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Chapter 10: Swipe, Reward, Repeat: Gamification, Intimacy, And Emotional Labor In Digital Dating, Emma Taylor Sep 2026

Chapter 10: Swipe, Reward, Repeat: Gamification, Intimacy, And Emotional Labor In Digital Dating, Emma Taylor

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

The rise of online dating platforms has transformed how individuals approach romantic relationships, with many users increasingly engaging in these spaces for entertainment as well as connection. Central to this shift is the phenomenon of gamification – the integration of game-like mechanics into non-game contexts, which has redefined user behaviors, shaped romantic choices, and influenced relationship outcomes. This chapter critically examines the gamification of online dating, exploring how swiping, match notifications, rankings, and rewards reframe intimacy as entertainment, alter decision-making, and marketize romantic engagement. Drawing on psychoanalytical and ultra-realist frameworks, and using original qualitative data from interviews, the analysis reveals …


Response Of The Eddystone Lighthouse To Storm-Wave Impacts, Davide Banfi, Alison Raby, Geoffrey Bullock, David Simmonds Sep 2026

Response Of The Eddystone Lighthouse To Storm-Wave Impacts, Davide Banfi, Alison Raby, Geoffrey Bullock, David Simmonds

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

Structural response to wave action is difficult to predict due to complex wave–structure interactions, particularly for structures subject to impulsive loads from breaking waves such as rock lighthouses. This study examines the response of the exposed Eddystone Lighthouse, located some 21 km offshore from Plymouth, UK, using field measurements from geophones, video cameras and an offshore wave buoy. Accelerations and displacements are derived from geophone velocity measurements recorded just below the lantern during 3085 response events in the exceptional UK winter storms of 2013–2014. These are complemented by video records of breaking waves with estimated heights up to 10–15 m. …


Perceptual Evaluation Of 3d-Printed Typodont Teeth With Comparable Cutting Forces, Alex Cresswell-Boyes, Aylin Baysan, Graham Davis Sep 2026

Perceptual Evaluation Of 3d-Printed Typodont Teeth With Comparable Cutting Forces, Alex Cresswell-Boyes, Aylin Baysan, Graham Davis

Peninsula Dental School

Background: Pre-clinical training in endodontics relies heavily on typodont teeth to develop operative skills before patient care, but conventional polymer-based typodonts differ from human teeth in their cutting response, requiring greater force and producing an unrealistic cutting experience that often dissatisfies students. Methods: This study evaluated four alternative 3D-printed typodont materials—15 wt.% carbonated hydroxyapatite, 15 wt.% Puraflake ® (glass flake filler), 15 wt.% zinc oxide, and a urethane/triethylene glycol dimethacrylate resin composite—based on their cutting force, post-cut surface roughness, and perceived cutting feel relative to extracted enamel, assessed via a five-point Likert scale questionnaire completed by 46 (n = 46) …


Nature-Based Activities To Support Mental Ill Health (Greengage): Protocol For A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial And Process Evaluation, Caroline Jenkinson, Katie Gibbs, Rebecca Lovell, Alison Hurst, Kerryn Husk, Katrina Wyatt, Obioha C. Ukoumunne, Siobhan Creanor, Anne Spencer, Ruth Garside Sep 2026

Nature-Based Activities To Support Mental Ill Health (Greengage): Protocol For A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial And Process Evaluation, Caroline Jenkinson, Katie Gibbs, Rebecca Lovell, Alison Hurst, Kerryn Husk, Katrina Wyatt, Obioha C. Ukoumunne, Siobhan Creanor, Anne Spencer, Ruth Garside

Peninsula Medical School

Anxiety and depression are among the leading mental health difficulties worldwide. Nature-based interventions are increasingly being used to support mental health and wellbeing. There is growing policy interest in the use of nature as a setting for interventions. However, there remains a lack of robust evidence on their effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.


