Tagged / BU research
New COVID-19 paper on Nepal
Yesterday Plos ONE published our latest study on the health system in Nepal under the title ‘Barriers in accessing family planning services in Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study‘ [1]. This qualitative study, in an Open Access journal, explores what sorts of barriers are faced by women needing family planning services in Nepal during the pandemic. It was conducted in five districts of Nepal. Telephonic in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 women of reproductive age (18–49 years) who were the regular clients of family planning services. Data were coded deductively using the preexisting themes based on a socio-ecological model (e.g., individual, family, community, and health-facility levels).
The authors conclude that policymakers and programme managers should consider strategies to ensure continued availability of the full method mix during emergency, particularly since disruptions may go unnoticed and strengthen the provision of services through alternative service delivery channels to ensure sustained uptake of such services in this sort of pandemic.
This is the latest addition to the pool of academic papers published by Bournemouth University academics on the effects of COVID-19 on health care in Nepal or issues related to Nepal [2-11].
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
CMMPH (Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health)
References:
- Sigdel A, Bista A, Sapkota H, van Teijlingen E (2023) Barriers in accessing family planning services in Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study. PLoS ONE 18(5): e0285248. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0285248
- Mahato P., Adhikari B., Marahatta S.B., Bhusal S., Kunwar K., Yadav R.K., Baral, S., Adhikari, A., van Teijlingen, E. (2023) Perceptions around COVID-19 and vaccine hesitancy: A qualitative study in Kaski district, Western Nepal. PLOS Global Public Health 3(2): e0000564.
- Regmi, P., Dhakal Adhikari, S., Aryal, N., Wasti, S.P., van Teijlingen, E. (2022) Fear, Stigma and Othering: The Impact of COVID-19 Rumours on Returnee Migrants and Muslim Populations of Nepal, International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health 19(15), 8986.
- Simkhada, P., Tamang, P., Timilsina, L., Simkhada, B., Bissell, P., van Teijlingen, E., Sah, S.K., Wasti, S.P. (2022) Factors Influencing COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Nepali in the UK: A Qualitative Study, Vaccine 10(5): 780. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10050780
- Khanal, S.P., van Teijlingen, E., Sharma, M.K., Acharya, J., Sharma, C. (2021) Perceived threats towards COVID-19 pandemic among Nepali migrant workers returned from India, Journal of Health Promotion 9(1):87-99.
- Wasti, SP., Simkhada, P., Magar, S.A., van Teijlingen, E. (2021) Nepalese Health System Response to Fight Against COVID-19 Pandemic, Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences 3(1): 98-104.
- Simkhada, P., Mahato, P., Tamang, P., van Teijlingen, E., Shahi, P. (2020) The Role of Health Promotion during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Health Promotion, 8:1-4. https://doi.org/10.3126/jhp.v8i0.32964
- Parajuli, R.R., Mishra, B., Banstola, A., Ghimire, B.R., Poudel, S., Sharma, K., Dixit, S.M., Shah, S., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E. (2020) Multidisciplinary Approach to COVID-19 Risk Communication: A Framework and Tool for Individual and Regional Risk Assessment. Scientific Reports 10: 21650
- Adhikary, P., Balen, J., Gautam, S., Ghimire, S., Karki, J., Lee, A.C.K., Marahatta, S.B., Panday, S., Pohl, G., Rushton, S., Sapkota, S., Simkhada, P.P., Subedi, M., van Teijlingen, E. for the Nepal Federal Health System team (2020) The COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal: Emerging evidence on the effectiveness of action by, and cooperation between, different levels of government in a federal system, Journal of Karnali Academy of Health Sciences 3 (3): 1-11.
- Mahato, P., Tamang, P., Shahi, P., Aryal, N., Regmi, P., van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, P. (2020) Effects of COVID-19 during lockdown in Nepal, Europasian Journal of Medical Sciences 2(2):1-5.
- Tamang, P., Mahato, P., Shahi, P., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E., Amgain, K. (2020) COVID-19 Quarantine: A Key Part of Prevention in Nepal. Journal of Karnali Academy of Health Sciences 3(1):1-14.
Measuring Health Literacy & Health Promotion in Adolescents
The paper reports that of these 23 papers, 21 focused on assessing AHL measures, and 15 addressed the association between AHL and HP. Seven studies used the HL School-Aged Children instrument. The findings suggested that the methodological and conceptual underpinnings of HL measures are insufficient. Furthermore, HL acts as an independent and positive mediator for many facets of HP. Overall, this review offers a warning to practitioners and educationists interested in measuring HL as the number of measurement tools is substantial with different tools applying different scales.
