Research forum 13th July 2011
At the recent research forum held on Wednesday 13th July there were three presentations which generated a lot of discussion.
Martha Vahl talked about an impact evaluation of the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) which is a means to engage with local BME (black and minority ethnic) communities in Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire on dealing with mental health issues. The aims of the evaluation were to look at the success of WRAP, to engage communities, examine the impact on participants, their communities and the services and look at the future structure of support for implementation.
Jo Middlemass gave a presentation on the first phase of the ENACT project. The aims of the project are to identify the barriers and the facilitators for service users/patients accessing, using and adhering to computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (CCBTi) for insomnia.
Preliminary results in brief included:
Service users/patients with insomnia need to feel that the on-line ‘site’ or ‘access point’ is accredited in some way to a reputable organisation and that it is safe, secure and has a degree of ‘moderation’. Service users were also happy for their information to be fed back to GP or Health professional of their choice.
Health professionals felt their involvement in the CCBTi package depended on their being able to use it as an adjunct tor other treatment advice and that they had training, trust and enthusiasm in the package.
Janice Wiseman delivered a presentation about the Primary Care Research Network East Midlands South Yorkshire (PCRN-EMSY) on behalf of Nathalie Bailey-Flitter. She described how the PCRN comprises eight local research networks across the whole of England, each led by a clinical lead and Regional Network Manager. The coordinating centre is hosted by Leicester City PCT with three local hubs across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire region. Trent Hub now has eight team members. Their role is to:
Coordinate patient recruitment
Employ research development and support officers
Ensure that Service Support Costs are secured and adequately costed
Involve clinicians who may not have previously participated in clinical research
Undertake a training needs analysis and providing free training (much of which is available online)
Help to identify investigator sites
Offer support to obtain local ethical approval, R&D approval and arrange costings and contracts
Co-ordinate multi-centre sites
Publicise ongoing studies
Performance manage studies within local sites