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Home Explore SPHeRE Newsletter - Volume 1, Issue 2

SPHeRE Newsletter - Volume 1, Issue 2

Published by sphereprogramme, 2014-12-03 11:41:27

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VOLUME1 ISSUE 2 2014SPHeneRtwoErkPOPULATION HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH NETWORK UPDATEThe First Annual SPHeRE Conference WELCOME‘Health Research, Policy and Practice – Welcome to the second SPHeRE NetworkCreating links for effective collaboration’ Newsletter. In this issue you will find infor- mation on the up-coming SPHeRE NetworkFriday 9th January 2015, RCSI Conference which will take place in Janu- ary, as well as news of SPHeRE scholarT his first annual Conference will provide an Health and Health Services Research through- research, awards and life after the PhD. opportunity for an exclusive focus on the out Ireland and Northern Ireland and to show- Congratulations to HRB Scholars Pro-key issues relevant to population health and case existing studies which will be of interest to gramme alumnus Dr Gerard McKenna onhealth care delivery in Ireland. It will bring Irish policymakers and practitioners. his appointment as Senior Lecturer andtogether representatives from the academic, Consultant in Restorative Dentistry atpolicy and practice communities and highlight Topics which will be explored in this one-day Queens University Belfast and to currentthe diversity of current research as well as the conference include: SPHeRE scholar Padraic Flemming on win-potential for new, collaborative research be- ning a Young Forum Gastein Scholarshiptween these communities.  Resilience in the Irish Health System for the European Health Forum GasteinThe aim of the first annual conference is to  What works in Integrated Care (FHFG) 2014.create a space for dialogue between all inter-  Involving Key Stakeholders in the Researchested stakeholders in the field of Population @SPHeREprogramme ProcessMeet the Keynote Speakers #sphere15 Prof. Naomi Fulop, University College London Prof. Bernadette Hannigan, Director of Research & Development, Public and Chair of UK Health Service Research Net- Health England work Bernie took up her current role in August 2014; Public Health England itselfNaomi Fulop is Professor of Health Care Organisation & was established in 2013 with responsibility for protecting the health of the popula-Management in the Department for Applied Health Re- tion and promoting health and wellbeing. From 2008 until 2014 Bernie was Directorsearch, University College London and Visiting Professor at of R&D for Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland and Chief Scientific Advisor toKing’s College London. Prior to her move to UCL in April the Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety. Previously she was at the2012, Naomi was Professor of Health Policy at King’s Col- University of Ulster in a range of posts including Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research &lege London. Naomi led the recently completed major re- Innovation) and she is now an Honorary Professor.search programme on quality and safety in European Unionhospitals, and currently leads the NIHR funded study of Prof. Steve Thomas, Trinity College, Dublinmajor system reconfigurations of stroke services imple-mented in London and Greater Manchester, and planned in Steve is an Associate Professor in Health Policy and Management and a co-the Midlands and East of England. She is a co-investigator Director of the HRB-funded national SPHERE Programme in Population andon the newly established NIHR CLAHRC North Thames. Nao- Health and Health Services Research. Currently, he is leading research into: (1) Themi is the elected Chair of the Health Services Research Net- viability of Universal Health Insurance in the Irish context; (2) The resilience of thework, a UK-wide network bringing together those who pro- Irish health system in the current economic crisis and compared to other countries induce and use health services research to improve policy and crisis (Portugal, Greece and Spain); (3) Human resources motivation and internationalpractice. migration (4) Workforce planning for the universalisation of care.