- Khanal SP, Budhathoki CB, Okan O, van Teijlingen E, Sharma MK, Acharya J, Wood C. Systematic review of health literacy and health promotion in school-aged adolescents. Journal of Education & Community Health. 2023; 10(1):49-57. doi:10.34172/jech.2023.1982
Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) 2023 – Deadline approaching
Have your say
Deadline approaching! This year’s Advance HE Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) will close in *ten days*
Don’t miss the chance to tell us about your experience at Bournemouth University by taking part in the Advance HE Postgraduate Research Experience Survey which closes on Monday 15 May 2023. We are keen to make sure our PGRs have the best possible experience while studying at Bournemouth University. To do this, we need to know what you think works well and what as a University we could do better.
Upon completing the survey, PGRs will be entered into a free prize draw where you can win one of four prizes of a £50 Love2shop voucher. Terms and conditions apply.
In addition and as a thank you for taking part, we will be making a £1 donation for every survey completed to the student mental health wellbeing charity, Student Minds.
How do I take part?
PGRs received an email from the University on Monday 17 April 2023 containing a unique link which allows you to access and complete the survey. If you can’t find this email, contact PRES@bournemouth.ac.uk and we’ll help you to get access.
What will I be asked?
The survey will take around 15 minutes to complete. Your response is confidential and any reporting will be entirely anonymous. The survey is your chance to tell us about your experience as a PGR at BU. It will ask you to share your views on supervision, resources, research culture, community, progress and assessment, responsibilities, support, research skills, profession development, opportunities, and overall experience.
Why should I take part?
Your feedback is important. The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey is the only national survey of PGRs and so is the only way for us to compare how we are doing with other institutions and to make changes that will improve your experience in the future.
More information
If you would like to know more about the survey, please visit: PRES 2023
We hope you take the opportunity to get involved this year and help us make improvements to your experience.
Best wishes,
The Doctoral College
RKEDF Online Session: Real-World Examples of Public Engagement – Wednesday 21 June 2-4pm
Learning the basic principles is essential for doing effective public engagement with research, but it can be challenging to apply them to developing your own projects. In this session, we will turn your attention away from your work to explore inspiring examples of public engagement projects that have been successfully planned and delivered.
We will consider what worked well and what did not work in those projects, what the organisers learned and what we might do differently. By analysing these projects, you will gain a better understanding of what makes successful engagement. We will end by reflecting on what inspiration, knowledge, and skills you have gained and how you might apply them to your own work.
This session is for all levels of experience with public engagement. To get the most from this, please familiarise yourself beforehand with the basic principles of public engagement.
Participants will gain:
- Useful knowledge into how successful public engagement is planned and delivered
- Skills in critically appraising public engagement with research projects
- Inspiring ideas to translate to their own work and share with others
- Confidence that public engagement is approachable and practical to deliver
To book a place on this workshop please complete the booking form
For any queries regarding the content of this session, please contact Adam Morris at publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk
For any other queries, please contact Organisational Development
Public Engagement Opportunity: Share your research with the public at Café Scientifique
We are organising our series of Café Scientifique events for September 2023 – July 2024
Café Scientifique is a public event that takes place at The Black Cherry in Boscombe on the first Tuesday of the month (excluding January & August), and is organised centrally by the BU Public Engagement with Research Team, part of Research Development and Support.
The format involves delivering a short talk, followed by the opportunity for discussion and questions from a varied public audience. It is a fantastic opportunity for you to gain experience in engaging with the public in a friendly relaxed atmosphere.
We welcome academics at all career stages, although this opportunity is particularly valuable for those getting started in engaging with the public. We encourage collaboration between less experienced and more experienced public speakers to provide a worthwhile learning experience.
The team will support you every step of the way, from developing your ideas to engage with audience members, to setting up and promoting your event, we also help on the day to ensure your event runs smoothly.
Complete our form to Register your interest
Please note: Completing this form does not guarantee you a space. We will be in touch with you to discuss your interest.
If you have any questions about getting involved with Café Sci, please get in touch with the Public Engagement with Research Team: publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.
The NCCPE & NERC release new resources for public engagement with research
The National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE) and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) launch new resources for public engagement with environmental research
Running from March 2022 to January 2023 with funding from the NERC, the NCCPE delivered an online, capacity building programme for environmental researchers, practitioners and staff seeking to develop more productive and meaningful public and community engagement work.
This has led to the development of three ‘conversation starters’, which weave together the core themes of the programme with the ideas and discussions that most resonated with Academy participants.
The below resources were developed with and for environmental researchers and staff, but they are designed to help people working within a range of contexts to discuss partnerships, leadership and ethics in engagement.
