Applied Health Psychology

Understanding motivation and supporting change
September 2008

As part of her work as a member of Diabetes UK's 'Psychological Aspects of Diabetes' Working Group, Jane is contributing to a series of workshops to help health professionals understand the role of motivation in diabetes self-care and how to support change in people who want to change aspects of their self-care, behaviour or lifestyle.

The workshops are open to any health professionals working with people with diabetes. Diabetes UK is running the workshops in London (23 September), Birmingham (16 October) and Edinburgh (19 November). For further details, please contact us or visit Diabetes UK's PAD workshops website.

AHP welcomes David Wilson, Director of Operations
September 2008

It is with great pleasure that we welcome David Wilson, who joins AHP as its new Director of Operations. David takes on a variety of operational responsibilities, including human resources, health & safety, marketing, administration, and finance. Clients are most likely to liaise with David regarding invoices and payment procedures. Good luck David - or maybe we should say good luck to our clients!

Impact of insulin pump use on quality of life, study published in Practical Diabetes International
September 2008

The study found that insulin pump use affects the quality of life of children / adolescents and that of their parents in positive ways. Children / adolescents report benefits in terms of school activities, friends and family, while parents reported benefits for their own health (and that of the family) as well as benefits for family life. For a copy of the published article, please contact us. This study was sponsored by Roche Diagnostics, and conducted in collaboration with Kath Barnard and Chas Skinner (University of Southampton).

AHP says "au revoir" to Matt Reaney
August 2008

It was with much sadness that we said farewell to Matt today, his last with AHP Research. Matt leaves us after two years to further his career in outcomes research at Eli Lilly and Company, where he will be specialising in diabetes. Our loss is their gain and we wish Matt well. Meanwhile, business continues here at AHP and we have a vacancy to fill. If you are interested in a career at AHP, please contact us.

AHP beats the odds at ISPOR
August 2008

We are delighted to announce that we have achieved 100% success in our abstract submissions to ISPOR Europe (Athens, 8-11 November 2008). We understand that this is much higher than the average success rate! We will be presenting three workshops and six poster on a range of topics, including the role of health beliefs in outcomes research; implications of and strategies for dealing with missing data in outcomes research; maximising clinical trial participation; reviews of instruments in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), diabetes and narcolepsy; the rigour of systematic search strategies. If you would like details of any of these, we would be happy to offer you an advanced viewing (as we prepare them). We look forward to seeing you in Athens later this year!

Leena Khagram joins AHP Research
June 2008

Leena Khagram MSc has recently re-joined AHP Reearch as an Assistant Scientist. You may remember Leena from her time here in 2007, before she relocated temporarily to Cambridge. Fortune has favoured us and we are delighted that Leena has now re-joined the team from her remote location. She is hoping to live locally again soon - we think she misses the office banter!

Matt Reaney delivers two workshops on "Management of Diabetes in Adolescence"
June 2008

The Management of Diabetes in Adolescence is a 5-day taught course for health professionals involved with the care of adolescents with diabetes. The course aims to give inter-professional healthcare workers the necessary knowledge and skills to support and understand the emotional, behavioural and lifestyle issues encountered during adolescence. Matt was invited to deliver two interactive sessions entitled "Biopsychosocial development" and "Living with Diabetes: Emotional and Behavioural Challenges". Please contact us for more information.

Jane Speight interviewed for 'Research Matters'
May 2008
Jane Speight has been interviewed recently by Diabetes UK for their quarterly magazine 'Research Matters' about her role in the UK Islet Transplant Consortium's research programme. At AHP, we are involved in the psychosocial evaluation of the UK islet transplant programme, exploring patient's expectations and experiences. As we draw to the end of the first year of our 4.5 year project, we have completed a literature review of patient-repored outcomes in islet cell transplantation as well as over twenty interviews with patients in the UK and Edmonton (Canada). The next steps of our work involves publishing the results of the qualitative phase and using these results to inform the design of new questionnaire measures of the impact of islet transplant on quality of life as well as patients' views about treatment (including the transplant itself and the immunosuppression medication required to prevent rejection of the islet cells). Diabetes UK has funded 12 islet transplants over the past six years. Funding approved by the government in February 2008 will increase the rate to 20 in the first year, rising to about 80 in subsequent years. Our role will be to evaluate the success of those transplantations. Eventually, about 2,500 people at risk of hypoglycaemic attacks may benefit from the technique.

