Things in the library 15 March...

Things about our RCT...
Our last Randomised Coffee Trial has had great feedback - below are some of the comments. Our next one will be held during May so you will be able to sign up soon if you missed out this time.

•  I thoroughly enjoyed being part of this I had a very interesting conversation for an hour. 
• I will definitely join another month. 
• A great idea! 
• I would like to be considered for another as I was unable to make this one I think this a great scheme.
• I had a positive experience and would like to continue to be involved. 
• Its amazing to find out how much we have in common even outside of work....but also similar work issues 
• Excellent. Let's do it again! Thanks for the great opportunity! Really enjoyed it. 
• This was a really good thing to take part in. 
• It was good to network with someone outside of my department and gain a new perspective on our roles within the hospital. It was a really insightful meeting and I would definitely recommend everyone to do it. I would be keen to do this again.Thank you

Things to attend...

Two ScHARR Short Courses have been advertised

Experiential Research Approaches (ERA): Qualitative Methods Using Observation, Description and Interpretation 2 day course - Monday 29th - Tuesday 30th April 2019
Overview: This course is primarily focused on qualitative research methods that explore experiential, practical and situated knowledge grounded in personal and shared experiences and pragmatic philosophies. It aims to introduce three qualitative methods: Phenomenology/Hermeneutics, Narrative and Ethnomethodology/Conversation Analysis. Booking for this course will close on 12th April 2019 Here is the direct link to the course information, including fees

The Application of Psychometrics for Measuring Health Outcomes and Quality of Life - 2 part course (can be done together or individually)
Part 1: 2 day course - Mon 20th - Tues 21st May 2019
The aim of this 2 day course is to provide participants with an introduction to psychometrics as applied to health. It will cover the core psychometric and statistical methods used in scale construction and the development of multi-item patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Part 2: 3 day course - Weds 22nd - Fri 24th May 2019
The aim of this 3 day course is to provide participants with an introduction to advanced psychometric models in analysis of multi-item patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). The course will cover confirmatory factor analytic methods for categorical data, Rasch models, and other items response theory (IRT) models.

Things about other libraries... 
Did you know that Sheffield City Libraries organsise many different events including Games nights, talks and workshops. Their regular events can be found here and current bookable events are here - they are all free.




Things to read...
Our next Reading group book is Adam Kay's "This is going to hurt: secret diaries of a junior doctor" we are a friendly group and we just chat about what we have read along with drinks and nibbles. Do come and join us 3rd April 17:15 ...and share your stories!






Things about MMR...

A major study has confirmed yet again that there's no link between autism and the MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. This was a population-wide cohort study in Denmark that aimed to investigate the now-discredited link between the MMR vaccine and autism. The researchers concluded: "The study strongly supports that MMR vaccination does not increase the risk for autism, does not trigger autism in susceptible children, and is not associated with clustering of autism cases after vaccination." It's hoped that this large study will reassure the public and health professionals that the MMR has no link at all with the risk of autism, either in the child population overall or in potentially higher risk children. Original article here if you want to read the details of the study.

Things to eat...
If you have bananas in your fruit bowl looking past their best then don't throw them away. There are some really easy things you can make - I made this brilliant banana loaf yesterday (though I found it needed a bit longer cooking than suggested.)

Things in the library 8th March...

Things to help you work...
We are not really a ssshhh! sort of library but if you really don't want to be disturbed whilst you are working here then please ask at the counter and use one of our 'Do not disturb' signs to place on your desk.




Things about quality of care...
The 'Beyond the High Fence' report has been published by Pathways Associates & NHS and was co-produced with people with a learning disability and autistic people who are, or have been, in hospital and offers their views on what more needs to happen to improve quality of care and support people to make a successful return to their communities.

Things about gangs...
The Children's commissioner has published a report 'Keeping Kids Safe' Improving safeguarding responses to gang violence and criminal exploitation.
This report investigates what it means to be a child gang member in England. It estimates how many children in England are in gangs, and looks at the risks factors which make it more likely for a child to end up being groomed for gang membership. Finally, it questions whether those responsible for safeguarding children are responding adequately to the rise in gang violence and how children can better be kept safe.

Things about world domination...
Well not quite ..we are working on that... but we are getting fantastic responses from the recent  Randomised Coffee Trial and my favourite comments so far is "Great idea, keep it up, you are changing the world". If you missed joining in this time we will be running them several times a year so watch out for future dates.

Things for early career researchers...
The Doug Altman Scholarship are offering ten early career researchers the opportunity to present at EBMLive 2019 in a dedicated session.
The best submission will be awarded the full Doug Altman Scholarship.Other shortlisted submissions will be offered waived registration. All submissions will be evaluated by the Future Leaders Committee, which includes representatives from the MMF, CEBM and the BMJ. Deadline for applications is 31st March

Things about eating out...

