Research

The National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles 2010 ‘Natsal-3’

Funded by: Medical Research Council and Wellcome Trust
Team: The study is led from UCL, and incorporates a large team of collaborators including LSHTM (with Kaye Wellings and Wendy Macdowall as applicants and Jessica Datta, Kirstin Mitchell and Ruth Lewis as investigators)

Background: Natsal-3 is the third National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles. Survey design and conduct are based on methods established in Natsal 1990 and 2000, allowing comparability. Innovations for Natsal-3 include an extended age range; additional questions exploring new areas; the inclusion of several biological measures; wider range of sexually transmitted infections (Chlamydia trachomatis, HPV, Mycoplasma genitalium) and measures of salivary free testosterone; a qualitative component; and methodological advances with capacity development. Natsal-3 will explore the variation in, and factors associated with, sexual lifestyles in a large population-based probability survey, including a closer understanding of the relationship between physical and sexual health, especially in those over 45. We will examine the relationship between behaviours, attitudes, general health and well-being, and sexual and reproductive health outcomes.

Timetable: 1 November 2008 to 31 December 2014

 

Programme of work to evaluate intervention strategies to promote primary and secondary eye health

Funded by: Royal National Institute of Blind People
Team: Wendy Macdowall, Dalya Marks, Jessica Datta and Liz Holdsworth
Background: to be provided
Timetable: 1 May 2011 to 31 October 2014

 

Decision support for young people who self-harm

Funded by: Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity
Team: Rebecca French and colleagues at King’s College London
Background: to be provided
Timetable: 3 June 2013 to 2 June 2016

 

Prospective evaluation of follow-up and outcomes following adolescent sexual assault

Funded by: Department of Health
Team: Kaye Wellings and colleagues at University College London Institute of Child Health
Background: to be provided
Timetable: 1 October 2012 to 31 July 2016

 

‘El Dia a Dia’ (day-to-day life): Investigating how socio-structural factors shape vulnerability to violence, and capacity to manage risk, among male, female and transgender sex workers in Peru

Funded by: Medical Research Council (Population Health Scientist Fellowship)
Team: Pippa Grenfell
Background: This mixed-methods study explores how structural factors – such as institutions, social inequalities and work environments – shape sex workers’ vulnerability to discrimination and violence in Lima, Peru, and how these ultimately affect the capacity of individuals to navigate health risks. The study takes a participatory approach, working with peer interviewers to collect and interpret data, and has three components: a secondary data analysis, in-depth interviews with sex workers, and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. This research will contribute to Pippa Grenfell’s PhD thesis and is being carried out in collaboration with the Peruvian Cayetano Heredia University in Lima, where she is currently based.

Timetable: 25 July 2011 to 24 July 2014

 

Can text messages increase safer sexual health behaviours in young people? Intervention development and pilot trial

Funded by: Health Technology Assessment
Team: Rebecca French and Kaye Wellings. The PI is Caroline Free (EPH)
Research objectives:

  • To carry out formative evaluation aimed at developing an acceptable and appropriate mobile phone-based intervention to promote safe sexual health behaviour.
  • To conduct a pilot randomised controlled trial of the mobile technology-based sexual health intervention.
  • To make final modifications to the intervention.
  • To write a funding application for a main trial if the pilot trial demonstrates that a main trial is feasible.

Timetable: September 2012 to 31 August 2014

 

Optimising identification, referral and care of trafficked people within the NHS (PR-IP-0611-23002)

Funded by: Department of Health
Team: This study is being led by the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London and incorporates a large team of collaborators including LSHTM (Rebecca French)
Research objectives:

  • To synthesise evidence on the number of trafficked people identified in the UK, their associated healthcare needs, experiences and care pathways.
  • To document NHS knowledge, experience and gaps, and explore healthcare models in other European states with more well-established responses.
  • To provide recommendations, dissemination strategy and tools to support the NHS to identify, refer and treat trafficked people, and to become a strategic partner within the UK National Referral Mechanism.

Timetable: 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2015