Physical Health

This pragmatic, crossover, randomized controlled study evaluates the efficacy of virtual reality assisted physical therapy (VRPT) for improving the physical activity of hospitalized children as compared to traditional physical therapy. This is a pilot study that will be used to identify patient populations that can benefit the most from VRPT and estimate this effect for future studies. Patients with a significant neurological condition, major developmental disability, active infection of the face or hand, history of severe motion sickness, history of seizures caused by flashing light or had a major surgery within the last 48 hours will be excluded.

Women seeking asylum (WSA) are overexposed to sexual violence (SV) in their countries of origin, along migration routes, and within host countries. This overexposure does not cease upon arrival in host countries; on the contrary, the first months following arrival are characterised by heightened vulnerability, with an increased incidence of sexual violence, particularly among women with a prior history of victimisation. Sexual violence has major consequences on physical health, mental health, quality of life, and healthcare utilisation, and generates substantial individual and societal costs. International organisations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, have identified the prevention of sexual violence and the improvement of care for survivors as public health priorities. Previous work suggests that addressing sexual violence within primary care, when embedded in a comprehensive, culturally informed, and coordinated approach integrating medical, psychological, social, and medico-legal dimensions, may contribute to preventing the occurrence or recurrence of sexual violence in host countries. However, no comparative study has yet evaluated the effectiveness of such a coordinated model of care on the prevention of sexual violence among women seeking asylum, nor assessed its efficiency or transferability. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a coordinated, transcultural, multidisciplinary outpatient care model on the prevention of sexual violence occurring in host European countries among women seeking asylum.

This study aims to codesign and implement a physical health improvement behaviour change intervention for people being treated for a mental illness in a mental health inpatient unit of a regional hospital.

Interactive electronic devices (IEDs) have become a common part of young children's lives, yet research on this topic remains limited. Most studies utilise cross-sectional designs and present inconsistent evidence regarding the benefits and harms of IED use. Some findings suggest that IEDs may negatively impact sleep quality, be linked to visual impairment, and lead to reduced and more negative interactions between parents and children. However, it might also have a positive effect in helping language learning in young children when IEDs are co-viewed with parents and improving literacy, mathematics and science skills. Due to this conflicting evidence, health guidelines for young children do not provide specific recommendations on using these devices, leading policymakers to request more information in this area. In conversation with parents and nursery practitioners, they told us they were confused about the benefits and hams of using these devices and wanted further guidance. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the long-term association between IED use (duration and mode) and development outcomes in 3-to-5-year-old children. The researchers will also explore the longitudinal association between IED use (duration) and other outcomes, including BMI z-score, movement behaviour, motor skills, parent-child interaction and school readiness. Children and their parents or caregivers from both low, mid and high-income areas in England will be invited to take part. Children can participate if they are between 3 and 4 years old when they join the study, have received consent from their parent or caregiver, and have provided verbal agreement to participate. However, children will not be eligible if their parents or caregivers do not speak or understand English or if the child has been diagnosed with a developmental disorder by a medical professional before the baseline or follow-up measurements. Data collection will occur at the start of the study and one year later when children are 4 to 5 years old. Parents will be asked to download an app called EARS on the smartphone and/or tablet that the child uses. The app will measure how long they use the device (IED duration) and the specific apps accessed during device usage (IED mode). Child development will be assessed through the following measures: 1) working memory, including visual-spatial and phonological aspects; 2) ability to control, referred to as inhibition; 3) the ability to control and redirect attention, defined as shifting; 4) self-regulation; 5) social development; 6) numeracy skills; and 7) expressive vocabulary. Child development will be measured using the Early Years Toolbox app and recorded on an iPad. The researchers will also measure a set of secondary outcomes, including 1) BMI z-score; 2) 24-hour movement behaviour (i.e. physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep); 3) motor development (i.e., gross motor skills and fine motor skills); 4) parent-child interaction; 5) school readiness. The researchers will also measure other things that might influence IED use or emerging abilities, such as participants' demographics (i.e., sex, age, ethnicity and caregiver education), parenting styles, parents' smartphone addiction, the presence of screen viewing policy at the early year's settings. To thank the early years settings for participating, each will receive £100 for every data collection session. Parents will receive a £30 high street e-voucher for each data collection session in which they participate. There are no risks of physical injury or harm involved in this study. All researchers entering the nursery will have been subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and are permitted to engage in controlled activity. If the research team observes a significant developmental delay in the child while conducting the health and development measures, they will notify the nursery staff, who will then communicate this information to the parents. Parents may feel uncomfortable downloading the app (EARS) onto their electronic devices to track how long the device is being used and the type of apps in use. The app has been designed for research purposes and approved by Sheffield Hallam University Digital Technology Services. Participants will download the app through the official Apple or Google Stores, which offers additional security and convenience. Participants will be advised to delete the app after each data collection point. The investigators will have regular group meetings throughout the project with parents, carers, nursery teachers and policymakers to gather ideas and opinions and share our findings. These discussions will help researchers improve the project. The findings will help inform public health guidance on children's device usage. The researchers will share the knowledge gained from this study with all participants, write policy briefs and scientific papers, and present the findings at conferences.

Improving maternal and child health is a global priority, with increasing emphasis on ensuring women and their families not only survive but also thrive after childbirth. While high-income countries like Switzerland provide strong antenatal and intrapartum care, the quality of postnatal care often lags behind, despite the critical physical, mental, and social needs of the postpartum period. Studies indicate high rates of mental distress, physical pain, and sexual discomfort among mothers, alongside a lack of research on the well-being of co-parents. The main question this cohort study aims to answer is: how do the health and well-being of mothers and co-parents evolve during the first year after childbirth? Participants will complete four online questionnaires: the first within the first few days after birth, followed by additional assessments at 2, 6, and 12 months postpartum. This comprehensive approach seeks to inform policy and improve evidence-based postnatal care practices, benefiting approximately 80,000 families annually in Switzerland.