Research Development
Staff Publications
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Staff Publications
Research Development
Find out what your colleagues have been writing. This section features articles published by staff working for St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals and Halton, Knowsley and St Helens community staff.
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Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic globally impacted healthcare provision. Prescribing changes in common medications can be used as a marker for new diagnoses. We describe how the prescribing of specific psychotropics was impacted by the pandemic. Methods Primary Care Prescribing data for different classes of drugs from March 2017 to February 2022 were..
Published: | 21/12/2023 |
Authors: | Narayanan RP |
Abstract Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is commonly associated with an increasing complexity of multimorbidity. While some progress has been made in identifying genetic and non-genetic risk factors for T2D, understanding the longitudinal clinical history of individuals before/after T2D diagnosis may provide additional insights. Methods In this..
Published: | 14/09/2023 |
Authors: | Narayanan RP |
Abstract Background Weight change is often seen in people with diabetes. We investigated the effects of genes associated with weight change/glucose handling/insulin-signalling. Materials/methods DNA from diabetes individuals and non-diabetes individuals, plus clinical data, were available from the DARE study (n = 379 individuals: T1D n = 111; T2D n = 222;..
Published: | 15/08/2023 |
Authors: | Narayanan RP |
Background National guidelines recognise the importance of individualising HbA1c targets. Many people with diabetes agree to have their targets re-evaluated in consultations in response to specific characteristics. Aims We aimed to evaluate the impact of relaxed or stretch HbA1c goals on subsequent HbA1c levels and health-related quality..
Published: | 25/04/2023 |
Authors: | McNulty S, Westall S, Narayanan RP, Irving G, Furlong NJ, Bujawansa S, Cardwell J, Hardy KJ |
Background National guidelines highlight the importance of individualising HbA1c targets. Little is known about the experiences of people with diabetes and diabetes healthcare professionals (HCPs) on the use of HbA1c targets. We explored the experiences of adults with diabetes and diabetes HCPs on the use of glycated haemoglobin..
Published: | 25/04/2023 |
Authors: | Westall S, Narayanan RP, Irving G, Furlong NJ, McNulty SJ, Bujawansa S, Cardwell J, Hardy KJ |
Background High levels of diabetes-related distress and low levels of self-efficacy and wellbeing are associated with poorer outcomes in people with diabetes. Aims We evaluated the impact of relaxed or stretch HbA1c targets on diabetes-related distress, self-efficacy and wellbeing in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Methods We randomised 50..
Published: | 25/04/2023 |
Authors: | Westall S, Narayanan RP, Irving G, Furlong NJ, McNulty S, Bujawansa S, Balafshan T, Cardwell J, Hardy KJ |
Background The disease burden of diabetes can have wide-ranging implications on patients’ psychological well-being and health-related quality of life. Glycated haemoglobin targets are commonly used to guide patient management in diabetes to reduce the future risk of developing diabetes complications, but little is known of the psychological impact of glycated..
Published: | 27/10/2022 |
Authors: | Westall S, Narayanan RP, Irving G, Hardy KJ |
Background Evidence and guidelines increasingly support an individualised approach to care for people with type 2 diabetes and individualisation of glycaemic targets in response to patient factors. Methods We undertook a scoping review of the literature for evidence of factors impacting upon glycated haemoglobin target individualisation in adults with type 2 diabetes...
Published: | 20/04/2022 |
Authors: | Westall S, Narayanan RP, Irving G, Furlong NJ, McNulty S, Bujawansa S, Hardy KJ |
Aims Government plans for integrated care systems and integrated care boards are a welcome move towards more joined-up diabetes care between the NHS and local authorities, between health and social care and between specialist, community and primary care services. To plan effectively, for example, structured education for all newly diagnosed..
Published: | 23/03/2022 |
Authors: | Westall S, Mitchell L, Cardwell J, Furlong NJ, Narayanan RP, Bujawansa S, Balafshan T, Hardy KJ, McNulty S |
Aims The covid-19 pandemic was associated with legally restricted public movement (lockdowns) and reduced access to face-to-face consultation for diabetes in primary and specialist care. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the pandemic on requests for specialist telephone support. Methods Retrospective analysis of calls for..
