Understanding the value of a doctorate for allied health professionals in practice in the UK: a survey.

Background: The need to transform the United Kingdom's (UK) delivery of health and care services to better meet population needs and expectations is well-established, as is the critical importance of research and innovation to drive those transformations. Allied health professionals (AHPs) represent a significant proportion of the healthcare workforce. Developing and expanding their skills and capabilities is fundamental to delivering new ways of working.

Understanding the value of a PhD for post-doctoral registered UK nurses: A survey.

Aims: This study investigated, 'What is the perceived value of a PhD to doctoral and postdoctoral nurses in the UK?'

Background: Little is known about what happens to the careers of nurses who undertake a doctorate and whether they use these skills in the next career steps.

Methods: Nurses (n = 47) with doctorates were recruited via professional networks and twitter (@NMAHP_DoctorateStudy). Qualitative responses from the nurses were analysed using thematic analysis.

Thermal Sensation in Older People with and without Dementia Living in Residential Care: New Assessment Approaches to Thermal Comfort Using Infrared Thermography.

The temperature of the indoor environment is important for health and wellbeing, especially at the extremes of age. The study aim was to understand the relationship between self-reported thermal sensation and extremity skin temperature in care home residents with and without dementia. The Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) was used to discriminate residents to two categories, those with, and those without, dementia.

Interpersonal touch interventions for patients in intensive care: A design-oriented realist review.

Aim: To develop a theoretical framework to inform the design of interpersonal touch interventions intended to reduce stress in adult intensive care unit patients.

Design: Realist review with an intervention design-oriented approach.

Methods: We searched CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, Web of Science and grey literature sources without date restrictions.

What is a research derived actionable tool, and what factors should be considered in their development? A Delphi study.

Background: Research findings should be disseminated appropriately to generate maximum impact. The development of research derived 'actionable' tools (RDAT) as research outputs may contribute to impact in health services and health systems research. However there is little agreement on what is meant by actionable tool or what can make them useful.

"Seeing" the Difference: The Importance of Visibility and Action as a Mark of "Authenticity" in Co-production Comment on "Collaboration and Co-production of Knowledge in Healthcare: Opportunities and Challenges".

The Rycroft-Malone paper states that co-production relies on 'authentic' collaboration as a context for action. Our commentary supports and extends this assertion. We suggest that 'authentic' co-production involves processes where participants can 'see' the difference that they have made within the project and beyond.

Incorporation of a health economic modelling tool into public health commissioning: Evidence use in a politicised context.

This paper explores how commissioners working in an English local government authority (LA) viewed a health economic decision tool for planning services in relation to diabetes. We conducted 15 interviews and 2 focus groups between July 2015 and February 2016, with commissioners (including public health managers, data analysts and council members). Two overlapping themes were identified explaining the obstacles and enablers of using such a tool in commissioning: a) evidence cultures, and b) system interdependency.

Primary care. Social skills.

A scheme attaching social workers to general practices to improve services for older people is thought to have cut delays and increased communication between social services and primary care. The engagement of practice managers is key to the success of the venture. Seeing a social worker in general practice is thought to lessen the stigma some older people feel about referral to social services.