The Policy Pod

The Meld-B project

In this episode Dr Emilia Holland and Dr Simon Fraser talk about how their research will help in understanding when multiple long-term condition multi-morbidity (MLTC-M) becomes ‘burdensome’ and the best opportunities for intervention.

Background 

A growing number of people are living with several long-term health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, depression or dementia. We call this multiple long-term condition multi-morbidity (MLTC-M). Many things throughout a person’s life influence the chances of developing health conditions. This includes their biology (e.g. age, ethnicity), things that happen to them (e.g. infections, accidents), behaviours (e.g. smoking, diet) and broader experiences (e.g. the environment people grew up in, their education, work, income). People from more disadvantaged backgrounds and/or certain ethnicities are more likely to develop MLTC-M and to develop it earlier. The impact (or ‘burden’) of MLTC-M, and the order that people develop conditions, also vary. 

The project page: Research project: Multidisciplinary Ecosystem to study Lifecourse Determinants and Prevention of Early-onset Burdensome Multimorbidity (MELD-B)

New publication: A conceptual framework for characterising lifecourse determinants of multiple long-term condition multimorbidity

 

ActMed: Improving access to medicines to support palliative care at home: challenges and opportunities

Dr Natasha Campling and Professor Sue Latter discuss ways to improve access to medicines and support palliative care at home. 

Background- 

Patient and carer access to medicines during the last 12 months of life (end-of-life) is critical for control of symptoms, including pain and distress, and for reducing urgent, unplanned use of healthcare services. However, data from our previous studies suggested that prescription, dispensing, supply and associated information given about medicines are experienced by patients as often difficult, demanding, lacking co-ordination, and involves a multiplicity of professionals. Although evidence is suggestive of patient and carer access problems with traditional service delivery systems, including General Practitioner care, little is known about this. Additionally, there are indications that critical sectors of the end-of-life workforce – palliative care nurse specialists and community pharmacists - are currently under-utilised.

Furthermore, whilst there are some promising innovations in end-of-life care models, the impact of these on patient access to medicines, as well as their cost-effectiveness comparative to more traditional delivery models, remains largely un-evaluated. Our recent research also suggests that the supply chain ‘upstream’ may be a contributing factor to the complexity and problems with access experienced by patients.  

 

 

Primary prevention of cytomegalovirus in pregnancy: addressing the gaps

In this episode Dr Chrissie Jones talks about how traditionally, pregnant women have been excluded from research regarding interventional trials and educational strategies related to preventing infections during pregnancy. 

Just and Unjust riots

In this episode of ‘Policy Pod’ we are joined by Professor Jonathan Havercroft to discuss his project on just and unjust riots and how it has developed throughout his career. He discusses how riots throughout history are received differently depending on the political climate, and how this affects subsequent policy developments. Moreover, he discusses how this is relevant in informing the current landscape with the rise in protest surrounding Black Lives Matter and Climate Justice campaigns.

Transformational Coasts Part 3: Coastal communities

In this final special episode on Transformational Coasts, we hear from three experts about the changing coastlines in the east of England.

• Peter Aldous, describes the importance of a strategic, evidence-based approach, working with communities, on the ever-evolving coastline.
• Kellie Fisher stresses the importance of community-led, place-based approaches and being honest in coastal adaptation conversations.
• Dr Helen Jay reflects on the benefits and vibrancy of our coastlines, and the importance of thinking about transformational adaptation now.  

Pod cast Hosts- 

• Dr Sien van der Plank, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Exeter / Visting Researcher, University of Southampton  
• Rebecca Walley, PhD researcher, University of Southampton  

Transformational Coasts Part 2: Challenges and opportunities in coastal adaptation

In the second special episode on Transformational Coasts, we hear from three experts about the changing coastlines of England, with specific consideration of south coast locations.

• Tim Loughton discusses the particular challenges and exciting opportunities of coastal communities.
• Uwe Dornbusch takes the physical geographical perspective on coastal change, but also reflects on the relationship between nature and people in the coastal context, and the changing perspectives on how to best manage that interface.
• Dr Charlie Thompson describes coasts as an area of exchange, both physically and socially, a dynamic system that needs to be managed as a whole rather than controlled in parts.  

Pod cast hosts- 

• Dr Sien van der Plank, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Exeter / Visting Researcher, University of Southampton  
• Dr Wassim Dbouk, Marine and Maritime Policy Research Fellow, University of Southampton  

Transformational Coasts Part 1: Sustainable adaptations for climate resilience

In the first special episode on Transformational Coasts, we hear from three experts about the changing coastlines of England and around the world. 

• Professor Robert Nicholls reflects on the history of coastal management in the UK, from defence through to resilience, and past and present management transformations.
• Professor Mike Elliott outlines the “triple whammy” of threat that coasts face, as well as talks us through the ten tenets for effective and sustainable marine management.
• Dr Jenny Brown describes her passion for the sea, and the need for sustainability to be embedded into coastal adaptation discourse and practice. 

Pod Cast hosts-

• Dr Sien van der Plank, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Exeter / Visting Researcher, University of Southampton  
• Dominique Townsend, coastal geomorphologist, PhD researcher looking at nearshore change, University of Southampton   

EPPiGen: Ethical Preparedness for Genomic Medicine

Dr Lisa Ballard joins us to talk about the EPPiGen research project in this episode of the Policy Pod. Genomic approaches to diagnosis and treatment are becoming more embedded within the UK health care system. This provides a unique opportunity to examine how genomic medicine is understood by those providing and engaging with the service. Dr Ballard discusses "ethical preparedness" as terminology, how genomics is portrayed in the media, ethical issues experienced in labs and more.

Preconception in the Inter-Pregnancy Period

Dr Chandni Maria Jacob, Dr Mark Hanson and Dr Daniella Watson discuss the importance of effective policy to improve health outcomes for prospective parents and their children. They talk about the need to look at population health, generational health and how to improve hollistic wellbeing alongside reducing risk factors such as alcohol and smoking, including for those who are not actively planning for pregnancy. 

Learning Inequalities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Dr Nic Pensiero and Dr Christian Bokhove join us for the first episode of a brand new season of The Policy Pod. They discuss the UK Understanding Society 2020 and 2021 data, which is the largest longitudinal study of its kind and allowed crucial insights into household dynamics during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data indicates that existing learning inequalities were exacerbated during the first school closure, and whilst these didn't worsen during the second, our guests question why they did not altogether reduce. Answering this may lie in considering the role of the home in addition to provisions from schools. Also discussed are the National Tutoring Programme, learning loss, the examinations fiasco, teacher assessed grades and...breathing patterns. 

Bokhove C. and Pensiero N., (2022), Learning Inequalities During the Covid-19 Pandemic, The Policy Pod, University of Southampton, DOI: 10.5258/SOTON/PP0005