Dr Ferhana Hashem BA, MA, PhD, PGCE

NIHR RDS SE Kent Site Lead & Research Adviser/Senior Research Fellow,

F.Hashem@kent.ac.uk
01227 824887

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I am a Research Fellow in CHSS at the University of Kent and am a Research Adviser for the NIHR Research’s Research Design Service South East.

I am currently working on an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded project with Professor Michael Calnan (PI) looking at the issue of uncertainty in NICE (National Institute for Health & Care Excellence) single technological appraisals. This work involves working closely with the NICE technological appraisals teams and appraisal committees to investigate how decisions are made in funding new drug therapies.

I have been trained in conducting sociological research and specialise in qualitative and mixed methods approaches. I have experience in working on projects in health promotion research focusing upon vulnerable people (older people), social marketing and health promotion, physical activity in young girls and teenage pregnancy in looked after young people.

My own research focuses upon the language and translation support needs of minority ethnic groups in Britain – in particular, in relation to accessing services including healthcare in the NHS, overcoming barriers to treatment and improving language services to minority ethnic patients. I have a broader interest in research on the identity issues of minority ethnic groups/mixed race people in Britain. I have also published work on the health and language needs of minority ethnic groups and, more generally, wider sociological issues on racial and ethnic identity.

I joined the University of Kent in 2006. I previously worked at Anglia Ruskin University (2004-2006) at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences for a two year post-doctural research. Previously, I taught social sciences at the University of Durham (2001-2004) and the University of Sunderland (2000-2003).

I completed my BA in Politics from the School of Oriental and African Studies (1997) and completed my MA in History from King’s College London. I received a PhD stipend from the University of Sunderland (1999-2003) to undertake my PhD research in Political Sociology.

Previous Research includes:

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) on the “Ethnic options of mixed-race people in Britain‟ (PI: Mr Peter Aspinall; CO: Dr Miri Song & second CO: Dr Ferhana Hashem) (March 2006-May 2008; grant reference: RES-000-23-1507) (£155,405.73)

Nuffield Foundation Small Social Science Grant “What kind of language services should public authorities provide to minority ethnic groups: the case of Bangladeshis in London‟ (PI: Dr Ferhana Hashem; CI: Mr Peter Aspinall) (February 2008-November 2009) (£9,025)

I have been teaching for the School for Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research (SSPSSR) on two modules; for the undergraduate module SO537 (Racism) and a postgraduate module SO884 (Race, Difference and Belonging). I am currently providing supervision for two MA students for the School.

Also view these in the Kent Academic Repository

Articles

Dodd, C., Hashem, F., Stephensen, D. and Bassett, P. (2023) 'Wearable activity trackers in young people with haemophilia: What needs to be considered?', Haemophilia. Wiley. doi: 10.1111/hae.14790.

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Peckham, S., Zhang, W., Eida, T., Hashem, F. and Kendall, S. (2023) 'Research engagement and research capacity building: a priority for healthcare organisations in the UK', Journal of Health Organization and Management. Emerald. doi: doi:10.1108/JHOM-12-2021-0436.

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Purpose To research involvement of healthcare staff in the UK and identify practical organisational and policy solutions to improve and boost capacity of the existing workforce to conduct research. Design/methodology/approach A mixed-method study presenting three work packages here: secondary analysis of levels of staff research activity, funding, academic outputs and workforce among healthcare organisations in the United Kingdom; 39 Research and Development lead and funder interviews; an online survey of 11 healthcare organisations across the UK, with 1,016 responses from healthcare staff included for analysis; and 51 interviews of healthcare staff in different roles from six UK healthcare organisations. Findings Interest in research involvement is strong and widespread but hampered by a lack of systematic organisational support despite national policies and strategies to increase staff engagement in research. While useful, these external strategies have limited universal success due to lack of organisational support. Healthcare organisations should embed research within organisational and human resources policies and increase the visibility of research through strategic organisational goals and governance processes. A systems-based approach is needed. Research limitations/implications The research gathered data from a limited number of NHS trusts but these were purposively sampled to provide a range of different acute/community health service organisations in different areas. But data was therefore more detailed and nuanced due to a more in-depth approach. Practical implications The findings are relevant for developing policies and practice within healthcare organisations to support research engagement. The findings also set out key policy and strategic recommendations that will support greater research engagement. Social implications Increased research activity and engagement in healthcare providers improves healthcare outcomes for patients. Originality/value This is a large scale (UK-wide) study involving a broad range of healthcare staff, with good engagement of nurses, midwives and Allied Healthcare Professionals who have not been previously achieved. This allowed valuable analysis of under-researched groups and comparisons by professional groups. The findings highlight the need for tailored action to embed research reporting, skills, professional development and infrastructure into organisational policies, strategies and systems, along with broader system-wide development.

