HSRU News and Events

NEWS...

Recently completed projects

  • REFLUX Trial 5 year followup: This NIHR funded study is a multi-centre randomised trial comparing a policy of relatively early laparoscopic surgery with a continued best medical management policy for people with more severe gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.  810 people with GORD were recruited from 21 centres across the UK.  After 5 years follow-up, laparoscopic fundoplication continues to provide better relief of GORD symptoms with associated improved health related quality of life. Complications of surgery were uncommon. Despite being initially more costly, a surgical policy is highly likely to be cost-effective. For further information please contact Seonaidh Cotton; s.c.cotton@abdn.ac.uk, tel: 01224 438178.

New projects

  • HSRU has been awarded funding from the University’s Jim Petrie Fellowship: Lorna McKee and the DoC programme will host Prof Jane Banaszak-Holl from April – June 2013.  Prof Banaszak-Holl is Associate Professor of Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan and her research focuses on organisational change among health care providers.

  • WISEOWLS: An investigation of Ways to Intervene and Support Engagement of Older adults Weight Loss Study:  There is a significant body of work looking at weight loss in adults below the age of 65 years, however there has been very little research into planned weight loss in older adults.  The WISEOWLS project will explore the acceptability and feasibility of potential weight loss interventions in older obese adults.  For further information, please contact Kirsty Kiezebrink; k.kiezebrink@abdn.ac.uk, tel: 01224 438163.

Staff news

  • We wish both Kath Starr and Suzanne Breeman well as they go off on maternity leave.

  • Congratulations to Pat Hoddinott who has been appointed to a Chair in Primary Care at the University of Stirling – she will leave the Unit on 30 September.

  • Congratulations to Jill Francis who has been appointed as Professor of Health Services Research in the School of Health Sciences at City University, London - she will leave the Unit on 21 September.

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.  

All workshops will be held in Room 115 on Level 1 of the Health Sciences Building - Foresterhill.  

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

Dr Katie Gillies (k.gillies@abdn.ac.uk) or

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