An exploratory randomized controlled study of a healthy living intervention in early intervention services for psychosis: the INTERvention to encourage ACTivity, improve diet, and reduce weight gain (INTERACT) study.

Background: People with psychosis often experience weight gain, which places them at risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and early death.

Objective: To determine the uptake, adherence, and clinical effectiveness of a healthy living intervention designed to reduce weight gain.

Method: An exploratory randomized controlled trial, comparing the intervention with treatment as usual (TAU) in 2 early intervention services for psychosis in England.

Case management for high-intensity service users: towards a relational approach to care co-ordination.

This study is based on a formative evaluation of a case management service for high-intensity service users in Northern England. The evaluation had three main purposes: (i) to assess the quality of the organisational infrastructure; (ii) to obtain a better understanding of the key influences that played a role in shaping the development of the service; and (iii) to identify potential changes in practice that may help to improve the quality of service provision. The evaluation was informed by Gittell's relational co-ordination theory, which focuses upon cross-boundary working practices that facilitate task integration.

What work has to be done to implement collaborative care for depression? Process evaluation of a trial utilizing the Normalization Process Model.

Background: There is a considerable evidence base for 'collaborative care' as a method to improve quality of care for depression, but an acknowledged gap between efficacy and implementation. This study utilises the Normalisation Process Model (NPM) to inform the process of implementation of collaborative care in both a future full-scale trial, and the wider health economy.

Methods: Application of the NPM to qualitative data collected in both focus groups and one-to-one interviews before and after an exploratory randomised controlled trial of a collaborative model of care for depression.

Is chronic pelvic pain a comfortable diagnosis for primary care practitioners: a qualitative study.

Background: Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) has a prevalence similar to asthma and chronic back pain, but little is known about how general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses manage women with this problem. A clearer understanding of current management is necessary to develop appropriate strategies, in keeping with current health care policy, for the supported self-management of patients with long term conditions. The aim of this study was to explore GPs' and practice nurses' understanding and perspectives on the management of chronic pelvic pain.

Preparation for pain management during childbirth: the psychological aspects of coping strategy development in antenatal education.

During childbirth, in addition to or in place of analgesia, women manage pain using a range of coping strategies. Antenatal education provides an opportunity prior to birth to help women to prepare for an often painful event. However, this is usually carried out with little reference to the literature regarding psychological factors which influence the experience of pain.

Patients' experiences of receiving collaborative care for the treatment of depression in the UK: a qualitative investigation.

Objective We explored the experiences of patients who received treatment for depression during a 'phase II' platform trial of collaborative care in the UK.Method Semi-structured interviews were used to obtain information from 13 patients receiving collaborative care. Patients from a range of general practitioner (GP) practices within the trial were purposively sampled.

Preliminary evaluation of a coping strategy enhancement method of preparation for labour.

Objectives: To compare the use and effects of enhanced pre-existing coping strategies with the use and effects of coping strategies usually taught in National Health Service (NHS) antenatal education on women's experience of pain and emotions during labour.

Design: A between-group comparison of women who chose to attend NHS antenatal education where courses of preparation were randomly assigned to include either a new method of coping strategy enhancement (CSE) or standard taught coping strategies.

Setting: Two large maternity units in one city in the North of England.

The range of coping strategies women use to manage pain and anxiety prior to and during first experience of labour.

Objectives: To investigate whether nulliparous women, during pregnancy, can identify their own pre-existing coping strategies for managing pain and anxiety and whether the range of coping strategies used in Labour by women who do not attend antenatal classes can be described.

Design: Qualitative semi-structured interviews.

Setting: Two large maternity units in a city in the North of England.

Selected coping strategies in labor: an investigation of women's experiences.

Background: Antenatal education classes offer women information about labor and birth and ways of coping with pain and emotional distress. The purpose of this paper was to describe women's experiences of using, starting, and discontinuing three coping strategies in labor that were taught in antenatal education classes.

Methods: An exploratory research design was used in which 121 women were interviewed within 72 hours of the birth of their first child.