visit: https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/press-release/brooke-mead-extra-care-housing-scheme-opens

Ben with a local artist in residence

30 April 2018

New edited Handbook published by Dr Samuel Nyman, The Palgrave Handbook of Ageing and Physical Activity Promotion

PG research, Public engagement jbentley

NIHR Career Development Fellow, Dr Samuel Nyman (Dept. Psychology and Ageing & Dementia Research Centre), is the lead editor of a newly published Handbook.

It is published as an eBook and hardback (https://www.springer.com/gb/book/9783319712901), and a copy will be available in the BU library in the near future.

A summary of the book is below:

The Palgrave Handbook of Ageing and Physical Activity Promotion

Presents an ambitious, highly original and very timely addition to the social gerontology canon
Offers a broad expertise across social science and health science, with a strong mix of senior scholars and early career academics
Discusses critically the global issue of an ageing population

The ageing of our population is a key societal issue across the globe. Although people are living longer, they need to be living longer in good health to continue to enjoy quality of life and independence and to prevent rises in health and social care costs. This timely and groundbreaking volume will provide an up-to-date overview of the factors that promote physical activity in later life. Despite advances in the fields of gerontology and geriatrics, sports and exercise science, sociology, health psychology, and public health, knowledge is largely contained within disciplines as reflected in the current provision of academic texts on this subject. To truly address the present and substantial societal challenges of population ageing, a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach is required. This handbook will inform researchers, students, and practitioners on the current evidence base for what physical activities need to be promoted among older people and how they can be implemented to maximise engagement. This handbook will be an invaluable resource for researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and students across the social sciences.

30 April 2018

ADRC on the Malnutrition Task Force Board

Public engagement jbentley

Professor Jane Murphy from the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre (ADRC) has been invited to join the Malnutrition Task Force (MTF) board (http://www.malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk/) as an associate board member to increase the breadth of knowledge and experience of the team. It offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to and shape the work of the MTF work programme and priorities to effectively tackle avoidable malnutrition across our society. Jane is currently undertaking funded work as Clinical Lead for the ‘Nutrition in Older People Programme’ with the Wessex Academic Health Science Network.

The MTF is an independent group of experts across health, social care, local government and industry united to address avoidable and preventable malnutrition in older people. Age UK provide the Chair and Secretariat. Jane attended the first meeting on 20^th April 2018 to start the ball rolling!

22 April 2018

CQR’s Ellis-Hill to Keynote in Oz

Public engagement Kip Jones

The Centre for Qualitative Research is pleased to announce that its Deputy Director, Caroline Ellis-Hill, will be keynoting at the 41st ASSBI Annual Brain Impairment Conference in Adelaide, Australia on the 4th -5th May 2018. Ellis-Hill will speak on “Lifeworld-led rehabilitation – a new approach to support psycho-social well-being following brain injury”.

Caroline remarks: “A lifeworld–led approach to rehabilitation has a very different underlying logic and offers us the ability to prioritise subjective experience which in turn creates new understandings and connections. Our lifeworld is our everyday flow of life as we experience it, or what our life feels like from the inside out”.

We wish Caroline a safe and fruitful trip to Australia!

14 April 2018

BASES Student Conference 2018 – Day 2

PG research, Public engagement, student research Francesco Ferraro

The second day of the conference was open by Professor Graeme Close & Mr Michael Naylor with a lecture on “nutritional strategies for competition and performance.”

Follow up with the oral presentations and free communications. I found particular interest in the research of Mr Chynkiamis on the effect of VitaBREATHE on exercise tolerance in COPD patients and in the feasibility study of Miss Thomas on the effect of 10 weeks postural stability exercise on balance in elderly care homes residents. I am glad that I had the chance to discuss with Miss Thomas part of the outcomes and the methods she used for my undergoing research on falls prevention.

Later in the afternoon, I had the opportunity to talk more about inspiratory muscle training (IMT) with Mr Hopkins and Mr Gibb who are looking at the effect of IMT on time trial performance in trained cyclists.

After, the workshop “psychological challenges for physical activity uptake” by Dr Melissa Fothergill intrigued me as I believe it is a crucial matter of discussion, especially if working with frail populations.

The final motivational lecture titled “creating your future” by Dr Steve Ingham closed the 2018 BASES student conference with tips and advice on how to progress in the sport science carriers.

