Cardiff Health and Social Care Improvement Research

Working across disciplines to improve the quality of health and social care.

We work in partnerships and across disciplines to improve the quality of health and social care for patients.

Everyone wants high quality care at times of sickness or vulnerability. Yet health and social care systems are some of the most complex known to society.

Research is essential to identify problems, develop solutions and understand how lasting, workable and replicable improvements in healthcare can be made effectively and faster to benefit patients.

Aims

Cardiff Health and Social Care Improvement Research is a Cardiff University Research Network that unites 13 Schools and harnesses our multidisciplinary expertise to address the following six aims:

safety - avoiding harm to patients from care intended to help them
effectiveness - providing services based on scientific knowledge to all who could benefit and refraining from providing services to those not likely to benefit
patient-centeredness - providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual preferences, needs, and values
timeliness - reducing waits and harmful delays for those who receive and those who give care
efficiency - avoiding waste, including waste of equipment, supplies, ideas, and energy
equity - providing care that does not vary in quality because of personal characteristics such as gender, ethnicity, geographic location, and socioeconomic status.

Please get in touch with Professor Davina Allen, if you would like to hear more, or if you're interested in joining the Network.

Steering group

Davina Allen - School of Healthcare Sciences
Paul Harper - School of Mathematics
Kerry Hood - Centre for Trials Research
Aoife McDermott - Cardiff Business School

Research

Our research is founded on strong partnerships with NHS and governmental partners, industrial collaborators, patient advocacy groups, professional associations, third sector organisations, scientific societies and other internationally leading research institutions in our field.