Hashem, F., Huber, J., Egan, B., Barnes, R. and Newby, C. (2023) 'Exploring early career researchers' perspectives of training and funding opportunities: Motivations and setbacks when applying for the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Research's fellowships and research funding', The International Journal of Health Planning and Management. Wiley. doi: 10.1002/hpm.3637.

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Despite the availability of training and funding opportunities with the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), early career researchers (ECRs) invariably experience concern in sustaining an academic career in health research given the uncertainties of success following rejection from peer-reviewed funding bodies. The objective of this study was to consider what motivates ECRs when applying for funding to NIHR programmes and how they overcome funding setbacks. Eleven ECRs took part in a one-to-one virtual in-depth interview; the sample included more women (n=8) than men (n=3) and participants included pre-doctoral researchers (n=5), and both doctoral (n=2) and post-doctoral (n=4) ECRs. The interviews were analysed using the logic of a systems theory framework identifying factors impacting on ECRs occurring within an individual, within their social system and within their broader environment. The central themes that emerged from the data focused on: (1) facilitators for ECRs to apply for NIHR funding; (2) exploring ECRs' setbacks and disappointments; (3) improving chances of funding; and (4) deciding to apply with a view to re-applying in future. The participants' responses provided an honest and frank reflection of the uncertainties and challenges as ECRs in the current climate. Further strategies to support ECRs could be facilitated through local NIHR infrastructure, mentorship, better access to local support networks and hard-wiring research into an organisation's strategic priorities.

Hashem, F., Marchand, C., Peckham, S. and Peckham, A. (2022) 'What are the impacts of setting up new medical schools? A narrative review', BMC Medical Education. BioMed Central. doi: 10.1186/s12909-022-03835-4.

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Background: The growth of the UK's population together with an aging society with increasingly complex health and social care needs has placed a greater demand on statutory care services. In view of this emerging landscape, the UK Government has sought to increase its medically trained workforce in order to better respond to the demands placed on the health service. Five universities were announced as homes to new medical schools offering undergraduate places to boost the numbers of doctors training in England. The aim of this narrative review was to explore how new medical schools could improve the health outcomes of the local population and evaluate the potential contribution it may make to the local economy, workforce and to research and innovation. Methods: A narrative review was undertaken using a systematic approach for the search literature strategy. The articles were evaluated by undertaking a critical assessment evaluating the fitness of a paper for review according to results, methods used to test the hypothesis, conclusions and impact and limitations. Thematic analysis was employed to organise and summarise the findings across a heterogeneous body of literature included in the review. The analysis was developed in an inductive manner and there were not any predefined themes to guide data extraction and analysis. Results: Thirty-six articles were selected for inclusion for this narrative review. The review identified six key themes: influence of prior rural exposure, medical school environment and rural enrichment programmes, workforce, health outcomes of local populations, social accountability, economic contribution of medical schools to communities and impact on rural research. Conclusions: The studies included found a wealth of information on a wide-range of topics on the expansion of undergraduate education and its implications on the future medical workforce. It was shown that medical schools can have a positive effect on the health, social, economic and research activity of a region, but this literature tended to be heterogeneous in focus without consideration of the inter-connections between the wider societal and economic impacts arising from long-term sustainable change being brought to a region.

Hashem, F. (2022) 'Five common signs of an unhealthy bid', Research Professional. Available at: https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-funding-know-how-start-here-2022-five-common-signs-of-an-unhealthy-bid/.

