Papers by Eleni Hatzidimitriadou
Assistive Technology, Jul 3, 2023
European journal of public health, Apr 17, 2018
International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, Nov 1, 2007
Introduction Feminisation of migration has often been recognised as a major trend of internationa... more Introduction Feminisation of migration has often been recognised as a major trend of international migration in recent times (Castles & Miller, 2003).Though generally associated with growing numbers of women migrants, first and foremost it symbolises dramatic social ...
The NHS Health Check is a national screening programme targeting cardiovascular disease (CVD), ... more The NHS Health Check is a national screening programme targeting cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the UK Effectiveness of the NHS Health Check is still under evaluation and no randomised controlled trial (RCT) has been undertaken to date. Current research results are largely inconclusive. Initially low, programme uptake has been increasing in recent years, reaching nationally up to half of the eligible population While the research data gives a mixed picture, concerns have been raised about differential uptake among different demographic groups, including those living in more deprived areas. Area deprivation is known to correlate with higher CVD risk. Public Health England, among other bodies, have called for further research into the impact and coverage of NHS Health Checks The 'Health MOT Roadshow' is a community-based health check programme consisting of outreach, referrals, and on-site Health MOTs as well as NHS Health Check. It is delivered by Wellbeing People, a Kent-based private sector company, in cooperation with statutory and third sector services. Initial results from the project show promise in view of engaging hard-to-reach populations and improving service uptake at a competitive cost 4 Background The following overview is based on a literature review conducted in Google Scholar in December 2015 and updated in January 2016. Search terms included: NHS health checks, impact and uptake. The website of Public Health England (PHE) was also searched. Most recent (2014 onwards) and/ or relevant publications available were prioritised. A list of relevant studies compiled by PHE (PHE, 2014) was also reviewed.
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Nov 1, 2021
Background: In order to provide improved care provision, integrated care services are being devel... more Background: In order to provide improved care provision, integrated care services are being developed. However, little is known about how people living with dementia, their families and healthcare professionals experience integrated care. Therefore, the purpose of this review of the qualitative literature was to examine the experiences and perceptions of integrated dementia care. Methods: This qualitative review synthesised findings from included studies identified from a comprehensive literature search. Searches included: five electronic databases, journal handsearching, and reference list searching of relevant literature reviews and the final included studies. Findings: Three overarching themes were identified: 1) Ways of working which facilitate the delivery of integrated dementia care; 2) Informal carers as equal partners in care provision and decision making; and 3) Challenges leading to fragmented and disjointed integrated dementia care. For integrated care to be successful, communication and collaboration between healthcare professionals, and the involvement of informal carers is needed. Multidisciplinary teams and employing case managers to coordinate care provision can improve communication and collaboration. However, distrust between healthcare professionals and a lack of a central database to access and share information often hinders the development of integrated dementia care service provision. Conclusion: Integrated dementia care can be successful and well received by people living with dementia and their families when certain conditions are met. However, given the negative consequences fragmented and disjointed care can have on people living with dementia and their families, action is needed to further support the development of integrated dementia care services.
ABSTRACT In the last quarter of the twentieth century, self-help/mutual aid groups for mental hea... more ABSTRACT In the last quarter of the twentieth century, self-help/mutual aid groups for mental health issues started to emerge in growing numbers, mainly in Western societies, offering and/or advocating for alternative non-traditional forms of support, and attracted the attention of many researchers and clinicians for their unique characteristics. Among the subjects of interest are typologies of groups, helping mechanisms and benefits from participation. However, there is lack of systematic research in the area and existing studies have been largely confined to the therapeutic value of these groups instead of acknowledging their socio-political meaning and subsequent psychosocial benefits for their members like personal empowerment. The present study was conducted during the transitional years from a Conservative to a newly elected Labour Government (1996 -1998), with subsequent policy shifts taking place in the welfare sector. The purpose of the study was to explore the potential of self-help groups as part of a broader new social movement, the service user movement, focussing on the English scene. It addressed this issue examining the relevance of a group typology based on political ideology and focus of change. To test the validity of this classification for members, a set of individual characteristics and group mechanisms as well as their change through time were examined. The sample consisted of fourteen mental health self-help/mutual aid groups from London and South East England, with a variety of structural and organisational features. The methodology used was a combination of both quantitative (self-completion questionnaires) and qualitative techniques (analysis of written material, participant observation and interviews). Measurements were repeated after a one-year interval (Time 1 N=67, Time 2 N=56). Findings showed that, indeed, political ideology of self-help/mutual aid groups provided the basis of a meaningful typology and constituted a comprehensive way of categorising them. Group ideology was related to specific helping mechanisms and aspects of personal empowerment. Specifically, conservative and combined group members reported more expressive group processes like sharing of feelings and self-disclosure, while radical group members were more empowered and optimistic. Group identification was also associated with specific helping activities and aspects of empowerment in the three group categories. The psychosocial character of group types and the beneficial outcomes for members remained stable through time. In general, prolonged participation was reflected in greater member identification with the group and resulted in improved mental well-being, increased social support, companionship and optimism for the future.
