Pragmatic Research Network

Procrastination

2011-03-16T15:28:00.001-07:00

Oh dear, this is what it's like working towards submitting dissertations eh!

Innovations in data collection Part 3

2011-03-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

The new possibilities available through secure data collection via email are endless. With so many people having email accounts it means service users can be asked to fill out screening questionnaires in advance of appointments, making the data available to the service provider even before the session has started. The ability to follow up with cases in a very simple way via an email message acting as a prompt is a wonderful asset. Gathering data from group work can also be facilitated in a much easier manner.
Well done to CORE Information Management Systems for this neat development.

Best wishes,

Bill Andrews

Innovations in Data Collection Part 2

2011-03-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

This short film explains how the email feature within CORE Net works.
Members of the Pragmatic Research Network can obtain the 'practice' login details directly from Bill Andrews where they can then test out this system. Simply open this training film in 1 browser and open CORE Net in another and then toggle between the 2. It's real easy.

Best wishes,

Bill

Innovations in Data Collection Part 1

2011-03-13T11:12:00.000-07:00

This is a short introduction to the next post where the issue of data collection using email is addressed.

Best wishes,

Bill Andrews

More Feedback on 'Just What We Need'- Lorna & George from Jersey

2011-03-08T02:43:00.000-08:00

Lorna and George from the Jersey Women's Refuge discuss how they can adapt the programme to meet their needs.

Bill gives his impression of the 'Just What We Need' 4 day training programme

2011-03-08T02:29:00.000-08:00

The 4 day training was truly inspiring and experiential. The beauty of the programme is its flexibility and potential to be adapted to a wide variety of settings.

Just What We Need

2011-03-08T02:01:00.000-08:00

The Pragmatic Research Network is involved in evaluation of a wide range of services and programmes. In this interview, Bill Andrews discusses the 'Just What We Need' programme with its directors, Carmen Kane and Linda Hoggon.

2011-02-28T22:51:00.000-08:00

Noreena Hertz: How to use experts -- and when not to

Noreena has a very powerful message that applies perfectly to our field and she speaks to the heart of what the creation of this Pragmatic Research Network is all about. She believes that new knowledge emerges from the challenging of the status quo, from controversial discussion, from democratization of the research process and, above all, for trusting in our own abilities much more.

Bill

To debrief or not to debrief! That still appears to be the question

2011-02-17T22:54:00.000-08:00

The debate was apparently closed. Debriefing following exposure to traumatic events was demonstrated to be at best ineffective and at worst harmful. However, listening to last week's edition of Natasha Mitchell's Australian 'All in the Mind' programme, one realises that, in fact, the debate is actually still alive and strong.

The programme highlights for me some of the problems and challenges of conducting and interpreting research into psychological treatments and how it is so easy to draw suspect conclusions which then can turn into directives that end up throwing the baby out with the bathwater. I heard Dr Jeff Mitchell defend his programme for crisis management at a conference a few years ago where it was apparent that his much maligned system was never intended for primary victims of a disaster. Dr Debbie Hawker and colleagues have certainly opened this debate again with their recent paper on this thorny issue.

Australian researcher Richard Bryant points out how really a more modern and informed approach now is better described as psychological first aid that emphasises the importance of lowering arousal and heightening people's expectancy of recovery. This seems an imminently pragmatic approach to take.

For me, the take home message is that we need pluralism in our approach to research and this must involve a change in the hierarchical emphasis on the RCT. Robust practice based evidence as is being gathered by the Pragmatic Research Network needs to also be taken seriously so, as a field, we can get a sense of what seems to be working out in the front line of everyday practice.

Bill Andrews

Dropbox - a video to explain it

2011-02-17T10:58:00.000-08:00

When we wish to disseminate information to new members we invite them to join 'Dropbox'. This is a totally independent application and is free to use. It allows us to share and update resources with you so that we avoid having to send out masses of emails and getting old versions of documents all mixed up. It is a simple installation and means that members always have access to the latest information we release. This is a rather cheesy video that explains it quite well.

Evolution of a Practice Research Network_Part 4 (4 of 4)

2011-02-15T03:24:00.000-08:00

As I'm often asked about how the Pragmatic Research Network came into being, I filmed a presentation in York on February 12, 2011, where I track the history and rationale behind the development of the Network over the last 6 years. To get the full story one needs to view the 4 presentations. The total viewing time of all 4 is just over 30 minutes.

(Remember, you can view in full screen by clicking on the 'YouTube' icon on the bottom left of the presentation)

Best wishes,

Bill Andrews

Evolution of a Practice Research Network_Part 3 (3 of 4)

2011-02-15T03:21:00.000-08:00

Evolution of a Practice Research Network_Part 2 (2 of 4)

2011-02-15T03:03:00.000-08:00

Evolution of a Practice Research Network_Part 1 (1 of 4)

2011-02-15T02:59:00.000-08:00

As I'm often asked about how the Pragmatic Research Network came into being, I filmed a presentation in York on February 12, 2011, where I track the history and rationale behind the development of the Network over the last 6 years. To get the full story one needs to view the 4 presentations. The total viewing time of all 4 is just over 30 minutes.

Best wishes,

Bill Andrews

(Remember, you can view in full screen by clicking on the 'YouTube' icon on the bottom left of the presentation)

Piloting a practice research network: a 12-month evaluation of the Human Givens approach in primary care at a general medical practice

2011-02-14T09:28:00.000-08:00

Today, at last, sees the publication 'in press' of a rigorous and robust practice based evaluation of the Human Givens Approach. What this highlights for me is the frustrating length of time the journey to publication takes, on the one hand, but, also, the satisfaction of knowing that one can take the road to publication out to the ordinary people who are not supported by academic institutions and who have spartan financial support. We need to publish from the front lines of treatment so that we can demonstrate what we do works.