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Hashem, F. (2022) 'So you're new to…the National Institute for Health Research', Research Professional News. Available at: https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-funding-know-how-start-here-2022-so-you-re-new-to-the-national-institute-for-health-research/.

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Hashem, F. (2021) 'Bouncing Back: Four tips for early career healthcare researchers looking to recover from rejected bids', Research Professional News. Available at: https://www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-funding-know-how-start-here-2021-bouncing-back/.

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Hashem, F., Jaswal, S. K., Marchand, C., Forbes, L. J., Srinivasan, N., Bates, A. and Peckham, S. (2021) 'Incorporating the interaction between health and work into the undergraduate medical curriculum – a qualitative evaluation of a teaching pilot in English medical schools', Education for Primary Care. doi: 10.1080/14739879.2021.1914182.

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Introduction: There is a growing recognition of the impact of work on health both positive and negative. It is important that all health care professionals are equipped to understand the effects of work and worklessness on health and help patients remain in work or manage a healthy return to work where appropriate. Despite explicit reference to health and work in the General Medical Council's Outcomes for Graduates, currently, there is not a theme that is integrated across the undergraduate medical curricula. Aim: This study evaluates medical tutors' and undergraduates' perspectives of a selection of health and work topics in a teaching pilot to consider the suitability and appropriateness for delivery, integration into the curriculum, tailoring of the resources, and appropriateness and expected attainment of learning objectives. Methods: Qualitative, semi structured interviews and focus groups were carried out with five medical tutors and 36 undergraduates. Interviews and focus groups were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Results: The medical tutors and undergraduates identified suitability of appropriate subject specialties and years of teaching, whether learning objectives were important and if these had been achieved, and recommendations for future delivery. Discussion: Medical tutors were committed to delivering the health and work topics with the flexibility of tailoring the resources to existing subject specialties and with respect to the year of study. Learning objectives were perceived appropriate by tutors, despite ambivalence about their importance from some undergraduates. The resources were identified as having relevance to public health undergraduate teaching and teaching during general practice placements.

Hashem, F., Stephensen, D., Bates, A., Pellatt-Higgins, T., Hobbs, R. N., Hopkins, M., Woodward, H., Stavropoulou, C., Swaine, I. L. and Ali, H. (2020) 'Acceptability and feasibility of an isometric resistance exercise programme for abdominal cancer surgery: an embedded qualitative study', Cancer Control. Sage. doi: 10.1177/1073274820950855.

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Although it is recognized in the early stages of cancer recovery that changes in lifestyle including increases in physical activity improves physical function, there are no clear findings whether low versus moderate intensity activity or home or gym exercise offer optimal benefit. Isometric-resistance exercises can be carried out with very little equipment and space and can be performed while patients are bed-bound in hospital or at home. This embedded qualitative study, based in an English hospital trust providing specialist cancer care, was undertaken as a component of a feasibility trial to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of an isometric-resistance exercise program and explore the suitability of functional assessments by drawing from the experiences of abdominal cancer patients following surgery. Telephone interviews were undertaken with 7 participants in the intervention group, and 8 interviews with the usual care group (n ¼ 15). The gender composition consisted of 11 females and 4 males. Participants' ages ranged from 27 to 84 (M ¼ 60.07, SD ¼ 15.40). Interviews were conducted between August 2017 and May 2018, with audio files digitally recorded and data coded using thematic framework analysis. Our results show that blinding to intervention or usual care was a challenge, participants felt the intervention was safe and suitable aided by the assistance of a research nurse, yet, found the self-completion questionnaire tools hard to complete. Our study provides an insight of trial processes, participants' adherence and completion of exercise interventions, and informs the design and conduct of larger RCTs based on the experiences of abdominal cancer surgery patients.

Hashem, F., Corbett, K., Stephensen, D., Swaine, I., Ali, H. and Hutchins, I. (2020) 'The importance of cancer patients' functional recollections to explore the acceptability of an isometric-resistance exercise intervention: a qualitative study', Health Science Reports. Wiley. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.186.

