Population Health projects
Consult this page for a list of research projects based in the Division of Population Health.
Scoping review of literature on increases in alcohol-specific mortality and mortality in high-income countries since 2019
Why has alcohol-related mortality and morbidity increased in some high-income countries since 2019?
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Supervisors
Dr Laura Fenton (l.m.fenton@sheffield.ac.uk)
Dr Abi Stevely (a.stevely@sheffield.ac.uk)
Abstract and methodology
The project will involve conducting a scoping or similar form of systematic review of published research on rises in alcohol-specific mortality and morbidity in high-income countries since 2019.
While we are principally interested in literature containing explanations for the increases, an initial aim of the project will to establish the size of the literature to determine if there are a sufficient number of studies to justify this focus. If not, the student may be asked to first conduct a review of literature detailing patterns in alcohol-specific mortality and morbidity, and then to conduct a review of literature containing explanations of these patterns.
Type of project
Qualitative Project/non-lab based - primarily using qualitative methods
Additional training or teaching
The student will be offered 'on-the-job' training and support with conducting literature searches and organising a scoping review or similar form of review.
Ethics requirements
Scoping review - no ethics required.
Understanding the research landscape around missing equalities indicators in routinely collected healthcare data
Missing information regarding equalities indicators in routinely collected healthcare data can have significant impacts for understanding how well disadvantaged or vulnerable people are served by the healthcare system. We wish to to understand how much research has been undertaken around this question, where the research gaps are, and whether mitigating action is being taken by studies using routinely collected data.
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Supervisors
Jen Lewis (jen.lewis@sheffield.ac.uk)
Maxine Kuczawski (m.kuczawski@sheffield.ac.uk)
Abstract and methodology
When demographic information is missing from routine healthcare data, any analyses examining access to and outcomes of healthcare may be biased. It is important to understand the extent of this issue and what solutions are used to mitigate its impact. This project will examine published literature to understand the current research landscape into this question. The student will use systematic search methods to identify all potentially relevant literature; screening methods to appropriately narrow the results; and critical appraisal to assess the quality and value of the papers.
In addition to the BSc course, the student will work through material for the Masters in Public Health module MP4108: Systematic Approaches to Evidence Assessment (online). This module and background reading will be the focus from September to November. From December to March the focus will be on searching, screening and documented assessment of papers. From April, the focus will be on finalising the review and writing up the dissertation.
This project will aim to produce a scoping review utilising systematic search techniques to- understand the breadth of existing research
- document identified problems and potential solutions
- determine how well identified solutions are implemented in current studies
- identify research gaps and areas in which typical practice is poor
Type of project
Qualitative Project/non-lab based - primarily using qualitative methods
Additional training or teaching
Students will work through the material for the Masters in Public Health module SMP4108: Systematic Approaches to Evidence Assessment (online) during the autumn semester. The majority of this material is made available online to be engaged with at the student's convenience and pace and should not interfere with scheduled teaching.
If desired (and if space allows), the student may also engage with the in-person module SMP4109: Systematic Reviews and Critical Appraisal Techniques during the spring semester, to gain a deeper understanding of relevant techniques.
The student will not be assessed on these modules.
Ethics requirements
Not known: contact Carolyn Staton in the first instance.
Supporting the shift in acute care from the hospital to the community with responsive research
How can new care models proposed as part of a 10-year health plan work best to improve patient outcomes?
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Supervisors
Dr Carl Marincowitz (c.marincowitz@sheffield.ac.uk)
Professor Fiona Sampson (f.c.sampson@sheffield.ac.uk)
Abstract and methodology
Aim
To produce evidence for how new care models proposed as part of the NHS 10-year plan as an alternative acute hospital treatment can be optimally implemented.
Method
You will be part of the Delivering Care Closer to Home Theme in the Yorkshire and Humber NIHR Applied Research Collaboration and University of Sheffield Centre for Urgent and Emergency Care Research. This gives you the opportunity to work with clinical academics and methodologists who are national leaders in health service research.
You can choose to undertake systematic reviews, service provision mapping exercises, analysis of routinely collected health care data and qualitative methods to provide evidence for how new services providing an alternative to acute hospital care should develop. The type of new care models you can help evaluate includes: Mental Health Emergency Departments, Neighbourhood Health Centres, enhanced models of ambulance service care and interventions to support people after they fall.Type of project
Qualitative Project/non-lab based - primarily using qualitative methods.
Additional training or teaching
Additional training will be provided where required by staff within the section of Health Service Research, ScHARR, through the Yorkshire and Humber Applied research collaboration. Funding will be available to attend relevant conferences where abstracts are submitted.