Jane Speight invited to speak at 2008 BREATHE Workshop
April 2008

The British REsearch And Training in Health psychology (BREATHE) initiative is allied with the British Psychological Society's Division of Health Psychology. It sets out to promote training and collaboration for early career researchers in health psychology. BREATHE organises specialised workshops every year on specific topics of interest identified by early career researchers working in health psychology. Prominent experts in the field of health psychology are invited to teach in these workshops. The workshops are aims at post-graduate students, research assistants and early career post-doctoral researchers (i.e. those who have completed their PhD within the last 3 years). This year's workshop will be held on 14-15 July at University College London. The theme of the workshop will be 'working in applied health psychology settings' and Jane Speight has been invited to speak on the topic of being an independent consultant in health psychology, to speak about her experiences, with the aim of providing attendees with examples of 'health psychology in action'. For further information, visit the DHP Conferences and Workshops webpage.

How do healthcare professionals feel about insulin pumps to manage diabetes?
March 2008

Matt Reaney recently attended the Diabetes UK Annual Professional Conference (APC) in Glasgow, run exclusively for healthcare professionals in the field of diabetes. This year’s theme was "body, mind and science", a concept that conveys the importance of psychological as well as biomedical outcomes for people with diabetes. During the conference, Matt presented the results of a survey examining healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) attitudes toward the use of insulin pump therapy (CSII) among patients with Type 1 diabetes. The Attitudes to Pump Therapy (APT) Survey found that HCP attitudes were generally positive; HCPs did not consider CSII to be a constant reminder of illness, increase feelings of ‘burnout’, require clinicians to give up too much control or result in DKA. However, HCPs agreed that CSII may work only for those who are highly motivated, and may be too expensive to allow widespread access. In addition, and perhaps most salient to the theme of the conference, HCPs understanding of the patients’ experience was generally limited, highlighted by neutral responses (neither ‘strongly agree’ nor ‘strongly disagree’) to psychosocial issues. The presentation was well received and Matt was asked how the results compare to patient attitudes toward CSII. In 2007, Jane Speight collaborated with Kath Barnard and Chas Skinner on a qualitative study of paediatric patients (and their parents’) experiences of insulin pump therapy (also presented at the APC 2008). All children and parents reported a positive impact of CSII on their QoL, and findings showed that health is not the major QoL priority for children using CSII. However, we have not yet developed a patient version of the APT, so we can’t yet compare the views of healthcare professionals directly with those of patients. What an interesting study that would be! Please contact us for a copy of either poster.

AHP Research to deliver Critical Appraisal Skills training for the UKCRN
February 2008

The UK Clinical Research Network (UKCRN) is an organisation funded by the Department of Health to support and improve standards of healthcare research in the UK. The UKCRN offers an ongoing programme of research training free of charge to all staff and public and patient representatives working on or associated with the UKCRN portfolio of studies. AHP Research will be delivering ‘Critical Appraisal Skills’ and ‘Social Context in Clinical Research’ training on 20th and 21st February in Manchester. If you are eligible to attend the course, please register online and we will look forward to seeing you there.

AHP expanding the team
January 2008

We are currently seeking an outstanding, enthusiastic, ambitious and dynamic Senior Researcher to join our growing team. You will take a lead in a variety of research, training, consultancy and business development projects, working closely with other members of the team to deliver high quality projects in a timely and efficient manner. For further details and a full job description, please see http://www.jobs.ac.uk/jobs/KG078/Senior_Researcher/.

Lee-Yee Chong joins Royal College of Surgeons of England
December 2007

With the New Year comes new beginnings for us all. Lee-Yee Chong left AHP this week to join the Royal College of Surgeons of England. We were sorry to see her leave, but wish her well in her future career. Good Luck Lee-Yee!

