Research & Enterprise Presentations

An evaluation of students' experiences of learning about service improvement in healthcare within the pre-registration nursing curriculum

Lesley Baillie, Barbara Bromley, Rebecca Jones, Moira Walker
Department of Acute Health Care; Department of Community Services
Contact: Lesley.Baillie@beds.ac.uk

Student nurses evaluated service improvement in healthcare positively, showing an understanding of the benefits to safety and quality in care.

Quality improvement is an important agenda within the NHS and there is a drive to ensure that all NHS staff are committed to improving their part of the service. In 2010, as part of a national project, we implemented the teaching of service improvement in healthcare within the pre-registration nursing curriculum. Students on degree pathways had to apply their learning to a summative practice placement project. This presentation reports results from the student questionnaires and focus groups, which form part of the project's multi-method case study evaluation. The students were very positive towards service improvement, clearly identifying the need to improve services to benefit patient safety and quality of experience. The results indicated a good grasp of the philosophy and methodology of service improvement. Students also indicated areas where further support and preparation for the service improvement projects could enhance their experience.

http://www.institute.nhs.uk/no_delays/introduction/fundamentals_for_quality_improvement.html

Electronic patient record access: a survey of student nurses' and midwives' experiences as a basis for improvement

Lesley Baillie, Sandra Chadwick, Bob Mann, Melanie Brooke-Read
Acute Health Care Community Services
Contact: Lesley.Baillie@beds.ac.uk

Students nurses and midwives face barriers to electronic patient record access on placements so improved systems need developing in partnership with NHS Trusts.

The NHS continues to use paper-based record systems, but electronic patient record systems are increasingly being implemented. Good record keeping is integral to nursing and midwifery practice and is essential for safe and effective patient care. Therefore, students must be prepared for effective patient record-keeping and have opportunities to apply their learning in their clinical practice placements. Anecdotally, there were barriers reported to students accessing and using electronic patient records so a survey was conducted to establish student nurses' and midwives' access to, and use of, patient records and how they learned about record keeping. This presentation presents the questionnaire results (n=215), supported by qualitative focus group data. Overall, only 50% of students had accessed and used electronic patient records and barriers to access were illuminated. The results form a basis for developing improved access for students; these systems are now being developed in partnership with NHS trusts.

Child protection, the media and social work

Ivor Gaber, Jon Silverman
RIMAD
Contact: ivor.gaber@beds.ac.uk

An analysis of how the media reports child protection issues and proposals for assisting social workers in minimising negative media reporting

This paper is based on work undertaken by the presenters as part of the recent Government's review into child protection led by Professor Eileen Munro. The role of the media in the reporting of child protection cases, such as Baby P. has been crucial in both influencing public understanding, or misunderstanding, of the complexities surrounding these issues and has also had a major impact on social work practice in this area. In addition to researching the general issue, the presentation will also look at one particular case study and will conclude by suggesting guidelines for social workers and their managers who find themselves having to deal with the media in connection with child protection issues.

Munro Review of Child Protection (see Chapter 7) http://www.education.gov.uk/munroreview/downloads/8875_DfE_Munro_Report_TAGGED.pdf

Development of an assay to identify T cell populations in leukaemia patients

Suzanne Brooks, Stephanie Bonney, Hans-Georg Rammensee, Freda Stevenson, Tim Elliott, Kim Orchard, Barbara Guinn
Cancer Sciences Division (MP824), University of Southampton; Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tübingen, Germany; Division of Science, University of Bedfordshire; Department of Haematological Medicine, The Rayne Institute, London
Contact: barbara.guinn@beds.ac.uk

We have developed a method to identify the different types of T cells in leukaemia patients, which may relate to treatment outcome, and will save the amount of patient samples required for immune assays.

