Sarah Denford
Biographic Data
| ID | 83788 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Sarah Denford |
| GIVEN NAMES | Sarah |
| FAMILY NAME | Denford |
| SIGNATURE | DENFORD S |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Bristol |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-2123-1022 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 25 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 2 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 25 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2013 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Adapting and Co-Producing a Psychological First Aid Intervention for Care Home Staff
Care home staff are routinely exposed to stressful and traumatic events, increasing risks of psychological distress, burnout, and reduced workforce resilience. Psychological First Aid (PFA), recommended by the World Health Organization, provides an evidence-based framework for delivering immediate emotional and practical support; however, its adaptation for care home contexts is limited. This study aimed to co-produce and adapt an existing PFA tr…
How Do We Get the Public Into Public Health Research? Learnings and Key Recommendations From Initiating a Community Involvement Project Scheme
Information needs of ethnically diverse, vaccine-hesitant parents during decision-making about the HPV vaccine for their adolescent child
Engagement in rapid public health research among young people from underserved communities
This research explored barriers to engagement in rapid public health co-production. Working with communities to co-produce rapid recruitment and research procedures to suit the needs and the context in which young people live is necessary
The Agile Co-production and Evaluation framework for developing public health interventions, messaging and guidance
A lesson identified from the COVID-19 pandemic is that we need to extend existing best practice for intervention development. In particular, we need to integrate (a) state-of-the-art methods of rapidly coproducing public health interventions and messaging to support all population groups to protect themselves and their communities with (b) methods of rapidly evaluating co-produced interventions to determine which are acceptable and effective. Thi…
Mpox knowledge, behaviours and barriers to public health measures among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in the UK
There are differential needs, preferences, and experiences of GBMSM that limit the acceptability of some mitigation and prevention measures. Future public health interventions and campaigns should be co-designed in consultation with key groups and communities to ensure greater acceptability and credibility in different contexts and communities
Understanding adherence to self-isolation in the first phase of the Covid-19 pandemic in England
Understanding adherence to isolation and associated reasoning during the early stages of the pandemic is essential to pandemic preparedness for future emerging infectious disease outbreaks. Individuals make complex decisions around adherence by calibrating transmission risks, therefore treating adherence as binary should be avoided
The Rapid Adaptation and Optimisation of a Digital Behaviour-Change Intervention to Reduce the Spread of Covid-19 in Schools
The rapid transmission of COVID-19 in school communities has been a major concern. To ensure that mitigation systems were in place and support was available, a digital intervention to encourage and facilitate infection-control behaviours was rapidly adapted and optimised for implementation as a whole-school intervention. Using the person-based approach, 'Germ Defence' was iteratively adapted, guided by relevant literature, co-production with Pati…
A Compositional Analysis of Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and Sleep and Associated Health Outcomes in Children and Adults with Cystic Fibrosis
This study sought to investigate the association of light physical activity (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sedentary time (SED), and sleep with lung function in children and adults with CF. In total, 86 children (41 females; 13.6 ± 2.8 years; FEV 1 % predicted : 86 ± 1%) and 43 adults (21 females; 24.6 ± 4.7 years; FEV 1 % predicted : 63 ± 21%) with CF participated in this study. Wrist-worn accelerometery was used to assess…
Sleep, Sedentary Time and Physical Activity Levels in Children with Cystic Fibrosis
The aim of this study was to compare the use of generic and cystic fibrosis (CF)-specific cut-points to assess movement behaviours in children and adolescents with CF. Physical activity (PA) was assessed for seven consecutive days using a non-dominant wrist-worn ActiGraph GT9X in 71 children and adolescents (36 girls; 13.5 ± 2.9 years) with mild CF. CF-specific and generic Euclidean norm minus one (ENMO) cut-points were used to determine sedentar…
Feasibility and acceptability of daily testing at school as an alternative to self-isolation following close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19
Daily testing may be a feasible and acceptable alternative to self-isolation among close contacts of people who test positive. However, improved communications are needed to ensure that all students and parents have a good understanding of the rationale for testing, what test results mean, how test results should be acted on, and how likely students are to test positive following close contact. Support is needed for students and parents of studen…
A qualitative process analysis of daily contact testing as an alternative to self-isolation following close contact with a confirmed carrier of Sars-CoV-2
Participants in this study viewed DCT as a sensible, feasible, and welcome means of avoiding unnecessary self-isolation. Although negative LFTs provided reassurance, most people still restricted their activity as recommended. DCT was also highly valued by those in vulnerable households as a means of providing reassurance of the absence of infection and as an important means of detecting infection and prompting self-isolation when necessary