A Micro-Computed Tomographic Evaluation Of Root Canal Isthmuses In Maxillary And Mandibular First Molars Of A Black South African Population, Casper Jonker, Anna Catherina Oettlé Sep 2026

A Micro-Computed Tomographic Evaluation Of Root Canal Isthmuses In Maxillary And Mandibular First Molars Of A Black South African Population, Casper Jonker, Anna Catherina Oettlé

Peninsula Dental School

Objective:To evaluate root canal isthmuses in maxillary and mandibular first molars of Black South Africans usingmicro-computed tomography.Methods:The prevalence, location (root third) and type of isthmuses were recorded on 93 maxillary and 84mandibular first molars from 116 skeletonized individuals. Associations with arch side, sex and age were examined bychi-squared test, with strength of association given as the bias-adjusted Cramér’s V and 95% confidence interval (CI).Reliability used percentage agreement and Cohen’s kappa (κ) coefficient.Results:Intra- and inter-observer agreement were excellent: 96.73% (κ= 0.90) and 97.78% (κ= 0.95) for themaxillary teeth and 94.12% (κ= 0.75) and 96.08% (κ= 0.94) for the mandibular teeth. Apical …


Drivers Of Topography In Fold-Thrust Belts: A Perspective From Central Nepal, Paul R. Eizenhöfer, Nadine Mcquarrie, Suryodoy Ghoshal, Sebastian G. Mutz, Todd A. Ehlers Sep 2026

Drivers Of Topography In Fold-Thrust Belts: A Perspective From Central Nepal, Paul R. Eizenhöfer, Nadine Mcquarrie, Suryodoy Ghoshal, Sebastian G. Mutz, Todd A. Ehlers

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

The roles of climate and tectonics in the evolution of mountainous landscapes over geological time are often assessed via continuum models that balance the forces in mechanical wedges with the assumption of pervasive small-scale faulting accommodating deformation. In contrast, observations from mountain ranges indicate an evolution of large-offset faults and paleoclimate. Here we ask the question, can observed faulting and paleoclimate histories replicate the characteristics of Himalayan topography? We evaluate this question for the Nepal Himalaya through linked models of fault activity, precipitation, and surface processes over geological time. Our experiments confirm that motion along a few faults control topographic …


Nurture: A Heart–Head–Hands–Feet Curriculum Framework For Sustainable Food Systems And Planetary Health Education, Liza Barbour, Devinia Wainwright, Sarah Browne, Clare Pettinger, Jessica Wegener, Tracy Everitt, Liesel Carlsson Sep 2026

Nurture: A Heart–Head–Hands–Feet Curriculum Framework For Sustainable Food Systems And Planetary Health Education, Liza Barbour, Devinia Wainwright, Sarah Browne, Clare Pettinger, Jessica Wegener, Tracy Everitt, Liesel Carlsson

School of Health Professions

Introduction: Nutrition and dietetics professionals are vital to food systems transformation; however, the integration of sustainable food systems and planetary health curricula in tertiary education remains inadequate. This article presents the NURTURE framework, a curriculum tool designed in collaboration with an Indigenous artist to support educators in preparing future professionals to address global planetary crises.Methods: The framework organises 35 curriculum concepts previously identified by stakeholders across 27 countries as relevant for entry-level nutrition and dietetics professionals. Drawing on holistic educational models and Indigenous worldviews that emphasise the interconnected relationships between humans and nature, researchers mapped the concepts to four domains …


Co-Production Of Digital Health Interventions For Parents Of Acutely Ill Children Under Five: ‘The Ipoorly Project., Sarah Neill, Amy Rathbone, John Downey, Monica Lakhanpaul, Damian Roland, Matt Carey Sep 2026

Co-Production Of Digital Health Interventions For Parents Of Acutely Ill Children Under Five: ‘The Ipoorly Project., Sarah Neill, Amy Rathbone, John Downey, Monica Lakhanpaul, Damian Roland, Matt Carey

School of Nursing and Midwifery

No abstract provided.