Generation labelling of immigrants Ambiguity of "second generation immigrant" term May refe... more Generation labelling of immigrants Ambiguity of "second generation immigrant" term May refer to first generation born in the new country, or first generation born to parents who were themselves born in the new country "1.5 generation"-coined to refer to those who immigrate early in life In the UK, BME is the preferred term to denote people with an immigrant background Cultural Capital of Immigrants In the migration context, the immigrant family is the repository of cultural capital, accumulated both prior to immigration and during the process of incorporation. Cultural capital exists for immigrants primarily in two forms:-institutionalised, such as educational credentials, and embodied, that is, "long-lasting dispositions of the mind and body" (Bourdieu 1983, p. 243). Competence in the language of the receiving country and familiarity with its cultural customs are highly valuable cultural capital. Cultural Capital of Immigrants The role of the cultural capital of immigrants in the incorporation in receiving countries Bourdieu-cultural capital theory as a framework for the reproduction of social inequality within highly individualistic societies; permits to capture the differences in migrants" positions within the social space and their habitual disposition. Criticised for lack of representation of intersectionality of social structures such as gender, race and ethnicity.
Background: Assistive Technologies (AT) in healthcare can increase independence and quality of li... more Background: Assistive Technologies (AT) in healthcare can increase independence and quality of life for users. Concurrently, new AT devices offer opportunities for individualised care solutions. Nonetheless, AT remains under-utilised and is poorly integrated in practice by healthcare professionals (HCPs). Although occupational therapists (OTs), physiotherapists and speech and language therapists (SLTs) consider that AT solutions can offer problem-solving approaches to personalised care, they have a lesser understanding of application of AT in their practice. In this paper, we report findings of a survey on AT knowledge and experiences of HCPs in UK and France. Training needs also explored in the survey are presented in a separate paper on development of online training for the ADAPT project. Method: A survey of 37 closed/open questions was developed in English and French by a team of healthcare researchers. Content was informed by published surveys and studies. Email invitations wer...
Background: Long-term disabilities often result in loss of autonomy and social interaction. Accor... more Background: Long-term disabilities often result in loss of autonomy and social interaction. Accordingly, there is a demand for Assistive Technology (AT) devices to enable individuals to live independently for as long as possible. However, many people experience difficulties in obtaining and using AT. This paper presents findings from a narrative literature review undertaken as part of the development of AT training for healthcare professionals, one of the work areas of the ADAPT project (Assistive Devices for Empowering Disabled People through Robotic Technologies), funded by EU INTERREG France (Channel) England. The results of the review informed the design of a survey of healthcare professionals regarding their views and experiences of AT and the development of AT training. Method: The review sought to understand challenges encountered in the adoption and use of AT as well as how training of healthcare professionals in AT takes place. A narrative approach was adopted as the most a...
