Introduction PART I: POLICY FRAMEWORKS Devolution and Public Health Politics in the United Kingdo... more Introduction PART I: POLICY FRAMEWORKS Devolution and Public Health Politics in the United Kingdom S. L. Greer International Public Health - The Future Place of Primary Care J. Amery & S. Gillam Improving Public Health: Balancing Between Poles S. Atkinson Social marketing: Putting the Public, not Professionals, at the Heart of Public Health Don't Rain on my Parade! J. French PART II: INFLUENCING OUTCOMES Promoting Healthy Behaviour: Evidence from Psychology L. Corbett Embedding Public Health Policy in the Social Context : Sexual Behaviour and Perceptions of Risk Z. Slote Morris & S. Dawson In Sickness and in Health? Dynamics of Health, Cohabitation in United Kingdom M. Karlsson, L. Mayhew & B. Rickayzen Successful Ageing: A Useful Concept for the Future? Y. Doyle, M. Sherriff & M. McKee Developing an Index of Capability for Older People: A New Form of Measure for Public Health Interventions? J. Coast, T. Flynn, I. Grewal, J. Lewis, L. Natarajan, K. Sproston & T. Peters Recruitme...
Public health is directed towards improving the health of populations, rather than treating the d... more Public health is directed towards improving the health of populations, rather than treating the diseases of individuals. Current English policy is set out in Choosing Health: Making Healthier Choices Easier (Department of Health, 2004) and focuses on individual behaviour change premised on a particular understanding of risk. A risk is defined by the World Health Organisation (2002) as ‘the probability of an adverse outcome, or a factor that raises this probability’ and can be used to refer to an endogenous or exogenous factor which is associated with an elevated chance of disease. Choosing Health focuses on ‘life-style’ risks. These include smoking, alcohol use, obesity and sexual health, and it is on the latter that this chapter focuses.
End-of-life care policy has a focus on enabling patients to die in their preferred place; this is... more End-of-life care policy has a focus on enabling patients to die in their preferred place; this is believed for most to be home. This review assesses patient preferences for place of death examining: the extent of unreported preferences, the importance of patient factors (place of care and health diagnosis) and who reports preferences. Systematic literature review of 7 electronic databases, grey literature, backwards citations from included studies and Palliative Medicine hand search. Included studies published between 2000-2015, reporting original, quantifiable results of adult UK preferences for place of death. Of 10826 articles reviewed, 61 met the inclusion criteria. Summary charts present preferences for place of death by health diagnosis, where patients were asked and who reported the preference. These charts are recalculated to include 'missing data,' the views of those whose preferences were not asked, expressed or reported or absent in studies. Missing data were comm...
This article reviews the small literature on how to interview elites. It examines the veracity of... more This article reviews the small literature on how to interview elites. It examines the veracity of three sets of assumptions embedded in the literature: about the nature of truth; dishonest respondents; and sophisticated but powerless researchers. It suggests ways forward, including ensuring that researchers place their work in more explicit philosophical and reflexive frameworks. This would result in more rigorous research and improved pedagogy.
Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 2012
Objectives Our aim was to evaluate whether the involvement of health care managers in research pr... more Objectives Our aim was to evaluate whether the involvement of health care managers in research projects improves the quality and relevance of research, and whether collaboration builds capacity in the managerial community. Methods The NIHR Service Delivery and Organization Management Fellowship programme supports the direct involvement of health care managers in research projects. Data were collected from face-to-face interviews with management fellows and chief investigators of research projects at 10 case study sites. Data were analysed thematically using an adapted Kirkpatrick framework for programme evaluation. Results Management fellows improved the relevance and quality of research through enhancing its validity, efficiency and credibility. This was achieved by: using their contextual understanding to enable and support access and recruitment participants, data collection tools, processes and analysis; supporting dissemination activities; and undertaking additional work which ...
Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 2013
Objectives The UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Service Delivery and Organisation... more Objectives The UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Service Delivery and Organisation (SDO) Management Fellowship programme enabled health services managers and university researchers to collaborate on research projects with the aim of improving research, managers’ research knowledge and skills, and the use of research in management. Our aim was to evaluate whether the programme encouraged greater engagement, linkage and exchange between researchers and managers. Methods A case-study approach with each case-study centred on 11 health care managers appointed as Fellows, chief investigators ( n = 13) and Fellows’ line managers ( n = 12). Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews. Interviews were analysed thematically to explore the impact of the programme, reported issues and to identify any lessons learned. Results Researchers benefited from the flow of (insider) knowledge and contacts from the workplace via the Fellow to the projec...
