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Celebrating creative, fun and wacky BU research at the Festival of Learning

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Researchers from across Bournemouth University (BU) hosted the Curiosity Playground event on 8th July 2017 as part of this year’s Festival of Learning. The aim of the event was to celebrate the diversity of research happening across BU and also included fun activities for children (and adults) to get them thinking.

We certainly entertained the crowds and had some thought provoking conversations about our research:

Thanks to those who took part in the event which was organised by the BU Research Staff Association (RSA). To find out more about BU RSA please come along to our next coffee morning on Wednesday 26th July 2017 at 10am in the Global Hub (DG68) at Talbot Campus.

Kind regards,

BU Research Staff Association

New maternity research paper on Nepal

BU research, international, PG research, Publishing, Research news, student research, Uncategorized, writing

Congratulations to Preeti Mahato, PhD student in the Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health, on the publication of her latest paper ‘Factors related to choice of place of birth in a district in Nepal’ in the Elsevier journal Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare  [1].  The paper based on her research work in Nawalparasi, southern Nepal.  This new paper is the third paper form Preeti’s PhD work [2-3].

 

Reference:

  1. Mahato, P., van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, P., Sheppard, Z., Silwal, R.C. (2017)  Factors related to choice of place of birth in a district in Nepal, Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare 13 : 91-96.
  2. Mahato, P., van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, P., Angell, C. (2016) Birthing centres in Nepal: Recent developments, obstacles and opportunities, Journal of Asian Midwives 3(1): 18-30. http://ecommons.aku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1033&context=jam
  3. Mahato, P.K., Regmi, P.R., van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, P., Angell, C., Sathian, B. (2015) Birthing centre infrastructure in Nepal post 2015 earthquake. Nepal Journal of Epidemiology 5(4): 518-519. http://www.nepjol.info/index.php/NJE/article/view/14260/11579

Summer Research Assistant: “An eye-opening experience” Laurie Emerson

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I have just spent the last month working with the team at the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre (ADRC) working on DEALTS 2, a training program commissioned by Health Education England that incorporates simulation, and aims to improve dementia training in acute settings at a national level.

This month has been eye-opening, insightful, and above all exciting. I was firstly amazed by the amount of responsibility I was given by Michele Board, Jane Murphy, and Michelle Heward, who set me to work with analysing the data collected from DEALTS 2 workshops. Indeed, it is often thought that Research Assistants deal with the ‘back end’ of the project, which I can understand would make the task mundane. Nevertheless, with the varied roles and responsibilities, I soon felt immersed into the project.

I was given the responsibility of putting together some preliminary findings to present at the Humanisation conference. Not only was I given role of creating the slides, but I had the pleasure to present the findings at the conference with Michelle Heward. This was a fantastic opportunity to not only feel part of the project, but to increase my confidence, network with likeminded professionals, and feel part of an academic community.

I was also lucky enough to travel to London to help deliver the DEALTS 2 train the trainer workshop to the dementia ‘trainers’. I was able to run through some simulations with the trainers, which again increased my passion and accountability for the project. The whole day was inspiring and highlighted the need for such a project from seeing its real world applicability. This has indeed supported my work in the office when conducting the literature review for the DEALTS 2 project, which we aim to publish in due course.

Overall, this project has exceeded my expectations, and not once have I felt like an RA, but rather a team member. Working in the ADRC office has opened opportunities to learn from others, attend seminars with colleagues, and have a glimpse of what academia can be like. It has been a pleasure to work alongside a team who are so clearly passionate about ageing and dementia, which has certainly consolidated my desire to work in this field. I would highly recommend fellow students to consider summer RA positions because it not only allows you to apply the knowledge you have learnt throughout your degree, but it enables you to increase these skills in new and invaluable ways. Although my contract is over, I am not finished with DEALTS, and intend to continue to help the team publish the paper.

I want to thank Jane, Michele, Michelle, and the rest of the team for giving me an insight into their world and providing me with such a fantastic experience. Although I am leaving Bournemouth University to do my masters in Occupational Therapy, I have no doubts I will work with the ADRC again in the future.

