Browsing by Person "Cook, Ailsa"

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Brief Encounter: collaborative research between academic researchers and older researchers.
(2006) Miller, E.; Morrison, J.; Cook, Ailsa
The discovery that genetic factors are involved in the aetiology of colorectal cancer, has prompted many relatives of affected individuals to seek genetic counselling and screening. This paper describes the demand for genetic services by families with colorectal cancer in south-east Scotland, their expectations and views of the service offered. The annual referral rate over the 21-month study period, for patients with a family history of colorectal cancer, was 0.11 per 1000 patients on general practitioner lists. This is one third of the rate for patients with a family history of breast cancer and in comparison with the breast cancer group, relatives of colorectal cancer patients were significantly older and less socially deprived. Approximately one third were referred via a hospital specialist unit. One hundred patients were included in the study. Mean (± standard deviation) age was 43 (± 10.7 years), 75 were female and 31 were self referrals. Before the consultation, almost half the patients had an inflated perception of their risk and there was little change at follow-up. There was an improvement in objective understanding after counselling which was sustained up to 6 months but only two thirds remembered their objective risk accurately. Most patients were satisfied with the consultation. Our findings suggest the need to educate individuals, in particular men, younger people and the more socially deprived, about the relevance of a family history of colorectal cancer and to facilitate patients’ comprehension of their risk status.
Building capacity in health and social care partnerships: key messages from a multi-stakeholder network.
(Emerald, 2007-08) Cook, Ailsa; Petch, Alison; Glendinning, C.; Glasby, J.
Successful development of health and social care partnerships is contingent on the contribution of all stakeholder groups to overcome the 'wicked' issues that beset the field. This article explores four key issues, identified by a network of diverse stakeholders as vital to the future of health and social care partnerships, and proposes ways in which individuals and organisations from all stakeholder groups can support health and social care organisations to work together to deliver good outcomes to service users and their carers.
Challenges and Strategies in Collaborative Working with Service User Researchers: Reflections from the Academic Researcher
(2006) Miller, E.; Cook, Ailsa; Alexander, H.; Cooper, Sally-Ann; Hubbard, G.; Morrison, J.; Petch, Alison
In this article, the authors consider the lessons to be drawn from a collaborative two year research project involving academic researchers working alongside three service user research organisations. The joint working on the project involved designing a research tool and conducting interviews with users of services that were provided by health and social services partnerships. Questions arising from this project involved consideration of the advantages and challenges of collaborative work. Our experience has highlighted the necessity of carefully considering a range of factors, including the ethos and goals of each organisation, as well as the skills and experience of the individuals involved, in relation to the specific purpose of the research. The challenge for academic researchers is to find ways to meet a range of research aims and objectives, while negotiating roles in ways that avoid reinforcing power relations and disempowering service user researchers. Alongside consideration of the challenges involved, this reflective account also highlights some of the advantages of working with user researchers, and suggests ways of harnessing the enthusiasm and skills of service users, with the aim of capturing the unique perspective they bring to research.
Dementia and Well-being
(Dunedin Academic Press, 2008) Cook, Ailsa
In recent years, policy and legislation in both England and Scotland has sought to promote the well-being of users of health and social care services, such as people with dementia. Most recent policy across the UK has identified key objectives, attainment of which is essential to the well-being of service users as governments have introduced a range of initiatives to ensure that services deliver good outcomes to service users. To date, however, there has been very little consideration of how inclusive this agenda is to people with dementia. Ailsa Cook addresses this gap by reviewing critically recent health and social care policy in Scotland and England in light of the growing body of empirical research into the experiences and perspectives of people with dementia. She draws on this evidence to consider the particular challenges associated with delivering four key outcomes to people with dementia identified by policy makers as fundamental to well-being. These are: independence, health, choice and social inclusion. The book examines the potential for current policy proposals to meet the needs of people with diverse experiences of dementia and considers the particular issues relating to including people with dementia as partners in policy and practice - a key principle underpinning all health and social care. In so doing the book contributes a much needed policy perspective to the field of dementia, as well as providing a fresh lens through which to consider the difference that proposed policies can make to a diverse range of service users. Intended as a text for Dementia Studies and gerontology students the specific focus of this book on the inter-relationship of policy and dementia ensures its place as a key reference for policy makers and administrators assessing the impact of policies, both implemented and proposed.
Focusing on outcomes: their role in partnership policy and practice.
(Pavilion, 2005) Petch, Alison; Cook, Ailsa; Miller, E.
Policy and practice documents are increasingly adopting a focus on outcomes. This article seeks to clarify what is meant by the term 'outcome', the outcomes that have been highlighted in key policy documents, and the extent to which they reflect the outcomes prioritised by service users. The discussion will draw on the early stages of a DoH-funded project exploring the effectiveness of health and social care partnerships from the perspectives of service users
More than meets the eye: using video to research the interactions of older people in care settings.
(Centre for Policy on Ageing, 2007) Cook, Ailsa; Hubbard, G.; Peace, S.
Outcomes for users and carers in the context of partnership working: from research to practice.
(Emerald, 2008) Miller, E.; Whoriskey, M.; Cook, Ailsa
There is currently much policy emphasis on both partnership working between health and social services in the UK and on the outcomes delivered by services. This article provides an account of two consecutive projects centred on these two themes. The first project, at the University of Glasgow, sought to address the lack of evidence about the outcomes delivered to service users by partnerships. Following from this project, the Joint Improvement Team of the Scottish Government commissioned the researchers to develop a toolkit to involve users and unpaid carers in performance management in . community care in Scotland. The remit of this second project expanded during 2007 as it became linked with the development of the emerging National Outcomes Framework for community care in Scotland. This article outlines the outcomes-based piloting work currently under way in Scotland.
Outcomes Important to People With Intellectual Disabilities
(2008-08-28) Miller, E.; Cooper, Sally-Ann; Cook, Ailsa; Petch, Alison; Abstract An emphasis on the outcomes of health and social care services has become increasingly apparent within public policy in the United Kingdom. Alongside this, working in partnership has been a key theme, despite a relatively underdeveloped evidence base. Of central importance, however, must be whether directives toward partnership working are delivering improved outcomes, and in particular, the outcomes that are valued by service users. The authors describe a project that sought to identify the outcomes important to people with intellectual disabilities, and where possible, whether partnerships delivered these outcomes. The research was primarily based on interviews with service users and carers, and involved people with intellectual disabilities as both researchers and research subjects. The project categorized key outcomes in two categories (quality of life and process) and identified ways in which health and social care partnerships can deliver the outcomes service users want. If agencies are to deliver good outcomes to users, as increasingly emphasized in policy, this focus should accurately reflect the outcomes that users themselves define as important
Partnerships and good outcomes for service users.
(2007) Cook, Ailsa; Miller, E.