C2D2 research 1a - Scoping Project for Opt Out Blood Bourne Virus and Sexually Transmitted Infection testing in psychiatric inpatient units

Project: Other project › Other internal award

Project Details

Layman's description

Many people are unaware of having been infected with a sexually transmitted infection (STIs) and/or blood borne virus such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C. Early identification means that treatment can commence immediately which in turn helps prevents disease progression, further transmission and dramatically improves life expectancy. Evidence from the USA and mainland Europe indicates that people with long term mental health problems are more at risk of STIs than the general population, however mental health services do not routinely offer sexual health promotion or testing. Surprisingly this is an under-researched area in the UK and there is an urgent need for in-depth developmental work to support a larger, external proposal. The overall aim of a future research programme would be to develop and evaluate a STI testing service within mental health inpatient units. This initial scoping work will develop collaborations with experts and service user groups as well as a background literature review in order to prepare a proposal for primary research.

Key findings

FINDINGS/RESULTS

COLLABORATIONS
Dr Hughes has been able to host a consultation meeting with service user consultants in Leeds in order to discuss the issues of BBV testing and treatment in SMI. This panel have agreed to remain involved should further research proposals be funded. In addition, Dr Hughes attended the AIDS 2012 conference in Washington DC. Here she was able to meet up with US academic collaborators, participated in a forum on mental health and HIV. Dr Hughes also made a trip to London to host a meeting of academics in order to develop collaborations for the NIHR bid, and travelled to Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Sussex Partnership Trust, and Leeds and York Partnership Trust to build academic and clinical collaboration and support for future research.

STAFF

COMMERCIALISATION/TRANSLATION

APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED
NIHR Programme Development Grant submitted 8th October 2012- decision=rejected
MHRN clinical research group submitted- awarded

CLARHC-YH- Liz Hughes to lead on a sub-theme on sexual health and mental health within the "mental health and co-morbidities" theme of CLARHC-YH

ARTICLES SUBMITTED
Systematic Review of prevalence of blood borne viruses in people with SMI- in preparation for submission to Lancet Infectious Diseases June 2013
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date1/03/12 → 30/09/12
  • 2 Conference participation
  • 2 Invited talk
View all 4 activities