We have developed a method which can indicate the specific T populations present in leukaemia patients. In doing so we can obtain a short list of T cell populations to examine further, saving time and precious sample. Almost all leukaemia patients will achieve remission through the use of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and stem cell transplants. Once patients are in remission their bone marrow is less full of diseased cells and their immune system can work better. This would be a good time to vaccine patients and we would like to use DNA vaccines to do this as they are (relatively) cheap to produce and easy to make. Vaccination would hopefully remove residual leukaemia cells, decrease the risk of relapse and help improve the patient's chances of survival. The array method will indicate how and when we can best boost the immune system of leukaemia patients to kill their own diseased cells.

http://www.beds.ac.uk/departments/science/staff/barbara-guinn http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/barbara- guinn/10/450/809

Interfirm knowledge transfer in strategic alliances: A review of research methodologies

Q He, A Ghobadian, D Gallear
BMRI; University of Reading; Brunel University
Contact: Qile.He@beds.ac.uk

Presenting a methodology review of 82 empirical studies examining interfirm knowledge transfer in strategic alliances published in peer-reviewed journals from 1990 to 2010

As far as the authors are able to ascertain, the research methodology employed in the interfirm knowledge transfer studies has not been subjected to a systematic review. In this research a systematic review of 82 empirical studies examining interfirm knowledge transfer in strategic alliances published in peer-reviewed journals from 1990 to 2010 is presented. The authors provide a specific description of the research methods and the analyses employed by previous researchers. It reveals the general patterns of the research methodologies deployed and their limitations. By combining the methodological review with the analysis of main theoretical concepts, this research offers an explanation of the relationship between the research methodology deployed and the aspects of interfirm knowledge transfer studied. The possible gaps in the current empirical studies of knowledge transfer in strategic alliances from both methodological and theoretical perspectives are identified. A number of possibilities for future studies are proposed.

Relevance and insights: The relationship of the Social Sciences with Tourism Studies

Andrew Holden
INTOUR
Contact: andrew.holden@beds.ac.uk

As a new academic domain, tourism has to communicate academic credibility and validity to society and policy. Tourism studies' evolutionary interaction with social sciences reflects its emergent acceptance and tourism's global impact.

As a comparatively recently established domain of academia, tourism has to communicate academic credibility and validity and to society and policy. The path of the interaction of tourism studies with the social sciences is an evolutionary one that is reflective of both its emergent academic acceptance and tourism’s now global impact. As the tentacles of tourism extend further, spreading from increasingly diverse spatial origins, a necessity for the understanding of tourism has become evident if it is to be used for the advancement of economic, social and environmental well-being. The process of evolution necessitates that comprehending the processes and dynamics of tourism is no longer an academic exercise but one that is integral to policy, for example the UNWTO Sustainable Tourism Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP) initiative towards meeting Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Raising aspirations of the hard-to-reach: outcomes and impacts of Widening participation activity for looked after children and young people in alternative education


Aimhigher-led Widening Participation activities impact positively on attitudes and aspirations of looked after and excluded young people and potentially raise their life outcomes.

Aimhigher initiative has been working with vulnerable groups for a number of years. The prime focus of this activity framework has always been on raising aspirations, awareness and attainment from disadvantaged groups. With the funding cuts, should the practice be sustained? What is the impact of this initiative, and can the practice be improved, replicated, embedded? One of the aspects being explored is young's people resilience, risk and protective factors and whether Aimhigher's outreach activity has increased protective factors in young people's lives, thus raising the likelihood of positive life outcomes - which may result in better health, academic and career choices and a positive contribution to the society.

Supporting student parents in higher education: equity and policies

Marie-Pierre Moreau, Charlotte Kerner
IRED; ISPAR
Contact: marie-pierre.moreau@beds.ac.uk

The main findings of an investigation of the role of higher education institution (HEI) policies in supporting student parents in England.