Partnerships in environmental engagement – This resource explores what it means to develop and hold mutually beneficial partnerships in environmental engagement through the lens of the partnership cycle.
Leading environmental engagement – This resource reflects on the leadership challenges for strategically leading engagement practices in a UK higher education and research context. It also provides further resources to support this work.
Ethics of environmental engagement – This resource considers the guidelines for ethical practice in the broader context of environmental engagement.
If you have any questions, please email NCCPE: nccpe.enquiries@uwe.ac.uk
Alternatively, please contact Adam Morris Engagement Officer publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk
Standing up for Science Workshop – Norwich, Friday 26 May
Sense about Science are running a Standing up for Science workshop on Friday 26 May at Norwich Research Park.
The workshop is free for STEM and social science early career researchers, trainees and medical professionals. The aim of the workshop is to encourage ECRs to make their voices heard in public debates about science.
The session will be made up of three panels, a researcher panel, media panel and a policy panel, where ECRs can learn what is expected of them from other researchers, journalists and policymakers, routes and pathways to engage with media or policy worlds, as well as useful tips and tricks from the panellists and each other.
Apply for your free place here
Places are allocated on a first come first serve basis. Workshops places are free, but you are responsible for your own travel costs.
Closing date for applications: 5pm Monday 8 May
For more details, please email hello@senseaboutscience.org
Alternatively, please contact Adam Morris Engagement Officer publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk
Writing Academy 2023: 3-Day Workshop
This 3-Day workshop covers strategies for academic writing: writing to prompts, targeting a journal/specific criteria, types of prompt for academic writing, ‘snack writing’, goal-setting for writing, motivation, freewriting, generative writing, analysing academic writing, drafting and revising an abstract/summary, constructing a ‘contribution’ argument, using prompts in series, outlining, productive writing behaviours, wellbeing, writing groups, micro-groups and retreats. Many of these can be used in preparing for a concentrated spell of writing at a writing retreat.
This is a practical workshop. The aim of the writing activities in this workshop is to let you try these strategies and consider how/if/where they can fit in your writing practice. We also discuss how they can be used for writing theses, articles and other writing. They also let you start/work on your writing project during the workshop.
The online version of this course involves several short writing activities, all designed to help you develop your paper/chapter/thesis and use productive, healthy writing habits. By signing up to this course you agree to do the writing tasks and to talk about your writing in online small-group discussions, to give and receive feedback on this writing and to discuss your writing plans and goals.
You can find the programme here
Workshop | Date | Time | Location |
---|---|---|---|
Writing Academy: Day 1 | Wednesday, 21st June 2023 | 10.00 – 16.00 | Online |
Writing Academy: Day 2 | Thursday, 22nd June 2023 | 08.55 – 16.45 | Online |
Writing Academy: Day 3 | Friday, 23rd June 2023 | 08.45 – 16.45 | Talbot Campus |
Please note, participants are required to attend all three days of the Writing Academy sessions.
To book a place on this workshop please complete the Booking Form.
For any specific queries regarding this workshop please email Pengpeng Hatch: pphatch@bournemouth.ac.uk.
Erasmus exchange visit to Nepal by Dr. Jon Williams
Dr Jonathan Williams, Principal Academic and Deputy Head of the Department of Rehabilitation & Sports Science is the latest BU academic to visit Manmohan Memorial Institute of Health Sciences (MMIHS) in Nepal as part of the Erasmus+ exchange funding. Yesterday he run a workshop in Kathmandu on how to conduct a Literature Review for Health Professionals. This session was well attended by medical doctors at Manmohan Memorial Teaching Hospital.
The workshop was organised buy Prof. Sujan Marahatta at MMIHS, who is also Visiting Faculty member in FHSS. BU is currently in the process of renewing its MoA with MMIHS, to continue working together after this successful Erasmus+ programme.
Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen
Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health (CMMPH)
Science & Technology Facilities Council: Public Engagement ECR Forum – Call for Applications 2023
The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Public Engagement Early-Career Researcher Forum (the ‘PEER Forum’) will support talented scientists and engineers in the early stages of their career to develop their public engagement and outreach goals, to ensure the next generation of STFC scientists and engineers continue to deliver the highest quality of purposeful, audience-driven public engagement.