Dine Sheffield is back..it returns to Sheffield city centre from 14 – 28 March for a fortnight of dining deals at some of the city’s cafés, pubs and restaurants.
From world cuisine to pub grub, café favourites and fine dining, some of Sheffield city centre’s favourite eateries have crafted bespoke menus, priced at either £5, £10 or £15 per person, which will be available to enjoy during Dine Sheffield. All you need to do to take part in this  event, is download a voucher for your chosen restaurant(s). Vouchers can only be redeemed from 14 – 28 March 2019.

Things for eating in...
I love the taste of pomegranates and love this dish...so whether you are a 'hit them with the back of a spoon' or a 'buy them ready seeded in a tub' sort of person do try this lovely herb salad with pomegranate & pistachios.

Things in the library 1st March ...

Things about genomic healthcare...
The government has announced a new National Genomic Healthcare Strategy to ensure the UK is able to offer a predictive, preventative and personalised health and care service for people with rare diseases. The strategy will set out how the genomics community can work together to make the UK the global leader in genomic healthcare. The government will also set out how it will improve services for people with rare conditions. These include:

• every person with a rare disease will have a dedicated person responsible for co-ordinating their care
• every patient with a rare disease will be given an ‘alert card’, including information about their condition, treatment regime and contact details for the individual expert involved in their care
• every child with a rare condition will be transferred to appropriate adult services when they reach the age of 18, even if that adult service is not the commissioning responsibility of NHS England

Things about abuse...

 Angelica experienced abuse aged 12. She shares her story and talks about her role in developing NICE guidance to support young people after abuse.

Things about social determinants of health...

The health foundation have issued a briefing discussing this topic. Their key points are:

• Despite extensive evidence for the impact of social determinants on people’s health, public discourse and policy action is limited in acknowledging the role that societal factors such as housing, education, welfare and work play in shaping people’s long-term health. 
• There are many reasons for this, but one factor that merits greater attention is the way in which the evidence is communicated to and understood by the public.
• The FrameWorks Institute has identified a range of ‘cultural models’– common but implicit assumptions and patterns of thinking – that give deeper insight into how people think about what makes them healthy. 
• Understanding which cultural models promote – or obscure – people’s awareness of the importance of social determinants is an important first step in developing effective ways of framing the evidence.

Things for young people with learning disabilities...

The NSPCC have produced a set of resources "Love Life" aimed at young people aged 11 to 25 to help them learn strategies for staying safe as they grow up and gain independence. Young people with a variety of different needs helped develop resources that are flexible and adaptable and aim to help young people explore topics such as emotions, relationships and identity.

Things about trauma...
The Lancet Psychiatry journal has published findings on the prevalence, clinical features, and risk factors associated with trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in young people.

Things about music...
In pediatric health care, non-pharmacological interventions such as music therapy have promising potential to complement traditional medical treatment options in order to facilitate recovery and well-being. Music therapy and other music-based interventions are increasingly applied in the clinical treatment of children and adolescents in many countries world-wide. The purpose of this overview in Medicines(Basel) is to examine the evidence regarding the effectiveness of music therapy and other music-based interventions as applied in pediatric health care.

Things about bone health... 
 Can osteoporosis be prevented as early as childhood? ...that is the subject of this discussion on Medpage Today. Weight-bearing exercise during childhood may increase bone accrual, with prepubertal children demonstrating greater benefits than their postpubertal peers.

Things about buses...
Don't forget to check your routes - the new timetables start on Monday.

Things to eat...
Today being St David's Day it has to be a leek based recipe ...so here is a vegetarian  leek, goat’s cheese, walnut & lemon tart.
St David ...Patron saint of Wales  is said to have founded a monastery in around the year 560, close to the place where he was born. The surrounding area (in Pembrokeshire, west Wales) is now known simply as ‘St Davids’. It’s believed that St Davids Cathedral and St Davids Bishop’s Palace are built on the site of the original monastery. The existence of the cathedral means that St Davids is Britain’s smallest city.  David’s final words to his followers were supposedly: “Do the little things, the small things you’ve seen me doing”.

Things in (and flying past) the library 22 Feb...

Things flying by...

 Well the flypast mentioned in last week's blog to commemorate Mi Amigo has just happened and... as we are the most elevated part of the hospital site... those in the know flocked to our viewing platform (i.e. fire escape) ...shame about being surrounded by scaffolding at the moment but we still had a great view!

Things about Arts Tower...
The nearby Arts Tower would have been an even better viewing point but the cameras are turned as it features in a new exhibition at University of Sheffield's Western Bank Library which is a celebration of Sheffield's original high rise and modernist beacon. 'One Hundred Views of the Arts Tower' is made up of artwork submitted through a public open call - featuring everything from photography and film to felt and lino print - alongside materials from the University's archives. Monday to Thursday from 9am to 7pm Friday 10am to 7pm Saturday/Sunday 12pm until 6pm (excluding holidays)

Things about the RCPCH...
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health has announced that it has stopped accepting funding from companies that make formula milk.The college said that it received in the region of £40 000) a year from formula milk companies in event sponsorship and advertising, but after a review by the RCPCH council, which advises on policy issues, it ended this practice on 31 January.