AHP Research team attends UKSBM conference
December 2007
Lee Yee Chong and Ana Howarth have recently returned from the 3rd annual scientific meeting for the UK Society for Behavioural Medicine (UKSBM) titled “Health and Behaviour: Population or Individual Action for Change?” During the one-day meeting, keynote speakers discussed subjects ranging from cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) as an integral part of medical care to physiological theories of obesity. Of considerable interest (and high relevance given recent public smoking legislation) was the relationship between law, policies and health, raised by a discussant, which highlighted the enormous role law plays in shaping our health environment. Attended by a well represented selection of health care professionals and academics, workshops and oral sessions focused on behaviour change interventions, some for use with healthcare professionals and some to be utilized by healthcare professionals. Look to our January newsletter “Good Questions” to read more about psychological theories of health behaviour change.

What is health psychology and how do I get in?
December 2007
This month, Matt Reaney and Jane Speight were invited independently to deliver seminars to psychology students on ‘life as a health psychologist’ (at Brunel University and at Royal Holloway, University of London, respectively). The seminars included how health psychology has emerged as a discipline, the training routes available and the options available to health psychologists in the public and private healthcare fields. So, as the year draws to a close, we can relax in the knowledge that we have done our bit to promote health psychology (at least, we don’t think we put anyone off completely!). Please contact us if you would like a copy of the slides.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
December 2007
This year, we have decided to break with the usual custom of sending traditional paper-based greeting cards to our clients and colleagues. Instead, we have opted to send an electronic greeting, in order to save trees and to save money on stamps. “Bah, humbug!” you might say, but we wanted to thank you for your support during the year and celebrate the successes of 2007 by giving something back. So, we decided that the money usually spent on the sending of seasons greetings would be better allocated to our preferred charity, REACT (www.reactcharity.org), which helps children with terminal illnesses all over the UK. Whatever you will be doing during this festive season, we wish you and your loved ones a peaceful and enjoyable Christmas and a healthy and happy 2008.

Critical Appraisal Skills training well received
November 2007
On Tuesday 30th October, we delivered Critical Appraisal Skills training to staff and public and patient representatives working on or associated with the UKCRN portfolio of studies. The course was held at the University of Leeds and was well attended and well received. The course will be repeated on behalf of the UKCRN in Manchester in February. If you are eligible to attend, please register on the UK Clinical Research Network (UKCRN) website . Alternatively, please contact us should you wish us to deliver this or a similar course to your team at your convenience.

Jane Speight reviews the psychological impact of hypoglycaemia
November 2007

Jane Speight is a member of Diabetes UKs Psychological Aspects of Diabetes Working Group, whose remit is to develop a series of workshops focussing on the psychological aspects of diabetes management. Dealing with Hypogylycaemia, the first workshop of this newly formed group took place on Thursday 2 November at Regents College, in the heart of the beautiful Regents Park in London. The workshop was attended by approximately 50 healthcare professionals, who participated in interactive sessions intended to promote awareness of the latest evidence for the psychological impact of hypoglycaemia (Jane Speight) and relating to hypoglycaemia unawareness (Stephanie Amiel), as well as more practical sessions facilitated by Rosie Walker, Alan Archer, and other members of the PAD Working Group. Other speakers included Reena Thomas and Jim Shaw (assessment of hypoglycaemia unawareness), Khalida Ismail (assessment of depression and anxiety), as well as Siobhan Pender and Helen Rogers (case studies of persistent hypoglycaemia). One of the resounding highlights of the day was the opening session facilitated by Rosie Walker, featuring a DVD of three people with diabetes candidly discussing their experiences of hypoglycaemia, offering a true insight into the realities of living with the risk of hypoglycaemia. Thanks to all who took part for such an inspiring and informative day. The workshop will be repeated in Manchester on 20 November. If you would like to attend, please contact Emily Seymour at Diabetes UK on 0207 424 1158.

