Introduction
Our research informs different ways of promoting population and public health, e.g. through modifying determinants of health; preventing the spread of communicable diseases; detecting diseases at an early stage; and improving health services at all levels, from primary care and mental health services to systems and society, both in the UK and globally (particularly in slums). Highlights of research from individual teams can be found below.
Take a look at our research related to determinants of health:
- Promoting healthier food choices in local shops and hospital canteens
- Effects of inadequate sleep on adults, children and adolescents
- Encouraging exercise
- Tackling obesity through behaviour change in children/adolescents and supporting families
- Effects of caffeine consumption during breastfeeding
Warwick Centre for Applied Health Research and Delivery (W-CAHRD)
Warwick Centre for Applied Health Research and Delivery (CAHRD) is a global network bringing together individuals, disciplines and organisations to develop practical solutions to population health issues. One such project is Improving the health literacy of lay community health workers, which aims to ultimately lead to black African women being able to make the necessary positive decisions to improve their own and their children’s health.
Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care West Midlands (CLAHRC)
Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care West Midlands (CLAHRC) works to improve population health through Theme 3, ‘Prevention and detection of diseases’. An example of projects in this area include studies looking at ways to decrease obesity, reduce heart disease and increase cancer screening.
Communicable Disease Control Evidence and Epidemiology (CDCE²)
The CDCE² group researches the impact of infection on public health, including work into community onset sepsis and the effectiveness of treatments for pneumococcal infections.
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Mental Health and Wellbeing works in the area of Population and Public Health through the following themes:
Studying the implications of sleep disturbances on quantity and quality of sleep and ensuing daytime sleepiness, and determinants of physical and mental ill-health and general wellbeing.
The main research interests of the group (led by Professor Francesco Cappuccio) are the prevention, detection and management of hypertension and its complications, and the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease.
Statistics & Epidemiology
The Statistics and Epidemiology group develop and apply innovative statistical and epidemiological methods for population and public health research. The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) was one such development that enables the monitoring of mental wellbeing in the general population and the investigation of risk and protective factors.
We are also interested in the health and health-related behaviour of young people and the influence of schools on them, and developing research on the health risks and impacts from environmental changes (e.g. heatwaves, cold weather).
Warwick Evidence
Warwick Evidence team members work in this area through the reports they produce that inform NICE guidelines. The concepts and principles of population and public health underline their work.
Clinical Trials Unit
Our teams in the Clinical Trials Unit work within the area of population and public health by looking at different approaches before conducting trials to see if they will benefit patients, and/or reduce costs to the NHS.
Health Economics
Members of the centre work on reports which inform NICE guidelines and clinical trials that directly guide future decisions on health care guidance. An example of this is the Infectious Disease Dynamic Modelling in Health Protection study which aims to provide a programme of dynamic and health economic modelling that will underpin opinions and advice on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of interventions against infectious diseases in the UK.