Meet the team

Lead researcher

Professor Davina Allen

: allenda@cardiff.ac.uk
: +44 (0)29 206 88561

Academic staff

Professor Alison Wray

: wraya@cardiff.ac.uk
: +44 (0)29 2087 4762

Dr Virpi Ylänne-Thomas

: ylanne@cardiff.ac.uk
: +44 (0)29 2087 5049

Postgraduate students

Emma Aspland

: asplandel@cardiff.ac.uk

Emily Williams

: williamsep3@cardiff.ac.uk

Publications

McDermott, A. M. et al. 2019. Performance management in context: formative cross-functional performance monitoring for improvement and the mediating role of relational coordination in hospitals. International Journal of Human Resource Management 30 (3), pp.436-456. (10.1080/09585192.2017.1278714)
Allen, D. 2018. Analysing healthcare coordination using translational mobilization. Journal of Health Organization and Management 32 (3), pp.358-373. (10.1108/JHOM-05-2017-0116)
Robling, M. et al. 2018. What is usual care for teenagers expecting their first child in England? A process evaluation using key informant mapping and participant survey as part of the Building Blocks randomised controlled trial of specialist home visiting. BMJ Open 8 e020152. (10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020152)
Butler, C. C. et al. 2018. Point-of-care urine culture for managing urinary tract infection in primary care: a randomised controlled trial of clinical and cost-effectiveness. British Journal of General Practice 68 (669), pp.e268-e278. (10.3399/bjgp18X695285)
Bullock, A. et al. 2018. Enhancing the quality and safety of care through training generalist doctors: a longitudinal, mixed-methods study of a UK broad-based training programme. BMJ Open 8 e021388. (10.1136/bmjopen-2017-021388)
Davies, F. et al. 2018. Shifting mindsets: a realist synthesis of evidence from self-management support training. Medical Education 52 (3), pp.274-287. (10.1111/medu.13492)
Goodwin, L. , Hunter, B. and Jones, A. 2018. The midwife-woman relationship in a South Wales community: experiences of midwives and migrant Pakistani women in early pregnancy. Health Expectations 21 (1), pp.347-357. (10.1111/hex.12629)
Fetta, A. et al., 2018. Predicting adolescent social networks to stop smoking in secondary schools. European Journal of Operational Research 265 (1), pp.263-276. (10.1016/j.ejor.2017.07.039)
Button, K. et al. 2018. Integrating self-management support for knee injuries into routine clinical practice: TRAK intervention design and delivery. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice 33 , pp.53-60. (10.1016/j.msksp.2017.11.002)
Stephens, M. et al., 2018. Developing the tissue viability seating guidelines. Journal of Tissue Viability 27 (1), pp.74-79. (10.1016/j.jtv.2017.09.006)
McDermott, A. , Kitchener, M. and Exworthy, M. eds. 2018. Managing improvement in healthcare attaining, sustaining and spreading quality. Organizational Behaviour in Health Care Charn, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. (10.1007/978-3-319-62235-4)
Samuriwo, R. et al. 2018. Values in health and social care: an introductory workbook. Jessica Kingsley.
Segrott, J. et al. 2017. An application of Extended Normalisation Process Theory in a randomised controlled trial of a complex social intervention: process evaluation of the Strengthening Families Programme (10-14) in Wales, UK. SSM - Population Health 3 , pp.255-265. (10.1016/j.ssmph.2017.01.002)
Monrouxe, L. et al., 2017. Association of professional identity, gender, team understanding, anxiety and workplace learning alignment with burnout in junior doctors: a longitudinal cohort study. BMJ Open 7 (12) e017942. (10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017942)
Moore, S. C. et al. 2017. The effectiveness of an intervention to reduce alcohol-related violence in premises licensed for the sale and on-site consumption of alcohol: a randomised controlled trial. Addiction 112 (11), pp.1898-1906. (10.1111/add.13878)
Cooper, J. et al., 2017. Nature of blame in patient safety incident reports: mixed methods analysis of a national database. Annals of Family Medicine 15 (5), pp.455-461. (10.1370/afm.2123)
Courtenay, M. , Gillespie, D. and Lim, R. 2017. Patterns of dispensed non-medical prescriber prescriptions for antibiotics in primary care across England: a retrospective analysis. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 72 (10)(10.1093/jac/dkx230)
Collins, P. W. et al. 2017. Viscoelastometry guided fresh frozen plasma infusion for postpartum haemorrhage: OBS2, an observational study. British Journal of Anaesthesia 119 (3), pp.422-434. (10.1093/bja/aex245)
Simpson, A. et al., 2017. Cross-national mixed methods comparative case study of recovery-focused mental health care planning and coordination in acute inpatient mental health settings (COCAPP-A). Health Services and Delivery Research 5 (26), pp.1-234. (10.3310/hsdr05260)
McNamara, R. et al. 2017. A pilot randomised controlled trial of community-led ANtipsychotic Drug REduction for Adults with Learning Disabilities. Project Report.[Online].Health Technology AssessmentAvailable athttps://doi.org/10.3310/hta21470.
Busse, M. et al. 2017. Physical activity self-management and coaching compared to social interaction in Huntington’s disease: Results from the ENGAGE-HD randomized, controlled, pilot feasibility trial. Physical Therapy 97 (6), pp.625-639. (10.1093/ptj/pzx031)
Fitzgerald, L. and McDermott, A. M. 2017. Challenging perspectives on organizational change in health care. Routledge Studies in Health Management Routledge.
Chestnutt, I. G. et al. 2017. Seal or Varnish? A randomised controlled trial to determine the relative cost and effectiveness of pit and fissure sealant and fluoride varnish in preventing dental decay. Health Technology Assessment 21 (21), pp.1-256. (10.3310/hta21210)
Arnolds, I. V. and Gartner, D. 2017. Improving hospital layout planning through clinical pathway mining. Annals of operations research 263 , pp.453-477. (10.1007/s10479-017-2485-4)
Carson-Stevens, A. and Donaldson, L. 2017. Reporting and learning from patient safety incidents in general practice: a practical guide. Royal College of General Practitioners.. Manual. Royal College of General PractitionersAvailable athttp://www.rcgp.org.uk/-/media/Files/CIRC/Patient-Safety/Reporting-and-learning-from-patient-safety-incidents.ashx?la=en.
Kitchener, M. , McDermott, A. and Cooper, S. 2017. Critical healthcare management studies: green shoots. Journal of Health Organization and Management 31 (5), pp.530-541. (10.1108/JHOM-07-2017-0187)
Kelly, D. , Lankshear, A. and Jones, A. 2016. Stress and resilience in a post-Francis world - a qualitative study of executive nurse directors. Journal of Advanced Nursing 72 (12), pp.3160-3168. (10.1111/jan.13086)
Muddiman, E. et al. 2016. 'Black sheep in the herd'? The role, status and identity of generalist doctors in secondary care. Health Services Management Research 29 (4), pp.124-131. (10.1177/0951484816670416)
Herepath, A. and Kitchener, M. 2016. When small bandages fail: the field-level repair of severe and protracted institutional breaches. Organization Studies 37 (8), pp.1113-1139. (10.1177/0170840615622065)
Jones, A. , Lankshear, A. and Kelly, D. 2016. Giving voice to quality and safety matters at board level: a qualitative study of the experiences of executive nurses working in England and Wales. International Journal of Nursing Studies 59 , pp.169-176. (10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.04.007)
Robling, M. et al. 2016. Effectiveness of a nurse-led intensive home-visitation program for first-time teenage mothers (building blocks). Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey 71 (5), pp.263-265. (10.1097/OGX.0000000000000325)
Simpson, A. et al., 2016. Recovery-focused care planning and coordination in England and Wales: a cross-national mixed methods comparative case study. BMC Psychiatry 16 147. (10.1186/s12888-016-0858-x)
Edwards, D. J. et al. 2015. What do we know about the risks for young people moving into, through and out of inpatient mental health care? Findings from an evidence synthesis. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health 9 55. (10.1186/s13034-015-0087-y)
Putman, K. et al., 2015. Modelling of psoriasis patient flows for the reconfiguration of secondary care services and treatments. Health Systems (10.1057/hs.2015.4)
Hardyman, W. , Daunt, K. L. and Kitchener, M. J. 2015. Value co-creation through patient engagement in health care: a micro-level approach and research agenda. Public Management Review 17 (1), pp.90-107. (10.1080/14719037.2014.881539)
Jones, A. and Kelly, D. 2014. Deafening silence? Time to reconsider whether organisations are silent or deaf when things go wrong. BMJ Quality & Safety 23 , pp.709-713. (10.1136/bmjqs-2013-002718)
Mustafee, N. et al., 2013. Cost-effective workforce planning: optimising the dental team skill-mix for England. Journal of Enterprise Information Management 26 (1/2), pp.91-108. (10.1108/17410391311289569)
Knight, V. A. , Harper, P. R. and Smith, L. 2012. Ambulance allocation for maximal survival with heterogeneous outcome measures. OMEGA -The International Journal of Management Science. 40 (6), pp.918-926. (10.1016/j.omega.2012.02.003)
Brailsford, S. C. , Harper, P. R. and Sykes, J. 2012. Incorporating human behaviour in simulation models of screening for breast cancer. European Journal of Operational Research 219 (3), pp.491-507. (10.1016/j.ejor.2011.10.041)
Harper, P. R. , Powell, N. H. and Williams, J. E. 2009. Modelling the size and skill-mix of hospital nursing teams. Journal of the Operational Research Society 61 (5), pp.768-779. (10.1057/jors.2009.43)
Harper, P. R. and Gamlin, H. M. 2003. Reduced outpatient waiting times with improved appointment scheduling: a simulation modelling approach. OR Spectrum 25 (2), pp.207-222. (10.1007/s00291-003-0122-x)