Published: | 23/03/2022 |
Authors: | Archer N, Westall S, Cardwell J, Furlong NJ, Narayanan RP, Bujawansa S, Balafshan T, Hardy KJ, McNulty S |
Aims Covid-19 precipitated an abrupt shift to non-face-to-face (digital) consultation. Some believe that this was overdue and that digital is better for many patients. Our aim was to establish the extent to which people with diabetes were equipped to manage digital consultation and what they felt about it. Methods We..
Published: | 23/03/2022 |
Authors: | Westall S, Mitchell L, Cardwell J, Furlong NJ, Narayanan RP, Bujawansa S, Balafshan T, Hardy KJ, McNulty S |
Background 10% of people with diabetes will suffer from a diabetes foot condition at some point. Those with diabetes related foot disease have high morbidity and mortality rate. They are at higher risk of pressure ulcers and other diabetes related complications such as heart disease or stroke. Patients with neuropathy and..
Published: | 23/03/2022 |
Authors: | Sullivan H, Westall S, Furlong NJ, McNulty S, Balafshan T, Narayanan RP, Bujawansa S, Hardy KJ, Pendlebury H |
Aims Inequalities exacerbate poor health outcomes in diabetes. Structured education in type 2 diabetes is the cornerstone of supported self-management, but many people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in the UK are not offered structured education and non-attendance in those accepting an offer of structured education is high. The aim of..
Published: | 23/03/2022 |
Authors: | Cardwell J, Mitchell L, Westall S, McNulty S, Furlong NJ, Narayanan RP, Bujawansa S, Balafshan T, Hardy KJ |
Aims A recent primary care database study (J Rachman, Eli Lilly & Co) suggests that only about half of UK patients initiated on subcutaneous semaglutide (Ozempic) reach target maintenance dose. To assess the extent to which these data represent UK practice, we audited semaglutide dose optimisation and metabolic outcomes in our..
Published: | 23/03/2022 |
Authors: | Cardwell J, Edon E, Westall S, McNulty S, Furlong NJ, Narayanan RP, Bujawansa S, Balafshan T, Hardy KJ |
Objective To identify clinical and biochemical characteristics associated with 7- & 30-day mortality and intensive care admission amongst diabetes patients admitted with COVID-19. Research Design and Methods We conducted a cohort study collecting data from medical notes of hospitalised people with diabetes and COVID-19 in 7 hospitals within the Mersey-Cheshire region from 1..
Published: | 13/01/2022 |
Authors: | Narayanan RP, Furlong NJ, Westall S |
Background and aims Diabetes is associated with greater COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. However, it is unclear if characteristics specific to this cohort affect the prognosis of COVID-19. ACCREDIT study explored clinical and biochemical characteristics associated with 7- & 30-day mortality and intensive care amongst diabetes patients hospitalised with COVID-19. Materials and..
Published: | 01/09/2021 |
Authors: | Narayanan RP |
Background There has been a big drive from the UK government and Diabetes UK to provide improved psychological care for patients with diabetes. In addition to the emotional burden of having diabetes, people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes have higher levels of anxiety and depression than the general population. We..
Published: | 18/04/2021 |
Authors: | Gallagher CG, Westall S, Langan E, Narayanan RP, McNulty S, Bujawansa S, Mitchell L, Archer N, Hardy KJ |
Aims Increased physical activity and a healthy lifestyle underpin efforts to prevent type 2 diabetes and are cornerstones in managing type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Not only is reduced activity associated with risk of weight gain and adverse metabolism, but it is also mooted to be associated with impaired psychological wellbeing. We..
Published: | 14/04/2021 |
Authors: | Westall S, Narayanan RP, Sullivan H, Bujawansa S, Furlong NJ, McNulty S, Cardwell J, Mitchell L, Jackson J, Hardy KJ |
Aims Diabetes-related distress, anxiety and depression are all highly prevalent in people with diabetes. The Problem Areas In Diabetes (PAID) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS) questionnaires can be used to measure these domains. We evaluated the impact of structured education on each of these. Method People with diabetes..
