Research Forum 2023
On Thursday 16th March 2023 we hosted our annual Research Forum. This annual event is an opportunity to share with staff, academics, service users and carers what research has happened in the Trust in the previous year and any upcoming research planned in the future.
The agenda included presentations about co-producing a nature activity for children with ADHD, the use of six lead ECG machines in psychiatry, improving diabetes care and outcomes for people with serious mental illness, a community-based, social prescribing intervention to support young people on mental health service waiting lists, a virtual reality game designed to address auditory hypersensitivity for autistic young people and serious incident investigations and suicides under adult community mental health services. A shift in the way that research is being designed and delivered to be more co-produced was very apparent this past year and this was evidenced in the way that the studies were presented. We were very fortunate that the findings were delivered by a range of individuals including academics, service users and clinical staff, one of whom shared his experience of delivering an intervention alongside his clinical role. It was incredibly inspiring to hear everyone’s perspectives of how co-production works in practice from its design at the start to how it’s delivered and reported.
It was great to see in the evaluation and feedback that this way of presenting was appreciated by the delegates too with one delegate saying:
“Really liked the talks, good variety of presenters. timing was good, I loved the involvement of service users to hear their side of research.”
We also were pleased to take some time delivering two workshops whose themes were ‘Making research accessible to all’ and ‘Getting started in Research’. Both workshops had a variety of hosts and were well received although delegates noted that some work is needed on the delivery going forward.
The event saw several research-related posters displayed which were reviewed and judged by delegates on the day and received cash prizes. First prize went to Ellen Kingsley for “Investigating social competence and isolation in children with Autism taking part in LEGO® based therapy clubs in school environments” and second prize went to Emma Pearce for “Service development: Using research to inform older peoples speech and language therapy (SLT).”
We were pleased to have our clinical leads Dr Clare Fenton and Dr George Crowther and the Trust’s Medical Director Dr Chris Hosker supporting the event. Both Clare and George have first-hand experience of delivering research in the Trust. Chris provided the closing remarks of the event and said:
“The research presented is very relevant to current challenges we face as a Trust and is helping us solve real problems for our organisation.”
Another delegate feedback that [the event was]
“Very well pitched, I like to hear the big picture and impact, this was included nicely.” And a further delegate noted “Before yesterday’s forum, I didn’t know there are so many research projects going on within the trust. I would like to know more opportunities for trainee doctors to get involved in some of these projects.”
Following the event we gave the delegates and opportunity sign up to Innovation magazine (a department newsletter providing updates and outcomes on research) and eBulletin (a monthly email providing research news, training, events and funding information) to enable delegates to feel fully in-the-know about what research activity is happening in the Trust.
This year, as with the previous years, was a well-received event and it is thanks to those presenting, hosting, attending and contributing to the event.
Click below links to view slides from the presentations:
- Co-producing a nature activity for children with ADHD (CONIFAS) by Hannah Armitt, Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust – to view slides click here.
- Six lead ECG machines in psychiatry – The good, the bad and the unreadable by George Crowther, LYPFT – to view slides click here.
- DIAMONDS for all – working together to improve diabetes care and outcomes for people with serious mental illness by Jen Brown, University of York, and co-presenters Shaun Bell (DIAMONDS Coach), University of York and Gary Hellewell, DIAMONDS Voice – to view slides click here.
- Safety Nets by Megan Garside, COMIC team, LYPFT – to view slides click here.
- Soundfields study by Amelia Taylor, COMIC team, LYPFT – to view slides click here.
- Serious incident investigations and suicides under adult community mental health services; protocol and findings from the literature by Helen Haylor, Bradford District Care Trust and Tony Sparkes, University of Bradford – to view slides click here.