Jessica Kingsley eBooks, 2006
Dementia, Aug 1, 2005
Despite the acknowledged increase in the number of older people with intellectual disabilities (I... more Despite the acknowledged increase in the number of older people with intellectual disabilities (ID) in the UK, the age-related health and social care needs of this population have yet to be fully understood and addressed. Although there is some evidence of positive development, the current picture of service provision is characterized by fragmentation and limited choice of resources and specialist care. Policy aims are variably met and inconsistently applied. Research suggests that service planning is often incoherent, that many older people with ID and their carers receive poor quality non-specialist care and that staff are inadequately trained to manage the often multiple and complex needs of this user group. There is a considerable co-joined service development and research challenge in this emerging field. If older people with ID and their carers are to receive quality provision, a coherent and well-funded service planning system is required which is underpinned by articulated agency partnerships, informed by good practice developments in the fields of ID, gerontology and dementia care, and linked to evidence about effective models of care and services. The incorporation of the perspectives of users and carers in the planning process is an essential pre-requisite as is a commitment to the development of effective support across the life course of all individuals with ID.
Tizard Learning Disability Review, 1997
There has been a growing realization that the needs of older people with learning disabilities ar... more There has been a growing realization that the needs of older people with learning disabilities are not being met. There has been little attention paid in nursing literature to the needs of this client group. This article will explore the issues about older people with learning disabilities and highlight some of the important areas that learning disability nurses may need to address. It is evident that there needs to be more collaboration between a range of different services and professionals. Areas of good practice can be used in developing innovative and flexible services, which are client led. Learning disability nurses may need to update their skills and knowledge and develop a 'critical practice' approach to meet the many challenges that older people with learning disabilities may pose.
Social prescribing is becoming recognised as an important means of harnessing the resources of th... more Social prescribing is becoming recognised as an important means of harnessing the resources of the voluntary and community sector to improve the health and wellbeing of the public. It provides GPs with a non-medical referral option that can operate alongside existing treatments to improve health and well-being. While there is no widely agreed definition of social prescribing, or 'community referrals', reports on social prescribing include an extensive range of prescribed interventions and activities. The paper 'A Call to Action' by NHS England highlights social prescribing as a crucial means of empowering the public, enabling greater self-management of health and providing for people's non-clinical needs in a timely way. The aim being to promote integrated health and social care, partnered with the voluntary and community sector. There is however little in the way of supporting evidence of effect to inform the commissioning of a social prescribing programme. Evidence on the cost effectiveness of social prescribing schemes is also lacking. The aim of this research was to evaluate the benefits and limitations of a social prescribing pilot which took place in the Clocktower locality (London Borough of Bexley) over a 24-month period and this work forms the main body of the study. The evaluation primarily covers individuals who accessed and fully engaged in the first eight months. The pilot which started in April 2015 was hosted by Mind in Bexley and focuses on nine GP practices covering a population of approximately 80,000. The evaluation was thorough and comprehensive incorporating both quantitative and qualitative analysis. Quantitative data analys is and draft findings were undertaken by the School of Public Health, Midwifery and Social work at Christchurch University. The quantitative approach included an analysis of the Warwick and Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) in addition to data on the number of primary care and secondary appointments including hospital admission data for those who participated in the scheme. The qualitative aspect of the evaluation involved in-depth interviews with participants. Although measuring the impact of the project on the wellbeing of participants is challenging the use of both qualitative and quantitative analysis was adopted to ensure the evaluation in terms of measurable outcomes was as rigorous as possible. The information gathered and subsequent report reflects this dual approach and therefore aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the project. Analysis is based on a small number (n=81) of individuals, the limitations of such a small scale study are recognised and discussed, as a result this study does not attempt to claim representativeness or endeavour to generalise from the findings. This small-scale study will therefore attempt to contribute to the limited research on Social Prescribing in London. confidence or self-esteem or reducing isolation. The interview data suggests that social prescribing had a beneficial effect on quality of life, wellbeing and social capital of participants. The practical relevance of this study is also significant. All those responsible for planning, delivering and monitoring local primary care and social care services need to improve services for an increasing vulnerable and elderly population, users experiencing mental illness and distress, and relatives and carers including those from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities (Department of Health 2016). It is hoped that this small study could be a first step towards exploring specific initiatives and investing in cost effective initiatives in the community which enhance the Bexley communities' ability and capacity in dealing with, and supporting, complex wellbeing and aged related issues.
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Papers by Eleni Hatzidimitriadou