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Background and Aims Although it has been widely recognised the potential of physical activity to help cancer patients' preparation for and recovery from surgery, there is little consideration of patient reflections and recovery experiences to help shape adherence to exercise programmes. The aim was to explore the acceptability of our newly proposed isometric exercise programme in a large general hospital trust in England providing specialist cancer care by using patient recollections of illness and therapy prior to undertaking a randomised controlled trial. Methods Four Focus groups (FGs) were conducted with cancer survivors with an explicit focus on patient identity, functional capacity, physical strength, exercise advice, types of activities as well as the timing of our exercise programme and its suitability. Thematic framework analysis was used with NVivo 11. Results FG data was collected in January 2016. Thirteen patients participated, ten were male and three were female with participants' ages ranging from 39 to 77. Data saturation was achieved when no new information had been generated reaching 'information redundancy'. Participants reflected upon their post-surgery recovery experiences on the appropriateness and suitability of the proposed intervention, what they thought about its delivery and format, and with hindsight what the psychological enablers and barriers would be to participation. Conclusion Based upon the subjective recollections and recovery experiences of cancer survivors, isometric-resistance exercise interventions tailored to individuals with abdominal cancer has the potential to be acceptable for perioperative patients to help increase their physical activity and can also help with emotional and psychological recovery.

Hashem, F., Stephensen, D., Drechsler, W., Bladen, M., Carroll, L., Pellatt-Higgins, T. and Saloniki, E.-C. (2020) 'Muscle strengthening intervention for boys with haemophilia: developing and evaluating a best-practice exercise programme with boys, families and healthcare professionals', Health Expectations. Wiley. doi: 10.1111/hex.13119.

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Background: Muscle strengthening exercises have the potential to improve outcomes for boys with haemophilia, but it is unclear what types of exercise might be of benefit. We elicited the views of healthcare professionals, boys and their families to create and assess a home-based muscle strengthening programme. Objective: To design and develop a muscle strengthening programme with healthcare professionals aimed at improving musculoskeletal health, and refine the intervention by engaging boys with haemophilia and their families (Study 1). Following delivery, qualitatively evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the exercise programme with the boys and the study's physiotherapists (Study 2). Design: A person-based approach was used for planning and designing the exercise programme, and evaluating it post-delivery. The following methods were utilised: modified Nominal Group Technique (NGT) with healthcare professionals; focus group with families; exit interviews with boys; and interviews with the study's physiotherapists. Results: Themes identified to design and develop the intervention included: exercises to lower limb and foot, dosage, age accommodating, location, supervision and monitoring and incentivisation. Programme refinements were carried following engagement with the boys and families who commented on: dosage, location, supervision and incentivisation. Following delivery, the boys and physiotherapists commented on progression and adaptation, physiotherapist contact, goal-setting, creating routines and identifying suitable timeframes, and a repeated theme of incentivisation. Conclusions: An exercise intervention was designed and refined through engagement with boys and their families. Boys and physiotherapists involved in the intervention's delivery were consulted who found the exercises to be generally acceptable with some minor refinements necessary.

Bladen, M., Carroll, L., Dodd, C., Drechsler, W., Hashem, F., Patel, V., Pellatt-Higgins, T., Saloniki, E.-C. and Stephensen, D. (2020) 'Results of feasibility and safety of randomised controlled trial of a musculoskeletal exercise intervention versus usual care for children with haemophilia', Haemophilia. Wiley. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/hae.14026.

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Hashem, F., Brigden, C. L., Wilson, P. M. and Butler, C. (2020) 'Understanding what works, why and in what circumstances in Hospice at Home Services for End of Life Care: applying a realist logic of analysis to a systematically searched literature review', Palliative Medicine. Sage, pp. 16-31. doi: 10.1177/0269216319867424.