Concluding, it was a great experience as not only I had the chance to improve my network and meet peers with a similar background as mine but most important because in these two days I had increased my awareness and motivations.

A special thanks go to my supervisors Professor Alison McConnell, Dr James Gavin and Professor Tom Wainwright who pointed me at this event.

The conference is now over, and by the time you read this post, I will be already on my way back to Bournemouth.

Thank you for reading,
Francesco.

9 April 2018

Reminder: Wednesday 11th April – Guest Researcher in Ageing, Human Rights, Disability and Inclusion

PG research, Public engagement jbentley

On the 11^th April Dr Andrea Padilla-Munoz from the University of Rosario, Bogota, Colombia will be visiting Bournemouth University. Andrea is a qualified lawyer and academic with an interest in ageing, human rights, disability and inclusion.

During her visit, she is keen to meet with other BU academics to explore potential future collaborations. To support this, I will be hosting a workshop on the 11^th April in the Fusion Building, F111 from 11am-1pm, where Andrea will provide an overview of her research. There will also be time to discuss future research ideas with her over tea and coffee.

If you are interested in attending please let me know, so I have an idea of numbers and can book refreshments accordingly. Alternatively, if you are unable to make the workshop but would like to meet with Andrea, let me know and we can arrange something.

Email: bhicks@bournemouth.ac.uk

14 February 2018

Latest editorial on Nepal by Dr. Regmi in FHSS

international, open access, Publishing, writing Edwin van Teijlingen

Last week the Journal of Manmoham Memorial Institute of Health Sciences based in Nepal published as its editorial ‘What can we learn from the Nepal Health Facility Survey 2015. [1] The Nepal Health Facility Survey 2015 is a first of its kind. It is a much needed start to help analyse and improve the workings of the country’s health system. This is very important and timely as one of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is to reduce premature mortality by one-third from non-communicable diseases. Success in this effort will depend on the concerted efforts on health facilities (for both health promotion, prevention and management) for an early and optimal care. The editorial also raises some of the ethical and methodological issues associated with the first ever Nepal Health Facility Survey 2015. The lead author of the editorial is Dr. Pramod Regmi and our co-authors include Prof. Padam Simkhada (Visiting Faculty in the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences). The Journal of Manmoham Memorial Institute of Health Sciences is an Open Access journal hence freely available to scholars and politicians and health managers across the globe, including those based in low-income countries such as Nepal.

Reference:

Regmi, P., van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, P, Kurmi, O, Pant, P. (2017) What can we learn from the Nepal Health Facility Survey 2015? Journal of Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences (JMMIHS) 3(1): 1-5

14 February 2018

BU research presentations Global Festival of Learning in India

Public engagement Edwin van Teijlingen

Today is the third day of BU’s Global Festival of Learning, after a successful visit to Chennai the team arrived last night in Pune. Today part of the academic programme includes lectures at Symbiosis School of Liberal Arts. The lectures will be given by Dr. Shanti Shanker, Lecturer in Psychology, who is associated with BU’s Ageing & Dementia Research Centre, Dr. Anastasia Veneti, Senior Lecturer in Marketing Communications, and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen, who is based in the Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health in the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences.

22 January 2018

ERASMUS 2017: Promoting autonomy for people with dementia using ICT applications

mobrien

The end of 2017 brought about the start of the second successful ERASMUS funded project for Dr Ben Hicks (psychology lecturer and member of ADRC) and Professor Wen Tang (Head of Creative Technology Department). Working alongside European partners from Slovenia (Alzheimer’s Slovenia), Greece (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), Spain (Alzheimer’s Castellon and the University of Valencia) and Turkey (Alzheimer’s Turkey), the two year project aims to develop an e-platform that raises awareness and promotes the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance the autonomy of people with dementia and their care partners.

The first meeting was held in Castellon, Spain, at the Universitat Jaume 1 on the 18-19^th December 2017 and was attended by Ben and Natalia Adamczewska (ADRC). Over the course of two days, the proposed research plan and outcomes of the project were discussed in more detail and tasks were assigned to each of the European partners. This included establishing an Advisory Group of people with dementia, care partners and practitioners to inform the development of the project as well as conducting a review of best practice within this field.

Although it is only early days, there was a real buzz around the meeting, as the partners discussed the project and the potential beneficial impact it could have for people living with dementia across Europe. The second meeting for the project team is planned for April/May 2018.