Exploring the impact of shielding advice on the wellbeing of individuals identified as clinically extremely vulnerable amid the Covid-19 pandemic
This research highlights the difficulties in providing generic messaging that is applicable and appropriate given the diversity of individuals identified as CEV and the importance of sharing tailored and timely advice to inform shielding decisions. Providing messages that reinforce self-determined action and assistance from support services could reduce the negative impact of shielding on mental health and feelings of social isolation
Incorporating movement breaks into primary school classrooms; a mixed methods approach to explore the perceptions of pupils, staff and governors
There is a wide appeal for classroom-based activity breaks, when delivered in a manner that is not disruptive. Future research which examines the potential benefits of such activity breaks is warranted
Health-Care Professionals' Assessments of, and Recommendations for, Sexual-Health Education and Service Provision for Young People in Tehran
Background: Only limited Sexual Health and Relationships Education (SHRE) is provided in Iranian schools and universities while research has highlighted demand and need for improved SHRE among young adults. We explored health-care professionals' (HCPs) assessments of, and recommendations for, SHRE and service provision for young people in Tehran. Design and Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 17 HCPs based in Tehra…
Engagement With Daily Testing Instead of Self-Isolating in Contacts of Confirmed Cases of Sars-CoV-2
Introduction: In December 2020 and January 2021 Public Health England (PHE) with NHS Test and Trace conducted a study to explore the feasibility and acceptability of daily testing as an alternative to self-isolation following close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case. This qualitative paper aims to identify factors influencing uptake among those offered daily testing, and the subsequent impact on behaviour. Methods: We conducted in-depth inter…
A qualitative assessment of the sexual-health education, training and service needs of young adults in Tehran
Background Sexual Health and Relationships Education (SHRE) provides individuals with knowledge and skills to manage risky behaviors and take informed decisions to protect themselves against STIs, and unintended pregnancy. Only minimal SHRE is provided in Iranian schools and universities and previous research has highlighted needs and demands for improved SHRE and sexual services in Iran. This study explored young, Iranian adults’ experience of, …
Preventing within household transmission of Covid-19
The provision of accommodation to prevent within household transmission of Covid-19 is viewed as acceptable, feasible and necessary by some people who are concerned about infection transmission in the home and are unable to self-isolate or socially distance at home. Different households will have different requirements, e.g., those with caring responsibilities, and to overcome these challenges additional support may be needed for the provision of…
Engagement with daily testing instead of self-isolating in contacts of confirmed cases of Sars-CoV-2
Our data suggest that daily testing is potentially acceptable, may facilitate sharing contact details of close contacts among those who test positive for COVID-19, and promote adherence to self-isolation. A better understanding is needed of how to make this option more acceptable for all households. The impact of receiving a negative test on behaviour remains a risk that needs to be monitored and mitigated by appropriate messaging. Future researc…
Design, implementation and evaluation of school-based sexual health education in sub-Saharan Africa
This study investigated facilitators and challenges to designing, implementing and evaluating school-based sexual health education in sub-Saharan Africa, using interviews with intervention designers and researchers. At the pre-planning and planning stages, participants reported that facilitating factors included addressing the reproductive health needs of participants, contextual (culture, religion, economic and social) considerations and the ado…
Improving public health evaluation
Whilst numerous guidance documents supporting public health evaluation exist, these documents are currently underused by practitioners - either because they are not considered useful, or because practitioners are not aware of them. Integrating existing guides into a catalogue of guidance documents, and developing a new-quality assured, practical and useful document may support the evaluation of public health programs. This in turn has the potenti…
What is best practice in sex and relationship education? A synthesis of evidence, including stakeholders’ views
OBJECTIVES: Sex and relationship education (SRE) is regarded as vital to improving young people's sexual health, but a third of schools in England lacks good SRE and government guidance is outdated. We aimed to identify what makes SRE programmes effective, acceptable, sustainable and capable of faithful implementation. DESIGN: This is a synthesis of findings from five research packages that we conducted (practitioner interviews, case study invest…
A comprehensive review of reviews of school-based interventions to improve sexual-health
OBJECTIVE: To systematically review systematic reviews of school-based sexual-health and relationship Education (SHRE) programmes and, thereby, identify interventions and intervention components that promote reductions in risky sexual behaviour among young people. METHODS: Electronic bibliographies were searched systematically to identify systematic reviews of school-based interventions targeting sexual-health. Results were summarised using a nar…
Patient involvement in drug licensing
Processes of Change in an Asthma Self-Care Intervention
