Evaluating Process and Outcomes of Public Involvement in Applied Health and Social Care Research: A Rapid Systematic Review.

Objective: Public Involvement (PI) in applied health and social care research has grown exponentially in the UK. This review aims to synthesise published UK evidence that evaluates the process and/or outcome(s) of PI in applied health and social care research to identify key contextual factors, effective strategies, outcomes and public partner experiences underpinning meaningful PI in research.

Methods: Following a pre-registered protocol, we systematically searched four databases and two key journals for studies conducted within the UK between January 2006 and July 2024.

Implementation and impact of NHS-funded tobacco dependence services in England: a mixed-method evaluation protocol.

Introduction: Tobacco smoking remains a leading cause of ill-health, premature mortality and a driver of health inequalities. To support smokers in England, a comprehensive approach to treating tobacco dependence is being implemented. This includes offering support to all people admitted to hospitals, as well as women and pregnant people within NHS settings.

Engagement and access to support for oral health, substance use, smoking and diet by people with severe and multiple disadvantage: A qualitative study.

Background: Severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD) is the combined effect of experiencing homelessness, substance use and repeat offending. People experiencing SMD have high burden of physical and mental health issues. Oral health is one of the most common health problems in people experiencing SMD which interacts with substance use, smoking, and unhealthy diet to create a cycle of harm and disadvantage.

Measures of social connectedness in adult populations: a systematic review.

Background: Poor social connectedness has been identified as a risk factor for poor mental health but there is a lack of standardisation in how it is measured. This systematic review aimed to identify suitable measures of social connectedness for use in UK adult general populations.

Methods: Searches were undertaken in two stages to identify: (1) measures of social connectedness from review articles and grey literature and (2) studies reporting on the psychometric properties of the identified measures.

Exploring what works well and less well in a community-based drop-in hub providing health and wellbeing services for people experiencing homelessness: a participatory action evaluation of service coordination.

Background: People experiencing homelessness often face obstacles accessing health and social care support. Challenges are further exacerbated when support provision for multiple unmet needs are not integrated or coordinated. To overcome these challenges, there has been growing attention on integrating and co-locating health and wellbeing services for people experiencing homelessness.