Health visitor and a senior man with tablet during home visit

This event took place on Wednesday 22 January 2020.

Reliable health measurement is a critical component of assessing the effectiveness of a health intervention, be that a medicine, procedure, treatment or experience of health care services. As a result, accurate health measurement is a critical component of the global focus on improving health and care for our communities.

A well-kept secret is that the South West, and particularly the University of Plymouth, is at the forefront of innovation having a worldwide impact in this area. Our health measurement researchers have been involved in developing measurement tools that have been used in care settings across the world, have influenced policy and adoption in FDA and scale related projects, and have generated millions in research and commercial income. However, with increased collaboration we could do much more.

The event showcases a diverse group of health researchers at the University and partner organisations to explore challenges and opportunities in the field. 

It will also bring together people with a range of backgrounds, skills and experiences across the South West, to not only hear from world-leading researchers, but also uncover how your expertise could enrich future projects and mutually broaden our research offer and impact.


Programme

13:00 | Welcome and scene setting 

13:10 | Outcome measures in trials and treatments 

15-minute presentations each followed by Q&A

  • ‘Why high quality health measurement matters? The view from a global health company’ by Licinio Craveiro, International Medical Director at Roche

Licinio shares his views on the key role, challenges and opportunities of health measurement, drawing from his experience leading clinical trials for one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, which relies on accurate data to inform investment decisions and licensing submissions.

  • ‘Models, Misconceptions and Monkey Business: how global collaborations help support licensing of effective treatments’ by Professor Jeremy Hobart, Professor of Clinical Neurology and Health Measurement

Outlining how interdisciplinary partnerships covering Plymouth, Australia and the USA have been critical in advancing health measurement in clinical trials, the creation and licensing of measurement scales, and shaped the FDA approach to determining reliable measures.

  • ‘Development of outcome measures: from bench to bedside by Dr Phillip Buckhurst, Associate Head of the School of Health Professions

The cataract and refractive surgery laboratory has developed outcome measures for the evaluation of vision post cataract surgery. The researchers within the laboratory use a combination of computer modelling and optical bench testing to develop new outcome measures for ophthalmology. Phillip goes on to explore the integration of bench-based measurement with Patient Reported Outcomes in clinical trials.

  • ‘Content development for Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) – past, present, future’ by Dr James Close, Research Fellow

Reviewing the history of PRO content development, the new era of robust scientific and regulatory standards, and how these have been applied in next-generation measures for patient experiences of care.

14:20 | Refreshment break and networking

15:00 | Outcome measures in patient care 

15-minute presentations each followed by Q&A

  • ‘The psychology of quality of life assessment in severe asthma’ by Professor Michael Hyland, Professor of Health Psychology, and Joe Lanario, Research Assistant in Respiratory Health

Examining the way people with severe asthma make judgements about their quality of life, based on personality, pulmonary symptoms, and extra-pulmonary symptoms. They also distinguish between two mechanisms that underpin these judgements: thinking fast vs thinking slow.

  • ‘Assessment of cognition – new approaches to measurement’ by Dr Rupert Noad, Consultant Neuropsychologist and Head of Neuropsychology and Clinical Health Psychology at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Exploring new ways of thinking about assessment of cognition and ideas for the future such as the role of digital measurement and machine learning.

  • Going global with a patient reported outcome measure in paediatrics’ by Professor Jos LaTour, Professor in Clinical Nursing

16:00 | Emerging health outcome measurement projects 

10-minute presentations

  • ‘A critical review of outcome measures in Urgent and Emergency Care’ by Dr Blair Graham, Lecturer in Urgent and Emergency Care

  • ‘Do you just give up?’ What happens when quantitative measures do not demonstrate reported patient benefit? by Dr Tanya King, Research Assistant in Clinical Neurology and Health Measurement

16:30 | Panel discussion: Future perspectives of health outcome measurement 

The event will conclude with networking and canapés in Crosspoint.


Who is this event for?
This event will be of most interest to clinicians who can identify opportunities for advancement in their area; those working in data analysis and statistics, computer modelling, digitalisation of measurements, qualitative analysis; and those working in machine learning.

Our speakers

Clinical neuroscience

From treatments for Parkinson’s disease and novel Alzheimer’s biomarker to the development of digital health tools to support patients and clinical decision making.

Clinical neuroscience theme image with ITSMED visual mark