Voice, Choice and Power: Using co-production to develop a community engagement strategy for an ethnically diverse community

The context of the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the need to increase co-production activities to empower communities. The pandemic has further highlighted systemic health and socioeconomic inequities, especially for those from ethnic minority communities and in areas of economic deprivation. This research article presents a complex, collaborative process of co-production we undertook as part of the service design of Community Engagement work within the Better Start Bradford Programme; a program of projects for pregnant women and families with children aged 0–4 years living in an ethnically diverse area. Using theory of change as our underpinning theoretical framework, we co-produced a community engagement logic model or ‘strategy’. Our approach involved nine 90-minute workshops with a range of community stakeholders. We used the seven Scottish National Standards for Community Engagement and Communities’ self-identified key concepts of ‘voice’, ‘choice’ and ‘power’ to structure the partnership activity. Workshop discussions were analysed using qualitative framework analysis, and we developed a comprehensive, multi-faceted community engagement logic model with the community. Discussions with the community highlighted that (1) the COVID-19 pandemic had opened new avenues of community engagement, primarily virtual ones, and a blended offer of face-to-face and online activities; (2) vital support for community readiness to engage, facilitated through culturally sensitive engagement delivered by trusted sources, transparent governance processes and informal consultation, combined with a flexible approach to adapting to the community’s needs; (3) the need for a continuous reflective process of recruitment to key governance roles to include a range of diverse voices to ensure power is given to community voices. A strong two-way feedback loop is at the core of our community engagement strategy, with both the community and the organisation playing equal roles

Identifying opportunities to engage communities with social mobilisation activities to tackle NCDs in El Salvador in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic

From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications RouterLizzie Caperon - ORCID: 0000-0001-5204-170X https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5204-170XStella Arakelyan - ORCID: 0000-0003-0326-707X https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0326-707XAlastair Ager - ORCID: 0000-0002-9474-3563 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9474-3563Background: Social mobilisation is potentially a key tool in the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in fragile settings. This formative study addressed existing and potential social mobilisation mechanisms seeking behaviour to tackle NCDs in El Salvador, with an emphasis on the implications in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We conducted 19 semi-structured interviews with health workers, government officials, NGO leaders, and community members. Interviews addressed mechanisms for social mobilisation which existed prior to COVID-19, the ways in which these mechanisms tackled NCDs, the impact of COVID-19 on social mobilisation activities and new, emerging mechanisms for social mobilisation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Findings indicate a growing awareness of NCDs within communities, with social mobilisation activities seen as valuable in tackling NCDs. However, major barriers to NCD prevention and treatment provision remain, with COVID-19 constraining many possible social mobilisation activities, leaving NCD patients with less support. Factors linked with effective social mobilisation of communities for NCD prevention included strong engagement of community health teams within community structures and the delivery of NCD prevention and management messages through community meetings with trusted health professionals or community members. There are gender differences in the experience of NCDs and women were generally more engaged with social mobilisation activities than men. In the context of COVID-19, traditional forms of social mobilisation were challenged, and new, virtual forms emerged. However, these new forms of engagement did not benefit all, especially those in hard-to-reach rural areas. In these contexts, specific traditional forms of mobilisation such as through radio (where possible) and trusted community leaders - became increasingly important. Conclusions: New mechanisms of fostering social mobilisation include virtual connectors such as mobile phones, which enable mobilisation through platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter. However, traditional forms of social mobilisation hold value for those without access to such technology. Therefore, a combination of new and traditional mechanisms for social mobilisation hold potential for the future development of social mobilisation strategies in El Salvador and, as appropriate, in other fragile health contexts.Funder: National Institute for Health Research; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000272; Grant(s): 16/136/100pubpu

Cultural adaptation of a text message library designed to support diet, activity and weight management behaviour in the postpartum period in the UK: the Supporting MumS (SMS) Study

The Supporting MumS library of text messages was developed with extensive personal and public involvement (PPI) to help with postpartum weight management and was successfully tested in a feasibility study in Northern Ireland. Before conducting an effectiveness trial, further PPI work was needed to ensure that the dietary and lifestyle advice offered within the SMS text message library was acceptable and culturally relevant for a wide range of women across the United Kingdom (UK). Recruitment was facilitated by existing community networks that helped capture a culturally diverse group of postpartum women who have struggled with their weight. Nineteen women took part in the PPI exercise: n = 4 African–Caribbean (living in London), n = 8 Asian (Bradford), n = 7 white (Scotland). The PPI work followed an iterative process with initial online group discussions, where selected text messages were reviewed and feedback was sought on their language, tone and cultural relevance. This was followed by message adaptation and re-review. Following initial group discussions to understand the main areas for adaptation, PPI work was carried out with individual mums who reviewed the entire library of text messages and provided feedback on all adaptations. Mums liked the humour and the supportive tone of the messages and approximately 15% of the messages were left unchanged. Suggested edits to ensure the messages were acceptable and relevant to women from a range of cultural backgrounds were minor in nature. Suggestions provided by PPI representatives were mainly in relation to broadening the relevance of snack ideas, recipes, food preparation advice, shopping habits (e.g., click and collect services) and workout ideas. Additional feedback included removing colloquialisms and idioms, the meaning of which may be confusing for somebody not familiar with them or a non-native English speaker (e.g., ‘run out of steam’). Personal and Public Involvement provided helpful suggestions for the cultural and regional adaptation of a lifestyle text message intervention in the postpartum period. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the Supporting MumS study will be tested in a UK-wide trial

The role of trust in health-seeking for non-communicable disease services in fragile contexts: A cross-country comparative study