Ethics requirements
Secondary data or tissue samples: UREC or NHS REC ethics approval already received for the intended research project
Secondary data or tissue samples that was not originally collected for research: UREC or NHS REC approval required
Original research involving human tissues/human participants and/or patient details and information: UREC or NHS REC ethics approval obtained already
A critical appraisal of potential phenotypes in Borderline Personality Disorder
The aim of the research will be to advance our understanding of the nature of Borderline Personality Disorder, and whether this comprises distinct and temporally stable phenotypic sub-groups. This is an important precursor to developing and delivering effective treatments.
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Supervisors
Professor Scott Weich (s.weich@sheffield.ac.uk)
Professor Chris Burton (c.burton@sheffield.ac.uk)
Abstract and methodology
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), sometimes called Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD), is a diagnosis that is sometimes given to people who experience the complex difficulties mentioned above. Because these can be so complicated, no two people with BPD have the exact same symptoms. That is one reason why we want to do this research. Sadly, around 10% of people who are diagnosed with BPD die by suicide, making it a life-threatening condition.
BPD is most common in people who have experienced traumatic events, especially at a young age. It is thought that trauma early in life affects brain development and especially the response to stress, and some people have suggested that complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) is a more helpful diagnosis because it acknowledges people’s experiences of trauma.
We still don’t know enough about how to help people who experience these problems, or about whether this is best viewed as one or more conditions. Psychological treatments help but are hard to access and although over 90% of people diagnosed with BPD are prescribed psychiatric medications, there is no scientific evidence that these actually help but this might be because they are not being targeted at the right patients.
The aims of this project are two-fold:- To identify different theories about the aetiology of BPD and to search for evidence to support these.
- To identify and synthesis empirical evidence for differences and similarities between people who experience problems associated with BPD, to establish whether there are clear, distinct and temporally stable sub-types (phenotypes), as a precursor to developing appropriate treatment strategies.
The student will undertake two secondary research sub-studies based on different evidence synthesis methods. Aim (1) will be achieved using a systematic approach to evidence synthesis referred to as an evidence and gap map. This is a method for considering diverse sources of evidence (in this case for evidence supporting or refuting different theories about the nature and aetiology of BPD) and rating the quantity and quality of evidence. Aim (2) will be achieved by means of a systematic review, augmented by different approaches to data extraction and analysis including qualitative methods.
Type of project
Clinical project - based in the clinical environment with patients/including service evaluation
Additional training or teaching
The student will join a large research team as part of a £3.2m UKRI-funded programme (Mental Health Platform Hub). This programme has been funded from 2024–2029 to inform better treatment and care for people who experience the complex emotional problems associated with Borderline Personality Disorder.
As part of this team, the student will have access to a wide range of methodological and supervisory expertise, including support with evidence synthesis, quantitative and qualitative research methods. The student will also have opportunities for related clinical experience, and to engage with people with lived experience of BPD.
Ethics requirements
Secondary data or tissue samples that was not originally collected for research: UREC or NHS REC approval required
Evaluation of the Compassionate Sheffield programme
What is the impact on individuals, families and communities of the Compassionate Sheffield programme?
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Supervisors
Dr Chris Blackmore (c.m.blackmore@sheffield.ac.uk)
Ms Zoe Clarke (z.l.clarke@sheffield.ac.uk)
Abstract and methodology
This is an exciting opportunity to engage with a hugely significant piece of ongoing work in Sheffield. ‘Compassionate Sheffield’ is a Public Health programme aiming to reduce inequalities in experiences at the end of life. It takes a community development approach to increasing people’s capability and confidence to support each other in death, dying and grief.
It is hypothesized that the programme will benefit individuals, families and communities but is also likely to deliver savings to the health and care system by way of reduced use of primary care, reduced emergency hospital admissions in the last year of life, related to carer breakdown and bereavement as well as increasing staff morale and retention.
The evaluation will focus on understanding the lived experience of individuals, families and community members, and the student will research this through gathering and analysing qualitative data from individual or focus group interviews.
Compassionate Sheffield comprises two senior leaders (Public Health and Palliative Care consultants) and programme manager, two community development workers and one comms and engagement officer. The student would have access to these people for support during the research project.
Type of project
Qualitative non-lab-based project: primarily using qualitative methods
Additional training or teaching
Students will be given training in how to run qualitative interviews and how to analyse qualitative data. They will also have contact with two senior medics in Sheffield (Public Health and Palliative Care consultants).
Ethics requirements
Original research involving human tissues/human participants and/or patient details and information: UREC or NHS REC ethics approval needed.