A systematic review of interventions to link families with preschool children from healthcare services to community-based support

Burns, Jacky; Conway, David I.; Gnich, Wendy; Macpherson, L. M. D.

doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdaa242

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 40 publications

(47 reference statements)

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“…Similarly, we recently conducted the first systematic review to focus on interventions that link families with young children to community‐based support organizations, finding active interventions to be more effective in linking families to community support than ‘passive’ signposting, despite variable quality of evidence 26 …”

Section: Embedded Research and Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating childsmile, Scotland's National Oral Health Improvement Programme for children

Ross

Sherriff

Kidd

et al. 2023

Comm Dent Oral Epid

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In the early 2000s, a Scottish Government Oral Health Action Plan identified the need for a national programme to improve child oral health and reduce inequalities. ‘Childsmile’ aimed to improve child oral health in Scotland, reduce inequalities in outcomes and access to dental services, and to shift the balance of care from treatment to prevention through targeted and universal components in dental practice, community and educational settings. This paper describes how an embedded, theory‐based research and evaluation arm with multi‐disciplinary input helps determine priorities and provides important strategic direction. Programme theory is articulated in dedicated, dynamic logic models, and evaluation themes are as follows: population‐level data linkage; trials and economic evaluations; investigations drawing from behavioural and implementation science; evidence reviews and updates; and applications of systems science. There is also a growing knowledge sharing network internationally. Collaborative working from all stakeholders is necessary to maintain gains and to address areas that may not be working as well, and never more so with the major disruptions to the programme from the COVID‐19 pandemic and response. Conclusions are that evaluation and research are synergistic with a complex, dynamic programme like Childsmile. The evidence obtained allows for appraisal of the relative strengths of component interventions and the reach and impact of Childsmile to feed into national policy.

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Section: Embedded Research and Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating childsmile, Scotland's National Oral Health Improvement Programme for children

Ross

Sherriff

Kidd

et al. 2023

Comm Dent Oral Epid

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Understanding How, Why and for Whom Link Work Interventions Promote Access in Community Healthcare Settings in the United Kingdom: A Realist Review

Golby,

Lobban,

Laverty

et al. 2024

Health Expectations

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IntroductionInequity in access to healthcare in the United Kingdom can have a profound impact on people's ability to manage their health problems. Link work interventions attempt to overcome the socioeconomic and structural barriers that perpetuate health inequalities. Link workers are typically staff members without professional clinical qualifications who support patients to bridge the gap between services. However, little is currently known about how and why link work interventions might be effective. This realist review attempts to understand the contexts and resultant mechanisms by which link work interventions affect access to community healthcare services.MethodsThe authors completed a systematic search of empirical literature in Embase, CINAHL, Medline, PsychInfo and SocIndex, as well as grey literature and CLUSTER searches. Context, mechanism and outcome (CMO) configurations were generated iteratively in consultation with an expert panel and grouped into theory areas.ResultsThirty‐one eligible manuscripts were identified, resulting in nine CMO configurations within three theory areas. These pertained to adequate time in time‐pressured systems; the importance of link workers being embedded across multiple systems; and emotional and practical support for link workers.ConclusionAlthough link work interventions are increasingly utilised across community healthcare settings, the contexts in which they operate vary considerably, triggering a range of mechanisms. The findings suggest that careful matching of resources to patient need and complexity is important. It affords link workers the time to develop relationships with patients, embed themselves in local communities and referring teams, and develop knowledge of local challenges.Patient or Public ContributionThe team included people with lived experience of mental health conditions and a carer who were involved at all stages of the review.

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A systematic review of interventions to link families with preschool children from healthcare services to community-based support

Cited by 2 publications

References 40 publications

Evaluating childsmile, Scotland's National Oral Health Improvement Programme for children

Evaluating childsmile, Scotland's National Oral Health Improvement Programme for children

Understanding How, Why and for Whom Link Work Interventions Promote Access in Community Healthcare Settings in the United Kingdom: A Realist Review

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