Five ways research in Wales is improving the lives of children and young people
20 November
Across Wales, the Health and Care Research Wales funded community are working to tackle some of the most pressing health and social care challenges faced by children and young people.
This World Children’s Day (20 November) learn about five ways researchers are helping to create a healthier, safer and fairer future for children in Wales and beyond:
Research conducted by the Children’s Social Care Research and Development Centre (CASCADE) partnership underlined the importance of a coordinated, multi-agency approach to effectively tackle County Lines drug gangs.
The study, led by Dr Nina Maxwell, emphasised that collaboration between schools, social services, healthcare providers and law enforcement is critical for identifying and protecting vulnerable individuals who are at risk of being exploited by criminal networks.
The largest trial of its kind in the UK, managed by the Centre for Trials Research, showed that a low-cost, structured anti-bullying programme can significantly reduce bullying in primary schools.
Testing the Finnish-based KiVa programme, the study found a 13% reduction in bullying incidents, with the programme proving effective across a wide range of school types, from small rural schools to large urban ones.
A review of research, conducted by the Health and Care Research Wales Evidence Centre, brought together evidence to identify factors that impact childhood obesity and how influential they are.
Helping to inform the Welsh Government’s Health Weight: Healthy Wales strategy the review found reducing rapid weight gain during the first 12 months of life, providing children of working parents with opportunities to eat healthier and be active and helping women who are overweight, and trying to become pregnant, to lose weight, can help reduce childhood obesity.
The Centre for Trials Research took part in the largest trial of its kind in the UK to determine if a blood test called procalcitonin (PCT) could help reduce the duration of antibiotic treatment in hospitalised children. Antibiotic overuse is a key driver of antimicrobial resistance, one of the world’s greatest public health challenges.
Despite promising previous analysis, the study found that using the PCT biomarker to guide treatment decisions did not reduce antibiotic duration when compared to usual care. However, this study provided researchers with important learning for future biomarker-guided trials in the NHS.
Research, using the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank, revealed academic achievements for children in care can vary significantly based on their care experiences.
The study, led by Dr Emily Lowthian, found suspensions and exclusions, school moves and being eligible for free school meals are important contributing factors towards GCSE attainment. This highlights the need for improved data sharing between schools and social care, as children with early care-experiences may be overlooked.
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