A plausible mechanism underlying flavonoid-associated cognitive effects is increased cerebral blood flow (CBF). However, behavioural and CBF effects following flavanone-rich juice consumption have not been explored. The aim of this study was to investigate whether consumption of flavanone-rich juice is associated with acute cognitive benefits and increased regional CBF in healthy, young adults. An acute, single-blind, randomised, cross-over design was applied with two 500-ml drink conditions - high-flavanone (HF; 70·5 mg) drink and an energy-, and vitamin C- matched, zero-flavanone control. A total of twenty-four healthy young adults aged 18-30 years underwent cognitive testing at baseline and 2-h after drink consumption. A further sixteen, healthy, young adults were recruited for functional MRI assessment, whereby CBF was measured with arterial spin labelling during conscious resting state at baseline as well as 2 and 5 h after drink consumption. The HF drink was associated with significantly increased regional perfusion in the inferior and middle right frontal gyrus at 2 h relative to baseline and the control drink. In addition, the HF drink was associated with significantly improved performance on the Digit Symbol Substitution Test at 2 h relative to baseline and the control drink, but no effects were observed on any other behavioural cognitive tests. These results demonstrate that consumption of flavanone-rich citrus juice in quantities commonly consumed can acutely enhance blood flow to the brain in healthy, young adults. However, further studies are required to establish a direct causal link between increased CBF and enhanced behavioural outcomes following citrus juice ingestion.

This framework challenges researchers to investigate the goals of the potential participants when designing a study's advertising and procedures.

Women are an important public health focus, because they are more likely to experience some social determinants of disease, and they influence family health. Little research has explored the sociodemographic representativeness of women in research studies. We examined the representativeness of female respondents across four sociodemographic factors in UK population surveys and cohort studies. Six UK population-based health surveys (from 2009-2013) and eight Medical Research Council cohort studies (from 1991 to 2014) were included. Percentages of women respondents by age, income/occupation, education status, and ethnicity were compared against contemporary population estimates. Women aged <35 years were under-represented. The oldest women were under-represented in four of nine studies. Within income/occupation, at the highest deprivation level, the range was 4 percent under-representation to 43 percent over-representation; at the lowest level, it was 6 percent under-representation to 21 percent over representation. Of nine studies reporting educational level, four under-represented women without school qualifications, and three under-represented women with degrees. One of five studies over-represented non-white groups and under-represented white women (by 9 percent). Response patterns varied by topic and recruitment and data collection methods. Future research should focus upon the methods used to identify, reach, and engage women to improve representativeness in studies addressing health behaviors.

BackgroundThere is an association between clinical teams engaging with research and improvement in the delivery of health services1. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) provide strong evidence to influence practice in musculoskeletal services. For occupational therapists (OTs) and physiotherapists (PTs) implementing RCTs is not yet commonplace. As part of a multi-centred clinical effectiveness and efficacy RCT of splints for thumb base osteoarthritis (OTTER II Trial) we established an education training programme to support clinical therapists deliver the trial across 15 UK hospitals.ObjectivesTo evaluate the content of trial training to educate and support OTTER II Trial clinicians in undertaking clinical research roles.MethodsTwo trial training days were run in the North and South of England. Therapists provided details of their clinical trial experience. They were asked to identify one area in which they felt confident and one in which they were not confident in participating in a RCT. These perceived facilitators and barriers were summarised using descriptive statistics and content analysis.ResultsThirty five clinicians (20 OTs,15 PTs) attended a training day, 13 (37%) had no previous experience with clinical trials; 19 (54%) had been involved with at least one previous clinical trial. Clinicians considered they were already confident in; delivering the trial standardised assessment and treatment to patients n=21 (60%); trusting the OTTER II trial team and their own hospital research departments to support their research role n=11 (31%); understanding the trial protocol and what needed to be delivered n=6 (17%) and, being convinced that the trial asked a relevant question 3 (9%). Areas in which clinicians considered they did not have confidence included; the logistics and time management of delivering a RCT in their own hospital n=18 (51%); the associated trial paperwork to be completed n=8 (23%); NHS computer access/wifi access for randomisation procedure n=7 (20%); recruiting participants to time and target n=6 (17%) and staff capacity to deliver a RCT in the NHS alongside clinical commitments n=5 (14%).ConclusionsWell documented trial protocols and support from a trusted research team and local hospital research departments were identified as key areas that help clinicians become confident to engage with a national clinical RCT. Clinicians are less confident about managing the practical logistics, staff time and trial paperwork involved in delivering a national RCT. Clinicians identify that they possess core clinical assessment and treatment skills that already equip them to recruit and treat patients as part of a national trial. The logistics of delivering a trial requires ongoing negotiation and support from clinical service managers and the clinical trial teams to ensure clinicians are supported to deliver the RCT to time and target.References Boaz et al 2015 BMJ Open 5:e009415 doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009415. AcknowledgementsThe OTTER II Trial is funded by Arthritis Research UK (Grant Ref number 21019)....

BackgroundUniversal interventions to reduce health risks can widen health inequalities. Targeted approaches, where an intervention is tailored to specific groups, may overcome this limitation. Women aged 16 to 34 years with lower socioeconomic status are hard-to engage in research which limits our ability to understand how to address their health and lifestyle behaviours.According to marketing research on spending, young adults aged 16 to 34 years pass through three main life stages: (1) dependency on older adults and individual interests, (2) leaving home and spending time with peers, (3) setting up home and having a family. The aim of this study was to evaluate how useful these life stage categories are for understanding women’s motivations to participate in health research and for planning recruitment strategies.MethodsNine focus groups with a total of 49 women (aged 16 to 34 years, without university education) were conducted. Women were recruited from different settings to mirror each of the three life stages above. Women in Further Education colleges represented category (1), women at work were for category (2) and mothers were for category (3). The focus groups explored participants’ lifestyles, reasons for participating in the current study and beliefs about how research could be of value to them. Framework analysis was used to integrate theories from existing literature with themes emerging from the focus groups.ResultsAll women sought personal benefits from participation but these varied by life stage. Mothers wanted social opportunities away from caring responsibilities, while women at work and women in education valued monetary incentives more highly. A common theme across the groups was the desire to escape boring activities. Women’s motivations to participate in health research were not purely altruistic but to improve their own social capital. There were differences in how women would choose to spend free time.ConclusionThe life stages were useful for understanding women’s motivations to participate in health research. Advertising strategies to engage women aged 16 to 34 years in health research should be tailored to fit their life stages, their goals for free time and the value they place on participation. These findings suggest that different strategies are required to optimise recruitment across this age range. One recruitment strategy does not fit all.