Brand new!
October 2007
We are pleased to announce our new look brand identity has now been launched and is being rolled out across all our communication. We took the decision to review the identity to reflect the recent growth of our business and to reinforce a professional and appealing image. It is an evolution rather than a complete change and the identity has been modernised by the use of vibrant colouring in contemporary designs, marking a significant milestone for us. The identity was created by working closely with SHILLING Communication, who have helped us develop all aspects of our brand from the logo to the new brochure. Look out for our new identity and our stand at the ISPOR Congress in Dublin in later this month.

AHP Research to deliver Critical Appraisal Skills training for the UKCRN
October 2007
The UK Clinical Research Network (UKCRN) is an organisation funded by the Department of Health to support and improve standards of healthcare research in the UK. The UKCRN offers an ongoing programme of research training free of charge to all staff and public and patient representatives working on or associated with the UKCRN portfolio of studies. AHP Research will be delivering Critical Appraisal Skills training on 30th October at the University of Leeds. If you are eligible to attend the course, please register online and we will look forward to seeing you there.

Well-being on the agenda for the BIG Lottery Fund
October 2007
Jane Speight has been asked to consult on a project led by the New Economics Foundation to develop a single tool to evaluate various projects funded by the BIG Lottery Fund. The common aim of each project funded is to improve well-being in the local community. The tool to be developed by NEF will include assessment of mental health, physical activity and healthy eating. Jane will be advising on the mental health component of the assessment tool.

'Why Gamble?' wins at ISPOR
October 2007
On 20-23 October, more than 1,500 delegates from around the world descended on Dublins fair city for the 10th Annual European 10th European International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR). Those attending included pharmaceutical company executives, academics, researchers, students and regulatory authority representatives alike. We took the opportunity of sponsoring the event to launch our new marketing strategy, which focuses on discouraging clients from gambling with their outcomes research. Our new brochure emphasises the importance of forming patient-reported outcome (PRO) strategies early in product development to identify potential for outcomes research to demonstrate superiority and raise disease awareness. Our stand took pride of place at the centre of the exhibition hall and our roulette wheel provided welcome light relief for many delegates, who tried their luck to win our Nintendo Wii. Congratulations to Ba Luong of Solvay Pharmaceuticals who was the lucky winner. We hope that Ba and other less lucky delegates wont be gambling with their PRO strategies when they get back to the office! Please contact us if you would like a copy of our brochure.

Ana Howarth joins AHP Research
September 2007
Ana Howarth MSc recently joined AHP as an Assistant Scientist. Ana stood out from a large pool of applicants with impressive credentials. She has a rare combination of excellent academic track record (receiving a distinction for her MSc thesis in lower back pain), outstanding administrative skills and a dynamic personality. We are delighted to have Ana on board and know that she will make an invaluable contribution to the team. We are sure that you will join with us in wishing Ana all the best in her new role!

AHP exhibits at ISPOR Europe 2007
September 2007
AHP is proudly sponsoring the 10th European International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Congress in Dublin in October. The focus this year is expanding European horizons for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research. If you will be attending, we look forward to welcoming you to our exhibition booth. Try your luck at our Roulette table for the chance to win a Nintendo Wii.

AHP adopts REACT as their charity for 2007-2008
September 2007
REACT is a UK-based charity, providing Rapid Effective Assistance for Children with potentially Terminal illnesses. REACT is a dynamic charity responding quickly to improve the quality of life of children with life-threatening illness. We were really touched by all the good work that REACT do for children and adolescents in the UK, and identified with their goal of improving quality of life as a primary outcome. Consequently, we have adopted REACT as our chose charity for 2007-2008 and pledge to raise money through various activities; the first being through a survey of readers of our e-bulletin 'Good Answers' (see below).

Let your reactions count
September 2007
Since its launch in January, we have been really pleased with the subscription to our monthly e-bulletin 'Good Questions'. Nine issues in, we are keen to ensure that we are still providing information and news that is both relevant and interesting to our discerning readers. So, we are conducting a brief survey to find out; it will arrive in your inbox shortly! Please spare a little time (max. 3 minute) to complete the survey. For every completed survey received, we will make a donation to REACT (see above). Please see the resources page of the website for back issues and to subscribe to the monthly e-mail bulletins.

