The nature and extent of service user involvement in critical care research and quality improvement; a scoping review of the literature.

The importance of involving patients and the public in health care research is globally recognised, but how best to do this in critical care is unclear. The aim of this first published review was to explore the extent and nature of evidence on service user involvement in critical care research and quality improvement. Using the scoping review framework described by Arksey & O’Malley (2005) a team of service user and critical care researchers searched eleven online databases, reviewed relevant websites, conducted forward and backward citation searching and contacted subject experts. Extracted data were subjected to a narrative synthesis based on the objectives of the review. Findings from a broad range of evidence support that involvement is becoming more commonplace and that experiences are generally positive. Data extracted from 34 publications identify that involvement is most commonly reported at the level of consultation or participation in project teams, however, the extent to which involvement impacts on projects output remains unclear. Key barriers and facilitators relate to the challenge of recruiting a diverse group of service users, dealing with power hierarchies, being adaptable and effective consideration of the resource requirements. More research is required to identify the most effective methods to support the opportunity for involvement and more thorough reporting of service user involvement practices is strongly recommended

Who Cares? Museums, Health and Wellbeing Research Project

This study by the Psychosocial Research Unit at the University of Central Lancashire investigated a series of inventive Who Cares? projects across six museums, in order to discover how access to museum activities might affect health and wellbeing. The participating museums were part of the Renaissance in the Regions programme funded by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. A key conclusion is that the programme has revealed great potential. It has shown that collections can be made available to disadvantaged groups in ways that can improve wellbeing. The research took place over a period of two years (2009-2011) and followed the development and implementation of specific projects targeted at disadvantaged groups in each museum. A further key component was working with the Renaissance North West research manager and staff at participating museums on evaluation planning and feedback days at each museum. The purpose of this was to help develop the museums- self-evaluation capacity and to generate further data to feed into the research process. The research team analysed data collected by the museums as part of their evaluation. The thoughtful and self-reflective engagement of museum staff was vital in facilitating the research, and in seeing the individual projects through to their conclusion.div_PaSpub4726pu

The experience of depression in English and Greek adolescents A comparative study

Multi-volume thesisAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:DXN042669 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Educational Difficulties and Support Needs of Children Following Renal Transplantation: Student, Parent and Teacher Perspectives

This article reports on a study that sought to map difficulties and problems in the school lives of children who have renal transplants, to investigate and evaluate the educational provision made for them, as well as to explore their support needs in relation to school. The study used a combined qualitative and quantitative research design. Individual semi-structured interviews were used with 12 transplanted children, their parents and their teachers. Statistical information on school attendance and school achievement was also collected for a number of transplanted children and their classmates/school peers. The article draws on interview material in order to illustrate and discuss key issues and areas of concern identified by the study participants. The results of the school statistics analysis are also presented and implications for practice are considered