Preventing Domestic Abuse for Children and Young People (PEACH): A Mixed Knowledge Scoping Review

Background: A range of interventions that aim to prevent domestic abuse has been developed for children and young people in the general population. While these have been widely implemented, few have been rigorously evaluated. This study aimed to discover what was known about these interventions for children and what worked for whom in which settings. Review methods: This mixed knowledge review was informed by realist principles and comprised four overlapping phases: an online mapping survey to identify current provision; a systematic review of the existing literature; a review of the UK ‘grey’ literature; and consultation with young people and experts. Information from these four sources of evidence informed analysis of costs and benefits. Results: The evidence for interventions achieving changes in knowledge and attitudes was stronger than that for behavioural change. Shifting social norms in the peer group emerged as a key mechanism of change. Media campaigns act to influence the wider social climate within which more targeted interventions are received, and they are also a source for programme materials. While most interventions are delivered in secondary schools, they are increasingly targeted at younger children. The review emphasised the importance of a school’s ‘readiness’ to introduce preventative interventions which need to be supported across all aspects of school life. Involving young people in the design and delivery of programmes increases authenticity and this emerged as a key ingredient in achieving impact. Longer interventions delivered by appropriately trained staff appeared likely to be more effective. Teachers emerged as well placed to embed interventions in schools but they require training and support from those with specialist knowledge in domestic abuse. There was evidence that small groups of students who were at higher risk might have accounted for some results regarding effectiveness and that programme effectiveness may vary for certain subgroups. Increasingly, boys are being identified as a target for change. The study identified a need for interventions for disabled children and children and young people from black, Asian, minority ethnic and refugee groups and a particular lack of materials designed for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people. Limitations: Very little evidence was identified on costs and cost-effectiveness. Few studies showed an effect at the level of significance set for the review. Where it did exist, the effect size was small, except in respect of improved knowledge. The inability to calculate a response rate for the mapping survey, which used a snowballing approach, limits the ability to generalise from it. Conclusions: While it is appropriate to continue to deliver interventions to whole populations of children and young people, effectiveness appeared to be influenced by high-risk children and young people, who should be directed to additional support. Programmes also need to make provision to manage any resulting disclosures. Interventions appear to be context specific, and so those already being widely delivered in the UK and which are likely to be acceptable should be robustly tested. Funding: The National Institute for Health Research Public Health Research programme

Amino acid racemization dating of marine shells: a mound of possibilities

Shell middens are one of the most important and widespread indicators for human exploitation of marine resources and occupation of coastal environments. Establishing an accurate and reliable chronology for these deposits has fundamental implications for understanding the patterns of human evolution and dispersal. This paper explores the potential application of a new methodology of amino acid racemization(AAR) dating of shell middens and describes a simple protocol to test the suitability of different molluscanspecies. This protocol provides a preliminary test for the presence of an intracrystalline fraction of proteins(by bleaching experiments and subsequent heating at high temperature), checking the closed system behaviour of this fraction during diagenesis. Only species which pass both tests can be considered suitable for further studies to obtain reliable age information. This amino acid geochronological technique is also applied to midden deposits at two latitudinal extremes: Northern Scotland and the Southern Red Sea.Results obtained in this study indicate that the application of this new method of AAR dating of shells has the potential to aid the geochronological investigation of shell mounds in different areas of the world

Amino acid racemization dating of marine shells: a mound of possibilities

Shell middens are one of the most important and widespread indicators for human exploitation of marine resources and occupation of coastal environments. Establishing an accurate and reliable chronology for these deposits has fundamental implications for understanding the patterns of human evolution and dispersal. This paper explores the potential application of a new methodology of amino acid racemization(AAR) dating of shell middens and describes a simple protocol to test the suitability of different molluscanspecies. This protocol provides a preliminary test for the presence of an intracrystalline fraction of proteins(by bleaching experiments and subsequent heating at high temperature), checking the closed system behaviour of this fraction during diagenesis. Only species which pass both tests can be considered suitable for further studies to obtain reliable age information. This amino acid geochronological technique is also applied to midden deposits at two latitudinal extremes: Northern Scotland and the Southern Red Sea.Results obtained in this study indicate that the application of this new method of AAR dating of shells has the potential to aid the geochronological investigation of shell mounds in different areas of the world

What is the legacy for the women who accessed support from the full service extended school initiative?

This case study set out to explore the legacy of the Full Service Extended School (FSES) which was introduced by the government in 2003 and was anticipated to address the attainment gap for pupils and help regenerate communities in disadvantaged areas. Based on a single FSES site in the Greater London area, the study set out to analyse its impact on women users’ social and cultural capital, personal identity and changes within their relationships. Viewed through the feminist lens of public and private space, the women’s experiences and opinions are understood within the context of their surrounding social structures. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using a sequential approach, beginning in 2011 with a self-completed questionnaire which provided a quantitative profile of 175 users to understand who engaged with the services. This was followed with two semi-structured interviews with a sub-sample of the main cohort involving 19 women in 2011, and 13 of the same women in 2014. Findings show, that the main motivation for accessing services was for the women’s own benefit, rather than the government’s expectation of helping their children, although their child’s associated link to the location of the support was a critical factor in their engagement. The women described how an increase in their confidence and skill base widened their social and cultural capital with associated changes in their identities, which in turn has significant consequences for their relationships, especially with their children. The FSES also had positive benefits to parenting, family / community relations and economic well-being. The research identifies the location of the FSES support as a hybrid of public and private space; a place for a safe and trusted transition for women to prepare themselves for fuller engagement in the public sphere. Finally, the research raises questions about whether the absence of such space excludes a vein of society and creates the potential for an underclass1 to develop from the identified social and academic divide which spawned the FSES concept initially

Talk About Self Harm (TASH): participatory action research with young people, GPs and practice nurses to explore how the experiences of young people who self-harm could be improved in GP surgeries

Background: The incidence of self-harm in young people in primary care is increasing dramatically and many young people who self-harm visit their GP surgery as a first point of contact for help. Aim: To explore with young people, GPs and Practice Nurses; 1) why young people present with self-harm to primary care and 2) whether young people, GPs and Practice Nurses can take steps to have more helpful consultations about self-harm in GP surgeries that include self-help materials developed by young people being used to support such consultations to take place. Design and setting: Participatory action research with GPs, Practice Nurses and young people employed mixed methods to collect statistical and narrative data.Methods: Statistics from 285 young people’s medical records were captured including more detailed analyses of a random sample of 75 of these records. A series of 24 focus groups with a total of 45 GPs, Practice Nurses and Young People, with an average number of 8 participants in each group were conducted. Statistical data was subject to descriptive and inferential analyses and thematic analysis was applied to the transcripts from the focus groups. Results and conclusion: The type of self-harm young people presented with influenced whether they would see a GP or Practice Nurse. While self-help materials were welcomed and deemed helpful, young people, GPs and Practice Nurses were ambivalent about using these in short consultations where time was an overriding constraint. More research is needed on the feasibility of adopting self-help assisted interventions in GP surgeries

Regulation of pancreatic cancer aggressiveness by stromal stiffening

No abstract available