As the article is 'in press' it cannot be posted on a website but individual copies can be sent out on request to me at wandrews22@mac.com.

The full citation is:
Andrews, W., Twigg, E., Minami, T., & Johnson, G,. (2011). Piloting a practice research network: a 12-month evaluation of the Human Givens approach in primary care at a general medical practice. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice. Advance online publication. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8341.2010.02004.x

Unverifiable claims that shelter under the umbrella of 'Evidence Based Practice'

2011-02-11T14:53:00.000-08:00

Today my attention was brought to the website of 'Moving Minds' and the tactics they are using to question 'other' treatments they allege that do NOT fall within NICE guidelines. Yet they fail to demonstrate any of their own 'actual' results from practice. In my estimation, this highlights robustly the case for a pragmatic approach to data gathering to build an evidence base from the front line of treatment.

PTSD Research and statistics

2011-02-08T22:45:00.000-08:00

Ptsd resolution5.2

View more presentations from Bill Andrews.

This presentation looks at the current NICE guideline recommendation of treatment of PTSD, investigates some controversy and suggests a pragmatic way forward for the future.
(Click 'view on slideshare' on bottom right to access full screen mode)

NICE guidelines about PTSD

2011-02-05T17:26:00.000-08:00

Gosh! It's a challenge to try to make sense of the evidence that informs the process at the heart of what treatments are made available and what treatments are proscribed for the treatment of PTSD. Really, the message to all those in front line services is 'measure your outcomes'. The only way for us to counter these arguments that are thrust upon us is to rise 'en masse' to the challenge, take the lead and robustly demonstrate that what we do works.
(Click 'UTube' on bottom right to access full screen mode)

This clip is an excerpt of a talk I gave at PTSD Resolution conference in London yesterday.

Best wishes,

Bill

Discussion with Scott Miller (Kansas, October, 2010)

2011-02-04T05:16:00.000-08:00

Folks, as well as continuing robustly with the 'macro' investigation of outcomes 'across' service providers it's time to go to the 'micro' investigation of looking to try to understand what excellent service providers do that we might all learn from. In this interview I try to outline the plan.

Best wishes,

Bill

Evidence for the benefit of feedback in treatment

2011-02-04T05:03:00.000-08:00

These days the question so commonly asked is 'what is the evidence for treatment x?' The focus still remains on the search for the magic bullet, that 'killer' ingredient, dressed up in some model or technique, that will deliver the clients to the promised land. Now, as a field, we're being bombarded with the new propaganda, promoting 'mindfulness' in varieties of shapes and sizes. Of course there's nothing wrong with 'mindfulness' and the Buddhists and many other contemplative traditions have been telling us that for thousands of years, but now we are being encouraged to go on yet more courses to learn 'the new technique'. Well, what about looking at the evidence that supports regular systematic use of feedback in treatment? It's not quite so sexy and it doesn't promote the 'brew that is true' but there sure is a heck of a lot of evidence in support of the straightforward and, dare I say, pragmatic, idea of soliciting for feedback from our service users on their progress and their experience of treatment.
Take a look at this excellent synopsis of the literature presented by Scott Miller to assure yourself that this is really a sensible way to go. Notice, by the way, how much of this evidence is based on that 'gold standard' of the RCT.

Just click on this link:

The benefit of feedback in treatment

Best wishes,

Bill

PDF slides of PRN basic CORE Net protocol

2011-02-03T03:43:00.000-08:00

View more presentations from Bill Andrews.

This PDF slide presentation walks the viewer through all the simple steps involved in transfer of data from the PRN paper system to CORE Net.
(Click 'view on slideshare' on bottom right to access full screen mode)

PDF slide presentation on the PRN paper protocol

2011-02-03T03:34:00.000-08:00

This slide presentation takes the viewer through, step by step, everything that is involved in the use of the PRN paper system.
(Click 'view on slideshare' on bottom right to access full screen mode)

Prn paper protocol_2.2.2011

View more presentations from Bill Andrews.

Online Training in the use of the PRN CORE Net basic protocol

2011-02-03T02:51:00.000-08:00

This short presentation explains how to simply and quickly upload data captured using the PRN paper system to CORE Net.

Online Training in the use of the PRN paper system

2011-02-03T02:43:00.000-08:00

This short video explains how to use the simple PRN paper system to track treatment progress with service users and to prepare for data entry to CORE Net.
(Click 'UTube' on bottom right to access full screen mode)

Launch of Pragmatic Research Network

2011-02-03T02:37:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to the PRN Blog where we look forward to reading your posts and comments about your experience working with feedback in treatment

TIPS

POST SEQUENCE

Remember that newer posts are on top so scroll to the bottom to get the story from the start

VIEWING VIDEO

By hovering over the 'UTube' symbol on the bottom right of the window just above the '+' sign you may view the video directly in 'UTube' and select 'full screen'

VIEWING SLIDESHOWS

Clicking on the PDF slide presentation links will take you to the 'slideshare' window where on bottom right there's a 'Full' link that opens the presentation in 'Full Screen' making it much easier to read

RETURNING TO THE BLOG

Use the 'back' arrow on your browser to return to the blog when a link has taken you to a new window

Best wishes,

Bill Andrews (Administrator)