Aysha Aslam attends DHP annual conference
September 2007
The British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology has held an annual conference in September each year since the formation of the 'Special Group in Health Psychology' (as it was known) in 1998. The conference has grown substantially since then, now attracting more than 350 delegates from academia, the NHS and commercial sectors, as well as students in health psychology. The conference is hosted by a different university in the UK each year and this years conference was held at the University of Nottingham. Aysha Aslam represented AHP to discuss our ongoing research work in various fields with colleagues. As always, the DHP was a stimulating and enjoyable event.

AHP expanding the team
August 2007
We are currently seeking an outstanding, enthusiastic, ambitious and dynamic research assistant to join our growing team. In the short-term, you will provide support for systematic literature reviews and be responsible for updating our Reference Manager database. In addition, there will be opportunities to support other qualitative and quantitative research projects, as well as providing administrative support to our research and business development activities. For further details and a full job description, please see http://www.jobs.ac.uk/jobs/KF455/Research_Assistant/.

AHP develops new marketing material
August 2007
AHP Research has collaborated with Shilling communication to update the brand. This process may incorporate alterations to the logo and signage, and will include the development of a new brochure highlighting our capabilities and services to the pharmaceutical industry, medical charities, NHS and medical device companies.

Jane Speight is a member of newly formed DRN Writing Group (Education)
August 2007
In response to a UK Diabetes Research Network (DRN) call for bids to form research proposal writing groups, Jane Speight was invited to collaborate on a DRN Writing Group for Education. The proposal was successful and will enable the group to meet at regular intervals over the next two years to formulate plans for multidisciplinary research proposals. The group held its first meeting in August.

Does one size fit all? Assessing the true impact of insulin pump therapy
July 2007
In the latest issue of Diabetic Medicine, Jane Speight and Dr James Shaw (Newcastle University) comment on a recent review of the impact of insulin pump therapy on quality of life (QoL) (Barnard et al, 2007). Speight and Shaw argue that the review cannot draw firm conclusions due to the limitations of earlier pump therapy studies. They conclude that not only is a consensus needed about the how to measure the impact of diabetes on QoL but also that more innovative trial designs are needed to take account of patient priorities and preferences. Please contact us for a copy of the editorial.

AHP collaborates with UKITC on islet transplant research programme
July 2007
We are pleased to announce our collaboration in a 4.5 year multi-centre research project funded by Diabetes UK. Islets are the group of cells that contain the insulin-producing beta cells needed to maintain blood glucose control. In people with Type 1 diabetes, those cells have been destroyed and so they must inject insulin to remain healthy. In the UK, a small number of people have already received a transplant but this new research means that we will be able to investigate both biomedical and psychological outcomes for approximately 100 islet transplant recipients. Please contact us for further information.

Matt Reaney delivers workshop on leadership, change and policy
July 2007
Matt Reaney was invited by Southampton University to deliver a workshop to the MSc Health Psychology students on ‘leadership, change and policy: relevance for health psychology research’. Matt introduced the students to psychological theory and models underpinning each of these areas and the importance, relevance and implications of each to health psychology research and consultancy. Please contact us for further information.

‘Critical Appraisal Skills’ and ‘Social Context in Clinical Research’: AHP delivers courses on behalf of the UKCRN
May 2007
The UK Clinical Research Network (UKCRN) is an organisation funded by the Department of Health to support and improve standards of healthcare research in the UK. The UKCRN has commissioned AHP Research to provide training in ‘Critical Appraisal Skills’ and ‘Social Context in Clinical Research’ to clinicians and healthcare researchers. Both courses were held earlier this month at the Medical Research Council, London. The courses were well attended and feedback from delegates was very positive, including: “I feel this course was very useful as it allowed me to perform research critical appraisal/analysis first hand …in other words it allowed me to gain practical skills” “Very professional and enjoyable” “Team work amongst speakers was visible throughout the day” “Excellent set-up, lots of participation. Presenters made audience feel at ease and comfortable to ask questions” “The course was very interactive, encouragement for participation” Future dates and locations for ‘Critical Appraisal Skills’ and ‘Social Context in Clinical Research’ are to be confirmed. Please contact us or see the UKCRN website for further details.

