Our Public Health theme cuts across the ARC to maximise the impact of health research for the population.
We focus on growing the body of evidence of what works to improve physical and mental health, for the whole population, through the prevention of ill-health.
We support working across Kent Surrey and Sussex on health issues that affect our region; for example, health in coastal and rural communities, health in marginalised populations such as asylum seekers and refugees, health in older people, young people’s mental health.
We work closely with other ARC themes and local authorities, who deliver public health policy and interventions for residents, including the Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs) in Medway and Surrey.
Meet the Team
Theme Lead
Senior Research Fellow
Senior Research Fellow
Projects
Discharge to Assess Pathways (D2A)
Does a discharge to assess programme introduced in England meet the quadruple aim of service improvement?
Researchers from the Applied Research Collaboration Kent, Surrey and Sussex (ARC KSS) have published their findings following an evaluation of a local discharge to assess service. Across the country, discharge to assess pathways were given a significant boost in funding during Covid-19, expanding and extending their reach to further improve the appropriateness of long-term care needs following discharge from acute care. The pathway reduces acute length of stay by moving the point of detailed assessment for ongoing care from the acute hospital into the community with the full assessment 4-6 weeks post discharge. This allows for a period of rehabilitation prior to assessment of long term need within a more suitable environment for the assessment to take place.
Along with local recommendations for the service, the evaluation found evidence that the development of the service had met the fourth aim in the ‘quadruple aim’ of service improvement. Quadruple aim builds on the widely used triple aim (‘improving the experience of healthcare’, ‘reducing the cost of provision’ and ‘improving the wider health of the population’) by adding in ‘improving the work life of staff’. Very few papers have explicitly considered quadruple aim as an outcome framework.
Click here to view the publication
This initial evaluation has formed the basis for a wider study that is underway across a variety of places in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. This follow on study is focused on the community elements of the pathway and patient experience. It will make recommendations for good practice that are hoped to help inform other systems across the country.
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VIVALDI sub-study exploring the impact of outbreaks, and outbreak control measures, on residents using ASCOT tools
The VIVALDI sub-study is linked to the UCL-led Vivaldi Clinical Trial of regular testing of care home staff for COVID-19. The sub study aims to understand how chest infection outbreaks (including of COVID19) impact the quality of life of older people in care homes. We will interview 100 residents, including those with dementia, from 5 care homes with a recent outbreak and 5 care homes without. We will measure residents’ quality of life alongside measures of wellbeing, activities and loneliness. We will also carry out observations in communal spaces to understand the impact of outbreaks on the residents’ use of space and social interactions. The study has been presented at conferences, arousing the interest of policymakers and practitioners. This will inform how we manage future outbreaks of chest infections in care homes.
A feasibility study exploring the acceptability, use and perceived impact of Together Project resources, co-produced to support the delivery of good maternity care for people with learning disabilities
The Together Project, which brought together parents with learning disabilities, researchers and health and social care professionals, aimed to improve support for parents with learning disabilities within maternity services.
The Experiences of Looked After Children (LAC) in Mental Health and Wellbeing Services and Interventions: A Qualitative Systematic Review
The aim of this PhD is to understand how we can improve the mental health and wellbeing of Care Experienced Young People, who have particularly poor health and social outcomes in England.
How Substance Use and Sexual Health Impact the Mental Health of Vulnerable Young People
The aim of this project how young people aged 16-24 experience mental health, sexual health and substance-use. Issues with each of these commonly co-occur leading to disproportionate effects on their lives. Interviews with young people have helped us understand how young people experience mental and sexual health, and barriers and facilitators to accessing services.
The interaction between material and behavioural aspects of structural socioeconomic inequalities in coastal communities in West Sussex
In 2022, in a coastal social housing estate in West Sussex, we worked with a local community development project to understand what residents thought about how their social and economic circumstances affected their health.
NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration (Medway)
We propose Medway Council and the University of Kent work together (called the Medway Health Determinants Research Collaboration) to make sure that the council can use and take part in research. The research will build knowledge to improve the health of the public and reduce the differences in health between different groups like differences based on income, education, ethnicity, gender.
Building a sustainable health community in East Surrey: Understanding the impact and implementation of Growing Health Together
Growing Health Together (GHT) is a collaborative partnership based in East Surrey. Together, local people, health and care professionals, the voluntary sector and community organisations build upon existing strengths and community assets to set up and deliver opportunities outside of the NHS to improve well-being and prevent ill health. This approach is called ' community-led health creation’.
Evaluation of the Buddi Tag Programme in the Kent and Medway Violence Research Unit
This initiative – under the leadership of the Kent and Medway Violence Reduction Unit – aims to enhance the safety and wellbeing of 12 to 18 year olds who are vulnerable to exploitation.
Coastal Communities and Creative Health
This project focuses on three coastal areas of England with poor health outcomes, but a rich cultural and creative heritage: Hastings, Weston-Super-Mare and Blackpool. Priority areas include young people’s mental health, substance misuse, and life-limiting illness and bereavement.
Stories of life and health in an unequal society: how can local government close health inequalities gap in coastal communities?
Coastal communities in England have a greater burden of disease than non-coastal areas, alongside older populations and greater deprivation. In West Sussex, a higher proportion of people in coastal towns report that they are ‘not in good health’ than in non-coastal towns. The aim of this research project is to understand the experiences of people living in a coastal town in West Sussex in relation to health and illness, situated within the place they live and their social context.
Controlling scabies outbreaks and understanding dermatoses of public health concern in residential care for the elderly, refugee/migrant settings and other semi-closed institutions
ARC KSS studied how scabies spreads in places like care homes and migrant hostels, pinpointed the challenges in managing these outbreaks, and developed better tools and guidelines. With this knowledge, ARC KSS researchers advised health workers on controlling severe outbreaks and co-authored national guidelines with UK Health Security Agency, now used across the UK. The work also contributed to the UK licensing and availability of oral ivermectin for scabies.