Development And Usability Assessment Of A Health Education Conversational Agent For Patients With Gastric Cancer: Action Research Study, Yichen Kang, Yamin Yan, Tianxiao Wang, Zhenghong Yu, Yan Hu, Zhixun Wang, Jiyang Zhang, Jos M Latour, Yuxia Zhang Sep 2026

Development And Usability Assessment Of A Health Education Conversational Agent For Patients With Gastric Cancer: Action Research Study, Yichen Kang, Yamin Yan, Tianxiao Wang, Zhenghong Yu, Yan Hu, Zhixun Wang, Jiyang Zhang, Jos M Latour, Yuxia Zhang

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background:To provide patients with gastric cancer with adequate health education information for effective overall management is crucial, while traditional manners exposed certain challenges. Conversational agents have increasingly been adopted for health care use to provide innovative solutions for patient education.Objective:This study aimed to develop a health education embodied conversational agent to focus on gastric cancer disease using an action research approach and test its accuracy, usability, and user experience among patients and other related stakeholders.Methods:The AI-guided conversational agent was developed based on the OpenMEDLab 2.0 foundation model and the Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architecture. A 4-phase action research approach was adopted …


Bidirectional Eeg Neurofeedback Of Sensorimotor Beta Oscillations Reveals Asymmetric Modulation And Strategy-Dependent Learning, Krithika Anil, Stephen Hall, Jennifer Freeman, Jonathan Marsden, Giorgio Ganis Sep 2026

Bidirectional Eeg Neurofeedback Of Sensorimotor Beta Oscillations Reveals Asymmetric Modulation And Strategy-Dependent Learning, Krithika Anil, Stephen Hall, Jennifer Freeman, Jonathan Marsden, Giorgio Ganis

Peninsula Medical School

EEG-based neurofeedback (ENF) may be utilised as an intervention for improvement of motor performance in Parkinson's movement impairment. This exploratory study aimed to determine the ability of healthy participants to bidirectionally modulate sensorimotor beta power using ENF in real time and examine learning trends. The protocol trained participants to increase and decrease the amplitude of their individual beta power over C3 using a double-blind sham-controlled and within-subjects design. Fifteen healthy participants completed the study (mean age = 38.9, SD = 14.9, age range = 20–66; nine female and six male). Thirteen participants successfully decreased beta activity, three participants successfully increased …


Finding A Voice In Uk Academic Psychiatry: Perceived Barriers And Facilitators To Engagement Among Indian International Medical Graduates, Madeleine Dale, Magdalini Moraitou, Deepika Sharma, Sridevi Sira Mahalingappa, Shweta Mittal, Vatsal Zapadia, Paraskevi Triantafyllopoulou, Samuel J. Tromans, Dinesh Bhugra, Rohit Shankar Sep 2026

Finding A Voice In Uk Academic Psychiatry: Perceived Barriers And Facilitators To Engagement Among Indian International Medical Graduates, Madeleine Dale, Magdalini Moraitou, Deepika Sharma, Sridevi Sira Mahalingappa, Shweta Mittal, Vatsal Zapadia, Paraskevi Triantafyllopoulou, Samuel J. Tromans, Dinesh Bhugra, Rohit Shankar

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundAcademic psychiatry in the UK is in a precarious situation with diminished academic to clinical posts. There has been a growing reduction in psychiatrists engaged in academia in the last 25 years. This has coincided with increased growth of International Medical Graduates (IMG) working in UK psychiatry. IMGs may face unique barriers to involvement in research, which may contribute to the academic gap. IMGs from India form the largest minoritised ethnic group among UK psychiatrists. This study explores interest in and perceived barriers and facilitators to academic engagement among IMGs of Indian origin working in psychiatry in the UK.MethodsA questionnaire …


Modelling Growth Of The Cold-Water Coral Desmophyllum Pertusum According To Food Availability And The Goldilocks Principle, Konstantinos Georgoulas, Sebastian Hennige, Yeaw Chu Lee, Evangelos Boulougouris Sep 2026

Modelling Growth Of The Cold-Water Coral Desmophyllum Pertusum According To Food Availability And The Goldilocks Principle, Konstantinos Georgoulas, Sebastian Hennige, Yeaw Chu Lee, Evangelos Boulougouris

School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics

This study significantly advances previous attempts to model cold-water coral growth using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) by incorporating the finite nature of food availability, an important parameter in coral development. Building on the Goldilocks Principle, which states that coral polyps must surpass an energetic survival threshold to prosper, this model integrates food-based growth dynamics. The underlying SPH framework simulated fluid-coral interactions in which growth was promoted in optimal flow conditions and food-rich zones. Key innovations include dynamic energy reserves, where the energetic reserves of coral particles depend on food obtained from the surrounding fluid particles. Simulations reveal that higher food …


