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Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design: Proceedings of the International Conference of Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design for Society (SEEDS) 2021
No full textThe International Conference of Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design for Society (SEEDS) brings together global experts to focus on a sustainability agenda and the positive and detrimental changes that are taking place. Papers presented at the conference come from across a broad spectrum of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and bring forward practices to tackle the climate emergency and evaluate their impact. It addresses technical issues, measuring, monitoring, and assessing change, emphasizing the environment, infrastructure, and buildings, how they exist in relative isolation, and the possibilities for sustainable integration. The SEEDS Conference addresses the interdependence of people and the built and natural environments and recognizes the interdisciplinary and international themes necessary to assemble the knowledge required for positive change
The effectiveness of co-created lifestyle interventions in improving health behaviour, physical and mental health in adults with non-communicable diseases: A systematic review with meta-analysis
Full text linkObjectives
This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of co-created lifestyle interventions in modifying health behaviour, and mental/physical health outcomes in individuals with non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Study design
A systematic review of Randomized Control Trials (RCTs).
Methods
A systematic search of nine databases from inception until March 2023 was performed, plus weekly email alerts of new literature until March 2025. Studies comparing co-created lifestyle interventions with any control were included. Meta-analysis using the random effects model was conducted. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane-RoB-2, and quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE system.
Results
Sixteen RCTs (2201 participants; 74.2 % female; mean 53.8 years) were included. Meta-analysis showed that at <6 months, there is moderate quality evidence that co-created lifestyle interventions significantly improve health behaviour (moderate effect; SMD = 0.49, 95 %CI: 0.33–0.65) and physical health (small effect; SMD = 0.21, 95 %CI: 0.09–0.34), and mental health (small effect; SMD = 0.29, 95 %CI: 0.14–0.43), in individuals with NCDs. At ≥6 months, there is moderate quality evidence that co-created interventions improve health behaviour (small effect; SMD = 0.21, 95 %CI: 0.07–0.35), and mental health (small effect; SMD = 0.19, 95 %CI: 0.12–0.26). A small effect with low quality evidence (SMD = 0.11, 95 %CI: 0.09-0.32) was also observed for physical health, however, it was not statistically significant.
Conclusions
There is moderate quality evidence that co-created lifestyle interventions for secondary prevention of NCDs have a significant positive impact on the target health behaviour, and on mental health, and physical health outcomes
Feedback in radiology: essential tool for improving user experience and providing value-based care
Full text linkMeasuring the value that radiology brings to patient care can be challenging. A positive patient experience is consistently associated with patient safety, clinical effectiveness, and outcome measures and is therefore a tool for measuring value-based care. Monitoring the experience of users of radiology services is an indispensable component of quality improvement programmes for radiology departments. The integration of comprehensive feedback mechanisms brings numerous benefits, including enhanced care, strengthened trust, and greater engagement with our stakeholders and service users. Feedback should be collected from a variety of stakeholders through a 360-degree approach, combining both systematically performed structured methods, such as formal surveys, and unstructured methods, such as informal and opportunistic information gathering during multidisciplinary rounds. To maximise the impact of feedback, it should be frequent and diverse, ensuring that all perspectives are considered. Leaders in radiology must prioritise embedding a culture of feedback within their institutions, recognising its crucial role in continuous improvement. It is essential to ensure that our departments consistently provide value to our most important stakeholders—the patients—but also to our referrers and trainees. In this article, we consider methods for collecting feedback and provide some of the key findings from the literature. By fostering an environment that values and acts upon feedback, we can achieve significant advancements in patient care and overall service quality in radiology
Models of domestic abuse support in safe accommodation: a rapid evidence assessment
Full text linkThis is a rapid review of the evidence on prevailing models of domestic abuse support in safe accommodation operating within the United Kingdom (UK) and internationally, the effectiveness of these models and their accessibility to victim-survivors from a range of backgrounds and with varying needs. The review was commissioned by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) as part of the broader evaluation of Part 4 of the Domestic Abuse Act which placed a statutory duty on Tier 1 local authorities (LAs) to provide domestic abuse support within safe accommodation. It is intended to be read in conjunction with the final evaluation report available on gov.uk. Safe accommodation is understood, in accordance with the MHCLG guidance, as a secure location with some level of specialist support for domestic abuse victims. This includes but
