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6. Improving eye care and learning potential for children with Down’s syndrome.

Summary of the impact

Cardiff University has established the world's largest single cohort of children and young adults with Down's syndrome in which visual deficits have been characterised. Cardiff research studies over 20 years have informed evidence-based guidelines published by the Department of Health and national practitioner bodies for the recognition and practical management of common visual problems in children with Down's syndrome. Consequently, eye care specialists now recommend bifocals for these children. The Cardiff research has also supported changes to teaching methods and resources for children with Down's syndrome. Collectively these children are now benefiting from better eye care and improved learning and educational opportunities.

Submitting Institution

Cardiff University

Unit of Assessment

Allied Health Professions, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Ophthalmology and Optometry, Public Health and Health Services

Increasing Public Engagement and Involvement with Psychological Research Through the Creation of 'Summer Scientist' Events

Summary of the impact

Summer Scientist Week (www.summerscientist.org) is an innovative public engagement event held at the University of Nottingham that increases public understanding of the psychology of child development. Families with children aged from 4 to 11 years experience the research process first-hand by participating in ongoing studies. Research findings and their impact are disseminated through posters at the event and follow-up newsletters. Summer Scientist Week (SSW) has increased public understanding of psychology research within the community and has increased interest in psychology and child development topics in the media and has increased attendance at other science and research-based events.

Submitting Institution

University of Nottingham

Unit of Assessment

Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Neurosciences, Public Health and Health Services
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences: Psychology

Pioneering longitudinal research leads to greater understanding of childhood poverty among policy-makers

Summary of the impact

Young Lives is identifying major influences on children's development, from infancy to adulthood, by carrying out a pioneering longitudinal study across four developing countries over 15 years. Young Lives gathers and analyses data on how childhood is changing in diverse communities, especially through the impact of economic, cultural and policy shifts, by studying two age cohorts in each country. UNICEF, the World Bank, Plan International, and Save the Children International, among others, are using Young Lives research to design childhood poverty-reduction policies in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The research also underpins the re-visioning of global child protection work by UNICEF, Save the Children Canada, and World Vision UK.

Submitting Institution

University of Oxford

Unit of Assessment

Anthropology and Development Studies

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services
Economics: Applied Economics
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences: Psychology

The influence of colour in the appraisal of visual information by professionals and others

Summary of the impact

Public understanding and debate at the national level have been impacted upon by the research work of psychologists at the University. Furthermore, through bespoke knowledge exchange workshops understanding, intentions and practices of education and care professionals have changed. The impact draws on the work of Burkitt and Greenlees, both chartered psychologists and Readers at the University undertaking applied psychological research in the area of colour. Burkitt has published on the use and meaning of colour in children's drawings and Greenlees on its effect on sporting performance particularly in football.

Submitting Institution

University of Chichester

Unit of Assessment

Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Neurosciences, Public Health and Health Services
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences: Psychology

Children’s physical activity: stimulating policy debate and health improvements

Summary of the impact

Research led by Professor Roger Mackett of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering at UCL on children's physical activity has been used by central and local government, other public bodies and various advocacy groups to encourage children to be more active. It has been used to support policy documents and proposals aimed at improving children's health and wellbeing. It has led to improvements in the health, welfare and quality of life of many UK communities through, for example, their greater use of walking buses, which also contributes to reduced CO2 emissions.

Submitting Institution

University College London

Unit of Assessment

Civil and Construction Engineering

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services

Child mental health: better services and outcomes for traumatised and vulnerable children

Summary of the impact

The Greenwood Institute of Child Health is a unique collaboration between the University and public service providers such as the NHS, which aims to improve psychological outcomes for children in high-risk settings. From 1993 to 2013, Greenwood's research has highlighted the increased risk of mental health, drug dependence and criminal activity among children who suffer trauma — through abuse, living in care, homelessness or war. Greenwood's programme of research has identified the complex and persistent needs of vulnerable children and contributed to changes in policy guidelines and service provision across social care in the UK (foster care / adoption, juvenile detention and homelessness) and abroad (war). Collaboration between researchers at the Greenwood Institute, service providers and practitioners has been instrumental in the establishment of clinically relevant and cost-effective care pathways, while community engagement has led to improved service provision and outcomes for vulnerable children and their families / carers in the UK and further afield.