“The college, which has 19 000 members worldwide, wishes to reiterate the importance of promoting breastfeeding as the best possible method of infant feeding,” it said.

Under the new arrangement, the RCPCH said, it will continue to “engage and work in partnership” with formula milk companies on specialist formula milks for babies who cannot breastfeed and those with allergies and gastrointestinal conditions. The policy decision came amid growing pressure from doctors and campaigners for the college to stop accepting funding from formula milk companies, saying that it was incompatible with the healthy promotion of breastfeeding.

Things compared internationally...
This Nuffield Trust report summarises how 17 key indicators of the health and wellbeing of young people aged 10–24 vary in a selection of 19 similar high-income countries both within and outside of Europe. The report, published with the Association for Young People's Health, provides an indication of where health outcomes for adolescents and young adults in the United Kingdom (UK) could be improved.

Things about Critical Appraisal...
Whether you know a bit about how to do this, know nothing or have forgotten what you used to know ....then book a place on one of our popular Critical Appraisal courses. These can be booked via Course Bookings on the intranet and the next one is on 6th March  13:00 - 16:30.

Things to find...
The move around of library books has just about finished so if you can't find a favourite book or want to search for something please use our online catalogue. Just search for a keyword or author's surname. If you login with your Library ticket/UCard number you will be able to reserve items, save favourite lists and write reviews to help other users. The links below will take you to some of the specific areas that have moved around.

Paediatric orthopedics  Palliative Care   Adolescent Psychiatry

Paediatric Surgery  Pediatric Indectious Diseases (general books)  Epilepsy

Things to eat...
Pancake day (Shrove Tuesday)  will be coming up soon (5th March)...why not get some practice in this weekend with these easy American-style pancakes.

Things in the library 15th Feb

Things romantic ...

Perhaps not ...but don't forget you can always make a date with us via our Book a Librarian service...for training and help with a variety of topics at a time and place to suit you...we can come to your staff meetings/training sessions and help with your information needs. No need to give us flowers!

Things about medical devices...
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency have published information and guidance for users and patients on a range of medical devices.




Things about the digital future in healthcare...

The Topol Review is an independent report, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and is now published. It makes recommendations that will enable NHS staff to make the most of innovative technologies such as genomics, digital medicine, artificial intelligence and robotics to improve services. These recommendations support the aims of the NHS Long-Term Plan, and the workforce implementation plan, helping to ensure a sustainable NHS.

Things about urgent care ...
If you live in Sheffield you might want to give your views to the commissioners about possible changes to urgent care in Sheffield. There is more information and a link to an online survey.


Things to watch in Sheffield...
On Friday 22 February, over Endcliffe Park, Sheffield will look to the skies to see a unique flyover of US and Royal Air Force aircraft – to mark 75 years since the Mi Amigo disaster. The whole city is rallying behind Tony Foulds, who has been tending the Mi Amigo memorial for many years after witnessing the crash of this aircraft as a child. The BBC will be broadcasting live from the park from around 6am to 9.15am on the morning of the 22 February. However, there is no need to arrive at this time. People are encouraged to arrive at the park from around 7.15am. A memorial service will take place from around 8am with the flypast set to follow at 8.45am. The best viewing area will be in the large field close to the Endcliffe Park café, which will be serving teas and refreshments. A big screen will be there to relay events to the crowd.  It is worth checking weather forecasts and local radio announcements prior to the flypast. The flypast may not take place in extreme weather conditions. If you travel to work in the vicinity of Endcliffe park be prepared for disruption.

Things to eat...
It's half term next week so if you are looking for something simple to make with the children how about Nutty chocolate crunch or some home-made pizza. 

Things in the library 8th February...

Things about breakfast ...or is it dessert...
There has long been a debate between me and my adult son about breakfast and whether it is an essential part of the day or whether that is a myth put out by cereal companies who funded much of the research. This recent systematic review and meta-analysis in the BMJ looked at the 'Effect of breakfast on weight and energy intake: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials'. They conclude that

"the addition of breakfast might not be a good strategy for weight loss, regardless of established breakfast habit. Caution is needed when recommending breakfast for weight loss in adults, as it could have the opposite effect. Further randomised controlled trials of high quality are needed to examine the role of breakfast eating in the approach to weight management."

There is also an interesting opinion piece on this topic here.

Things about pain...