POST SCRIPT

Laurie has been an excellent student to work with, we were also fortunate to have her as part of our team. She’s been diligent and proactive, and its not a surprise that she secured a first in her degree in psychology.  We wish her every success in the future.

New publication on Community Hospitals

international, Knowledge Exchange, open access, policy, Publishing, Research news, Uncategorized, writing

The Health Services Journal published a commentary this week on Community Hospitals [1].  This online article is written by Dr. Emma Pitchforth who is based at RAND Europe in Cambridge (& BU Visiting Faculty), Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen (Faculty of Health & Social Sciences) and Dr. Ellen Nolte based at the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. 

The authors highlight the recently completed NIHR study on Community Hospitals [2].  The notion of a Community Hospital in the UK is evolving from the traditional model of a local hospital staffed by general practitioners and nurses and serving mainly rural populations. Along with the diversification of models, there is a renewed policy interest in community hospitals and their potential to deliver integrated care. However, there is a need to better understand the role of different models of community hospitals within the wider health economy and an opportunity to learn from experiences of other countries to inform this potential.

With ease of access and a sense of homeliness, there is potential for Community Hospitals to be better integrated into NHS in England.  The authors suggest that a more strategic role for ‘traditional’ Community Hospitals might be timely within the NHS in England.  They further conclude that if challenges around Community Hospitals are addressed and their within the English health system is properly defined, they could provide positive benefits to the health service. It seems that, if done correctly, Community Hospitals could be a traditional solution to help address some of the modern day challenges of the NHS.The full NIHR report is Open Access and can be found here!

Last year the research team had already published a scoping review article from the NIHR study [3].

 

 

References:

  1. Pitchforth, E., van Teijlingen, E., Nolte, E. (2017) Community hospitals: a traditional solution to help today’s NHS? Health Services Journal (11 July) https://www.hsj.co.uk/community-services/community-hospitals-a-traditional-solution-to-help-todays-nhs/7020019.article#/scientific-summary
  2. Pitchforth, E., Nolte, E., Corbett, J., Miani., C, Winpenny., E, van Teijlingen, E., Elmore, N,, King, S,, Ball, S,, Miler, J,, Ling, T. (2017) Community hospitals and their services in the NHS: identifying transferable learning from international developments – scoping review, systematic review, country reports and case studies Health Services & Delivery Research 5(19): 1-248.
  3. Wimpenny, E.M., Corbett, J., Miami, C., King, S., Pitchforth, E., Ling, T., van Teijlingen, E. Nolte, E. (2016) Community hospitals in selected high income countries: a scoping review of approaches and models. International Journal of Integrated Care 16(4): 13 http://dx.doi.org/10.5334/ijic.2463

 

BU’s user led research study covered in the Bournemouth Echo

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The Bournemouth Echo published a two page spread this week on the Older Carers Research Study. The user led study was conducted by a group of older male carers over the age of 85 in collaboration with the BU PIER partnership (Public Involvement in Education and Research), Bournemouth and Poole’s Carers Centre and the study’s funders: Dorset Healthwatch. The Echo’s article focuses on Jim and his experience of caring for his wife. To read the article, search for Bournemouth Echo carer, and to view the 11 minute film created by the carers and a group of BU Media Production students go to the BU PIER partnership website www.bournemouth.ac.uk\pier and look under ‘our resources’. Feedback and comments welcome.

FHSS Post-grads score with their story of a study group for Sociological Imagination blog

BU research, PG research, Research news, Uncategorized

(l. to r.) Louise Oliver, Jo Thurston, Karen Cooper & Mandy Podee

Four  Health & Social Sciences post-grads (Karen Cooper, Louise Oliver, Mananya Podee & Joanna Thurston), Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, have just published an article in the Sociological Imagination blog.  All at similar stages in the PhD process, they have banded together to form a Methodological Study Group, at the recommendation of their supervisor. In their article for the Sociological Imagination, the four report on:

  1. How the idea for the Methodology Study came about? Had they been involved in any projects like this previously?
  2. Are there elements of method that they share in common? How does this help the group to move forward?
  3. One particularly interesting aspect of the project is their relationship between each other, each other’s work and their own thesis. Have links developed?
  4. What advice would they give to social scientists interested in using a similar study group? How can this format help postgrad students particularly to develop methodology?
  5. How has working in a study group made in easier to return to working alone and in isolation? Or have they found an answer to this in the group process itself?

