A literature review exploring developing research-practice partnerships highlighted they originated in the education sector and have been operating for two decades in the United States. The literature was applied to frame a real-world case study and make recommendations to inform the development and implementation of such partnerships. Research practice partnerships are long-term collaborations between researchers and practitioners aiming to make practice-based improvement. The literature offers frameworks and guidance regarding how to establish and develop these partnerships and the factors required for success. Insights from the case study highlight the importance of adequate resourcing, open dialogue between partners, setting research goals, and establishing terms of reference. Research practice partnerships provide a platform in facilitating a range of partners in supporting the application of evidence into practice. The application of such partnerships has the potential to address current challenges by promoting evidence-informed practice. The uniqueness of this paper is in highlighting research practice partnerships can be implemented in adult social care and offering practical guidance. Research practice partnership can raise practitioners’ awareness of research and the associated processes required. Similarly, the researchers gain better understanding of the challenges faced in adult social care practice.

Lived experience-informed justice practices are increasingly recognised as a resource for improving criminal justice policies and practices. However, these practices remain under-researched and under-theorised within criminology. This chapter employs Tomczak and Buck's hybrid model of the penal voluntary sector as a conceptual framework to map a diversity of lived experience contributions to justice. Drawing on methodical searches and deductive analysis, the chapter identifies five types of activity: fixers, who focus on individual rehabilitation; enablers of individuals, who provide person-centred support; thought changers, who challenge dehumanising ideologies; distribution changers, who seek structural reforms; and brokers, who mediate cross-sectoral alliances for systemic change. Examples from UK and international contexts illustrate these categories, highlighting global significance. The chapter also explores hybrid approaches, where multiple aims and activities intersect. By offering a rigorous conceptual mapping of these diverse and hybrid practices, this work contributes original insights to the underexplored domain of lived experience-led justice, advancing theoretical understanding and potentially informing future research and policy.

Background: HIV and AIDS remain a major global public health issue with the largest burden in sub-Saharan African (SSA) (SSA) countries. Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in the sub-Saharan African region experience intersecting vulnerabilities that may increase their exposure to HIV, while also constraining their engagement with treatment and care. HIV testing is crucial in the AIDS response for both prevention and treatment, therefore, necessitating understanding of HIV testing practices, especially among priority populations. We examined HIV testing and associated factors among AGYW (15–24 years) in 28 SSA countries. Methods: We analysed Demographic and Health Survey datasets from 28 SSA countries from 2010–2022 focusing on data collected from AGYW aged 15–24 (n=58,263) who had screened for HIV in the last survey conducted in each country. We merged all weighted datasets from 28 countries to generate the prevalence of HIV testing among AGYW in each country and to provide an overall prevalence in SSA. We then conducted bivariate and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis to examine factors associated with HIV testing and presented the results in crude odds ratio [cOR] and adjusted odds ratio [aOR] with corresponding confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Our results showed that the overall prevalence of HIV testing among AGYW across the 28 SSA countries was 63%, with Zambia and Mali having the highest and lowest prevalence at 76% 6.70% respectively. Being in the age bracket 20–24 [aOR=2.22, 95% CI=2.08–2.37], comprehensive HIV knowledge [aOR=3.76, 95% CI=2.60–5.43], higher formal education [aOR=2.23, 95% CI=2.02–2.46], and three and above lifetime sexual partners [aOR=1.41, 95% CI=1.29–1.55] were all associated with HIV testing. Also, past year experience of STI [aOR=1.25, 95% CI=1.11–1.41], being employed [aOR=1.08, 95% CI=1.02–1.16], pregnancy history [aOR=1.09, 95% CI=1.03–1.14], high household wealth index [aOR=2.26, 95% CI=1.97–2.59] and being in a union [aOR=3.23, 95% CI=2.97–3.51] were associated with HIV testing. Conclusion: Concerningly, 21 countries, representing 75% of the countries included in the current study, have HIV testing coverage below 50% for AGYW. Collaborative efforts are needed to fast-track HIV screening/testing for AGYW considering their disproportionate vulnerability to HIV exposure.

The health visiting service within the United Kingdom (UK) provides an essential public health service for all families with children under the age of five years old, under the wider umbrella of the 0-19 service. Despite maternity and postnatal policy stipulating a ‘family-centred’ approach to care delivery, the wider literature suggests that fathers can often feel marginalised within the health visiting service. An indirect corollary to this is that men’s mental health (MH) illness has been steadily increasing over several years. This is an area that health visitors (HVs) are available to assess and offer support to fathers, yet do not appear to be doing. A critical ethnographic approach was used to explore HVs engagement with fathers, through a combination of observations of HV practice, semi-structured interviews and field notes. The research took place in a health visiting service in the Northwest of England, with a sample of qualified HVs. Spradley’s framework for data analysis was employed to make sense of the findings and a Bourdieusian lens was used as a conduit for exploring individual HV practice within the wider scope of organisational custom and practice. Three themes emerged from the findings which include man in a van - barriers to HV engagement with fathers; toxic masculinity and feminist health visiting - a disconnect; and the ‘forgotten husband’s club - father’s mental health and the health visiting service. The findings highlight that organisational barriers exist, which impede HV engagement with fathers, alongside toxic masculinity, which has gathered momentum as a concept in contemporary society. Similarly, men’s MH remains an underassessed area of practice for HVs, leaving fathers feeling ‘forgotten’ by services. Implications for practice include policy review surrounding paternity leave, a review of commissioning of health visiting services, including delivery of universal antenatal contacts, designated electronic records for fathers and increased screening of paternal MH at routine HV contacts.

