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HBCRG November 2020 Update

Nov 02 2020 Posted: 08:00 GMT

Training update

Our next HBCRG training webinar will take place on Tuesday 17^th November 2020 from 2-3.30pm. Dr Andrea Patey of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute will present on “Barriers and enablers to behaviour using the Theoretical Domains Framework: An introduction to the practical applications of the TDF, with Dr Andrea Patey. All welcome to attend this free training event. More details are here (TRAINING DETAILS).

Funding successes

Dr Elaine Toomey was awarded a Health Research Board Applying Research into Policy and Practice Postdoctoral Fellowship. Elaine’s work will focus on Using Knowledge Translation to Enhance the Use of Evidence in Public Health Decision-making by Policymakers and Healthcare Managers in Ireland. Elaine will continue to work with Professor Molly Byrne in her role as co-applicant and mentor on the project.
Dr Alice le Bonniec is the recipient of the Irish Cancer Society 2020 Social, Nursing, and Allied Health Sciences Post-Doctoral Fellowship and will complete her project with the HBCRG developing an intervention to increase bowel screening uptake under the mentorship of Dr Jenny McSharry. More information is available here
Dr Eimear Morrissey was co-applicant on a grant application to Emerging Minds (UK Research and Innovation), led by Dr Emma Berry in Queens. The team obtained £15,000 to conduct a stakeholder engagement study on 'Social media and psychological wellbeing in young people with type 1 diabetes'.

Selected Recent publications

Byrne M. (2020) Gaps and priorities in advancing methods for health behaviour change research. Health Psychology Review, 14(1):165-75.
Byrne M, McSharry J, Meade O, Lavoie KL, Bacon SL. (2020). An international, Delphi consensus study to identify priorities for methodological research in behavioral trials in health research. Trials. 21:1-13.
Casey, B., Byrne, M., Casey, D., Gillespie, P., Hobbins, A., Newell, J., Morrissey, E.C. & Dinneen, S.F. (2020). Improving outcomes among young adults with type 1 diabetes: The D1 Now randomised pilot study protocol. Diabetic Medicine, 37, 1590– 1604.
Durand H, Bacon SL, Byrne M et al. Identifying and addressing psychosocial determinants of adherence to physical distancing guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic – project protocol [version 1; peer review: 2 approved with reservations]. HRB Open Res 2020, 3:58
Kenny E, McNamara Á, Noone C, Byrne M. (2020) Barriers to seasonal influenza vaccine uptake among health care workers in long‐term care facilities: A cross‐sectional analysis. British Journal of Health Psychology.
Noone C, Warner N, Byrne M et al. Investigating and evaluating evidence of the behavioural determinants of adherence to social distancing measures – A protocol for a scoping review of COVID-19 research [version 2; peer review: 2 approved] HRB Open Research 2020, 3:46
McBride, C., Morrissey, E.C. & Molloy, G.J. (2020). Patients’ experiences of using smartphone apps to support self-management and improve medication adherence in hypertension: A qualitative study. JMIR mHealth and uHealth.
McSharry J, Byrne M, Casey B, Dinneen S, Fredrix M, Hynes L, et al. (2020). Behaviour change in diabetes: behavioural science advancements to support the use of theory. Diabetic Medicine, 37(3):455-63.
Meade, O., Byrne, M., Carvalho, M., Hynes, L., McSharry, J., Molloy, G.J., Morrissey, E., Noone, C., Toomey, E. The Health Behaviour Change Research Group’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Health Psychology Update, 29 (Special Issue), p. 35-36.
Norris, E. & Toomey, E. (2020). Open Science in Health Psychology: launching the EHPS Open Science SIG. The European Health Psychologist, 21(5), 679-682.
Van Rhoon L, Byrne M, Morrissey E, Murphy J, McSharry J. (2020). A systematic review of the behaviour change techniques and digital features in technology-driven type 2 diabetes prevention interventions. Digital health. 2020;6:2055207620914427.

New Roles

Dr Lisa Hynes has recently become the Chair of the Division of Health Psychology within the Psychological Society of Ireland. We wish Lisa well with her new role! For updates from the division, please follow @PSI_DHP.
Dr Elaine Toomey has taken up a new role at School of Allied Health at the University of Limerick as a Lecturer in Physiotherapy. We wish Elaine well and look forward to continuing to collaborate.
Prof Molly Byrne has recently joined the Board of Trustees of the Ireland Canada University Foundation (ICUF). The ICUF aims to make a positive contribution to society, through organisation of scholarly exchanges and related events, and the support of academic and research networks linking Canada and Ireland.
Prof Molly Byrne is contributing to the national response to COVID-19 as a member of the Department of Health’s Covid-19 Communications and Behavioural Advisory Group which advises the National Public Health Emergency Team. She is also a member of the NUI Galway Behaviour Change Advisory Group to inform the university’s response to COVID.

HBCRG in the media

Prof Molly Byrne wrote an opinion piece of the Irish Times, 26^th Oct 202, on the contribution of behavioural science to the Public Health response to Covid-19.
On behalf of the Psychological Society of Ireland Division of Health Psychology and in collaboration with the British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology, Lisa Hynes (Chair) and Jenny Mc Sharry (Past Chair) wrote a piece for the Irish Psychologist on the "Impact of Health Psychology in Ireland and support needed for future growth"

Take part in Research

HBCRG Group members are also collaborating on the ‘International Assessment of Covid-19-related Attitudes, Concerns, Responses and Impacts in Relation to Public Health Policies’ (iCARE) study. The results of this study will be used to enhance the uptake and effectiveness of prevention behaviours around the world. To look at the results so far or take part in the study, please click here.
The Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes (PRE-T2D) study is seeking adults living in Ireland to complete a 15-minute online survey on your health behaviours, technology experiences, and perceptions of Type 2 Diabetes. All participants will enter the draw to win one of two €100 One4All gift cards. To complete the survey, please go to http://www.pret2d.com/survey.