NEW SCHOLARS Programme UpdatesSiobháin O’Doherty MU Meet our new scholars!Paula Byrne NUIGCaragh Flannery NUIG C ongratulations and welcome to our newDaniele Rohde RCSI batch of SPHeRE Scholars, who beganAlan Maddock TCD their Ph.D. journey on the 1st October 2014!Amelia Smith TCDBrenda Lynch UCC The new cohort includes 12 Scholars regis-Ailbhe Spillane UCC tered in 6 Higher Education Institutions na-Kieran Walshe UCC tionwide, with backgrounds ranging fromRebecca Dennehy UCC Oncology to Health Economics. Eight ScholarsSarah-Jane Flaherty UCC are funded by the HRB, and four are external-Pauline Clerkin UL ly funded by a range of bodies including the Irish Cancer Society and the National SuicidePOSTER PRIZE Research Foundation. We will feature more on our new Scholars in later issues. Scholar AwardsSarah-Jo Sinnott, a scholar on the HRB The Young Forum Gastein ScholarshipScholars Programme in University CollegeCork, recently won a poster prize at the T he Young Forum Gastein initiative is a joint project of the international Forum Gastein andInternational Conference of Pharmacoepi- the European Commission Directorate Generals SANCO (Health and Consumers), CONNECTdemiology in Taipei. The poster presented (Communications Networks, Content and Technology) and JRC (Joint Research Council). This pres-research on the impact of two prescription tigious scholarship was initiated in 2007 to enable promising young health professionals to attendcharges on the General Medical Services the annual EHFG conference for learning and networking. It offers a unique opportunity to learnscheme in Ireland on patients’ adherence about current developments in Europe and to network with a number of high level experts in theto medicines. sphere of health.The research found reductions in adher- Padraic Fleming, a SPHeRE scholar in the Department of Psychology at Maynooth University, hasence to medicines, although the reduc- recently been awarded a Young Forum Gastein Scholarship for the European Health Forumtions in adherence to less-essential medi- Gastein (FHFG) 2014. Padraic is supervised by Dr. Sinead McGilloway (Director of the Mentalcines were larger than those observed for Health and Social Research Unit, University of Maynooth) and co-supervised by Dr. Fiona Keogh,essential medicines. The major exception Genio and Dr. Sarah Barry, TCD.to this trend was for anti-depressant medi- (Padraic is in the 2nd year of his PhD, based at Maynooth University, and is funded by Genio)cines where large decreases in adherencewere found. The Shani Rushin Award for Academic Excellence(Sarah-Jo Sinnott has recently completedher PhD in UCC) S hani Rushin was a wonderful colleague and friend of the programme who served as Programme Administrator from 2007 – 2010 before her premature death in 2010. Each year, the Shani Rushin Award is presented in her honour to the scholar who achieves the highest results in the first, taught year of the programme. This year’s award went to Dr. Mark Murphy (RCSI) for his outstanding results in the six taught modules of the programme, and was presented by Prof. Anne Hickey at the annual Peer Learning Event. Congratulations Mark on this fantastic achievement!

Peer Learning EventT he annual SPHeRE Programme Peer Learning event brings together SPHeRE scholars, alumni and faculty from participating institutions to inau- gurate the academic year with a day of discussion, sharing and networking. This year’s theme was “Knowledge Sharing, Generation, Transac-tion” and the afternoon keynote presentation was given by Dr. Stephanie O’Keefe, National Director of Health and Wellbeing, HSE.Prof. Anne Hickey, RCSI, updating on Dr. Sarah Barry, TCD, discussing knowledge Keynote speaker Dr. Stephanie O’Keefe, Healthy SPHeRE progress sharing, generation and transtaction IrelandScholars, alumni and academics from 7 national HEI’s collaborating and sharing their vision for the SPHeRE NetworkScholar Snapshots SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONSYear One Experiences by Marian Hernon, UCD Boyce MB, Browne JP, Greenhalgh J. 2014 “The experiences of professionals withI nitially, the experience of starting the Each lecture brought a new idea, a new angle, using information from patient-reported SPHeRE programme was both exciting and or a new interest area. This was certainly a key outcome measures to improve the qualityslightly daunting. During our first week we challenge for me throughout the first year. of healthcare: a systematic review of quali-attended a peer learning day where we met tative research” BMJ Quality & Safetyfellow scholars and got an in depth look at One of the most rewarding aspects of the firstwhat SPHeRE is aiming to achieve; we were year is the interaction and opportunity for Brennan A, Morley D, O’Leary A, Bergin C,becoming part of a growing national network discussion with classmates. With diversity in Horgan M. 2014 \"Determinants of HIVof high-quality population health and health backgrounds ranging from clinical to research, Outpatient Service Utilization: A System-services researchers with the aim of impacting the shared learning between fellow classmates atic Review.\" AIDS and Behavior: 1-16the future quality and relevance of health re- became highly valuable. Much of my learningsearch in Ireland. Although this was an im- came from the past experience and knowledge Cooper NA, Barton PM, Breijer M, Caffreymense opportunity which I was going to em- of fellow classmates. This interaction will con- O, Opmeer BC, Timmermans A, et al. 2014brace, I knew that day that I had a lot to learn. tinue to be valuable as we progress through “Cost-effectiveness of diagnostic strategies different stages of our PhDs. I know that the for the management of abnormal uterineThe taught modules provided a good ground- knowledge I have gained in year one will be bleeding (heavy menstrual bleeding anding in all aspects of population health and drawn upon many times over the next three post-menopausal bleeding: a decisionhealth services research. Throughout the first years. I am looking forward to the various chal- analysis” Health Technol Assessment 18year my knowledge on the workings and or- lenges and experiences that I will encounter in (24)ganisation of health systems, and the various the coming years.factors that impact on population health began Fleming A, Byrne S. 2014 “Prescriber pref-to expand. However, along with this expanding (Marian is in the 2nd year of her PhD and is erence may influence prolonged antibioticknowledge my desire to study every possible based in University College Dublin) usage more than patient characteristics inangle in the area of health research also grew. long-term care facilities.” Evidence Based Nursing 17(2):61-2.