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Background: We have undertaken a systematically searched literature review using a realist logic of analysis to help synthesise the diverse range of literature available on hospice at home services. Aim: To find out in the existing literature what features of hospice at home models work best, for whom and under what circumstances. Design: A realist logic of analysis was applied to synthesise the evidence focusing on mechanisms by which an intervention worked (or did not work). An initial programme theory was developed using the National Association for Hospice at Home standards, Normalisation Process Theory and through refinement using stakeholder engagement. Data sources: PubMed, Science Direct, AMED, BNI, CINAHL, EMBASE, Health Business Elite, HMIC, Medline, PsychINFO, SCOPUS, Web of Science, DARE, Google Scholar, NHS Evidence, NIHR CRN portfolio database, NIHR journal library of funded studies, including searches on websites of relevant professional bodies [August 2014, June 2017, June 2019]. Results: Forty-nine papers were reviewed, of which 34 wereincluded contributing evidence to at least one of eight theory areas: marketing and referral, sustainable funding model, service responsiveness and availability, criteria for service admission, knowledge and skills of care providers, integration and co-ordination, anticipatory care, support directed at carers. Conclusions: Our literature review showed how it was possible to develop a coherent framework and test it against 34 published papers and abstracts. Central to this review was theory building, and as further evidence emerges, our programme theories can be refined and tested against any new empirical evidence.

Rees-Roberts, M., Williams, P., Hashem, F., Brigden, C. L., Greene, K., Gage, H., Goodwin, M., Silsbury, G., Wee, B., Barclay, S. and others. (2019) 'Hospice at Home services in England: a national survey', BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care. BMJ Publishing Group, pp. 1-7. doi: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2019-001818.

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OBJECTIVE: Hospice at home (HAH) services aim to enable patients to be cared for and die at home, if that is their choice and achieve a "good death". A national survey, in 2017, aimed to describe and compare the features of HAH services and understand key enablers to service provision. METHODS: Service managers of adult HAH services in the 'Hospice UK' and National Association for Hospice at Home directories within England were invited to participate. Information on service configuration, referral, staffing, finance, care provision and enablers to service provision were collected by telephone interview. RESULTS: Of 128 services invited, 70 (54.7%) provided data. Great diversity was found. Most services operated in mixed urban/rural (74.3%) and mixed deprivation (77.1%) areas and provided hands-on care (97.1%), symptom assessment and management (91.4%), psychosocial support (94.3%) and respite care (74.3%). Rapid response (within 4 hours) was available in 65.7%; hands-on care 24 hours a day in 52.5%. Charity donations were the main source of funding for 71.2%. Key enablers for service provision included working with local services (e.g. district nursing, GP services), integrated health records, funding and anticipatory care planning. Access to timely medication and equipment was critical. CONCLUSION: There is considerable variation in HAH services in England. Due to this variation it was not possible to categorise services into delivery types. Services work to supplement local care using a flexible approach benefitting from integration and funding. Further work defining service features related to patient and/or carer outcomes would support future service development.

Hashem, F., Bladen, M., Carroll, L., Dodd, C., Drechsler, W., Lowery, D., Patel, V., Pellatt-Higgins, T., Saloniki, E.-C. and Stephensen, D. (2019) 'Protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial of a musculoskeletal exercise intervention versus usual care for children with haemophilia', BMJ Open. BMJ Publishing Group. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029474.

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Introduction: Haemophilia is a rare, inherited disorder in which blood does not clot normally, resulting in bleeding into joints and muscles. Long-term consequence is disabling joint pain, stiffness, muscle weakness, atrophy and reduced mobility. The purpose of this proposed feasibility of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) is to test the feasibility of an age-appropriate physiotherapy intervention designed to improve muscle strength, posture and the way boys use their joints during walking and everyday activities. Methods and analysis: A small-scale two-centre RCT of a 12-week muscle strengthening exercise intervention versus usual care for young children with haemophilia will be conducted. Primary outcomes will be safety and adherence to the exercise intervention. Secondary outcomes will include: recruitment, retention and adverse event rates, clinical data, muscle strength, joint biomechanics and foot loading patterns during walking, six-minute timed walk, timed-up-and-down-stairs, EQ-5D-Y, participants' perceptions of the study, training requirements and relevant costs. Recruitment, follow-up, safety and adherence rates will be described as percentages. Participant diary and interview data will be analysed using a framework analysis. Demographic and disease variable distributions will be analysed for descriptive purposes and co-variant analysis. Estimates of differences between treatment arms (adjusted for baseline), and 75% and 95% confidence intervals will be calculated. Ethics and Dissemination: The study has ethical approval from the London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee (17/LO/2043) as well as Health Research Authority approval. As well as informing the design of the definitive trial, results of this study will be presented at local, national and international physiotherapy and haemophilia meetings as well as manuscripts submitted to peer-reviewed journals. We will also share the main findings of the study to all participants and the Haemophilia Society.