is not limited to: dispersed accommodation, sanctuary schemes, second stage or ‘moving on’ accommodation, specialist safe accommodation (including ‘by and for’ services), and refuge accommodation
Review of Fiona Banner aka The Vanity Press, Frith Street Gallery
No full textThis is a review of Fiona Banner aka The Vanity Press' exhibition at Frith street Gallery which presented a group of works centred around the two video pieces DISARM (Landscape) and DISARM (Portrait)
Suffolk Libraries: enhancing well-being within its community
Full text linkLibraries are community spaces that offer social and health-related activities. Yet, evidence high-lighting how libraries enhance well-being in their communities is limited. This paper examines how activities run by Suffolk Libraries enhance the well-being of users within their community. DuringStudy 1, library users completed a questionnaire investigating library use, loneliness, social connectedness, and social assurance. Study 1 identified that as library usage increased social connectedness, social assurance also increased. During Study 2, activity group users completed a questionnaire investigating happiness, satisfaction with life, and mental well-being before and after their activity group. Study 2 found increases in satisfaction with life and mental well-being after an activity group. These findings demonstrate the positive impact that Suffolk Libraries has on users. Thus, it is concluded that Suffolk Libraries, an example of a community-based service, facilitates well-being. Future work is proposed that examines in what way community services support well-being, as well as user’s motivations to engage with these services
Types of domestic violence and abuse-flagged offenses and their associations: a quantitative exploration using English police data
Full text linkThis research quantitatively explored different police-flagged domestic violence and abuse (DVA) offense reports in one English police force, and their suspect- and victim-level associations. Most reports were of males committing offenses against females. Violence with and without injury were the most common offenses (61.0%). Demographic variables (age, sex, relationship) were associated with different offense types. Suspects 36 years old and older had higher odds of being associated with sex offenses. While younger victims had higher odds of sexual victimization and stalking and harassment, both suspects and victims 45 years old and younger were mostly associated with reports of violence with injury. Most suspects and victims were partners/ex-partners (70.3%), with a third of the reports being for violence with injury. Stalking/harassment was mostly reported against acquaintances, whereas relatives were more likely to be suspects of violence without injury. Research and practice implications for police and Criminal Justice System are discussed
Understanding physical activity participation among underserved Women: a mixed-methods cross sectional study using an ecological framework.
Full text linkBackground: Physical inactivity remains a major contributor to non-communicable diseases and health inequalities in the UK, particularly among underserved women living in socioeconomically deprived areas. In post-industrial port communities across Suffolk and Norfolk such as Ipswich, Lowestoft, and Felixstowe, women face intersecting barriers to physical activity (PA), including gender norms, ethnicity, chronic illness, caregiving duties, and limited access to affordable, culturally appropriate PA opportunities. This study addresses a critical evidence gap by exploring multi-level influences on PA engagement among these populations using an ecological and intersectional lens.
Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was employed, guided by Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory. Quantitative data were collected using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) and the Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale (EBBS), administered to 112 women aged 18-65 recruited from community-based PA and weight-loss programmes. Embedded within the survey were open-ended prompts capturing lived experiences. Data were analysed using SPSS v29 for t-tests, chi-square tests, and logistic regression, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis using NVivo 14. Findings were integrated across five ecological levels: microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem.
Results: Only 58% of participants met recommended PA guidelines. Key barriers included chronic health conditions (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.50), caregiving responsibilities (OR = 0.56), low self-confidence (OR = 0.49), and cost (OR = 0.59). Qualitative findings revealed intersecting challenges, such as cultural expectations, modesty norms, family criticism, lack of safe infrastructure, and inconsistent PA programme availability. Divergences between high EBBS benefit scores and narratives of demotivation highlighted emotional dissonance and structural constraints. Temporal factors like motherhood, menopause, and community service cuts also disrupted sustained engagement.
Conclusion: Women’s PA behaviours in these areas are shaped by a complex interplay of individual, social, structural, cultural, and temporal factors. One-size-fits-all behavioural messaging is insufficient. Effective interventions must be inclusive, culturally sensitive, and rooted in local realities. This study offers a robust foundation for designing equity-focused, multi-level strategies to promote PA in underserved communities