ORCID Profile
0000-0002-5098-1092
Current Organisation
University of Southampton
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Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 14-03-2022
DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2022.2046482
Abstract: In this White Paper, we outline recommendations from the perspective of health psychology and behavioural science, addressing three research gaps: (1) What methods in the health psychology research toolkit can be best used for developing and evaluating digital health tools? (2) What are the most feasible strategies to reuse digital health tools across populations and settings? (3) What are the main advantages and challenges of sharing (openly publishing) data, code, intervention content and design features of digital health tools? We provide actionable suggestions for researchers joining the continuously growing Open Digital Health movement, poised to revolutionise health psychology research and practice in the coming years. This White Paper is positioned in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, exploring how digital health tools have rapidly gained popularity in 2020-2022, when world-wide health promotion and treatment efforts rapidly shifted from face-to-face to remote delivery. This statement is written by the Directors of the not-for-profit Open Digital Health initiative (n = 6), Experts attending the European Health Psychology Society Synergy Expert Meeting (n = 17), and the initiative consultant, following a two-day meeting (19-20th August 2021).
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 14-11-2022
Abstract: igital mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are a promising approach to deliver accessible and scalable mindfulness training and have been shown to improve a range of health outcomes. However, maintaining user engagement remains a crucial challenge. Understanding factors that facilitate or act as a barrier to engagement in digital MBIs is essential to maximise engagement and opportunities for benefit. o synthesise existing qualitative evidence on user experience and identify key barriers and facilitators to engagement in digital MBIs. scoping review of qualitative data on in iduals’ experience of using digital MBIs designed to improve psychosocial variables. Relevant published studies were searched, and the quality of reporting tool was used to assess the quality of included studies. Data were analysed using thematic synthesis. wenty-two studies met inclusion criteria. We identified three themes characterising barriers and facilitators to engagement: Making Mindfulness a Habit (i.e., creating a consistent training routine is essential yet challenging), Responses to Own Practice (i.e., negative reactions to one’s own practice are common and can deplete motivation), and Leaning on Others (i.e., those engaging depend on someone else for support). esearchers and developers of digital MBIs should design effective solutions to the challenges identified in this review. Such strategies must be grounded in relevant literature and meet the priorities and needs of the in iduals who will use the intervention.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-11-2022
DOI: 10.1002/EAT.23849
Abstract: Evidence suggests mindfulness may reduce risk factors for disordered eating. However, mechanisms of change in this relationship are unclear. This longitudinal study tested whether emotion regulation mediates the prospective associations between mindfulness and two proximal risk factors for disordered eating: weight and shape concerns, and negative affect. This study is a secondary analysis of data collected within an eating disorder prevention trial. Adolescent girls (N = 374, M Higher baseline mindfulness predicted lower weight and shape concerns and negative affect at 7 months via a mediator of better emotion regulation at 2 months. This effect remained while controlling for earlier measurements of the mediator and outcome in the model of negative affect but not weight and shape concerns. Emotion regulation may be an important mechanism explaining how mindfulness influences negative affect. Efforts should be made to intervene on mindfulness and emotion regulation in prevention and early intervention programmes for eating disorders and other psychiatric conditions. Research has shown that mindfulness can help to reduce some of the risk of developing an eating disorder. This study explored whether mindfulness reduces some of this risk by helping people to better manage their emotions. Understanding this process can help us to develop better mindfulness-based strategies to support people who are at risk of developing an eating disorder.