Lee-Yee Chong attends ISPOR International, USA
May 2007
Lee-Yee Chong has just returned from the12th Annual International meeting of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) in Arlington, USA. The theme of the conference was "New Tools, New Audiences for Health Outcomes Research". The conference included many interesting presentations, which Lee-Yee highlights in this month’s issue of “Good Questions”. In addition to attending the many scientific sessions, Lee-Yee met with many existing and prospective clients, took part in the ‘Changing Culture or Language of an Application‘ taskforce meeting and gained some additional insight into the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) final guidance on Patient Reported Outcomes.

Matt Reaney approved to study for BPS Chartered Status
May 2007
Congratulations to Matt Reaney who has been approved by the British Psychological Society to study for his Stage II training in Health Psychology, to become a Chartered Health Psychologist. This qualification assesses candidates on the range of competences that have been defined for health psychologists, including research, consultancy, and training, as well as contributing to the evolution of legal, ethical and professional standards in health and applied psychology. Since being awarded his MSc Health Psychology (with distinction), Matt has conducted several research projects and, in the past few years, has been adding consultancy and training to his portfolio. The opportunity to gain chartered status through the British Psychological Society is an important step in Matt’s continuing professional development.

Lee-Yee Chong awarded her PhD
May 2007
Lee-Yee, or “Doc” as she will now be known, has been awarded her PhD at the University of Singapore. Lee-Yee’s PhD dissertation explored the perceptions and management of asthma in a multi-cultural society including cross-cultural adaptation of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instruments for paediatric asthma.

Aysha Malik accepted on the MSc Health Psychology course
May 2007
Our congratulations to Aysha Malik who has been awarded a place on the highly competitive MSc Health Psychology at University College London (UCL). Aysha joined AHP Research in July 2006 having gained a first-class degree in psychology from Royal Holloway University of London (RHUL). For her final-year research project, Aysha investigated doctor-patient communication in ethnic minority groups using one-to-one interviews. Her dissertation won the award for the best in her year (as well as highest mark at RHUL), and was subsequently nominated for a University of London award. Fortunately, we will continue to benefit from Aysha’s brilliance, enthusiasm and hard work, as she will work part-time during her MSc.

Clinician attitudes to pump therapy presented at PSAD
April 2007
Jane Speight and Matt Reaney have just returned from the annual meeting of the Psychosocial Aspects of Diabetes (PSAD) Study Group in Brussels. The PSAD is an official Study Group of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), for researchers with an interest in the psychosocial aspects of diabetes. The aim of the Group is to improve the quality of psychosocial research in diabetes, and to stimulate dissemination of effective psychosocial interventions in diabetes care. As 2007 is the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) ‘Year of the Child’, the focus of this year's meeting was “diabetes in children and new technology”. Matt was invited to present the pilot results of a study into clinician attitudes to insulin pump therapy, which he is currently writing up for publication. Since that work, the Attitudes to Pump Therapy (APT) survey has been administered in a UK-based validation study, also being prepared for publication. Please contact us for a copy of Matt’s presentation of the pilot results or to be alerted when papers are published.

AHP Research sends team to PCOS UK annual conference
April 2007
It is estimated that 5-10% of women of childbearing age in the UK have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS UK is a new multidisciplinary society for health professionals caring for women with PCOS. It was formed to raise awareness and knowledge of PCOS and related conditions among healthcare professionals in the UK. Three successful PCOS UK conferences were held in 2006 (in London, Glasgow and Manchester), and the first 2007 conference was held this month at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London. Jane Speight, Lee-Yee Chong and Aysha Malik attended the conference and discussed our ongoing work evaluating the psychosocial aspects of PCOS with medical colleagues. Please contact us for further information about our research in PCOS.

