Study 1

Study team: Professor David Hewson (david.hewson@beds.ac.uk), Nicky Poulain (nicky.poulain@nhs.net) Oluwakemi Odufuwa (oluwakemi.odufuwa@beds.ac.uk), Dr Iva Tsocheva (ivelina.tsocheva@beds.ac.uk), Professor Gurch Randhawa (gurch.randhawa@beds.ac.uk) and Professor Yannis Pappas (yannis.pappas@beds.ac.uk)

BLMK ICS priorities

• Ageing well
• Reducing inequalities

Summary

Age-related illnesses such as sarcopenia and frailty are associated with poor health outcomes, especially for elderly residents of underprivileged areas. As of right now, the NHS mandates that all general practitioner offices screen for frailty using the electronic Frailty Index (eFI). The NHS does not, however, screen for sarcopenia or provide any kind of care for the condition. Physical activity is part of the evidence-based recommendations for frailty and sarcopenia, although programme adherence is poor. Co-production with end-users is one strategy to increase the adoption of physical exercise and other healthy lifestyle practices, which can enhance the effectiveness of numerous healthcare interventions. The purpose of this research is to co-produce a physical activity intervention for older individuals with frailty and sarcopenia who come from varied cultural backgrounds.

Expected Impact

• To be the first sarcopenia screening program within the NHS, which at present does not have sarcopenia screening guidelines in place.
• To have a major impact on NHS policy at both regional and national levels in geriatrics and gerontology.
• To have an educational impact, with screening involving role-emerging placements.

 

Study 2

Study team: Dr Erica Cook (erica.cook@beds.ac.uk), Professor Gurch Randhawa (gurch.randhawa@beds.ac.uk), Professor Yannis Pappas (yannis.pappas@beds.ac.uk) and
Dr Ahmed Monjoor (monjour.ahmed2@nhs.net)

BLMK ICS priorities

• Reducing inequalities
• Live well

Summary

There are concerns that the digital divide may worsen if remote service access methods become more widespread due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid expansion of digital services. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how people view primary care, particularly in relation to disadvantaged groups such as low-income members of ethnic minorities, individuals with complex medical needs who are more susceptible to inequality, and others. Thus, the purpose of this research is to close this knowledge gap by identifying the obstacles that older, socially disadvantaged, and ethnically diverse populations face when seeking primary care, as well as the effects that these obstacles have on the standard and satisfaction of care received.

Expected Impact

• To inform local and national strategies on how to improve primary care access and experience for patients
• To reduce inequalities in accessing primary care

Study 3

Study team: Dr Erica Cook (erica.cook@beds.ac.uk), Dr Jodi Emma Wainwright (JodiEmma.Wainwright@beds.ac.uk), Professor Gurch Randhawa (gurch.randhawa@beds.ac.uk),
Professor Yannis Pappas (yannis.pappas@beds.ac.uk), Harjinder Singh (harjinder.singh@smartahealthcare.co.uk), Dr Ashley Bennett (Ashley.bennett@beds.ac.uk), Fiona Garnett (fiona.garnett@nhs.net) and Funmi Balogun (f.balogun1@nhs.net)

BLMK ICS priorities

• Age well
• Live well
• Reduce Inequalities

Summary

Non-compliance is costly, prevalent, and problematic. Unintentional non-adherence accounts for about 70% of cases and is not well studied. Patients benefit from adherence when their health outcomes are improved. Automated medication reminders (AMR) are a novel, secure, and practical way to increase adherence that has been demonstrated to provide significant financial and patient benefits. To pre-fill and provide this intervention to patients 65 years of age or older who are prescribed at least two drugs, this project intends to enlist pharmacies in the areas of Luton, Bedfordshire, and Milton Keynes and look at how AMRs affect adherence, quality of life, and use of medical services. The uptake and engagement of AMRs, the delivery and integrity of the intervention, the mechanisms of action, and the contextual factors that affect

1. engagement,
2. delivery,
3. experiences, and
4. will all be evaluated through a mixed methods process evaluation.

Expected Impact

• To increase the medication adherence
• To improve the health status and quality of life
• To reduce the health service costs

Study 4

Study team: Dr Shuby Puthussery (shuby.puthussery@beds.ac.uk), Dr Pei-Ching Tseng (pei-ching.tseng@beds.ac.uk), Professor Yannis Pappas (yannis.pappas@beds.ac.uk), Sangy Manjini Anandaraj (sangy.manjinianandaraj@beds.ac.uk), Dr Sanhita Chakrabarti (sanhita.chakrabarti@nhs.net) Emma Brown (emma.brown33@nhs.net) and Tara Pauley (tara.pauley@bedsft.nhs.uk)

BLMK ICS priorities

• Starting well
• Reducing inequalities

Summary

It has long been known that antenatal care, which expectant mothers receive from medical professionals from the moment their pregnancy is confirmed until labour begins, is an efficient method of maximising both the health of the mother and the unborn child. Compared to White women and those from less poor communities, women from ethnic minority origins and those who reside in socially deprived communities are much more likely to start prenatal care later and attend fewer appointments. There is also a greater chance of poor health outcomes for these mothers and their unborn children; unequal and delayed access to prenatal care has been suggested as a possible contributing factor. Therefore, by implementing and assessing a tailored community-based co-produced intervention, the project seeks to improve mothers' timely antenatal care initiation and adequate uptake among them in ethnically diverse, socially disadvantaged areas of Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes (BLMK).

Expected Impact

• To significantly reduce inequalities among ethnically diverse and socially deprived communities using a tailor-made community-based approach
• To ensure that all mothers have access to the care they need to have a healthy pregnancy, which in turn will maximise positive outcomes for mothers and babies enabling a good start in life