Journal of Elections, Public Opinion & Parties, 2004
The current interest in social capital has led to a profusion of research and commentary on its d... more The current interest in social capital has led to a profusion of research and commentary on its desirable political and social effects. The earlier emphasis on group membership, which shows that the variations in associational life have little connection to public policy outcomes (Knack and Keefer, 1997 24. Knack, Steven and Keefer, Philip.(1997).'Does Social Capital Have an Economic Payoff? A Cross Country Comparison'. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 112 (4): 1251–88.
In the context of an international trend toward the renewal of citizenship teaching, this paper r... more In the context of an international trend toward the renewal of citizenship teaching, this paper reports the results of a survey of citizen education practice in Hertfordshire, England, carried out in June 2000. The research aims to find out if the practice in schools was as negligible as conventional wisdom and existing research suggest. We find out that only 8% of schools claimed not to be doing anything at all; about 17% delivered citizenship as a discrete subject; most schools offered extra-curricular activities which contributed to citizenship ...
This article reports on a research project, established to explore future trends and issues in po... more This article reports on a research project, established to explore future trends and issues in population health and health care in the UK forward to 2015. The aim of the project is to explore how futures thinking can aid policy development in the health sector. The methods adopted in the study are outlined and initial findings are reported. The project, which has already produced several papers, published its policy report, Policy Futures for UK Health: 2000 Report in May.
This paper sets out the benefits and costs of continuing professional development (CPD) for gener... more This paper sets out the benefits and costs of continuing professional development (CPD) for general dental practice. These considerations are important in evaluating CPD yet they are rarely formally assessed. This paper draws on literature specifically on dentistry but also from across the medical profession and the economics of education and training. First, the costs of CPD are itemised with some suggestions as to how costs may be reduced. Second, the benefits are identified and the (limited) evidence on the value of CPD is surveyed. Finally, reasons why some GDPs might not undertake sufficient or appropriate CPD are explored and the need for guidance for dental practitioners is identified.
To determine the causes of emergency department (ED) crowding and to identify evidence-based solu... more To determine the causes of emergency department (ED) crowding and to identify evidence-based solutions. The review used a 'conceptual synthesis' approach to identify knowledge and opinion around the issue of ED crowding, not just effective interventions. Recommendations from the literature were classified according the quality of evidence and the extent to which they were under ED control. SCOPUS and ISI were searched for studies of 'ED' AND 'crowding OR overcrowding' and backward citation retrieval was undertaken. To help identify systematic review evidence of effective interventions, the Cochrane Database, the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and NHS Evidence were searched. A Google search was included to identify relevant grey literature. Papers were included if they added to substantive knowledge of ED crowding. Empirical studies, studies from the UK and studies of physical space were privileged in the review. There is an established international literature on ED crowding. It suggests consistently that crowding has significant negative consequences. However, the literature offers limited practical help to practitioners for a number of reasons, such as a lack of shared definition and measurement of crowding and lack of evaluation of interventions. Many studies are single case studies from the USA. While current evidence is poor, this does not justify maintaining current practice which risks lives. Building up an evidence base is critical, but requires agreed definitions, measures and methods, which can be applied to systematic evaluation of plausible solutions.
This article reviews the current state of the debate about the political orientation and social a... more This article reviews the current state of the debate about the political orientation and social attitudes of young people. After cautioning against a pessimistic view of moral decline, the article reports the results from a survey of 1249 young people in Hertfordshire. While showing evidence of low levels of political knowledge, interest, trust and efficacy, the findings do not confirm a lack of engagement with the wider social world. They show that young people contribute to social capital, by volunteering, for example, and that young ...
This study aimed to review the literature describing and quantifying time lags in the health rese... more This study aimed to review the literature describing and quantifying time lags in the health research translation process. Papers were included in the review if they quantified time lags in the development of health interventions. The study identified 23 papers. Few were comparable as different studies use different measures, of different things, at different time points. We concluded that the current state of knowledge of time lags is of limited use to those responsible for R&D and knowledge transfer who face difficulties in knowing what they should or can do to reduce time lags. This effectively ‘blindfolds’ investment decisions and risks wasting effort. The study concludes that understanding lags first requires agreeing models, definitions and measures, which can be applied in practice. A second task would be to develop a process by which to gather these data.