Baby Reaney makes an appearance
April 2007
We are sure that you will join with us in congratulating Matt and Suzanne on the arrival of their son, Oliver Matthew Reaney, who entered the world on Wednesday 4th April. Apparently, mother and baby are both doing well … but father is exhausted!

Four-year DAFNE results presented at Diabetes UK
March 2007
Jane Speight and Matt Reaney recently attended the successful Diabetes UK Annual Professional Conference (APC) in Glasgow, run exclusively for healthcare professionals in the field of diabetes. This year’s theme was "making the connection", a concept which is exemplified by the fundamental importance of the multidisciplinary approach to management, including structured education programmes. Jane was invited to present the 4-year follow-up of the Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating (DAFNE) trial on behalf of the DAFNE Study Group. The DAFNE trial was a waiting-list-controlled study of a 5-day training course in flexible, intensive insulin therapy in adults with Type 1 diabetes (DAFNE Study Group, BMJ, 2002). Short-term (6 and 12 month) results (N=135) were very positive with significant improvement in glycaemic control and highly significant reduction in the negative impact of diabetes on quality of life (QoL). On average, there was no significant increase in BMI or other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. The long-term (4-year) outcomes of a single DAFNE course showed that clinically significant improvements in blood glucose control were still apparent and partially maintained while the highly significant improvements in QoL were fully maintained. DAFNE is currently available in 57 centres and there are now over 5,500 DAFNE graduates in the UK. DAFNE has more recently been adopted in Australia, where there are now 11 centres delivering “Oz DAFNE”. See this month’s Good Questions newsletter for more information or contact us for a copy of the poster. If you would like to post information about a forthcoming conference, training workshop or other event on this website, please contact us. We aim to keep our clients and colleagues up to date on developments at AHP Research. If you missed us at a recent conference or you’d like to know what we’ve been working on recently, browse our news archive and recent research pages.

Happy New Year!
January 2007

A common greeting at this time of year – but, have you stopped to think about what happiness is and how you can achieve it this year? It is widely acknowledged that happiness is a predictor of behaviour. However, as a society, it appears that we are less happy with our lives than we were a generation or two ago. But why is that? If you are happy, is that sufficient? Social scientists would argue that happiness is a transient state (i.e. short bursts of pleasant emotions and moods) that needs to be balanced with other elements of positive mental health, e.g. resilience, optimism, self-esteem. But which of these elements are most important for achieving positive mental health? And can we measure it? AHP Research has recently completed reviews of specific mental health and well-being literature (and scales) and national and cross-national surveys evaluating mental health. This work was commissioned by NHS Health Scotland and will be used to inform a core set of sustainable mental health indicators for Scotland to provide a way of monitoring positive mental health at a national level and also for evaluating the efficacy of local interventions. For further information, please see the January issue of Good Questions. If you would like to be notified when these reports are published, please contact us. As Albert Schweitzer once said: “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success”. So, the next time someone wishes you a Happy New Year, give some thought to what that means for you.

AHP Research exhibits at ISPOR congress, Copenhagen
November 2006
AHP Research was pleased to exhibit at the hugely successful and well-attended International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) conference for the first time. The ISPOR 9th Annual European Congress was held in Copenhagen and focused on “asking critical questions”. The congress was an excellent platform to discuss pharmacoeconomics and health outcomes research in numerous medical conditions and treatment indications. We valued the opportunity to speak with fellow researchers, existing and potential clients about their own research interests and to discuss the research in which we have been engaged. In addition, we were able to explain how the application of psychological principles (e.g. focusing on patients' priorities and preferences) can result in better health outcomes.

UKCRN commissions AHP Research to provide Critical Appraisal Skills training
October 2006
The UK Clinical Research Network is an organisation funded by the Department of Health to support and improve standards of healthcare research in the UK. The UKCRN offers an ongoing programme of research training to UKCRN clinicians and has commissioned AHP Research to provide Critical Appraisal Skills training in 2007. Contact us for further details.