Since the publication of the Dearing report in 1997, widening participation has been a key element of HE policy. However, this widening participation agenda has largely ignored students with parental responsibilities. This presentation indicates the main findings of a research project funded by the Nuffield Foundation about the role of higher education institution (HEI) policies in supporting student parents in England. It will explore the following questions: • What institutional support is made available to student parents in HE? • How relevant and effective are existing HEI policies and practices in supporting this group? • How relevant and effective are these policies in supporting the needs of diverse groups of student parents? Using a social constructivist and feminist theoretical framework, the research team conducted ten case studies of English universities, each involving an analysis of policy statements and interviews with student parents and staff (with about 80 interviews conducted in total).

http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/supporting-student-parents-he

The Finnish teacher training school: outcomes and impact on national objectives in teacher education

Andrea Raiker
Department of Education Studies; IRED
Contact: andrea.raiker@beds.ac.uk

Finland's children achieve highly in international tests with no government control of standards. This could be possible in the UK.

In Finland all teacher training takes place in universities in teacher training schools. All student teachers must study for a minimum of five years to attain a Masters degree to be qualified to teach. Finnish national figures show that overall, university teacher training school student teachers are recruited from the top 10% of applicants. There are no national professional standards to be assessed at graduation as there are in the UK. Yet in the 2009 PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) exercise held in 65 countries, the children they teach came 3rd in reading, 5th in mathematics and 2nd in science compared with UK children's 25th in reading, 27th in mathematics and 18th in science. The UK government's reform of teaching training appears to be moving in the opposite direction to Finland with responsibility for training going out of the universities and the move towards Masters qualifications for teachers being scrapped. This presentation suggests how this paradox could be resolved to the benefit of our children.

http://www.oph.fi/english/education

Knowledge in Action - University Consultancy, supported by the Knowledge Hub

John Brewer, Jon Silvermann, Geraint Williams, Veronica Rigby
Department of Sports & Exercise Science; Centre for Media Analysis Research and Consultancy; IRED; Department of Computer Science and Technology; Knowledge Hub
Contact: veronica.rigby@beds.ac.uk

University Consultancy - 'win-win' collaborations with business demonstrated through case studies and testimonials

The Knowledge Hub Consultancy Service is now in to its third year. The Service provides comprehensive support for University staff engaging with business. Key success criteria include: • Collaborations across industry sectors engaging new business / employer partners with the University • Clients include large companies, SMEs and third sector. • 80 company projects supported • New income stream for University, £300k to date • Research papers and conference presentation opportunities • 'Live' graduate consultant / work experience • CV builder • Wider collaborations leveraged e.g. MBA projects • 22 Innovation Vouchers delivered • 10 Low Carbon projects delivered • Addressing real business issues • Enhancing staff / department / research centre profile through demonstrable impact of business relevant research

http://www.beds.ac.uk/consultancy

Impact of methanol and cryopreservation on metabolic activity and cytoskeleton proteins of zebrafish (Danio rerio) ovarian fragments

Tiziana Zampolla, Emma Spikings, David M Rawson, Tiantian Zhang
LIRANS
Contact: tiziana.zampolla@beds.ac.uk

Cryopreservation and methanol exposure affect metabolic activity and mitochondria and cytoskeleton proteins distribution in zebrafish ovarian tissue.

Cryopreservation of reproductive cells and tissue of aquatic species plays a significant role in environmental conservation and protection of aquatic biodiversity. Whilst cryopreservation of fish sperm has been successfully achieved, cryopreservation of fish eggs and embryos remains unsuccessful. Several studies have been undertaken on cryopreservation of isolated fish ovarian follicles, although the protocols used lead to a compromised viability. The present study investigates the effect of methanol and cryopreservation on ATP level, mitochondria, actin and tubulin distribution on zebrafish (Danio rerio) ovarian tissues containing stage I, II and III ovarian follicles. Controlled slow cooling of ovarian tissues using 1M and 4M methanol was carried out. The results showed that 1M methanol was less toxic than 4M methanol although subsequent cryopreservation induced decreases in ATP levels. Immunocytochemistry and actin staining results showed impacts of cryopreservation on mitochondria and cytoskeleton proteins distribution. Stage III follicles were the most sensitive to cryopreservation.