Introduction PART I: POLICY FRAMEWORKS Devolution and Public Health Politics in the United Kingdo... more Introduction PART I: POLICY FRAMEWORKS Devolution and Public Health Politics in the United Kingdom S. L. Greer International Public Health - The Future Place of Primary Care J. Amery & S. Gillam Improving Public Health: Balancing Between Poles S. Atkinson Social marketing: Putting the Public, not Professionals, at the Heart of Public Health Don't Rain on my Parade! J. French PART II: INFLUENCING OUTCOMES Promoting Healthy Behaviour: Evidence from Psychology L. Corbett Embedding Public Health Policy in the Social Context : Sexual Behaviour and Perceptions of Risk Z. Slote Morris & S. Dawson In Sickness and in Health? Dynamics of Health, Cohabitation in United Kingdom M. Karlsson, L. Mayhew & B. Rickayzen Successful Ageing: A Useful Concept for the Future? Y. Doyle, M. Sherriff & M. McKee Developing an Index of Capability for Older People: A New Form of Measure for Public Health Interventions? J. Coast, T. Flynn, I. Grewal, J. Lewis, L. Natarajan, K. Sproston & T. Peters Recruitme...
Public health is directed towards improving the health of populations, rather than treating the d... more Public health is directed towards improving the health of populations, rather than treating the diseases of individuals. Current English policy is set out in Choosing Health: Making Healthier Choices Easier (Department of Health, 2004) and focuses on individual behaviour change premised on a particular understanding of risk. A risk is defined by the World Health Organisation (2002) as ‘the probability of an adverse outcome, or a factor that raises this probability’ and can be used to refer to an endogenous or exogenous factor which is associated with an elevated chance of disease. Choosing Health focuses on ‘life-style’ risks. These include smoking, alcohol use, obesity and sexual health, and it is on the latter that this chapter focuses.
End-of-life care policy has a focus on enabling patients to die in their preferred place; this is... more End-of-life care policy has a focus on enabling patients to die in their preferred place; this is believed for most to be home. This review assesses patient preferences for place of death examining: the extent of unreported preferences, the importance of patient factors (place of care and health diagnosis) and who reports preferences. Systematic literature review of 7 electronic databases, grey literature, backwards citations from included studies and Palliative Medicine hand search. Included studies published between 2000-2015, reporting original, quantifiable results of adult UK preferences for place of death. Of 10826 articles reviewed, 61 met the inclusion criteria. Summary charts present preferences for place of death by health diagnosis, where patients were asked and who reported the preference. These charts are recalculated to include 'missing data,' the views of those whose preferences were not asked, expressed or reported or absent in studies. Missing data were comm...
This article reviews the small literature on how to interview elites. It examines the veracity of... more This article reviews the small literature on how to interview elites. It examines the veracity of three sets of assumptions embedded in the literature: about the nature of truth; dishonest respondents; and sophisticated but powerless researchers. It suggests ways forward, including ensuring that researchers place their work in more explicit philosophical and reflexive frameworks. This would result in more rigorous research and improved pedagogy.
Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 2012
Objectives Our aim was to evaluate whether the involvement of health care managers in research pr... more Objectives Our aim was to evaluate whether the involvement of health care managers in research projects improves the quality and relevance of research, and whether collaboration builds capacity in the managerial community. Methods The NIHR Service Delivery and Organization Management Fellowship programme supports the direct involvement of health care managers in research projects. Data were collected from face-to-face interviews with management fellows and chief investigators of research projects at 10 case study sites. Data were analysed thematically using an adapted Kirkpatrick framework for programme evaluation. Results Management fellows improved the relevance and quality of research through enhancing its validity, efficiency and credibility. This was achieved by: using their contextual understanding to enable and support access and recruitment participants, data collection tools, processes and analysis; supporting dissemination activities; and undertaking additional work which ...
Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 2013
Objectives The UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Service Delivery and Organisation... more Objectives The UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Service Delivery and Organisation (SDO) Management Fellowship programme enabled health services managers and university researchers to collaborate on research projects with the aim of improving research, managers’ research knowledge and skills, and the use of research in management. Our aim was to evaluate whether the programme encouraged greater engagement, linkage and exchange between researchers and managers. Methods A case-study approach with each case-study centred on 11 health care managers appointed as Fellows, chief investigators ( n = 13) and Fellows’ line managers ( n = 12). Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews. Interviews were analysed thematically to explore the impact of the programme, reported issues and to identify any lessons learned. Results Researchers benefited from the flow of (insider) knowledge and contacts from the workplace via the Fellow to the projec...