Publisher: European Respiratory Society (ERS)
Date: 23-03-2023
DOI: 10.1183/23120541.00717-2022
Abstract: Severe asthma is a complex, multidimensional disease. Optimal treatment, adherence and outcomes require shared decision-making, rooted in mutual understanding between patient and clinician. This study used a novel, patient-centred approach to examine the most bothersome aspects of severe asthma to patients, as seen from both perspectives in asthma registries. Across seven countries, 126 patients with severe asthma completed an open-ended survey regarding most the bothersome aspect(s) of their asthma. Patients’ responses were linked with their treating clinician who also completed a free-text survey about each patient's most bothersome aspect(s). Responses were coded using content analysis, and patient and clinician responses were compared. Finally, asthma registries that are part of the SHARP (Severe Heterogeneous Asthma Research collaboration, Patient-centred) Clinical Research Collaboration were examined to see the extent to which they reflected the most bothersome aspects reported by patients. 88 codes and 10 themes were identified. Clinicians were more focused on direct physical symptoms and were less focused on “holistic” aspects such as the effort required to self-manage the disease. Clinicians accurately identified a most bothersome symptom for 29% of patients. Agreement was particularly low with younger patients and those using oral corticosteroids infrequently. In asthma registries, patient aspects were predominantly represented in questionnaires. Results demonstrated different perspectives and priorities between patients and clinicians, with clinicians more focused on physical aspects. These differences must be considered when treating in idual patients, and within multidisciplinary treatment teams. The use of questionnaires that include multifaceted aspects of disease may result in improved asthma research.
Publisher: European Respiratory Society (ERS)
Date: 05-2017
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02448-2016
Abstract: Asthma is a heterogeneous, complex disease with clinical phenotypes that incorporate persistent symptoms and acute exacerbations. It affects many millions of Europeans throughout their education and working lives and puts a heavy cost on European productivity. There is a wide spectrum of disease severity and control. Therapeutic advances have been slow despite greater understanding of basic mechanisms and the lack of satisfactory preventative and disease modifying management for asthma constitutes a significant unmet clinical need. Preventing, treating and ultimately curing asthma requires co-ordinated research and innovation across Europe. The European Asthma Research and Innovation Partnership (EARIP) is an FP7-funded programme which has taken a co-ordinated and integrated approach to analysing the future of asthma research and development. This report aims to identify the mechanistic areas in which investment is required to bring about significant improvements in asthma outcomes.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 28-09-2023
DOI: 10.2196/44220
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-02-2022
DOI: 10.1002/SMI.3133
Abstract: Poor student well‐being at UK universities is overstretching institutional support services, highlighting a need for effective new resources. Despite extensive literature on mental health and well‐being interventions, students' engagement with support remains unexplored. The study aimed to understand students' experience of engagement with well‐being support, identify their well‐being needs and form concrete recommendations for future intervention design and delivery. The Person‐Based Approach to intervention design was followed to centralise users' experience, in turn maximising acceptability and effectiveness of resources. An online survey ( N = 52) was followed by three focus groups ( N = 14). Survey data were analysed descriptively, and reflexive thematic analysis was performed on qualitative data. Mixed‐methods data integration produced four key student priorities for well‐being resources – ease of access , inclusive and preventative approach , sense of community and a safe space , and applying skills to real‐life contexts . Five actionable guiding principles for intervention design were produced through consultation with expert stakeholders. This work helps understand why and how students engage with support at university. The resulting recommendations can inform future intervention development, leading to more acceptable, engaging and effective student well‐being resources.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-05-2023
DOI: 10.1007/S10879-023-09584-9
Abstract: The field of mindfulness practice and research has expanded over recent years and become more established in the public consciousness. In this paper we explore four key tensions for the mindfulness community to hold in awareness. These include: Mindfulness for me vs. mindfulness for others (an awareness of the loss of the spiritual and collective elements historically essential to mindfulness), Mindfulness for some vs. mindfulness for all (understanding why mindfulness may be more appealing for some more than others), The whole vs. the sum of its parts (the need to understand the mechanisms of mindfulness and still preserve its integrity), and Improving access vs. preserving fidelity (balancing modifications to address issues such as accessibility with retaining core components). Recognising such challenges is a vital aspect of ensuring that mindfulness researchers and practitioners continue to work in a way that retains authenticity and trust within this burgeoning field and helps to support engagement from a erse range of people across the modern world.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Ben Ainsworth.