Published: | 14/04/2021 |
Authors: | Westall S, Narayanan RP, Langan E, Gallagher CG, Bujawansa S, McNulty SJ, Furlong NJ, Sullivan H, Hardy KJ |
Background Better glycaemic control is exhibited in patients with higher self-care abilities. The Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA) questionnaire measures diabetes self-care activities. As part of a local, validated structured education programme, we measure the SDSCA scores before and after completing structured education. Scores are outputted as ‘number of..
Published: | 14/04/2021 |
Authors: | Furlong NJ, Westall S, Cardwell J, Jackson J, Cairns J, Mitchell L, Bujawansa S, McNulty S, Narayanan RP, Hardy KJ |
Background and Aim People with type 1 diabetes experience varying degrees of the emotional burden of diabetes and its treatments. The Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) questionnaire can be used to evaluate this domain. As part of a local, validated structured education programme for people with type 1 diabetes, baseline and endpoint..
Published: | 14/04/2021 |
Authors: | Narayanan RP, Westall S, Sullivan H, Cardwell J, Langan E, Gallagher CG, Bujawansa S, McNulty S, Furlong NJ, Hardy KJ |
Background People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes experience greater degrees of anxiety and depression than the general population. The Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) can evaluate this. Scores ≥8 on HADS-A (anxiety) or HADS-D (depression) indicate potential cases of anxiety or depression. Methods As part of a validated structured education programme,..
Published: | 14/04/2021 |
Authors: | Narayanan RP, Westall S, Sullivan H, Cardwell J, Cairns J, Gallagher CG, Bujawansa S, McNulty S, Furlong NJ, Hardy KJ |
Background and Aim Better glycaemic control is exhibited in patients with higher self‐care abilities. The Summary of Diabetes Self‐Care Activities (SDSCA) questionnaire measures diabetes self‐care activities. As part of a local, validated structured education programme, we measure the SDSCA scores before and after completing structured education. Scores..
Published: | 07/10/2020 |
Authors: | Furlong NJ, Westall S, Cardwell J, Jackson J, Cairns J, Mitchell L, Bujawansa S, McNulty S, Narayanan RP, Hardy KJ |
Background and Aim Patients with type 2 diabetes experience varying degrees of the emotional burden of diabetes and its treatments. The Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) questionnaire can be used to evaluate this domain. As part of a local, validated structured education programme for people with type 2 diabetes, baseline and endpoint..
Published: | 07/10/2020 |
Authors: | Cardwell J, Bujawansa S, McNulty S, Furlong NJ, Narayanan RP, Jackson J, Mitchell L, Westall S, Hardy KJ |
Background and Aim People with type 1 diabetes experience varying degrees of the emotional burden of diabetes and its treatments. The Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) questionnaire can be used to evaluate this domain. As part of a local, validated structured education programme for people with type 1 diabetes, baseline and endpoint..
Published: | 07/10/2020 |
Authors: | Narayanan RP, Westall S, Sullivan H, Cardwell J, Langan E, Gallagher CG, Bujawansa S, McNulty S, Furlong NJ, Hardy KJ |
Background There has been a big drive from the UK government and Diabetes UK to provide improved psychological care for patients with diabetes. People with type 2 diabetes experience greater degrees of anxiety and depression than the general population. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire can evaluate this. As..
Published: | 07/10/2020 |
Authors: | Westall S, Jackson J, Mitchell L, Cairns J, Sullivan H, Bujawansa S, McNulty S, Furlong NJ, Narayanan RP, Hardy KJ |
Background and Aim Diabetes‐related distress, anxiety and depression are all highly prevalent in people with diabetes. The Problem Areas In Diabetes (PAID) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS) questionnaires can be used to measure these domains. We evaluated the impact of structured education on each of these. Methods..
Published: | 07/10/2020 |
Authors: | Westall S, Narayanan RP, Langan E, Gallagher CG, Bujawansa S, McNulty S, Furlong NJ, Cardwell J, Hardy KJ |
Background and Aim People with type 1 diabetes experience greater degrees of anxiety and depression than the general population. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire can evaluate this. As part of a local, validated structured education programme for people with type 1 diabetes, baseline and endpoint measurements of anxiety and..