Forging Possibilities From Crisis: Radical Hope Through Grassroots Action In The Philippines, Justin See, Kaira Zoe Alburo-Canete, Pamela Gloria Cajilig, Ginbert Permejo Cuaton, Mona Nasser, Olivia Alma Sicam, Ara Joy Pacoma Sep 2026

Forging Possibilities From Crisis: Radical Hope Through Grassroots Action In The Philippines, Justin See, Kaira Zoe Alburo-Canete, Pamela Gloria Cajilig, Ginbert Permejo Cuaton, Mona Nasser, Olivia Alma Sicam, Ara Joy Pacoma

Peninsula Dental School

As climate change intensifies, cultivating hope has become critical for sustaining possibilities and collective action. However, existing scholarship on hope remains predominantly Eurocentric and theoretical, offering limited empirical attention to how hope is generated and sustained through everyday actions in the Global South. This paper addresses this gap by examining four grassroots initiatives in the Philippines engaged in environmental advocacy, post-disaster recovery, youth empowerment, and speculative design. Drawing on fieldwork conducted between 2017 and 2024 and guided by the framework of radical hope, we analyse how a climate politics of hope is enacted in practice. Our findings reveal three dynamics …


Regulation Of Ultradian Pulsatility And Stress Responses In The Human Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis, Belinda Lombard, Thomas J. Upton, Ben Gibbison, David Henley, Georgina Russell, John R. Terry, Stafford L. Lightman, Eder Zavala Sep 2026

Regulation Of Ultradian Pulsatility And Stress Responses In The Human Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis, Belinda Lombard, Thomas J. Upton, Ben Gibbison, David Henley, Georgina Russell, John R. Terry, Stafford L. Lightman, Eder Zavala

Peninsula Medical School

The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is a vital neuroendocrine system that maintains homeostasis by regulating stress hormone secretion through tightly controlled circadian and ultradian rhythms. Although rodent studies and mathematical models have clarified the mechanisms of ultradian pulsatility, a quantitative, human-specific description of HPA axis dynamics is lacking. Here, we analyse 24-h high-frequency hormonal profiles from a cohort of healthy humans to quantify inter-individual variability in adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol rhythms and to calibrate a foundational mathematical model of the human HPA axis. The model reproduces key human-specific features, including an asymmetric circadian rhythm peaking at waking and ultradian oscillations with …


Global, Regional, And National Prevalence Of Second-Hand Smoke And Attributable Disease Burden In 204 Countries And Territories, 1990–2023: A Systematic Analysis For The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2023, Gbd 2023 Second-Hand Smoke Collaborators, Debasish Kar Sep 2026

Global, Regional, And National Prevalence Of Second-Hand Smoke And Attributable Disease Burden In 204 Countries And Territories, 1990–2023: A Systematic Analysis For The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2023, Gbd 2023 Second-Hand Smoke Collaborators, Debasish Kar

Peninsula Medical School

SummaryBackground Second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure remains a major source of morbidity and mortality among nonsmokers. This study presents the first dedicated Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD)publication to systematically quantify SHS prevalence and evaluate its effect as a global risk factor across a broaderrange of outcomes.Methods Using the GBD 2023 comparative risk assessment framework, we estimated SHS exposure prevalence andattributable disease burden across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023, stratified by age and sex. Exposureestimates were derived by synthesising population-based surveys and household composition data throughspatiotemporal Gaussian process regression. Relative risks for nine health …


A Realist Review Of The Remediation Of Professionalism Lapses In Undergraduate Medical Students (Restore 3), Ross Raymond-Jones, Tom Gale, Nicola Brennan, Marie Bryce, Tristan Price Sep 2026

A Realist Review Of The Remediation Of Professionalism Lapses In Undergraduate Medical Students (Restore 3), Ross Raymond-Jones, Tom Gale, Nicola Brennan, Marie Bryce, Tristan Price