Events

Upcoming events

CHOIR and Aneurin Bevan UHB Networking Event

Tuesday 16 April 2019, 09.30 - 14.00
Location: Executive Education suite, 3rd floor of the Postgraduate Teaching Centre, Cardiff Business School, 3 Colum Drive,Cardiff, CF10 3EU

You are invited to a networking event with colleagues from Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to explore opportunities for research and other collaboration. You are also invited to remain with us for lunch and a seminar with Professor Louise Fitzgerald (Oxford University) thereafter. Louise will speak on ‘Combating challenges to improvement in healthcare’.

Event by School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University

Past events

Network Launch

18 October 2018, 09:00-16:30
Location: Conference Centre University Hall, Birchwood Lane, Penylan, Cardiff, CF23 5YB

This event will formally launch the Network and will be an opportunity for you to, not only learn more about the work of the Network and engage with fellow researchers, but also to meet clinical colleagues, policy influencers and other key stakeholders. The programme is currently being finalised but, to date, plenary speakers include:

Professor Graham Martin, University of Leicester, Professor of Health Organisation and Policy in the Social Science Applied to Healthcare Improvement Research (SAPPHIRE) Group at the University of Leicester.
Professor Tim Draycott is a Consultant Obstetrician at North Bristol NHS Trust with a research interest in Patient Safety, particularly multi-professional training, simulation, team working and quality improvement in obstetrics. He currently holds a Health Foundation Improvement Science fellowship to investigate the effects of context on training and simulation. Professor Draycott has led the development of the PROMPT course, which has been associated with improved knowledge, communication, team working and direct improvements in perinatal outcome.