Author: capcbristol

Research Paper of the Year Award for Bristol-led eczema study

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University of Bristol-led research comparing the effectiveness and safety of different types of moisturiser for childhood eczema has won the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research Paper of the Year (RPY) Award 2022.

One hand dispensing cream onto the other hand.

The research was led by Matthew Ridd, a GP and Professor of Primary Care at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol, and the award was announced at the RCGP Conference in Glasgow today [19 October].

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)-funded ‘Best Emollients for Eczema (BEE)’ clinical trial compared lotions, creams, gels and ointments used to treat childhood eczema. The trial found no difference in the effectiveness or safety between the four emollient (moisturiser) types, leading the authors to conclude that “the right moisturiser for children is the one that they like to use.”

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Amitriptyline helps relieve IBS symptoms

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AA cheap and widely available prescription drug can improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in patients seen in GP surgeries, new research presented today at United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2023 has found.

Person sitting in a chair slightly bent over and clutching their stomach.

Amitriptyline, which is commonly used at low doses for a range of health concerns, has been found to improve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms too, according to the results of the ATLANTIS trial.

Led by researchers at the Universities of Leeds, Southampton, and Bristol and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the study was conducted in primary care. GPs prescribed the drug and patients managed their own dose based on the severity of their symptoms, using an adjustment document designed for the trial. Most people with IBS are seen and managed in primary care by their GP, which means that the results of this trial are likely to be applicable to many people with the condition.

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Experiences of support for domestic abuse in UK general practice during the COVID-19 pandemic

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The experiences of patients who sought help in general practice for domestic violence and abuse (DVA) during the COVID-19 pandemic have been revealed in a study by researchers at the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol.

Mother holds small baby in one arm as she types on a laptop with her other hand.

The study, published in the British Journal of General Practice (BJGP), compared the views of 21 patients (women, men and children) with the views of 13 healthcare professionals (GPs, practice nurses and allied health professionals).

Overall, the study found that general practice played an important role in supporting patients affected by domestic abuse during the pandemic, although this was against a backdrop of concerns of rising numbers of DVA cases and falling referral of cases. Access to services was further hampered by the imposition of lockdown measures and a shift to remote care.

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Applications open for NIHR School for Primary Care Research post-doctoral fellowships

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The National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research (NIHR SPCR) has launched its call for post-doctoral fellowships (previously known as launching fellowships) to start around April 2024.  

People chatting at a conference.

The maximum award is £160,000 to cover the applicant’s salary for up to 24 months (60-100% FTE), and some research and training costs. These awards are aimed at early career researchers normally within three years of their PhD (longer time post-PhD allowed for people who have taken a career break).

The SPCR would particularly welcome applications from Allied Health Professionals who want to conduct research relevant to primary care but the award is open to any early career primary care researcher.

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COVID-19 bereavement research shortlisted for prestigious impact award

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A joint University of Bristol and Cardiff University study investigating experiences of end-of-life care and grief during the COVID-19 pandemic has been shortlisted by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) for the prestigious ‘Celebrating Impact Prize 2023’.

The prize recognises the success of ESRC-funded researchers in achieving and enabling outstanding economic or societal impact from their research.

The COVID-19 bereavement study, led by Dr Lucy Selman from the Palliative and End of Life Care Research Group and Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol, and Dr Emily Harrop, from the Marie Curie Research Centre, School of Medicine at Cardiff University, looked at the support bereaved people needed, whether they were able to access it, and how it could best be provided.

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NHS resources saved following GP practice changes based on inflammatory marker testing research

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Research into inflammatory marker testing has led to a reduction and rationalisation in their use by GPs in both Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) and the South West Peninsula.

Part-filled tray of blood test tubes.
Image credit: Photo from Unsplash, by National Cancer Institute

In BNSSG alone, data suggests the research saved the local NHS nearly £115,000 and GPs more than 600 hours a year. Further savings will have come from avoiding follow-on appointments for thousands of false positives.

The research was led by Dr Jessica Watson, an academic GP at the Centre for Academic Primary Care (CAPC) at the University of Bristol, as part of her ARC West supported PhD.

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Few eligible patients get access to publicly funded weight management programmes in England

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Primary care data on more than 1.8 million adults with overweight or obesity found that only about 3 percent were referred to weight management interventions.

Health o meter for measuring BMI
Image credit: Kenny Eliason, Unsplash (CC0, https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)

Of the more than 1.8 million adults in England with a recorded diagnosis of being overweight or obesity, only 3 percent are referred to publicly funded weight management programmes, according to a new University of Bristol-led study published today [28 Sep] in PLOS Medicine.

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Covid-19 grief disorder rates ‘higher than expected’

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New research finds higher than expected rates of Prolonged Grief Disorder among the pandemic bereaved.

Woman writes on wall of hearts created as a memorial to those who died during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Image credit: Photo by Matt Brown from Flickr – https://www.flickr.com/photos/londonmatt/51123378611

Cases of Prolonged Grief Disorder among people bereaved during the Covid-19 pandemic are likely to be significantly higher than pre-pandemic, indicates new research from Cardiff University and the University of Bristol.

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Bristol to host the Society for Academic Primary Care Annual Scientific Meeting (SAPC ASM) in 2024

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The Society for Academic Primary Care’s Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) rotates around member institutions annually. The 2024 Conference will be hosted by the Centre for Academic Primary Care (CAPC) at the University of Bristol and will be held in the Wills Memorial Building on 3-5 July.

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