Published: | 07/10/2020 |
Authors: | Sullivan H, Westall S, Jackson J, Cairns J, Cardwell J, Bujawansa S, McNulty S, Furlong NJ, Narayanan RP, Hardy KJ |
Background Our Trust received funding through the NHS Diabetes Transformation Programme to improve inpatient care and foot care. The monies received for inpatient care was used to increase the number of diabetes inpatient nurses by fivefold. We introduced extended weekday coverage (0,800–2,200), weekend cover and an emergency support line. The funding..
Published: | 07/10/2020 |
Authors: | Bujawansa S, Furlong NJ, Narayanan RP, Westall S, Cardwell J, Mitchell L, Michaels S, Hardy KJ |
Background National guidelines recognise the importance of individualising HbA1c targets. Many people with diabetes agree to have their targets re-evaluated in consultations in response to specific characteristics. Aims We aimed to evaluate the impact of relaxed or stretch HbA1c goals on subsequent HbA1c levels and health-related quality..
Published: | 25/04/2023 |
Authors: | McNulty S, Westall S, Narayanan RP, Irving G, Furlong NJ, Bujawansa S, Cardwell J, Hardy KJ |
Background National guidelines highlight the importance of individualising HbA1c targets. Little is known about the experiences of people with diabetes and diabetes healthcare professionals (HCPs) on the use of HbA1c targets. We explored the experiences of adults with diabetes and diabetes HCPs on the use of glycated haemoglobin..
Published: | 25/04/2023 |
Authors: | Westall S, Narayanan RP, Irving G, Furlong NJ, McNulty SJ, Bujawansa S, Cardwell J, Hardy KJ |
Background High levels of diabetes-related distress and low levels of self-efficacy and wellbeing are associated with poorer outcomes in people with diabetes. Aims We evaluated the impact of relaxed or stretch HbA1c targets on diabetes-related distress, self-efficacy and wellbeing in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Methods We randomised 50..
Published: | 25/04/2023 |
Authors: | Westall S, Narayanan RP, Irving G, Furlong NJ, McNulty S, Bujawansa S, Balafshan T, Cardwell J, Hardy KJ |
Background The disease burden of diabetes can have wide-ranging implications on patients’ psychological well-being and health-related quality of life. Glycated haemoglobin targets are commonly used to guide patient management in diabetes to reduce the future risk of developing diabetes complications, but little is known of the psychological impact of glycated..
Published: | 27/10/2022 |
Authors: | Westall S, Narayanan RP, Irving G, Hardy KJ |
Background Evidence and guidelines increasingly support an individualised approach to care for people with type 2 diabetes and individualisation of glycaemic targets in response to patient factors. Methods We undertook a scoping review of the literature for evidence of factors impacting upon glycated haemoglobin target individualisation in adults with type 2 diabetes...
Published: | 20/04/2022 |
Authors: | Westall S, Narayanan RP, Irving G, Furlong NJ, McNulty S, Bujawansa S, Hardy KJ |
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Background and Aim People with type 1 diabetes experience varying degrees of the emotional burden of diabetes and its treatments. The Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) questionnaire can be used to evaluate this domain. As part of a local, validated structured education programme for people with type 1 diabetes, baseline and endpoint..
Published: | 07/10/2020 |
Authors: | Narayanan RP, Westall S, Sullivan H, Cardwell J, Langan E, Gallagher CG, Bujawansa S, McNulty S, Furlong NJ, Hardy KJ |
Background and Aim Diabetes‐related distress, anxiety and depression are all highly prevalent in people with diabetes. The Problem Areas In Diabetes (PAID) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score (HADS) questionnaires can be used to measure these domains. We evaluated the impact of structured education on each of these. Methods..
Published: | 07/10/2020 |
Authors: | Westall S, Narayanan RP, Langan E, Gallagher CG, Bujawansa S, McNulty S, Furlong NJ, Cardwell J, Hardy KJ |