Feasibility study of portable technology for weight loss and HbA1c control in type 2 diabetes.

Background: The study investigated the feasibility of conducting a future Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) of a mobile health (mHealth) intervention for weight loss and HbA1c reduction in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: The intervention was a small wearable mHealth device used over 12 weeks by overweight people with T2DM with the intent to lose weight and reduce their HbA1c level. A 4 week maintenance period using the device followed.

Research use and support needs, and research activity in social care: a cross-sectional survey in two councils with social services responsibilities in the UK.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of research activity, research use, research interests and research skills in the social care workforce in two UK councils with social service responsibilities (CSSRs). A cross-sectional survey was conducted of the social care workforce in two CSSRs (n = 1512) in 2005. The sample was identified in partnership with the councils, and included employees with professional qualifications (social workers and occupational therapists); staff who have a role to assess, plan and monitor care; service managers; commissioners of services; and those involved with social care policy, information management and training.

Health visitors and postnatal depression: identification and practice.

In this paper we report on a small qualitative study to determine how health visitors identify postnatal depression (PND) and the implications this may have for practice. Six health visitors in a primary care trust (PCT) in northern England were interviewed and data were thematically coded. The four main themes identified related to variations in visiting patterns, training issues, identification of PND (client relationship, use of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and experience), and barriers to identifying PND, such as an inconsistent approach.