Centre of Postgraduate Medical Research & Education

Sixth Annual Symposium: Research Innovation & Interprofessional Learning

CoPMRE Sixth Annual Symposium
Bournemouth University, Allsebrook Lecture Theatre, Poole House, Talbot Campus, BH12 5BB

The sixth annual CoPMRE symposium was held at the Allsebrook Lecture Theatre on the Talbot Campus on Wednesday 16 September 2009. Dr. Gail Thomas welcomed 75 delegates from across the University and local NHS trusts and explained that the day was split into research activities in the morning and education activities after lunch.

Professor Paul Thompson gave a brief update of CoPMRE developments highlighting the main areas of research interest in cancer, vascular disorders, diabetes and metabolism, musculoskeletal diseases and mind and body medicine. Each topic has a clinical lead and research manager and programmes of research are in development.

Professor Stephen Allen presented his work on the mechanisms of reduced perception of breathlessness in older people and the impact the results may have on national asthma guidelines. Ana–Marie Barberia summarised research undertaken for her PhD with Prof Tamas Hickish and Prof David Kerr into the metabolic reasons and consequences of weight gain following treatment for breast cancer. Professor Alan Breen showed elegant pictures of a new technique to measure spinal movements using video fluoroscopy and showed video clips of how this can be used to relate movement patterns in back pain patients compared to normal controls. Professor Jo Kwan gave an overview of mechanisms of infection and inflammation occurring in stroke and outlined his group’s research plans.

After coffee, Mr. Robert Middleton wowed the audience with the breath of his research programme at local, national and international level. From device trials looking at 2–5 % improvements over 10–20 years, via computer navigated hip resurfacing to service development and healthcare micro system design delivering 50% improvements in 3 months. Dr. Delva Shamley updated the audience on the development of a Bournemouth University Clinical Trials Unit (BUCTU) joining clinicians in local NHS trusts with the Dorset Research Consortium, Dorset Research and Development Support Unit, national NIHR research networks and research support systems at the University with a view to increasing the quality and quantity of clinical trials across the County and accreditation with the UKCRC.

The highlight of the morning session was Professor Stuart Logan’s fascinating presentation on the principles and practice of turning healthcare research into practice. He explained that the ‘engagement by design’ model is predicated on the belief that if patients and local health professionals are involved in the generation of the questions requiring resolution (i.e. they are engaged) they are more likely to adopt the solutions, facilitating the research/practice gap. He is director of PenCLAHRC an NIHR funded clinical effectiveness initiative which aims to bring together service users, clinicians, managers and academics to promote the explicit use of research evidence in practice.

The NIHR CLAHRC for the South West
Engagement by Design
National Institute for Health Research.

After a networking lunch, Dr. Tim Battcock opened the afternoon session on interprofessional education. Dr. Eloise Carr introduced her friend, colleague and mentor, Karen Mann. Professor Mann was founding Director of the Division of Medical Education at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada and is an international expert in the area. Her keynote address, ‘Interprofessional education: what is its role in medical education?’ reviewed the evidence supporting IPE with some practical examples. She went on to describe drivers for change at national level giving as an example ‘Health Canada’, the Federal department responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health. It has developed an initiative to change the way health providers are educated to achieve system change and to ensure that health providers have the necessary knowledge and training to work effectively on interprofessional teams within the evolving health care system. She finished with implications for educators and institutions.

Dr. Sarah Hean followed with a fascinating talk on interprofessional working between the criminal justice system (lawyers, prisoners, police) and the mental health service (psychiatrists, patients, nurses). She showed how their different perspectives, rules and expectations resulted in a less than perfect interaction and how IPE can lead to better understanding and better outcomes.

Following tea, Dr. Mike Masding described the current professional skills programme delivered to the Foundation year 2 doctors in Dorset by clinical tutors (doctors) and lecturer practitoners (nurses, midwives and allied professionals). The delegates split into 2 groups and discussed how the course might be altered to include other professions. After much useful discussion it was agreed that it would be worthwhile setting up a session or two to include senior nurses as a pilot.

Paul Thompson
MD, FRCP
CoPMRE Director

September 2009

Sixth Annual Symposium Presentations

Sixth Annual Symposium Event