STFC Public Engagement Early-Career Researcher Forum
Call for Applications
Closing date: 4pm Friday 9 June 2023
PEER Forum aims
- To foster peer learning and support between early career scientists and engineers with similar passion for public engagement and outreach, thus developing a peer support network that goes beyond an individual’s term in the forum
- To foster a better knowledge and understanding of the support mechanisms available from STFC and other organisations, including funding mechanisms, evaluation, and reporting. As well as how to successfully access and utilise this support
- To explore the realities of delivering and leading public engagement as an early career professional and build an evidence base to inform and influence STFC and by extension UKRI’s approaches to public engagement, giving an effective voice to early career researchers
What will participation in the Forum involve?
Participants in the PEER Forum will meet face-to-face at least twice per year to share learning and to participate in session that will strengthen the depth and breadth of their understanding of public engagement and outreach.
Who can apply to join the Forum?
The PEER Forum is for practising early-career scientists and engineers who have passion and ambition for carrying out excellent public engagement alongside, and complementary to, their career in science or engineering. Forum members from across the breadth of STFC’s pure and applied science and technology remit.
The personal requirements of PEER Forum membership are that members:
- Have completed (or currently studying for – including apprentices and PhD students) their highest level of academic qualification within the last ten years (not including any career breaks)
- Are employed at a Higher Education Institute, or a research-intensive Public Sector Research Organisation or Research Laboratory (including STFC’s own national laboratories)
- Work within a science and technology field in STFC’s remit, or with a strong inter-disciplinary connection to STFC’s remit, or use an STFC facility to enable their own research
- Clearly describe their track record of experience in their field, corresponding to the length of their career to date
- Clearly describe their track record of delivering and leading, or seeking the opportunity to lead, public engagement and/or outreach
- Are keen communicators with a willingness to contribute to the success of a UK-wide network
- Can provide insight into their experiences in public engagement and/or outreach and also evidence one or more of the following;
- Inspiring others
- Delivering impact
- Demonstrating creativity
- Introducing transformative ideas and/or inventions
- Building and sustaining collaborations/networks
Further information
For more details on how to apply please visit the website or contact Dr Elizabeth Cunningham elizabeth.cunningham@stfc.ukri.org
Alternatively, if you would like advice on developing ideas or submitting your application, please contact Adam Morris (Engagement Officer) publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk
We can help promote your public engagement event or activity
At BU we promote and celebrate the work done to engage public audiences with our research.
The public engagement with research team in Research Development and Support can help promote your event to relevant audiences through regular newsletters and via social media channels.
Share your upcoming public event or activity
If you have any questions, please contact publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk
International Early Labour Research Group
This has been a busy few months for the International Early Labour Research Group (IELRG), which comprises members from across the globe. We had the opportunity to get together at the International Labour and Birth Research Conference in Grange over Sands this month, where early labour was a strong theme.
The IELRG held a workshop looking at how latent phase labour is defined. This was followed by a symposium on early labour with presentations from the USA and Europe.
The Centre for Midwifery, Maternal & Perinatal Health at Bournemouth University was well represented. In addition to participating in the workshops, the team had a couple of posters.
Vanessa Bartholomew, clinical academic doctoral midwife, presented her doctoral work on pain catastrophisation. Congratulations to Vanessa for winning both the daily and overall prize for Best Scientific Poster!
Vanora Hundley, Professor of Midwifery, presented a study looking at how perceptions of pain established prior to pregnancy can influence decisions about labour and birth.
The International Early Labour Research Group with be launching a special issue of Women and Birth later this year.
Related BU papers:
Bartholomew V, Clark C, Hundley V, Parris B (2023) Changing the Way We Think About Pain. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest 33(1): 30-38
Clark C, Bartholomew V, Mylod D, Hundley V (2023) The importance of pain histories for latent phase labour. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest 33(1): in press
Keep telling us about your social, cultural and community events
We are collecting details of all events for external audiences taking place between 1 August 2022 – 31 July 2023
Thank you to everyone who has already provided information via the SharePoint site. The form will stay open for you to add your activities until Friday 29 September 2023. We encourage you to add your new data regularly throughout the year, while the details are easily recalled.
This data forms part of BU’s annual Higher Education – Business & Community Interaction (HE-BCI) survey and is used to calculate our Higher Education Innovation Funding grant. It also feeds into our submission to the Knowledge Exchange Framework so it is really important for us to provide a full and accurate picture of all our public engagement.
Which events do I need to report?
- Public lectures & talks
- Performance arts (music, dance, drama etc)
- Exhibitions (galleries, museums etc)
- Museum education
- Media engagement (TV/radio interviews, podcasts etc)
If you’re not sure if your event is eligible for inclusion, the SharePoint site includes further details and guidance.
All events that were part of the ESRC Festival of Social Science 2022, Online Public Lecture Series and Café Scientifique have/will be collated on your behalf centrally, so there is no need to add these.
What data is collected?