Peninsula Medical School

IntroductionProfessionalism is a core element of medical curricula worldwide and remains a cross-cutting theme across all aspects of a medical programme. When a medical student fails to demonstrate the expected attributes and behaviours, medical schools have a duty to step in, and where appropriate, offer remediation that aims to facilitate behavioural change. There is sparse explanatory theory on this complex topic, resulting in little evidence-based guidance for medical schools to utilise. This review aims to explain how, why, to what extent and in what circumstances professionalism remediation works for undergraduate medical students.MethodWe conducted a realist review that aligns with the …


Recommencement Of Anti-Thrombotics Following Traumatic Intracranial Haemorrhage; A Preliminary Survey Of Uk Consultant Neurosurgeons Informing The Restart-Ticrh Trial Design, Jack Read, Peter Whitfield, Michael D. Jenkinson, Catherine J. Mcmahon, Ellie Edlmann Sep 2026

Recommencement Of Anti-Thrombotics Following Traumatic Intracranial Haemorrhage; A Preliminary Survey Of Uk Consultant Neurosurgeons Informing The Restart-Ticrh Trial Design, Jack Read, Peter Whitfield, Michael D. Jenkinson, Catherine J. Mcmahon, Ellie Edlmann

Peninsula Medical School

Introduction: Traumatic intracranial haemorrhage (tICH) commonly follows falls in elderly people, around half of whom are taking anti-thrombotic (AT) medications pre-injury. ATs are typically stopped acutely, but guidance on safe recommencement is limited. Research question: We surveyed UK neurosurgical consultants to understand variations in AT recommencement practice and inform trial design. Materials and methods: An online cross-sectional survey was distributed via the Society of British Neurological Surgeons mailing list to assess self-reported consultant practice regarding cessation and recommencement of AT therapy following tICH. Results: Sixty-two consultant neurosurgeons responded. Following tICH most are very likely or likely to stop AT therapy …


Social Interactions Between People Living With Dementia And Staff In Health And Social Care Settings: A Scoping Review, Stephanie Janka-Spurlock, Georgia Page, Gary Hodge, Helen Lloyd, Susie Pearce Sep 2026

Social Interactions Between People Living With Dementia And Staff In Health And Social Care Settings: A Scoping Review, Stephanie Janka-Spurlock, Georgia Page, Gary Hodge, Helen Lloyd, Susie Pearce

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Dementia is an umbrella term for progressive conditions affecting memory, thinking, communication and other cognitive functions. These changes can make social interaction challenging, particularly in unfamiliar or overstimulating environments. Although social interactions between staff and people living with dementia are recognised as an aspect of care, existing literature across health and social care settings largely focuses on general care needs and experiences rather than social interaction specifically. Consequently, there is limited understanding of the types of social interactions that occur and the contextual factors influencing them. This scoping review aims to address this gap by mapping existing research on social …


Patient-Centered Summarization Framework For Ai Clinical Summarization: Mixed Methods Study, Maria Lizarazo Jimenez, Ana Gabriela Claros, Kieran Green, David Toro-Tobon, Felipe Larios, Sheena Asthana, Camila Wenczenovicz, Kerly Guevara Maldonado, Luis Vilatuna-Andrango, Ana Cristina Proano, Satya Sai Sri Bandi, Shubhangi Bagewadi, Megan E. Branda, Misk Al Zahidy, Saturnino Luz, Mirella Lapata, Juan P. Brito, Oscar J. Ponce-Ponte Sep 2026

Patient-Centered Summarization Framework For Ai Clinical Summarization: Mixed Methods Study, Maria Lizarazo Jimenez, Ana Gabriela Claros, Kieran Green, David Toro-Tobon, Felipe Larios, Sheena Asthana, Camila Wenczenovicz, Kerly Guevara Maldonado, Luis Vilatuna-Andrango, Ana Cristina Proano, Satya Sai Sri Bandi, Shubhangi Bagewadi, Megan E. Branda, Misk Al Zahidy, Saturnino Luz, Mirella Lapata, Juan P. Brito, Oscar J. Ponce-Ponte

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Background: Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly demonstrating the potential to reach human-level performance in generating clinical summaries from patient-clinician conversations. LLMs are usually evaluated against clinical summaries that focus mainly on patients’ biology and not on their biography (eg, preferences, values, wishes, and concerns). To achieve patient-centered care, artificial intelligence clinical summarization must incorporate patient-centered domains, implemented through patient-centered summaries (PCSs). Objective: This study aimed to develop a framework to generate PCS that capture patients’ values, preferences, and wishes while ensuring clinical utility for clinicians, and assess if current open-source LLMs can achieve human-level performance in generating PCS. Methods: …


Training For Social Prescribing Link Workers: A Scoping Review, S. Tierney, G. Hanley, H. Napierala, L. Burns, K. Husk Sep 2026

Training For Social Prescribing Link Workers: A Scoping Review, S. Tierney, G. Hanley, H. Napierala, L. Burns, K. Husk

Peninsula Medical School

Background: Social prescribing involves connecting people to community-based resources to address non-medical determinants of health. Central to its delivery are link workers; their effectiveness depends, in part, on the availability and quality of training. Despite rapid expansion of the link worker role on an international scale, training provision for this workforce remains fragmented and poorly mapped. Aim: To identify and describe training programmes for link workers reported in the published and grey literature. Methods: We followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology on scoping reviews. Six electronic databases were searched alongside targeted grey literature searching. Sources were included if they described …


Hidden In Plain Sight: Uk Social Work Educator Views Of Preparedness To Work With Individuals And Families Affected By Abi., Caroline Bald, Alyson Norman, Akudo Amediegwu, Talis Spirit, Temi Ademakinwa, Mark A. Linden, Mark Holloway, Michael Clarke, Andrew Bateman Sep 2026

Hidden In Plain Sight: Uk Social Work Educator Views Of Preparedness To Work With Individuals And Families Affected By Abi., Caroline Bald, Alyson Norman, Akudo Amediegwu, Talis Spirit, Temi Ademakinwa, Mark A. Linden, Mark Holloway, Michael Clarke, Andrew Bateman

School of Psychology

Acquired brain injury (ABI) is the leading cause of adulthood injury-related death and disability worldwide. Despite ABI’s prevalence, little is known about the extent to which social workers are prepared for brain injury working and specifically pre-qualifying brain injury curricula. This study employed a nine-item survey regarding brain injury social work knowledge. The survey asked about curricula inclusion within social work pre-qualification via multiple education providers to understand the extent to which brain injury training is incorporated within UK courses. This included a series of open-ended questions. Data from 36 survey respondents identified that 1) there was an acknowledged gap …


“I Really Like Being On The Floor, Because I Spend All The Time In My Chair”: Children With Disabilities’ Experiences Of Physical Activity In School, Katherine Gulliver, Rachel Knight Lozano, Kathrin Paal Sep 2026

“I Really Like Being On The Floor, Because I Spend All The Time In My Chair”: Children With Disabilities’ Experiences Of Physical Activity In School, Katherine Gulliver, Rachel Knight Lozano, Kathrin Paal

School of Law, Humanities and Social Sciences

Children with multiple disabilities often encounter significant barriers to participating in physical activity, impacting not only their physical health but also their overall experience in school. This study places the voices of four children at the centre of their own research, exploring their lived experiences of participating in physical activity in school. Using Clark’s (2017) Mosaic approach, this child-centred participatory study shows how children take part and engage with physical activity as part of their school day. Using videos and photography, child-led tours and ethically sensitive conversations with researchers, children shared a range of opportunities for enjoyment, exploration and interactions …


Real-World Testing Of An Artificial Intelligence Conversational Agent As An Early Intervention And Support Tool In The Mental Health Referral Care Pathway: A Mixed-Methods Study, Rohit Shankar, Edward Meinert, Madison Milne-Ives, Emma Taylor, B Inkster, Alina Paik, Ananya Ananthakrishnan, Martin Orr, Ceire Costelloe Sep 2026

Real-World Testing Of An Artificial Intelligence Conversational Agent As An Early Intervention And Support Tool In The Mental Health Referral Care Pathway: A Mixed-Methods Study, Rohit Shankar, Edward Meinert, Madison Milne-Ives, Emma Taylor, B Inkster, Alina Paik, Ananya Ananthakrishnan, Martin Orr, Ceire Costelloe

Peninsula Medical School

Background: The incidence of mental health concerns is growing, and demand for support is exceeding service capacity.Digital tools can provide additional support but risk causing harm if not delivered safely.Aims: We aimed to establish real-world evidence of the impact of an artificial intelligence-based mental healthconversational agent (Wysa) on depression and anxiety in patients waiting for Talking Therapies treatment.Methods: A mixed-methods randomized controlled trial was conducted with patients referred to Talking Therapies inthe Central and Northwest London NHS Foundation Trust. The primary outcome was change in depression severityover 12weeks between groups; secondary outcomes included anxiety severity, quality of life, safety, engagement, …


Discomfort Avoidance And Desire For Normality Are Decision-Making Drivers Of Footwear Choice In Underserved Communities At Risk Of Diabetic Foot Ulcer, Krithika Anil, Neeraj Sharma, Sonal Patel, Jess Bailey, Catherine Smith, Sally Abey, Kayce Allcock, Richard Collings, Joanne Paton Sep 2026

Discomfort Avoidance And Desire For Normality Are Decision-Making Drivers Of Footwear Choice In Underserved Communities At Risk Of Diabetic Foot Ulcer, Krithika Anil, Neeraj Sharma, Sonal Patel, Jess Bailey, Catherine Smith, Sally Abey, Kayce Allcock, Richard Collings, Joanne Paton

School of Health Professions

BackgroundDiabetes-related foot ulceration (DFU) is a serious complication that can lead to lower limb amputation or death. Custom-made footwear is a key preventative strategy, yet adherence to use is often low. The factors influencing decision-making for footwear use remain unclear, particularly among underserved groups such as people from low socioeconomic and South Asian backgrounds. This study aimed to identify the psychological mechanisms underlying footwear choice and adherence in people with diabetes from low socioeconomic and South Asian populations.MethodsThis study used a qualitative approach conducted in two parts. Part 1 explored footwear-related experiences using one-to-one interviews informed by the COM-B model …


Temporal Changes In Mechanical Pin Prick Sensitivity Following High Frequency Induced Sensitisation Of Central Nociceptive Pathways: A Test Re-Test Reliability Study, Samuel Mugglestone, Giorgio Ganis, Sam W. Hughes Sep 2026

Temporal Changes In Mechanical Pin Prick Sensitivity Following High Frequency Induced Sensitisation Of Central Nociceptive Pathways: A Test Re-Test Reliability Study, Samuel Mugglestone, Giorgio Ganis, Sam W. Hughes

School of Psychology

High-frequency stimulation (HFS) is a human surrogate model of secondary hyperalgesia and a key experimental tool for understanding the mechanisms and modulation of central nociceptive pathways. An emerging area of research focuses on the role of top-down endogenous analgesic systems during secondary hyperalgesia development. However, the test-retest reliability of the early temporal changes in sensitivity are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the between-session reliability of the early temporal dynamics and late-phase expression of HFS-induced changes in mechanical pinprick sensitivity in a heterotopic area on the forearm in 28 healthy participants across five time points relative to HFS …


Vicarious Trauma: The Psychological Impact On Counsellors And Psychotherapists Working With Survivors Of Sexual Abuse., Deborah Down, Alison Bacon Sep 2026

Vicarious Trauma: The Psychological Impact On Counsellors And Psychotherapists Working With Survivors Of Sexual Abuse., Deborah Down, Alison Bacon

School of Psychology

Background: Vicarious trauma (VT), the psychological distress that occurs from exposure to the trauma of others, is prevalent among therapists, but has not previously been explored in those working specifically with survivors of sexual trauma. This qualitative study explores counsellors‘ and psychotherapists‘ experiences of VT when working with survivors of sexual abuse. Method: Semi-structured interviews uncovered complex emotional and psychological impacts, highlighting how exposure to traumatic sexual abuse narratives can affect counsellors‘ and psychotherapists‘ wellbeing, and professional and personal identity. A reflexive thematic analysis was conducted. Results: Four key themes were identified. (1) The Impact of VT reveals the emotional …


Social Prescribing For People In Vulnerable Situations In Europe: Protocol For A Process Evaluation Of An Rct In Eight Countries, Kerryn Husk, Elizabeth Gilmour, Stephanie Tierney, Debra Westlake, Anuschka Arni, Hendrik Napierala, Farhad Rezvani, Marius Dierks, Wolfram J. Herrmann Sep 2026

Social Prescribing For People In Vulnerable Situations In Europe: Protocol For A Process Evaluation Of An Rct In Eight Countries, Kerryn Husk, Elizabeth Gilmour, Stephanie Tierney, Debra Westlake, Anuschka Arni, Hendrik Napierala, Farhad Rezvani, Marius Dierks, Wolfram J. Herrmann

Peninsula Medical School

Objective Social prescribing is a pathway that connects individuals to non-clinical services. It supports and addresses social needs, such as those related to loneliness, housing instability and mental health. Social Prescribing Europe (SP-EU), a European Union funded project, seeks to co-create an adaptation of the social prescribing pathway based on the needs of the following target groups: LGBTIQ+ people, refugees and first-generation immigrants, older people living alone. This adapted social prescribing pathway will be tested in a pragmatic randomised controlled trial (RCT) in ten hubs, covering eight countries, across Europe. The aim of this process evaluation is to explore the …


Exploring Factors Affecting The Use Of Blended Diets For Children And Young People In Health, Education And Social Care Settings In The Uk: The Protocol For A Realist Mixed Methods Study, Gemma Phillips, Jane Coad, Mary Hickson, Joseph C. Manning Sep 2026

Exploring Factors Affecting The Use Of Blended Diets For Children And Young People In Health, Education And Social Care Settings In The Uk: The Protocol For A Realist Mixed Methods Study, Gemma Phillips, Jane Coad, Mary Hickson, Joseph C. Manning

School of Health Professions

Background Enteral tube feeding provides supplementary or alternative nutrition for individuals who cannot meet their nutritional needs orally and remains essential for a number of children and young people with complex health needs. Commercial formula remains standard practice in the UK, although increasing numbers of children and their families are choosing a blended diet and reporting significant physical and social benefits. However, support for families in using blended diets varies across health, education and social settings in the UK. Aim To explore factors affecting the use of blended diets in health, education and social care settings. Methods This sequential mixed …


How Conditions Within Immigration Removal Centres In The United Kingdom Affect The Mental Wellbeing Of Detainees: A Scoping Review, Niamh Gallagher, Tristan Price, Matthew Griggs Sep 2026

How Conditions Within Immigration Removal Centres In The United Kingdom Affect The Mental Wellbeing Of Detainees: A Scoping Review, Niamh Gallagher, Tristan Price, Matthew Griggs

Peninsula Medical School

BackgroundImmigration Removal Centres (IRCs) are used to detain people for immigration control by the UK government. This scoping review aims to examine the experiences of detainees within UK IRCs, specifically how conditions within them, including the regime, affect their mental wellbeing.MethodsThe Joanna Briggs Institute guideline for scoping reviews was followed. Six bibliographic databases and additional grey literature sources were searched for quantitative and qualitative evidence. Descriptive analyses and quality assessments were conducted.ResultsFifteen research studies and nine pieces of grey literature were included, comprising a total of 1353 participants and 11 IRCs. The majority of data was qualitative in methodology and …


Nurses' And Families' Experiences Of A Feasibility Trial Comparing Single‐Use And Multiple‐Use Endotracheal Suction Catheters In Mechanically Ventilated Patients: A Qualitative Study, Mohamed H. Eid, Kevin Hambridge, Patricia Schofield, Jos M. Latour Sep 2026

Nurses' And Families' Experiences Of A Feasibility Trial Comparing Single‐Use And Multiple‐Use Endotracheal Suction Catheters In Mechanically Ventilated Patients: A Qualitative Study, Mohamed H. Eid, Kevin Hambridge, Patricia Schofield, Jos M. Latour

School of Nursing and Midwifery

BackgroundIn resource-limited Intensive Care Units (ICUs), reusing endotracheal suctioning catheters is often standard practice due to supply constraints or staffing pressures. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have explored the impact of these practices on patient outcomes. However, less is known about the experiences of nurses and family members involved in RCTs testing endotracheal suctioning interventions.AimTo explore the experiences of ICU nurses and family members participating in a feasibility RCT comparing single-use versus multiple-use endotracheal suction catheters flushed with chlorhexidine or normal saline in a resource-limited ICU setting.Study DesignA qualitative study was embedded within a feasibility RCT. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with …