Journal of Elections, Public Opinion & Parties, 2004
The current interest in social capital has led to a profusion of research and commentary on its d... more The current interest in social capital has led to a profusion of research and commentary on its desirable political and social effects. The earlier emphasis on group membership, which shows that the variations in associational life have little connection to public policy outcomes (Knack and Keefer, 1997 24. Knack, Steven and Keefer, Philip.(1997).'Does Social Capital Have an Economic Payoff? A Cross Country Comparison'. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 112 (4): 1251–88.
In the context of an international trend toward the renewal of citizenship teaching, this paper r... more In the context of an international trend toward the renewal of citizenship teaching, this paper reports the results of a survey of citizen education practice in Hertfordshire, England, carried out in June 2000. The research aims to find out if the practice in schools was as negligible as conventional wisdom and existing research suggest. We find out that only 8% of schools claimed not to be doing anything at all; about 17% delivered citizenship as a discrete subject; most schools offered extra-curricular activities which contributed to citizenship ...
This article reports on a research project, established to explore future trends and issues in po... more This article reports on a research project, established to explore future trends and issues in population health and health care in the UK forward to 2015. The aim of the project is to explore how futures thinking can aid policy development in the health sector. The methods adopted in the study are outlined and initial findings are reported. The project, which has already produced several papers, published its policy report, Policy Futures for UK Health: 2000 Report in May.
This paper sets out the benefits and costs of continuing professional development (CPD) for gener... more This paper sets out the benefits and costs of continuing professional development (CPD) for general dental practice. These considerations are important in evaluating CPD yet they are rarely formally assessed. This paper draws on literature specifically on dentistry but also from across the medical profession and the economics of education and training. First, the costs of CPD are itemised with some suggestions as to how costs may be reduced. Second, the benefits are identified and the (limited) evidence on the value of CPD is surveyed. Finally, reasons why some GDPs might not undertake sufficient or appropriate CPD are explored and the need for guidance for dental practitioners is identified.
To determine the causes of emergency department (ED) crowding and to identify evidence-based solu... more To determine the causes of emergency department (ED) crowding and to identify evidence-based solutions. The review used a 'conceptual synthesis' approach to identify knowledge and opinion around the issue of ED crowding, not just effective interventions. Recommendations from the literature were classified according the quality of evidence and the extent to which they were under ED control. SCOPUS and ISI were searched for studies of 'ED' AND 'crowding OR overcrowding' and backward citation retrieval was undertaken. To help identify systematic review evidence of effective interventions, the Cochrane Database, the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and NHS Evidence were searched. A Google search was included to identify relevant grey literature. Papers were included if they added to substantive knowledge of ED crowding. Empirical studies, studies from the UK and studies of physical space were privileged in the review. There is an established international literature on ED crowding. It suggests consistently that crowding has significant negative consequences. However, the literature offers limited practical help to practitioners for a number of reasons, such as a lack of shared definition and measurement of crowding and lack of evaluation of interventions. Many studies are single case studies from the USA. While current evidence is poor, this does not justify maintaining current practice which risks lives. Building up an evidence base is critical, but requires agreed definitions, measures and methods, which can be applied to systematic evaluation of plausible solutions.
This article reviews the current state of the debate about the political orientation and social a... more This article reviews the current state of the debate about the political orientation and social attitudes of young people. After cautioning against a pessimistic view of moral decline, the article reports the results from a survey of 1249 young people in Hertfordshire. While showing evidence of low levels of political knowledge, interest, trust and efficacy, the findings do not confirm a lack of engagement with the wider social world. They show that young people contribute to social capital, by volunteering, for example, and that young ...
This study aimed to review the literature describing and quantifying time lags in the health rese... more This study aimed to review the literature describing and quantifying time lags in the health research translation process. Papers were included in the review if they quantified time lags in the development of health interventions. The study identified 23 papers. Few were comparable as different studies use different measures, of different things, at different time points. We concluded that the current state of knowledge of time lags is of limited use to those responsible for R&D and knowledge transfer who face difficulties in knowing what they should or can do to reduce time lags. This effectively ‘blindfolds’ investment decisions and risks wasting effort. The study concludes that understanding lags first requires agreeing models, definitions and measures, which can be applied in practice. A second task would be to develop a process by which to gather these data.
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Papers by Zoë Morris