Submitting Institution

University of Leicester

Unit of Assessment

Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services
Studies In Human Society: Policy and Administration

Improving care by understanding the effects of preterm birth on child and adolescent development

Summary of the impact

Professor Dieter Wolke has led several research programmes that delineate the long-term health effects of prenatal exposure to stress and moderate/late preterm, very preterm, and extremely preterm birth. His research has had a direct impact on international medical guidelines and educational recommendations for babies born preterm. The research has also informed European political debate (via a White Paper for the European parliament) on healthcare policy related to after care for preterm or sick children; has influenced UK policy regarding the education of children born preterm; and has contributed to public and practitioner understanding through media items issued, for example, by the NHS and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Submitting Institution

University of Warwick

Unit of Assessment

Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Summary Impact Type

Health

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine, Public Health and Health Services

The Blue Dog Project: Preventing Dog Bites in Children

Summary of the impact

We have carried out research into children's perception and behaviour around dogs, which has led to the development of an effective safety training programme, as well as improving public understanding of child-dog interactions and risk contexts for dog bite injury in children. The `Blue Dog' (BD — www.thebluedog.org) project has led to changed educational and veterinary practice, public policy change and animal welfare benefits internationally. A key part of the project was the development and validation of an interactive DVD, with training tools that teach children how to be safe around dogs. The results of the research were integrated into the injury prevention messages disseminated by the BD project. The research programme has received publicity worldwide, and over 80,000 copies of the BD DVD have been distributed to 21 different countries, with the accompanying BD booklet translated into 17 different languages. The research was carried out from 2005 onwards, with the impact of the research accruing from 2008 to date.

Submitting Institution

University of Lincoln

Unit of Assessment

Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Public Health and Health Services
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences: Psychology

Improving the diagnosis and management of common childhood binocular vision problems.

Summary of the impact

Coordination between the eyes is vital for children's visual and motor development, yet it often fails to develop properly. Horwood and Riddell's research has had important implications for the clinical management of binocular coordination, particularly for infant squint and childhood long-sightedness. They have demonstrated that most newborn infants (approximately 75%) have intermittent misalignment (i.e. sometimes point their eyes in different directions), but after 4 months of age only 3.25% continue to squint and it is only these children that require intervention. As a result, concerned parents have been advised appropriately and unnecessary appointments with GPs and specialists have been reduced. Horwood and Riddell's findings have also led to a substantial change in the management of long-sightedness, from which about 5% of children in the UK suffer (i.e. approximately 300,000 children between 5 and 14 years of age). Traditionally, children with long-sightedness have been provided with glasses that under-correct their vision. Our findings, however, have (i) demonstrated that some long-sighted children choose not to focus on near objects, and (ii) informed clinicians that full correction of focussing is often required to ensure clear vision, for instance, when reading. In both areas, Horwood and Riddell's research has led to changes in clinical guidelines, training, and practice and the advice given to concerned parents.

Submitting Institution

University of Reading

Unit of Assessment

Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Summary Impact Type

Political

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Neurosciences, Ophthalmology and Optometry

The 2011 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures: changing the public's understanding of the mind and brain

Summary of the impact

Public understanding of the brain and key concepts in cognitive development was improved through the Royal Institution (RI) Christmas Lecture series, "Meet Your Brain", which was delivered in 2011 by Bruce Hood, Professor of Developmental Psychology in Society at the University of Bristol and was based on research conducted at the Bristol Cognitive Development Centre. The series was broadcast twice in the UK on the BBC, reaching 4 million viewers in total. The success of the series subsequently led to Hood giving invited lectures in Asia in 2012 and 2013, which were broadcast on national television, reaching over 7 million viewers over the two years.

In 2012, young people between the ages of 9 and 14 participated in a live version of the lecture series and were tested on their knowledge before and after the series; average test score went from 40% to 75%, showing an increased understanding and further testing showed a 73% retention rate of this knowledge 2 months after the lecture.

The content of Hood's lectures forms the basis of The Brain Bank - a website about basic cognitive neuroscience, which provides tools and resources for educators. The website is distributed through the RI, Society of Biology, and UK Association for Science Centres and has received over 22,000 visits since its launch in January 2013.

Submitting Institution

University of Bristol

Unit of Assessment

Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience

Summary Impact Type

Societal

Research Subject Area(s)

Medical and Health Sciences: Neurosciences, Public Health and Health Services
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences: Psychology

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