Estimating the cost of HIV care in POSTER AWARDIreland By Aline Brennan, UCC Frank Moriarty (2012 Cohort, RCSI) was recently awarded a Best Student Re-T he emergence of highly active antiretrovi- cial climate in Ireland, it is reasonable to as- search Poster Prize for a poster he pre- ral therapy (HAART) for human immuno- sume that additional demands on the HIV care sented at the International Society fordeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the mid- service will have to be managed within current- Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes1990s altered the status of HIV from an acute ly available resources. Research (ISPOR) congress, Nov 2014.to a chronic disease. Consequently, the overall My research aims to describe current service Congratulations Frank!need for in-patient and palliative care has de- delivery patterns and estimate the current costcreased and most HIV care is now provided in of providing ambulatory HIV care in Ireland, in Citation: Moriarty F, Cahir C, Fahey T,an out-patient setting except for age-related order to evaluate the financial impact of poten- Bennett K. 2014. Potentially inappropri-morbidity and late presentation of previously tial changes. The information generated by this ate medicines and potential prescribingunknown diagnosis. research will provide policy and decision mak- omission in older people and their asso- ers with the relevant information needed to ciation with healthcare utilization: aIn Ireland the HIV service is centralised, with six plan and implement the most effective use of retrospective cohort study. Poster pre-centres of excellence providing care for approx- available resources. sented at the ISPOR 17th Annual Euro-imately 3,000 adults. Demands on this service pean Congress, Amsterdam, 11th No-are going to increase in coming years due to (Aline is in Year 3 of her PhD and is based in vember 2014.changes in the epidemiology of HIV and its University College Cork)clinical management. Given the current finan- SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONSUnderstanding the Irish private health Fleming A, Tonna A, Byrne S, Stewart D. 2014 “A cross-sectional survey of theinsurance market By Conor Keegan, TCD profile and activities of Antimicrobial Management Teams in Irish Hospitals”Understanding the effectiveness of compe- health insurance market, as they relate to both International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy tition within health insurance markets the consumer and the motivations faced by 36(2):377-383can be understood, to a large extent, through insurers. In terms of the latter, this includesanalysing consumer mobility. That is, the deci- analysis of the efficacy of Ireland’s recently Cousins G, Galvin R, Flood M, Kennedy M-sion to switch health insurer should be based introduced risk-equalisation scheme which C, Motterlini N, Henman M, Kenny R-A,primarily on price and quality considerations attempts to reduce incentives for ‘cherry- Fahey T. 2014 \"Potential for alcohol andwhile large inequalities in mobility should not picking’ through reimbursing insurers for the drug interactions in older adults: evidenceexist for certain groups (e.g. older, sicker). risk they hold. Such research is of particular from the Irish longitudinal study on age-Moreover, in community-rated markets insur- importance given current plans to expand the ing.\" BMC Geriatrics 14(1): 57ers may face incentives to ‘cherry-pick’ younger role of health insurance in financing Irishand healthier enrolees, which can have a dis- healthcare. Galvin R, Moriarty F, Cousins G, Cahir C,torting effect on competition. Motterlini N, Bradley MC, et al. 2014 (Conor is in Year 3 of his PhD, based in Trinity “Prevalence of potentially inappropriateMy PhD research hopes to understand the driv- College Dublin) prescribing and prescribing omissions iners of consumer mobility in the Irish private older Irish adults: findings from The Irish LongituDinal Study on Ageing studyThe Irish Gerontologolical Society (TILDA)” European Journal of ClinicalPresidential Medal Pharmacology 70(5):599-606C ongratulations to Lorna Roe (2011 Co- Murphy ME, Fahey T, Smith SM. 2014 hort, TCD) who recently won a Presi- “Computer-based clinical decision supportdential Prize Medal for her poster presented for GP. Family Practice” (5):497-498 DOI:at the Irish Gerontological Society 62nd 10.1093/fampra/cmu045Annual Scientific Meeting. O’Keeffe L, Kearney P, Greene R. 2014Lorna is pictured here with Prof. J.B Walsh, “Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoringwho presented the medal on the day. System in Ireland: Methods and Response Rates.” Maternal and Child Health Jour- nal: 1-7. O’Keeffe L, Greene R, and Kearney P. 2014. “The effect of moderate gestational alcohol consumption during pregnancy on speech and language outcomes in chil- dren: a systematic review.” Systematic Reviews 3(1): 1-11

SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS Alumni FocusO’Neill SM, Agerbo E, Kenny LC, Henrik- Dr. Gerald McKenna, UCCsen TB, Kearney P, Greene R, MortensenP, Khashan, AS. 2014 “Caesarean section I was one of the inaugural group of PhDand rate of subsequent stillbirth, miscar- Scholars who joined the Programme in 2007.riage or ectopic pregnancy: a Danish reg- As a clinical dentist I had very little formal re-ister-based cohort study” PLOS Medicine search training and I benefitted immensely from undertaking modules in areas such asO’Neill SM, Khashan AS, Henriksen TB, et statistics, research methodology and healthal. 2014 “Does a Caesarean section in- policy. As part of the Programme I got to knowcrease the time to a second live birth? A friends and colleagues from University Collegeregister-based cohort study” Human Re- Cork, Trinity College Dublin and the Royal Col-production doi: 10.1093/humrep/deu217. lege of Surgeons. I had the opportunity to spend time at the University of Nijmegen in theSexton E, King-Kallimanis B L, Morgan K, Netherlands and attend a number of nationalMcGee H. 2014 “Development of the and international conferences.Brief Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire (B-APQ): a confirmatory factor analysis ap- My PhD research focused on provision of care Oral Rehabilitation in University College Cork.proach to item reduction” BMC Geriatrics, for older patients and has now been published Recently I have been appointed as Senior Lec-14(1), 44. doi:10.1186/1471-2318-14-44 in a large number of high impact dental jour- turer and Consultant in Restorative Dentistry in nals. During the Scholars Programme I devel- Queens University Belfast and will take up mySexton E, King-Kallimanis BL, Layte R, oped a particular interest in health economics new post in November 2014. My other rolesHickey A 2014 “CASP-19 Special Section: and Professor Charles Normand from Trinity now also include contributing as a member ofHow does chronic disease status affect College Dublin acted as an external supervisor the National Oral Health Policy Advisory GroupCASP quality of life at older ages? Examin- for my PhD alongside Professor Finbarr Allen and as President of the European College ofing the WHO ICF disability domains as and Dr. Denis O’Mahony from University Col- Gerodontology 2014-2015.mediators of this relationship” Ageing and lege Cork. As a direct result of this collabora-Mental Health 1–12. tion I included a cost-effectiveness analysis in (Dr. Gerry McKenna is a HRB Scholar Alumnidoi:10.1080/13607863.2014.955457 my research which added substantial credibility from University College Cork. The Programme to the project outcomes. wishes him every success in his new post inWallace E, Stuart E, Vaughan N, Bennett Queens University Belfast)K, Fahey TP, Smith SM. 2014 “Risk predic- After the HRB Scholars programme I was ap-tion models to predict emergency hospi- pointed as a Lecturer in Prosthodontics andtal admission in community-dwellingadults. A systematic review” Med Care 52 Dr. Laura Currie Murphy, RCSI(8).Cadogan S, Keane E, Kearney P, 2014.“The effects of individual, family and envi-ronmental factors on physical activitylevels in children: a cross-sectional study.”BMC Pediatrics 14(1): 107A s a PhD Scholar, my research sought to health. I am now using the skills I gained man- The structured Scholars Programme equipped understand how governments can make aging research projects, coordinating data col- me with a broad foundation of knowledge, athe healthier choices the easier choices by im- lection and analysing large data sets to under- range of transferrable skills and a fluency in theplementing public health policies and evalu- stand how we can improve the chances of a language of population health and health ser-ating whether these policies are effectively long and healthy life for women with breast vices research that have proven invaluable inchanging behaviour and improving population cancer. my current role. The Programme enabled me to develop my competence and confidence As a postdoctoral researcher with the Breast- conducting rigorous and robust research. The Predict Collaborative Cancer Research Centre, I cohort of scholars who shared ideas and sup- am working with the Breast-Predict team and ported each other throughout the PhD process, our partners in hospitals across the country to are now a group of colleagues sharing exper- establish retrospective and prospective breast tise, contacts, and leads on jobs or funding cancer cohorts. We are collecting biological opportunities. I am very grateful for the oppor- samples and information on general health, tunities open to me as an alumni of the pro- quality of life, medication usage, and lifestyle gramme and feel privileged to be part of the from women diagnosed with breast cancer growing SPHeRE network of highly committed across Ireland with linked information on tu- population health and health services research- mour characteristics and cancer related out- ers. comes from the National Cancer Registry. This infrastructure can be used to build collabora- (Dr. Laura Currie Murphy is a HRB Scholar Alum- tion for population health and health services ni from RCSI, 2008 Cohort) research in the area of breast cancer.