Supervisor, Dr Kip Jones said, “All four are involved in one way or another under the broad umbrella of Narrative Research. This has been key to providing a platform and common interest to hold the group together and make it a productive one in a very short time.  My job was to suggest the Study Group and format, then stay out of the way. This format has proved successful”.

Read the article here.

Growing up and getting old – 12th July 10am-1pm Talbot Campus

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We are living longer, but are we really healthier?

Join the Ageing and Dementia Research Centre for our growing up and getting old event (part of Bournemouth University Festival of Learning week) which is fun and interactive for all. Hear about good nutrition and lifestyle choices, innovative hospital care, developments in care home design guidelines, and why older people should take up graffiti and practice Tai Chi (with a free taster session of Tai Chi).

The event will take place on Wednesday 12th July 2017 between 10am and 1pm in the Student Hall at Talbot Campus.

Book your place now: https://microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk/festival-of-learning/events/growing-up-and-getting-old/

Helping surgeons when things go wrong

BU research, conferences, Events, Uncategorized

1-day BU conference examining the effect of adverse events on surgeons, 8th September 2017

A group of BU researchers are working in partnership with Royal Bournemouth Hospital to carry out research examining the consequences of complications and errors on surgeons’ lives.  On September 8th 2017 we are holding a one day conference to highlight the effects of dealing with adverse events.  We have been fortunate in attracting eminent speakers from around the UK to contribute to the conference which will be held at the Executive Business School on the Lansdowne Campus.

Speakers include:-

  • Sir Miles Irving (Emeritus Professor of Surgery, Manchester University)
  • Dr Clare Gerada (Medical Director, NHS Practitioner Health Programme)
  • Professor Debbie Cohen (Director, Centre for Physician Health, Cardiff University)
  • Dr Mike Peters (Medical Director, BMA Doctors for Doctors Unit)
  • Dr Suzanne Shale (Medical ethicist advising national bodies following healthcare harm)

Speakers will present the latest research in the area, share insights from their surgical careers and personal experiences, and consider how better support and training can be provided for surgeons.

If you are interested in attending (attendance is free for BU staff) or would like to know more please visit www.surgeonwellbeing.co.uk or contact Professor Siné McDougall (smcdougall@bournemouth.ac.uk; ext. 61722).

 

 

Tenth anniversary PLOS ONE

BRIAN, Featured academics, international, open access, Publishing, Research communication, Uncategorized, writing

On the tenth anniversary of the international Open Access journal PLOS ONE we received an email to inform us that one of our articles was among the top ten per cent of most cited articles in this journal.  The email referred to our paper ‘Factors influencing adherence to antiretroviral treatment in Nepal: A mixed-methods study’ [1].  Not bad considering that PLOS ONE has published over 4,300 articles since its inception.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Calling all phenomenologists out there!

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Vanessa Heaslip and Jane Fry are re-commencing the across faculty Phenomenology Interest Group (originally created by Les Todres and Kate Galvin). This group’s aim is to explore and share the philosophy of phenomenology and its research methodology. The first session will be launching a series of films of Les Todres in conversation with Vanessa and Jane. Film clips will be shown concerning elements of philosophy and research to stimulate debate and discussion. Please contact Dr. Vanessa Heaslip (vheaslip@bournemouth.ac.uk) or Dr. Jane Fry (jfry@bournemouth.ac.uk) for expressions of interest.

Performance of Gemmeleg at NIME 2017, Copenhagen

conferences, international, REF Subjects, Uncategorized

Rehearsal in the Black Diamond

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gemmeleg is a composition by Laura Reid cellist/composer for the performance system The Feral Cello developed by Dr Tom Davis.