This opinion article about pain in the New York Times written by  a paediatrician certainly reminds me of being brought up by a mother who was also a paediatrician (who incidentally worked with Prof Illingworth here at SCH) - the swing between 'there is nothing wrong with you' to 'that could be really serious lets rush to hospital' was a feature of my childhood!

Things about child mental health...

To mark Children’s Mental Health Week (4-10 February), the Education Secretary Damian Hinds announced that up to 370 schools in England will take part in a series of trials testing different approaches to supporting young people’s mental health. Children will benefit from mindfulness exercises, relaxation techniques and breathing exercises to help them regulate their emotions, alongside pupil sessions with mental health experts. The study will run until 2021 and aims to give schools new, robust evidence about what works best for their students’ mental health and wellbeing.

Things about care leavers...
The Department for Education (DfE) in England has announced three pilot schemes in Bristol, Lewisham and Sheffield to improve the education and training of young people leaving care, to help them make the transition into independent life. Sheffield City Council Councillor Jackie Drayton, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Families said:

"We want to ensure that our Care Leavers get every help and support they can to access education, training or employment. I’m pleased that Project Apollo will enable the Council’s Leaving Care Service to work with Sheffield Futures to give our care leavers every opportunity to achieve their full potential and progress successfully in the future."

More things about screen-time...
 There has been much in the news this week about recommended screen-time for children. Here you can read the full report and comments from the Chief Medical Officer (who has just announced she will be leaving the role later in the year). 

More things about mental health...
This report  Beyond the Green Paper: The Role of Practice Based Evidence from an All-Party Parliamentary Group seeks to influence the views of Parliament and the performance of  Government to better address issues relating to the Children’s Mental Health




Things from Reading Group...
Our last book (The Choice by Edith Eger) was one of our highest scoring books yet and so is thoroughly recommended. Our next book is very different and much lighter The Murder of My Aunt by Richard Hull. We meet on the first Wednesday of the month and it is very informal so do come and join us if you would like to...we had 11 people this week a mixture of SCH and University. Note to Estates...we may soon need a bigger library!

Things about coffee...
Our current Randomised Coffee Trial is underway with people meeting up across the trust...if you meant to join in with this one and didn't get around to it there is still time so drop the library an email.

Things to eat...
Cauliflower is such a wonderful vegetable both as an accompaniment and a main ingredient. I love the sound of this Baked aloo gobi with flatbreads and the colour is so warm and enticing on a wild wet windy day.

Things in the library 1st Feb

Things that are not ok...

As part of their 'It's Not OK' program, which helps children and young people recognise concerning behaviour and identify characteristics of positive relationships, NSPCC Learning have created lesson plans, films and accompanying activities cover what behaviour to look out for and how to respond to it. It's Not OK reinforces the importance of building and maintaining positive relationships and recognising and responding to behaviour relating to:

• online safety
• grooming
• sexting
• harmful sexual behaviour
• child sexual abuse
• child sexual exploitation

Things that have had a spring clean...

Well I did spend the whole day yesterday with my head inside my mother-in-laws kitchen cupboards...but before that I asked our Library Management Software company to give our library catalogue a bit of a make over as it was looking tired. I am very pleased with the results and it now matches more closely the SCH Trust website. If you have a library PIN (ask if you don't) then you can do so much more here - you can write book reviews or rate books, keep a track of items you borrowed previously, reserve or request books and create your own reading lists and of course you can renew your books before they go overdue!  What do you think?

Things about asthma...

Millennials in the UK are more likely to be at high risk of having an asthma attack and the least likely to get life-saving basic asthma care than any other age group, according to a new report by Asthma UK. They surveyed more than 10,000 people with asthma and reveal that:

• Two thirds (67%) of millennials, those aged 18-29, are not getting basic asthma care, higher than any other age group
• Millennials are more likely to have uncontrolled asthma, putting them at a higher risk of an asthma attack
• They are twice as likely to need emergency care compared to those over 60 years old
• The National Review of Asthma Deaths found two thirds of asthma deaths would have been prevented if people had had basic asthma care

Basic care includes, among other things, a written asthma action plan, a yearly review with your doctor, and an inhaler check.

Things musical...

Not me actually ...though I am looking forward to taking my recently spring cleaned mother-in-law to a performance of Sibelius’s Finlandia,  by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by Mozart’s third concerto for violin and Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending. This is part of Sheffield Classical Weekend 2019 in March. there are many events and workshops to attend and weekend passes are available (many events free for under 18s). The festival has three themes:

• Women in music - Celebrating International Women’s Day on Friday 8 March
• Future Makers  - Celebrating talented young musicians in our city
• Beyond Borders - Celebrating the fusion of classical music with other art forms and different world cultures

Things to keep you warm...

A nice warming bowl of soup and some chunks of bread...what could be better for a snowy weekend? I made this Curried lentil, parsnip & apple soup in half an hour this week and it was lovely - thick and warming.