Quality of life impaired by polycystic ovary syndrome
September 2006
Jane Speight is presenting the findings of a qualitative study of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) at the BPS Division of Health Psychology conference. PCOS affects approximately 15% of women of reproductive age, and has been shown in our study to have a negative impact on various aspects of life. Contact us for a copy of the poster presentation.

Review of Scales of Positive Mental Health
May 2006
Jane Speight is presenting the results of a review of scales of positive mental health at the Clifford Beers Foundation on 18th May in London. This review was commissioned by NHS Health Scotland as part of their ongoing programme of work to establish a core set of national, sustainable mental health and well-being indicators for Scotland. The technical report and an accompanying "practitioner guide" will be available later in 2006. Contact us for more details.

Editorial on Patient Satisfaction published
November 2005
Jane Speight is Guest Editor of Value in Health's Special Supplement on patient satisfaction. This supplement brings together a range of papers, illustrating the diversity of research in this field. Introducing the Special Issue, Jane outlines the state of the art and highlights the problems that have yet to be resolved and the opportunities available to further our understanding of "patient satisfaction". Contact us for a copy of the published paper.

Diabetes Wellness Weekend
June 2005
The Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation (DRWF) hosted the first of this year's Diabetes Wellness Weekends in Horsley, Surrey. Amongst the guest speakers was Jane Speight whose talk was entitled "Can we improve quality of life for people with diabetes?" The Wellness Weekends provide an opportunity for people with diabetes (and their relatives) to learn more about their condition and its management during seminars, workshops, exercise sessions and opportunities to meet other people with diabetes. Contact us for further details.

UK Department of Health endorses DAFNE and other structured education programmes
June 2005
Health Minister Rosie Winterton announced the publication today of a report providing guidance to health professionals on the provision of high quality education for people with diabetes. The report endorses structured education programmes, and specifically names the DAFNE approach as an example of good practice. The DAFNE trial (2002) demonstrated that flexible intensive insulin therapy can improve not only biomedical outcomes but has significant benefits for quality of life and other psychological outcomes. From January 2006, all Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) will need to implement NICE recommendations by providing all people with diabetes with high quality, structured education. Contact us for further details

'Predicting Outcomes in the DAFNE Trial' presented at PSAD, Wuerzberg
April 2005
Jane Speight attended the 10th Annual Spring Meeting of the PsychoSocial Aspects of Diabetes (PSAD) in Wuerzberg, Germany to present the latest results from the UK Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating (DAFNE) Trial. DAFNE is a flexible, intensive approach to insulin therapy. In a UK trial (published in the BMJ, 2002) DAFNE was shown to significantly reduce the negative impact of diabetes on quality of life (QoL) and improve blood glucose control without significantly increasing severe hypoglycaemia or body mass index. Analyses to predict outcomes of the DAFNE trial show that greatest improvement in quality of life was achieved by those reporting less dietary freedom and less satisfaction with treatment at baseline. Improvement in blood glucose control was predicted by higher levels at baseline and also by expectations of DAFNE (perhaps reflecting greater optimism or determination). Prediction of weight gain was complex, but involved having less dietary freedom at baseline and the influence of the training centre. While DAFNE was successful overall, outcomes are likely to be maximised for individuals if their expectations and personal goals are considered by DAFNE Educators. Contact us for a copy of the published abstract.

New measure of Satisfaction with Renal Treatment published
March 2005
The March issue of the American Journal of Kidney Disease features an article co-authored by Jane Speight describing the development of The 'Renal Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire' (RTSQ). The RTSQ is designed to be suitable for people using any of the various treatments available for chronic kidney failure (CKF). It is a short (11-item), reliable measure of satisfaction with treatment with treatment for CKF. In a preliminary study using the RTSQ, those who had received a transplant expressed greater overall satisfaction, with specific advantages of transplantation shown by all individual items, including convenience, time, lifestyle, freedom and satisfaction to continue current treatment. Contact us for a copy of the published paper.