We collect a wider range of data than is required for HE-BCI, for additional external and internal reporting, e.g. HEIF Annual Monitoring Statement and Athena Swan. For the purposes of the HE-BCI survey, you must record the following:
- Event dates – to ensure eligibility
- Whether the event or activity was free or chargeable
- Number of attendees (or views/visitors)
- Amount of staff time in hours needed for delivery.
Without this specific data, we will not be able to include your event in the survey.
Contact us
If you have any further questions about the HE-BCI return, please contact publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk.
Green Man Festival 2023: Einstein’s Garden Open Call – Deadline Friday 28 April
Nestled within the beautiful Brecon Beacons, the Green Man Festival 2023 is taking place 17-20 August.
Einstein’s Garden is the area for creative engagement with science, nature and technology.
Every year the Green Man Festival curate a line up which fuses performance, art, music and research to bring the world around us and our questions about it to life in the most wonderful ways.
Find out more and apply to take part
Deadline for applications: midnight on Friday 28 April 2023
Any questions regarding the application process, please contact Elli at elli@greenman.net
If you would like advice on developing ideas or submitting your application, please contact Adam Morris (Engagement Officer) publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk
Funding opportunity: Enhance the impact of environmental sciences research
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Knowledge Exchange Fellowships Funding opportunity
Apply for funding to enhance the impact of research in the environmental sciences. NERC knowledge exchange fellowships help you and your stakeholders to share knowledge.
To apply, you must be based at an institution eligible for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding. Your project must focus on the ambitions set out in NERC’s strategic delivery plan and NERC remit areas from UKRI’s strategy plan. Researchers at all career stages are welcome.
Find out more
How to apply
For help and advice on costings and writing your proposal, please contact BU Engagement Officer, Adam Morris at publicengagement@bournemouth.ac.uk
This funding is subject to the same internal processes as external research funding. Before applying, interested PIs (Principle Investigators) should submit a completed e-ITB form (Intention to Bid) by 4 weeks before the deadline, which is 4pm, 14 June 2023
IMIV MRI Research Project Scheme 2023
The Institute of Medical Imaging and Visualisation (IMIV) is pleased to announce the launch of the IMIV MRI Research Project Scheme 2023.
Under the scheme, two innovative MRI research projects will each be awarded up to 100 hours of scanning time on the IMIV’s state-of-the-art 3T Siemens Lumina MRI scanner. Applications for the scheme are now open.
- The focus of the scheme is on multi-disciplinary and cross-institutional projects, and priority will be given to projects with a clinical partnership.
- All research projects must have a Bournemouth University researcher as lead or co-lead applicant.
- Projects must be able to demonstrate how they will lead to peer-reviewed academic outputs and external funding applications for further MR imaging studies.
- Up to 100 hours of scanning time will be awarded to up to 2 research projects. The award will not cover any additional expenses related to scanning, or other aspects of the project.
- Projects will be expected to start in the 2023-24 academic year.
Applications close on Friday 7th July 2023.
For further information and an application form, please email imiv@bournemouth.ac.uk
Several BU papers at this week’s BNAC Nepal Study Days
The BNAC (Britain-Nepal Academic Council) twentieth Nepal Study Days (24-25 April) start today in Huddersfield. BU is directly represented through Dr. Pramod Regmi who will be presenting ‘Health Research Priorities and Needs in Migrant Health: A Review of Reviews’ today. Dr. Regmi based in the Department of Nursing Sciences and Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen in the Department of Midwifery & Health Sciences are also part of the paper ‘Nepal Family Cohort Study: Starting a Longitudinal Population Health Study’ which will be presented by our colleague Dr. Om P. Kurmi from Coventry University.
There will also be a BU paper on ‘Perceptions Around Covid-19 and Vaccine Hesitancy: A Qualitative Study Among People Living in Kaski, Western Nepal’ , presented by Dr. Preeti Mahato. Preeti is based at Royal Holloway (University of London) and she is also a Visiting Faculty member of FHSS. She’ll presenting a study recently published in PLOS Global Public Health.
These Nepal Studies Days pay serious attention to our ongoing interdisciplinary study ‘The impact of federalisation on Nepal’s health system: a longitudinal analysis’ which was reported in several national newspapers in Nepal last week. Tomorrow there will be a plenary session by Prof. Simon Rushton, the PI on this project in which BU collaborates. He will be talking about ‘Nepal’s Health System During Federalisation: Emerging Issues and the Co-production of Policy and Practice Recommendations’. Later that day there will be two further presentations based on this large-scale study, the first one by Dr. Sharada P. Wasti followed by one delivered by Dr. Sujata Sapkota.