STORRE Community: This community contains the ePrints and eTheses produced by the Faculty's staff and students.
http://hdl.handle.net/1893/204
This community contains the ePrints and eTheses produced by the Faculty's staff and students.2024-03-29T13:24:11ZBabyBathe study protocol: A randomised controlled feasibility trial to change baby bathing practice during the first months of life
http://hdl.handle.net/1893/35898
Title: BabyBathe study protocol: A randomised controlled feasibility trial to change baby bathing practice during the first months of life
Author(s): Perkin, Michael; Ussher, Michael; Goldsmith, Lucy P; Flohr, Carsten; Roberts, Amanda; Cornelius, Victoria; Wahlich, Charlotte; Willis, Kathryn; Boyle, Robert J
Abstract: First paragraph: Eczema carries the highest global burden of all skin diseases and produces substantial disease-related morbidity worldwide and affects up to 15% of infants and 6% of older children. Eczema prevalence and time trends vary considerably between countries, but overall eczema appears to be increasing globally by an absolute rate of around 1% per decade in children and adolescents. Eczema is not a new disease, but the significant variation in eczema prevalence and time trends between and within populations suggests that the condition may be partly preventable.2024-03-10T00:00:00ZThe ‘snowball effect’: short and long-term consequences of early career alcohol industry research funding
http://hdl.handle.net/1893/35897
Title: The ‘snowball effect’: short and long-term consequences of early career alcohol industry research funding
Author(s): Mitchell, Gemma; McCambridge, Jim
Abstract: Despite extensive evidence of bias resulting from industry sponsorship of research across health sciences, and longstanding concerns about alcohol industry research funding, there has not been a strong tradition of empirical research on this subject. This study explores researcher decision-making regarding industry funding at the early career stage and the consequences of such funding. Data were derived from semi-structured interviews with researchers working on alcohol policy-relevant topics who first received alcohol industry funding early in their careers (n = 7). Data were analyzed thematically using NVivo software. These early-career researchers largely initiated contact with the industry by applying for funding, mostly from industry research funding organizations. Their decisions were shaped by their research environments, where seeking alcohol industry funding early in careers was normative, in large part due to senior colleagues and peers having connections to the industry. Despite being ‘no strings attached’ a ‘snowball’ effect occurred, whereby initial funding led to more industry funding and other opportunities. Receiving early career industry funding had long-term consequences for researchers, not only shaping research networks but also leading to reputational harms as norms around the acceptability of industry funding changed. Exploring this controversial subject in the context of researcher careers adds depth and meaning to larger quantitative studies on bias resulting from industry sponsorship, and identifies mechanisms through which bias may be produced. Further research is required to study the impact of these processes on alcohol policy-relevant research agendas, and also to explore the wider generalizability of these exploratory findings.2022-01-01T00:00:00ZRecruitment, risks, rewards and regrets: Senior researcher reflections on working with alcohol industry social aspects organisations
http://hdl.handle.net/1893/35896
Title: Recruitment, risks, rewards and regrets: Senior researcher reflections on working with alcohol industry social aspects organisations
Author(s): Mitchell, Gemma; McCambridge, Jim
Abstract: Introduction A growing body of literature suggests alcohol industry corporate social responsibility activity, including the creation of ‘social aspects’ organisations (SAO), may harm rather than improve public health. We aimed to explore established researcher experiences of working with SAOs, and the factors informing their decisions to do so. Methods Qualitative interview study with senior alcohol researchers who had previous or ongoing connections to SAOs or their predecessors initiated when their careers were established (n = 16). Thematic analysis using NVivo software. Results Established researchers were recruited for their expertise by alcohol industry SAOs via employees who were previously academics or via academic colleagues with SAO connections. Motivated by the desire to improve public health and ‘reach out’ beyond academia, researchers were confident that they could maintain their independence when sharing their expertise with SAOs. Short-term connections included attendance at SAO-funded events and book chapter contributions. Sometimes, these led to long-term relationships with SAOs, or researchers were invited to long-term roles by a colleague. These included memberships of scientific advisory committees, board positions, or work as independent consultants. Most researchers reflected negatively on their experiences and had ended their associations, while some had positive experiences. Discussion and Conclusion Current and former researchers play key roles in initiating connections with SAOs, with industry-funded events and invitations to long-term roles by trusted colleagues, mechanisms used to facilitate the development of such relationships. Our study adds to existing evidence that SAO scientific activity does not contribute to public health goals, but does present industry with public relations opportunities.2022-01-01T00:00:00ZTranslating risk: how social workers’ epistemological assumptions shape the way they share knowledge
http://hdl.handle.net/1893/35895
Title: Translating risk: how social workers’ epistemological assumptions shape the way they share knowledge
Author(s): Mitchell, Gemma; Demir, Ipek
Abstract: Social workers are at the heart of drives to improve child health and wellbeing, with knowledge sharing between them and other professionals viewed as a way to reduce the uncertainty associated with this area of risk work. We aim to fill a significant gap in the literature by examining how social workers assess, interpret, filter and share knowledge relating to risk and uncertainty – what we call the translation of risk – within their profession. Based on data from a qualitative study with social workers in England between 2012 and 2013, we identify two main approaches social workers employ. We conceptualise them as 1) reluctant translating, and 2) dynamic translating. Our analysis shows that epistemic assumptions such as how social workers conceptualise the fact/value separation; how they view what we call ‘grey evidence’; and how they understand the relationship between objectivity and subjectivity, underpin how social workers translate risk. We add a new dimension to the literature on risk by arguing that we need to pay attention to the epistemological values that underpin ‘client-facing’ risk work. Thus, we aid understanding of not only how knowledge is shared in particular ways, but also why this is the case. We identify reasons why some social workers include valuable ‘grey evidence’ and prioritise adequacy over accuracy in their translations of risk. We highlight, however, that through an over-emphasis on accuracy and boundaries, evidence-based practice might end up driving out ‘grey evidence’ and inadvertently hampering effective decision-making, judgement and knowledge sharing on risk.2021-01-01T00:00:00Z