Stella Arakelyan - ORCID: 0000-0003-0326-707X https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0326-707XArek Dakessian - ORCID: 0000-0001-7792-6862 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7792-6862Karin Diaconu - ORCID: 0000-0002-5810-9725 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5810-9725Lizzie Caperon - ORCID: 0000-0001-5204-170X https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5204-170XAlison Strang - ORCID: 0000-0003-3064-5283 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3064-5283Sophie Witter - ORCID: 0000-0002-7656-6188 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7656-6188Alastair Ager - ORCID: 0000-0002-9474-3563 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9474-3563Replaced AM with VoR 2021-10-21Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) disproportionately affect people living in fragile contexts marked by poor governance and health systems struggling to deliver quality services for the benefit of all. This combination can lead to the erosion of trust in the health system, affecting health-seeking behaviours and the ability of individuals to sustain their health. In this cross-country multiple-case study, we analyse the role of trust in health-seeking for NCD services in fragile contexts. Our analysis triangulates multiple data sources, including semi-structured interviews (n=102) and Group Model Building workshops (n=8) with individuals affected by NCDs and health providers delivering NCD services. Data were collected in Freetown and Makeni (Sierra Leone), Beirut and Beqaa (Lebanon), and Morazán, Chalatenango and Bajo Lempa (El Salvador) between April 2018 and April 2019. We present a conceptual model depicting key dynamics and feedback loops between contextual factors, institutional, interpersonal and social trust and health-seeking pathways. Our findings signal that firstly, the way health services are delivered and experienced shapes institutional trust in health systems, interpersonal trust in health providers and future health-seeking pathways. Secondly, historical narratives about public institutions and state authorities’ responses to contextual fragility drivers impact institutional trust and utilisation of services from public health institutions. Thirdly, social trust mediates health-seeking behaviour through social bonds and links between health systems and individuals affected by NCDs. Given the repeated and sustained utilisation of health services required with these chronic diseases, (re)building and maintaining trust in public health institutions and providers is a crucial task in fragile contexts. This requires interventions at community, district and national levels, with a key focus on promoting links and mutual accountability between health systems and communities affected by NCDs.This research was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Global Health Research programme 16/136/100.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114473291pubpu

Perseverative Cognition and Health Behaviors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Recent developments in stress theory have emphasized the significance of perseverative cognition (worry and rumination) in furthering our understanding of stress-disease relationships. Substantial evidence has shown that perseverative cognition (PC) is associated with somatic outcomes and numerous physiological concomitants have been identified (i.e., cardiovascular, autonomic, and endocrine nervous system activity parameters). However, there has been no synthesis of the evidence regarding the association between PC and health behaviors. This is important given such behaviors may also directly and/or indirectly influence health and disease outcomes (triggered by PC). Therefore, the aim of the current review was to synthesize available studies that have explored the relationship between worry and rumination and health behaviors (health risk: behaviors which, if performed, would be detrimental to health; health promoting: behaviors which, if performed, would be beneficial for health). A systematic review and meta-analyses of the literature were conducted. Studies were included in the review if they reported the association between PC and health behavior. Studies identified in MEDLINE or PsycINFO (k = 7504) were screened, of which 19 studies met the eligibility criteria. Random-effects meta-analyses suggested increased PC was generally associated with increased health risk behaviors but not health promoting behaviors. Further analyses indicated that increases in rumination (r = 0.122), but not reflection (r = -0.080), or worry (r = 0.048) were associated with health risk behaviors. In conclusion, these results showed that increases in PC are associated with increases in health risk behaviors (substance use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy eating, and smoking) that are driven primarily through rumination. These findings provide partial support for our hypothesis that in Brosschot et al.'s (2006) original perseverative cognition hypothesis, there may be scope for additional routes to pathogenic disease via poorer health behaviors

Developing adaptable, efficient mobile library services: Librarians as enablers

Caperon, Lizzie - ORCID 0000-0001-5204-170X https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5204-170XItem not available in this repository.Item previously deposited in White Rose Research Online repository on 21 May 2015 at: http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/84525/Mobile devices such as smartphones, iPads and tablet computers are rapidly proliferating in society and changing the way information is organised, received and disseminated. Consequently the library world must adopt mobile services which maximise and adapt to these significant technological changes. What do library users want from mobile services? How can libraries adopt new, innovative mobile initiatives? How can libraries use their advantage of being technological intelligence centres to forge and create attractive new mobile services that meet the needs of users effectively, since many such users are now armed with smartphones when commencing their academic experience? These questions are all addressed in the following article which investigates users' desires in respect of mobile services at Leeds University Library.http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue/73/caperon/pubpub7

Scholarly information discovery in the networked academic learning environment

Caperon, Lizzie - ORCID 0000-0001-5204-170X https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5204-170XItem not available in this repository.https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-04-2015-001636pubpub4/

Socioecological model for community engagement activities.

The individual environment representing individuals within the community is in the centre [Grey], the first level of influence. The intermediate levels of influence are economic, political, technological and physical [light blue]. The overarching level of influence is the socio-cultural environment including the community [dark blue]. The environmental influences overlap as some factors influencing community engagement in the health programme are nested within multiple environments as is the nature of SEM theory.</p

A systematic review of interventions for the secondary prevention of skin cancer by self-examination (protocol)

Review question: What factors determine the effectiveness of interventions (directed towards secondary prevention of skin cancer programme achieved through self-examination of the skin by adults in the community?What interventions facilitate appropriate early self-referral to primary care for a suspected skin cancer lesion (melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancer)