Wendy Wrapson

... ACTION NOTICE (PAN) PILOT: FINAL REPORT Prepared for: Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) Prepared by: Stephen Lea Avril Mewse Wendy Wrapson Date: May 2007 Amended 3rd July 2007 © 2007 Her Majesty's Courts Service Page 3. Executive Summary 1 ...

Mindfulness training is associated with improvements in psychological wellbeing and cognition, yet the specific underlying neurophysiological mechanisms underpinning these changes are uncertain. This study uses a novel brain-inspired artificial neural network to investigate the effect of mindfulness training on electroencephalographic function. Participants completed a 4-tone auditory oddball task (that included targets and physically similar distractors) at three assessment time points. In Group A (n = 10), these tasks were given immediately prior to 6-week mindfulness training, immediately after training and at a 3-week follow-up; in Group B (n = 10), these were during an intervention waitlist period (3 weeks prior to training), pre-mindfulness training and post-mindfulness training. Using a spiking neural network (SNN) model, we evaluated concurrent neural patterns generated across space and time from features of electroencephalographic data capturing the neural dynamics associat...

Minority ethnic patient groups typically have the highest bariatric surgery preoperative attrition rates and lowest surgery utilisation worldwide. Eligible patients of Pacific Island ethnicity (Pacific patients) in New Zealand (NZ) follow this wider trend.ObjectivesThe present study explored structural barriers contributing to Pacific patients’ disproportionately high preoperative attrition rates from publicly-funded bariatric surgery in Auckland, NZ.SettingPublicly-funded bariatric surgery programmes based in the wider Auckland area, NZ.DesignSemi-structured interviews with health sector professionals (n=21) were conducted.Data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach.ResultsTwo primary themes were identified: (1) Confidence negotiating the medical system, which included Emotional safety in clinical settings and Relating to non-Pacific health professionals and (2) Appropriate support to achieve preoperative goals, which included Cultural considerations, Practical support ...

Studies in clinical and aging populations support associations between immunological function, cognition and mood, although these are not always in line with animal models. Moreover, very little is known about the relationship between immunological measures and cognition in healthy young adults. The present study tested associations between the state of immune system and memory recall in a group of relatively healthy adults. Immediate and delayed memory recall was assessed in 30 participants using the computerised cognitive battery. CD4, CD8 and CD69 subpopulations of lymphocytes, Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cortisol were assessed with blood assays. Correlation analysis showed significant negative relationships between CD4 and the short and long delay memory measures. IL-6 showed a significant positive correlation with long-delay recall. Generalized linear models found associations between differences in all recall challenges and CD4. A multivariate generalized linear model including C...

To determine the extent to which children have the opportunity to provide feedback on public hospital care in New Zealand. A scan of the web sites of the Ministry of Health and the Health Quality and Safety Commission New Zealand (HQSC) together with a search of core District Health Board publications was conducted to identify existing or planned processes to capture the hospital experience of patients under 18 years. The importance of gathering patient feedback was recognised but, currently, ad hoc strategies are being used to put these good intentions into practice. Although some DHBs are introducing novel methods of gathering patient feedback, details of data collection methods and characteristics of participants are often not publicised. The HQSC has developed an adult Inpatient survey to provide a coherent means of assessing patient experience nationally but there is currently no children's survey available. Our analysis suggests a lack of opportunity for children's per...

ABSTRACT This chapter summarizes the major findings of two decades of ongoing survey research probing the psychology of debt amongst the United Kingdom's most severe, as well as more moderate debtor populations. It shows that peoples' lay understandings of the concept of “debt” differs dramatically from that of an economist or accountant, with the categorization “debt” being an adverse characterization reserved for default or nonpayment. Mere credit use according to agreed terms does not register as “debt” in peoples' minds. How people categorize “debt,” though, and the relative tolerance of their attitudes toward debt, also seem to be a function of their own debtor status, in a consequential rather than a causative sense, as cognitive dissonance and self-perception theory would predict. Someone who has not used credit will more readily categorize any credit use as “debt” with a strongly averse attitude thereto, but when that same person does begin using credit (e.g., upon attending university), this credit use is no longer categorized as “debt” and is now viewed with tolerance and sympathy.

Sickness certification poses challenges and problems for the GP. Patient factors may influence the sick leave period. To explore how sickness certification occurred based on patients' reports of medical consultations for a new episode of low back pain. A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 16 employees who were currently or had recently been off work with an episode of low back pain. We present a preliminary typology of sickness certification responses by medical practitioners comprising four response types: 'process', 'cued', 'consultative' and 'laissez-faire'. All but the process response allows the patient some influence in the sickness certification decision. It is possible that certain types of response may occur at specific stages of recovery. Doctors may allow patients input into the sickness certification process for a number of reasons. As yet, we do not know if this helps or hinders the return to work process.

ABSTRACT The uptake of low carbon heating technologies forms an important part of government strategies to reduce carbon emissions. Yet our understanding of why such technologies are adopted and how they are engaged with post-adoption, particularly by older adults living in off-grid areas, is limited. Drawing on a contextualised, socio-technical approach to domestic heating, we present findings from 51 in-depth interviews with a sample of 17 older person households in the South West of England, with ages ranging from 60 to 89 years. Diverse and multiple configurations of heating devices and fuels were found that varied considerably, with some households using five different fuels. The design of the study ensured that approximately half the sample used some form of low carbon thermal technology, such as heat pumps and biomass boilers. Many factors were reported to influence the adoption of low carbon heating; environmental motives were not primary influences and the avoidance of financial risks associated with ‘peak oil’ was expressed. Low carbon thermal technologies were typically integrated into rather than replaced existing heating systems so that valued services provided by conventional technologies could be retained. Implications of the findings for policies to reduce carbon emissions, particularly in older adult, off-grid households, are discussed.

To understand how work supervisors respond to sickness certification for an episode of low back pain based on employees' reports of employer-employee interactions. Thematic analysis of semi-structured in-depth interviews with 16 employees who were currently or had recently been off work with an episode of low back pain. Two types of initial supervisor response were identified: See you later and take your time and get it right. Both of these relied on the employee returning to work once they were able to do their normal work tasks. Three types of subsequent response were identified: proactive, apathetic and negative. Only the proactive response included actions to encourage and assist the employee to return to the workplace. The interactions described by participants suggest that employers and their representatives often postpone actioning to return to work interventions which potentially delays the rehabilitation of the employee.

ABSTRACT Policies to decarbonize heat provision involve the diffusion of low carbon thermal technologies (e.g. ground-source heat pumps and wood pellet boilers). In domestic buildings, such efforts presume the compatibility of novel technologies with practices of home-making, in terms of comfort, cosiness and sociability. However, research on engagement with low carbon technologies post-installation is limited, particularly with older adults, a growing social group in an ageing society. This study explores how older adults living with low carbon thermal technologies represent thermal comfort, drawing on in-depth interviews in diverse UK home environments (owner-occupied and rented; extra-care, sheltered and care homes; urban and rural). Findings indicate that cosiness and glow are highly valued by and for older adults, and achieved in diverse ways that may run counter to policy goals. In owner-occupied, rural homes, wood-burning stoves were retained after installation of under-floor heating/heat pumps to provide a visible glow and hospitality to guests. In care homes, fake fireplaces provide cosiness and glow without compromising concerns about risk. The research suggests that presumed emissions savings from the deployment of low carbon heating technologies may be overestimated, as home-making practices lead to the supplementing of these devices to provide comfort, cosiness and sociability.