If you would like further information on the research please contact Ben on bhicks@bournemouth.ac.uk

11 January 2018

Wednesday 24 January ADRC presents: NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) Wessex Seminar

mobrien

You are cordially invited to this lunchtime seminar which is open to all BU staff.

Please feel free to bring your lunch.

Wednesday 24th January 2018

1 – 2 pm

B407, Bournemouth House, Lansdown Campus

The NIHR is the UK’s major funder of applied health research. The NIHR develops and supports the people who conduct and contribute to health research and equally supports the training of the next generation of health researchers. The NIHR CRN Study Support Service helps researchers set up and deliver high quality research to time and target in the NHS in England.

We are fortunate to have two Research Delivery Managers from the NIHR CRN Wessex, David Higenbottam and Alex Jones coming to BU who will be presenting a seminar about the network, funding opportunities and forthcoming strategic plan for 2018, followed by Q & A session.

Please email Michelle O’Brien (mobrien@bournemouth.ac.uk) if you are planning to attend. See you there!

Biographies

David Higenbottam
Has worked in research since 2012.

2012 – 2014 South Coast DeNDRoN Network Manager.

2014 – to date Research Delivery Manager for Divisions 2 and 4 (Division 4 includes dementia as one of its specialities).

Alex Jones
Worked for Hampshire & Isle of Wight CLRN from July 2013 – April 2014.

Division 5 Assistant Portfolio Manager then Portfolio Manager April 2014 – December 2017 (Division 5 includes ageing as one of its specialties).

Currently Acting Research Delivery Manager for Division 5.

Wessex CRN
The Wessex CRN was formed in April 2014, its geographic footprint is Hampshire & Isle of Wight, Dorset and South Wiltshire. It comprises 12 partner NHS organisations and 10 clinical commissioning groups. Research specialties are spread across 6 Divisions.

8 January 2018

CQR “IN CONVERSATION” SEMINAR 1 PM THIS WED!

Kip Jones

“Phenomenology or Narrative Method? Choosing one for my study”

Andrea Lacy ”In Conversation”

Wednesday, 10 January, 1 p.m.

Studand 217 (note change in location!)

A short discussion about two qualitative methods, followed by lots of conversation with you, the audience!

Staff and students welcome!

Coming up in the New Year:

Save the dates now!

19 December 2017

Introduction to Normalization Process Theory (NPT) – 7 February 2018

PG research mobrien

Half day seminar
open to BU Staff, Clinicians, PGRs and PGT Students

Implementing service development in healthcare – an introduction to Normalization Process Theory (NPT)

On Wenesday 7 February 2018 in B317, Bournemouth House, Lansdowne Campus at 13.00, there will be a half day seminar introducing an approach to exploring implementation of service developments in healthcare.

To book your place and/or to find out more information please contact
Dr Mike Bracher
mbracher@bournemouth.ac.uk

BU Research Blog

Category / Research themes

Visitors from China on Medical Robotics

ADRC attend 4th EU Falls Festival, Manchester, UK

Working as a Student Research Assistant with the ADRC – some thoughts by Dorian Crudgington

New multicentre international trial published in world leading respiratory medicine journal

Your vote is needed please!!

“Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint” (Banksy)

CQR’s Ellis-Hill to Keynote in Oz

We wish Caroline a safe and fruitful trip to Australia!

BASES Student Conference 2018 – Day 2

ERASMUS 2017: Promoting autonomy for people with dementia using ICT applications

Wednesday 24 January ADRC presents: NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) Wessex Seminar

CQR “IN CONVERSATION” SEMINAR 1 PM THIS WED!

“Phenomenology or Narrative Method? Choosing one for my study”

Andrea Lacy ”In Conversation”

Wednesday, 10 January, 1 p.m.

Studand 217 (note change in location!)

A short discussion about two qualitative methods, followed by lots of conversation with you, the audience!

Staff and students welcome!

Coming up in the New Year:

Save the dates now!

Introduction to Normalization Process Theory (NPT) – 7 February 2018

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Category / Research themes

We wish Caroline a safe and fruitful trip to Australia!

“Phenomenology or Narrative Method? Choosing one for my study”

Andrea Lacy ”In Conversation”

Wednesday, 10 January, 1 p.m.

Studand 217 (note change in location!)

A short discussion about two qualitative methods, followed by lots of conversation with you, the audience!

Staff and students welcome!

Coming up in the New Year:

Save the dates now!

Other services

Don’t miss a post!

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