Background and purpose: This is a perspective on Ridgway et al ‘Creative health a joke or valuable learning experience'. Creative health encompasses creative and arts activities that benefit health and well-being. The article evaluates a creative health placement designed to facilitate students’ learning about creative health and social prescribing, with opportunities to take part in arts activities.

Background: Hemophilia A is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of clotting factor VIII (FVIII), leading to joint bleeding and arthropathy. While prophylactic FVIII therapy reduces bleeding, evidence suggests maintaining higher FVIII levels (FL) may better protect joint health, particularly in physically active individuals and those with joint damage. However, data on optimal FLs required to prevent joint deterioration and complications remains limited. Research design and methods: This study utilized the Sheffield Elicitation Framework (SHELF) methodology to elicit expert opinions on optimal FLs for patient-centric and clinical outcomes. Five European hemophilia experts participated in virtual workshops, providing probability-based estimates of FLs required to prevent bleed-related hospitalizations, orthopedic procedures, target joint incidence, and support physical activity without additional infusions or joint damage. Results: Experts consistently recommended higher FLs for individuals with joint damage than for those without. Optimal average FLs ranged from 24% to 51%, exceeding traditionally recommended prophylactic trough levels (3–5%). Considerable uncertainty was noted around FLs for physical activity, reflecting the complexity of individualized care. Conclusions: Standard prophylaxis regimens may not provide sufficient protection for all patients, particularly those with joint damage. A personalized treatment approach, targeting higher FLs when necessary, may be critical for optimizing outcomes.

After publication of this article [1], the authors reported that the author name “Avedano” was incorrectly written as “Avendano”. The original article [1] has been updated.

Aim: To explore the experiences, outcomes and impact identified by current and past students of undertaking a professional doctorate (PD) in health and/or social care on themselves, their employing organisations and their professional domain. Background: Professional Doctorates are intended to equip graduates with critical and creative thinking skills, and the ability to understand, question and produce evidence relevant to health and social care policy, practice and education. They are costly in terms of time, effort and resources for student and employer, but there is little empirical evidence to support these claims. Methodology: This modified constructivist grounded theory study used a qualitative methods approach, that included both questionnaires (mainly free text answers with a few demographic and numerical questions) and in-depth semi-structured interviews. Current (n=42), graduate (n=4) and previous (2) professional doctorate students completed the questionnaires. The interviews were conducted online with 12 current students from three different health and/or social care programmes from two universities in England. Descriptive demographic and numerical student experience and outcome data were presented to provide context for the study. The qualitative data from both datasets were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2022) thematic analysis. Results/Findings: Ten themes were identified, five relating to individual impact. These included: positive outcomes on personal growth and validation; improved ability to deal with complexity; more mixed effects from both challenges and support in academia; as well as some career development opportunities. Frustrations were found by some in their current role. Employers were seen as gaining employees with enhanced assessment skills, making a stronger contribution to organisational development. Doctoral students also brought esteem to employing organisations by virtue of their academic status. Professional impact could be limited by the expectations, support and culture of their employing organisation and in the way doctorates are viewed by the profession. Policy development was evidenced, but it was often a slow process, needing opportunity, mentorship and time to be fully realised. Conclusions/Recommendations: Participants valued their professional doctorate experience and the way it transformed their world view, professional knowledge and confidence. Some students felt conflict between their developing professional self-concept and the support, recognition and scope for development on the part of their employer, although some evidenced career progression. Employers should engage with staff undertaking professional doctorates in order to provide support and optimise organisation benefits. More research is needed to explore the perspectives of employers and professional organisations. It is also necessary to evaluate longer-term outcomes for the postdoctoral professional.

Background: Inclusion of under-represented rare-disease communities in research remains limited, threatening representativeness and equity. Methods: To assess equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in research and identify barriers to participation faced by the rare disease community, utilising a mixed-methods online survey of a convenience sample of community advocates using Likert scales and free response options. Results: The findings from seventeen stakeholders in the rare disease community showed unanimous agreement that anxiety, fear, safety concerns, and lack of trust hinder participation in research. A total of 82% agreed or strongly agreed that additional financial resources are needed, and 76% agreed or strongly agreed that research grant applications often lack sufficient funds. The free-text responses demonstrate that the rare disease communities are keen to be involved in research but faces barriers to inclusion. Rare disease communities are willing to participate in research, but those responsible for research need to address the challenges related to language, misconceptions and fear. Conclusions: Key legislation in the United Kingdom, specifically the Proposed Patient and Public Involvement Strategy 2020–2025, emphasises the importance of involving patients and the public in health and social care. This survey marks the first step toward gaining valuable insights into the challenges faced by this community in participating in healthcare research, which is crucial for developing a solid evidence base for their treatment and care. Involving stakeholders is essential in health and social care policy and practice, rooted in advocacy and social justice.

In the original publication of this article [1] an error was introduced during the publication process in the reference numbering. This caused all citations after 13 to be incorrect. The citations in the original article have now been corrected.