HSRU News and Events

NEWS...

Recently completed projects

• The FILMS study:The CSO funded FILMS study has been completed. The study is a multi-centre UK randomised controlled trial investigating whether internal limiting membrane peeling improves the success of macular hole surgery with regards to improvement in visual function, closure of the macular hole, quality of life and cost-effectiveness. The results suggest that at six months  internal limiting membrane peeling is more likely to close the hole and be considered cost-effective than surgery without internal limiting membrane peeling.  Longer term outcomes will be reported at two years. For further information contact Alison McDonald a.mcdonald@abdn.ac.uk; 01224 554338.

• Optimising Caseload Management Fellowship Award:  Niina Kolehmainen's CSO fellowship award has now been completed.  The fellowship focused on developing a multi-faceted behaviour change intervention to support children's occupational therapists to manage their caseloads efficiently whilst maintaining high quality care. The project resulted in an evidence-base about therapists' current caseload management; a theoretical model of caseload management.  For further information contact Niina Kolehmainen; n.kolehmainen@abdn.ac.uk; 01224 551907.

New projects

• NICE TAR on Imatinib for the treatment of unresectable and/or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumours. This technology appraisal report has recently commenced. For further information contact Graham Mowatt; g.mowatt@abdn.ac.uk; 01224 552494

• Robotic surgery and laparoscopic surgery for removal of the prostate in men with localised prostate cancer will be considered in this NIHR HTA funded project. In partnership with consumer representatives, a multi-disciplinary team will undertake a systematic review with economic modelling of the effectiveness and safety of the two procedures. For further information contact Craig Ramsay; c.r.ramsay@abdn.ac.uk; 01224 558994

• Using 'Good Goals' to improve children's therapy services: a feasibility study of a multifaceted caseload management intervention.  This CSO-funded project aims to improve the goal setting and caseload management of paediatric occupational therapists by developing a practical, evidence based guide. Three Health Boards will be involved in piloting a theory-based behavioural change intervention and its implementation will be evaluated through focus groups and interviews.  For further information contact Niina Kolehmainen; n.kolehmainen@abdn.ac.uk; 01224 551907.

Staff news

• Stephan Dombrowski has joined the Health Psychology team and will be working on a Critical Care project.
• Fiona Gammie has joined the Unit to cover Claire Cochran's maternity leave.
• Mayret Castillo will move to CHaRT as a Trial Manager from 1st March.
• Augusto Azuara-Blanco will join the Unit from 1st March to lead the Ophthalmology theme.
• Best wishes to Claire Cochran and Louise Campbell who are both going on maternity leave during February.

Success in RAE for HSRU

Staff from the Unit made a major contribution to the University of Aberdeen's submission to Unit of Assessment 7 (Health Services Research) in the recent Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008).

The Health Services Research return was the highest scoring return for the University of Aberdeen and was joint top of the UK league in health services research. RAE confirmed that 80% of the research submitted was judged as interntionally excellent / world class, with all the work identified as of international quality.

EVENTS...

DOC methodology workshops

HSRU's Delivery of Care (DoC) Programme runs a series of workshop in innovative methods related to research in the organisation and delivery of health services. The hour-long workshops provide research staff in HSRU, and the wider Institute of Applied Health Sciences, with interactive development and training opportunities. The workshops take place within a small-group environment. The audience is encouraged to engage with the topic through an invited presentation and an activity. The presenters are typically internationally recognised leaders in their field.

The workshop series are themed, with each theme consisting of three workshops. The first theme is 'Qualitative methodology used with and within RCTs', and aims to cover the following learning objectives;

• to appreciate 'when' and 'how' you would embed qualitative research within an RCT
• recognise the value of qualitative methodology in complementing and contributing to RCTs
• obtain an understanding of some of the specific qualitative methods (e.g. conversational discourse analysis) and their application with and/or within RCTs

The speakers who will run these methodology workshops, and specific dates are listed below:

The theme for the autumn/winter workshop series is 'Health service user involvement in research'. More information on this session will follow nearer the time.

For more information or to provide suggestions for future workshops please contact:

Dr Katie Schumm (k.schumm@abdn.ac.uk) or

Dr Niina Kolehmainen (n.kolehmainen@abdn.ac.uk)