UPCOMING EVENTS CongratulationsFuture Directions and Collective Strengths C ongratulations to Prof. Jane Grimson on herin Dementia Research The Centre for Ageing recent retirement from her post as DirectorResearch and Development in Ireland of Health Information with the Health Infor-(CARDI) and the Alzheimer Society of Ireland mation Quality Authority (HIQA)!Conference, 12 December 2014, Dublin. During her career, Jane served as Chair of theGenio Annual Dementia Conference 12 De- Centre for Health Informatics at TCD, Vice-cember 2014, Dublin. Provost of the College and Chair of the Irish Re- search Council for Science, Engineering and8th Congress of the International Association Technology.of Geriatrics and Gerontology- EuropeanRegion 2015, 23 – 25 April, Dublin. Jane also sat on the SPHeRE Steering Group and was involved in teaching on the Programme. WeICT for Ageing Well and e-Health (ICT 4 wish to thank Jane for her fantastic work andAgeing Well) Conference, wish her every happiness in her retirement.20—22 May 2015, Lisbon, Portugal. Call forabstracts now open.SPHeRE CONFERENCE STAY IN TOUCH!We look forward to seeing you all at the If you’d like more information about the For all the latest updates, follow us on Twitterfirst annual SPHeRE Network Conference in SPHeRE Network or would like to contribute to @SPHeREprogramme or visit our website forRCSI on Janruary 9th! our next newsletter, please email Margaret more information : www.sphereprogramme.ie Curtin (m.curtin@ucc.ie)The National Consultative ForumThe SPHeRE Programme’s inaugural Nation- 2. To support the Programme in building a na- members in attendance agreeing to draw up a al Consultative Forum (NCF) meeting took tional network of researchers, policy makers list of research priorities and topics of interestplace on Friday September 5th. The NCF’s com- and practitioners in PHHSR; that are of direct concern to their organisations,position is by invitation and is composed of 3. To advise on the development of a stronger through a process of collaboration with theiracademics from the 8 Higher Education Institu- knowledge translation role within the SPHeRE colleagues. This list will be collated by thetions (HEIs), policy, practice and advocacy programme, bridging the gap between policy/ SPHeRE team and ultimately will inform thegroups as well as representation from the HRB. practice and research/academia. direction of PHHS doctoral research conductedThe Forum has three primary functions: via the HRB funded SPHeRE Programme. The discussions at the autumn meeting fo-1. To advise on national population health and cussed on development of a list of key PHHSRhealth services research (PHHSR) priorities; research priorities for the coming 5 years, withL-R: Ciarán McCarthy (SPHeRE Programme), Tony O’Brien (Health Services), Prof. Richard Layte (ESRI), Prof. Jane Grimson (HIQA), Dr. Donna Tedstone (HRB), Dr. Stephanie O’Keeffe (Health Services), Prof. Steve Thomas (SPHeRE Programme Co-Director, TCD), Prof. Anne Hickey (SPHeRE Programme Director, RCSI)The Health Research Board (HRB) supports excellent research that improves people’s health, patient care and health service delivery. We aim toensure that new knowledge is created and then used in policy and practice. In doing so, we support health system innovation and create new enter-prise opportunities.