Research reports (external)

Peckham, S., Eida, T. J., Zhang, W., Hashem, F., Spencer, S., Kendall, S., Newberry Le Vay, J., Buckley-Mellor, O., Samuel, E. and Vohra, J. (2021) Creating Time for Research: Identifying and improving the capacity of healthcare staff to conduct research. Cancer Research UK. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/sites/default/files/creating_time_for_research_february_2021_-_full_report-v2.pdf.

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Internet publications

Hashem, F. (2022) So you're new to…the NIHR (part 2), Research Professional. Available at: https://www.researchprofessional.com/0/rr/funding/know-how/start-here/2022/So-you-re-new-to-the-NIHR--part-2-.html.

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Conference or workshop items

Peckham, S., Eida, T. J., Zhang, W., Hashem, F., Spencer, S., Kendall, S., Newberry Le Vay, J., Buckley-Mellor, O. and Vohra, J. (2020) 'Time for Research: Improving research capacity in the health service post COVID-19', in. National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference 2020.

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has increased public recognition of the importance of research, and driven researchers to use innovative research practices. However, the pandemic has also been detrimental to research capacity for non-COVID-research, including cancer, and has highlighted pre-existing barriers. Overcoming these barriers is essential to restoring research capacity to pre-pandemic levels, but also for expanding capacity and accelerating innovation. This study takes a system-wide approach across professional groups, specialties and research settings to identify policy solutions to improve health service research capacity. Methods: A mixed methods study was conducted, including a scoping review, secondary data analysis and interviews with funders and research and development leads (n=39). This informed design of a survey of staff in 11 healthcare organisations (n=1235). Case study interviews (n=51) were undertaken in six of these organisations. Results: The study identified four key themes where policy action is needed: 1) More time and funding: lack of time to conduct research is exacerbated by lack of visibility of research support schemes, and 60% of research directors report insufficient funding. 2) Variations in research activity and capacity across regions, professions and specialties must be targeted: nurses and allied health professionals are particularly under-supported, as is disease prevention and public health. 3) Pathways for getting into research: a life-course approach should facilitate early and continued exposure to research. 4) Research culture must be strengthened: gaps exist between research strategies and delivery, metrics for research are insufficient, and research must be better connected to practice. Conclusions: Although COVID-19 has brought the health service's inadequate and unequal research capacity into focus, these limitations existed prior to the pandemic and result from systemic policy failures. An interconnected policy response across four key themes, with improved strategic coordination across all levels, is needed to overcome these widespread and persistent barriers to research. There is no-one-size-fits-all approach to increasing capacity, and capacity-building initiatives must benefit all health service staff, regardless of organisation, profession or specialty. Impact statement: This study sets out an interconnected policy response for overcoming widespread and persistent barriers to conducting research in the health service, which will support the expanding of research capacity and accelerating of innovation for cancer research.

Hashem, F., Jaswal, S. K. and Marchand, C. (2020) 'Piloting the Health and Work Curriculum in Undergraduate Medical Education in England', in. EUMASS Congress 2021.

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Background: We report on a project commissioned by the UK Government's executive agency Public Health England (PHE) to develop and pilot a set of curriculum resources on health and work that were available to six medical schools in England. This project is underpinned by the 2018 Outcomes for Graduates developed by the UK's General Medical Council (or GMC), which sets the standards for medical schools in the UK. It includes an expectation that newly qualified doctors will be able describe the principles of holding a fitness for work conversation with patients…and how to make referrals to colleagues and other agencies. The aim of this project was to improve the health and work dialogue between doctors of the future and patients. The background to this work lies within the UK Government's national vision to reduce health-related worklessness and help individuals achieve their work and health potential, which it set out in its command paper Improving Lives: the Future of Work, Health and Disability. The purpose of the pilot was to answer the question, "Is it feasible to implement the teaching of health and work topics into the medical school curriculum?" Objectives The overarching aim of the project was to design and pilot an integrated curriculum for future doctors that addresses how to communicate with service users/patients about staying in and returning to work. Methods Qualitative and quantitative methods were employed involving telephone interviews with course tutors prior to and following the teaching pilot, student surveys and focus groups in each of the six medical schools who took part in the pilot. Results The results indicated: where aspects of the curriculum improved understanding of broaching health and work conversations; helped to recognise what factors facilitated further learning; what support and advice the tutors required to teach the materials, and where additional resources were needed to help deliver the teaching resources. Lastly, the results highlighted what some of the limitation were with introducing the health and work curriculum. Conclusions This pilot study showed it was possible to introduce a set of curriculum resources on health and work in English medical schools, with course tutors welcoming the opportunity of using a range of teaching materials aimed at undergraduate medical education.