This piece was performed at the prestigious Black Diamond concert venue in Copenhagen as part of the international conference on New Interfaces for Musical Expression, NIME.

The Feral Cello is a performance system developed by Tom Davis that incorporates machine listening and actuated feedback to alter the response of an acoustic cello in real time during a performance. A description of the performance system was also presented as a poster at the conference.

Previous performances have been at NoiseFloor 2017, Staffordshire University.

The Black Diamond Venue

Ageing and Dementia Research Centre (ADRC) at Royal College of Physicians – launch of Electronic workbook for Nutrition and Dementia care

BU research, Impact, Uncategorized

Professor Jane Murphy, Joanne Holmes and Michelle Board supported by Michelle O’Brien hosted the launch of the online version of the workbook ‘Eating and Drinking Well: Supporting People Living with Dementia’ at the Royal College of Physicians, London on 27th June 2017.  Attended by leading stakeholders across health and social care,  charities including age UK, hospices,  WRVS and  housing organisations,  this impact event explore how good nutrition and hydration can be improved for people living with dementia.

The ADRC was delighted to welcome Professor Martin Green, Chief Executive of Care England  who gave an inspiring keynote speech concentrating on the importance of  nutrition to ensure dignity in care.  He was passionate about the need to raise the profile of good food and nutrition amongst politicians and policy makers to enhance and maintain quality of life for many older people receiving social care.  Other speakers included Jan Zietara, Head of Operational Delivery, Health Education England (South) who talked about current work and new developments to enhance the knowledge and skills of the health and social workforce with particular focus on initiatives for dementia education and training.   Finally, Kathy Wallis, Senior Programme Manager, Nutrition in Older People Programme, Wessex Academic Health Science Network highlighted the projects, resources and tools undertaken to address the growing concerns of malnutrition (undernutrition) in older people living in the community.

Helped by a lovely afternoon tea, there was active and lively discussion by all participants about how the workbook could help improve the delivery of nutritional care for people with dementia across a range of health and social care sectors.  All were very supportive of the training tools and left the event with lots of ideas and identified actions to put into place that would be followed up by the team!

The workbook stems from research funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing. The workbook is freely downloadable from the website:

http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk/nutrition-dementia

It is designed to be used in conjunction with a training film, also available via the website.

New paper Dr. Jenny Hall

Publishing, Research news, Uncategorized, Women's Academic Network, writing

Congratulations to Dr. Jenny Hall in the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences (FHSS) on her new published discussion paper ‘Educating student midwives around dignity and respect’ in the international journal Women and Birth (published by Elsevier).  The paper, co-authored with Mary Mitchell (University of the West of England), discusses the issue that there is currently limited information available on how midwifery students learn to provide care that promotes dignity and respect.

 

Well done!

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health

 

Reference:

  1. Hall, J., Mitchell, M. (2017) ‘Educating student midwives around dignity and respect’, Women & Birth 30(3): 214-219.

 

EU AniNex Workshop and Networking Event (22-23 June 2017)

EU, Events, Uncategorized

The 3rd Workshop for EU IRSES project on Next Generation Computer Animation Techniques

 

The “AniNex” workshop on ‘Next Generation Computer Animation Techniques’ was coordinated as part of the Edutainment 2017 conference programme at Bournemouth on 23 June 2017. The workshop was led by program Chair Dr. Jian Chang, co-Chair Prof Jian J. Zhang and Prof Nadia Thalmann.

Over 40 delegates from Europe and China have attended the “AniNex” Workshop. There were 27 submissions out of which 17 were accepted that will be published at the Lecture Notes in Computer Science series (LNCS) by Springer.

The program of the workshop included a keynote presentation on the topic ‘Virtual Humans Modelling and Applications in Gaming and Cultural Heritage’ by Yvain Tisserand and Prof Nadia Thalmann, MIRALab, University of Geneva, Switzerland and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

The “AniNex” is funded by the European Commission FP7 Marie Curie Action – international research staff exchange scheme. The project “AniNex” is designed to prepare and lead the development of next-generation techniques related to computer animation and its applications. For more information about the project, please visit project website (http://www.aninex.org)