Hashem, F. (2020) 'DOLPHIN Exercise programme – co-designing the exercise programme', in. Exercise and Physical Activity for Children with Haemophilia.

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Hashem, F. and Brigden, C. L. (2019) 'Palliative care research funding and the workforce to support it', in. Clinical Research Network Kent Surrey and Sussex - Annual Conference.

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Hashem, F., Jaswal, S. K. and Marchand, C. (2019) 'Health and Work in Undergraduate Medical Education', in. Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Annual Conference & Exhibition.

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Aims/Objectives/Background: We will present on a project commissioned by Public Health England (PHE) to develop a set of online curriculum resources on health and work that will be universally available to all UK medical schools. The aim of the project is to improve the health and work dialogue between doctors of the future and patients. Content of Presentation: The presentation will outline the process of co-producing curriculum resources via partnership between healthcare professionals, patient and public involvement representatives, academics and national government organisations. We will then set out the planned approach for piloting the new resources at medical schools in England to take place in autumn 2019. Relevance/Impact: The resources will help new doctors use the fit note as a practical advice system as well as a process for sickness certification. The background to this work lies within the Government's national vision to reduce health-related worklessness and help individuals achieve their work and health potential, which it set out in its command paper Improving Lives: the Future of Work, Health and Disability. Outcomes: The set of learning resources and teaching aids is intended to provide knowledge, tools and techniques to improve future doctors' confidence to start conversations with patients around health and work and the 'fit note'. Discussion: The presentation will focus on the contribution both patients and medical undergraduates representatives have provided, which has increased both the quality and rigour of the resources. The barriers and enablers encountered in piloting the resources in medical schools will also be discussed.

Jaswal, S. K., Hashem, F. and Marchand, C. (2019) 'A scoping review to map curriculum resources on health and work in undergraduate medical education in the United Kingdom (UK)', in. European Forum for Primary Care.

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Purpose: This is part of a larger study looking at improving the health and work (HW) dialogue between future doctors and patients by designing an integrated curriculum addressing communication with service users about staying in/returning to work. Before developing resources on HW, it is important to understand existing undergraduate programmes. It was through this mapping exercise of medical schools that gaps in medical education were noted. Theory: A six-step approach to curriculum development developed by physician educators helped support the theoretical framework employed. Methods: A scoping review was undertaken to identify where HW could be integrated within core teaching topics in undergraduate medical education. This information was compiled into a database, which consisted of collating online information on the 41 UK medical schools' curriculum. Findings: This exercise illustrated how teaching topics, resources and models of delivery varied across medical schools. The review identified three types of curriculum styles, with schools having a biopsychosocial, biomedical or an intermediary approach to medical education. Discussion: The disparate nature of such curriculum demonstrates how the introduction of new training/education within this realm must complement the existing design.

Hashem, F., Dickens, S., Javadi, A.-H., Mumvuri, M., Lowther, N., Cowley, C. and Cousins, D. (2019) 'How to develop your research idea - Interactive Panel', in. #KentHomeGrown Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust.

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Hashem, F., Marchand, C. and Jaswal, S. K. (2019) 'Developing Undergraduate Curriculum Resources on Health and Work in Medical Education', in. Good Work is Good for You - Promoting Work as Health Outcome.

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To design an integrated curriculum for future doctors that addresses how to communicate with service users/patients about staying and returning to work.

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