In this article, we present a qualitative exploration of the psychological and communication processes that occur within an intervention to improve self-care for people with asthma. In the context of a primary-care-based trial of the intervention, we collected data at three time points for 21 patients, comprising 2 audiotaped consultations (nurse and patient together) and individual semistructured interviews 3 months after the second consultation…
Processes of Change in an Asthma Self-Care Intervention
In this article, we present a qualitative exploration of the psychological and communication processes that occur within an intervention to improve self-care for people with asthma. In the context of a primary-care-based trial of the intervention, we collected data at three time points for 21 patients, comprising 2 audiotaped consultations (nurse and patient together) and individual semistructured interviews 3 months after the second consultation…
Patient involvement in drug licensing
What is best practice in sex and relationship education? A synthesis of evidence, including stakeholders’ views
OBJECTIVES: Sex and relationship education (SRE) is regarded as vital to improving young people's sexual health, but a third of schools in England lacks good SRE and government guidance is outdated. We aimed to identify what makes SRE programmes effective, acceptable, sustainable and capable of faithful implementation. DESIGN: This is a synthesis of findings from five research packages that we conducted (practitioner interviews, case study invest…
A comprehensive review of reviews of school-based interventions to improve sexual-health
OBJECTIVE: To systematically review systematic reviews of school-based sexual-health and relationship Education (SHRE) programmes and, thereby, identify interventions and intervention components that promote reductions in risky sexual behaviour among young people. METHODS: Electronic bibliographies were searched systematically to identify systematic reviews of school-based interventions targeting sexual-health. Results were summarised using a nar…
Design, implementation and evaluation of school-based sexual health education in sub-Saharan Africa
This study investigated facilitators and challenges to designing, implementing and evaluating school-based sexual health education in sub-Saharan Africa, using interviews with intervention designers and researchers. At the pre-planning and planning stages, participants reported that facilitating factors included addressing the reproductive health needs of participants, contextual (culture, religion, economic and social) considerations and the ado…
Improving public health evaluation
Whilst numerous guidance documents supporting public health evaluation exist, these documents are currently underused by practitioners - either because they are not considered useful, or because practitioners are not aware of them. Integrating existing guides into a catalogue of guidance documents, and developing a new-quality assured, practical and useful document may support the evaluation of public health programs. This in turn has the potenti…
Health-Care Professionals' Assessments of, and Recommendations for, Sexual-Health Education and Service Provision for Young People in Tehran
Background: Only limited Sexual Health and Relationships Education (SHRE) is provided in Iranian schools and universities while research has highlighted demand and need for improved SHRE among young adults. We explored health-care professionals' (HCPs) assessments of, and recommendations for, SHRE and service provision for young people in Tehran. Design and Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 17 HCPs based in Tehra…
Engagement With Daily Testing Instead of Self-Isolating in Contacts of Confirmed Cases of Sars-CoV-2
Introduction: In December 2020 and January 2021 Public Health England (PHE) with NHS Test and Trace conducted a study to explore the feasibility and acceptability of daily testing as an alternative to self-isolation following close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case. This qualitative paper aims to identify factors influencing uptake among those offered daily testing, and the subsequent impact on behaviour. Methods: We conducted in-depth inter…
A qualitative assessment of the sexual-health education, training and service needs of young adults in Tehran
Background Sexual Health and Relationships Education (SHRE) provides individuals with knowledge and skills to manage risky behaviors and take informed decisions to protect themselves against STIs, and unintended pregnancy. Only minimal SHRE is provided in Iranian schools and universities and previous research has highlighted needs and demands for improved SHRE and sexual services in Iran. This study explored young, Iranian adults’ experience of, …
Preventing within household transmission of Covid-19
The provision of accommodation to prevent within household transmission of Covid-19 is viewed as acceptable, feasible and necessary by some people who are concerned about infection transmission in the home and are unable to self-isolate or socially distance at home. Different households will have different requirements, e.g., those with caring responsibilities, and to overcome these challenges additional support may be needed for the provision of…
Engagement with daily testing instead of self-isolating in contacts of confirmed cases of Sars-CoV-2
Our data suggest that daily testing is potentially acceptable, may facilitate sharing contact details of close contacts among those who test positive for COVID-19, and promote adherence to self-isolation. A better understanding is needed of how to make this option more acceptable for all households. The impact of receiving a negative test on behaviour remains a risk that needs to be monitored and mitigated by appropriate messaging. Future researc…
The Rapid Adaptation and Optimisation of a Digital Behaviour-Change Intervention to Reduce the Spread of Covid-19 in Schools
The rapid transmission of COVID-19 in school communities has been a major concern. To ensure that mitigation systems were in place and support was available, a digital intervention to encourage and facilitate infection-control behaviours was rapidly adapted and optimised for implementation as a whole-school intervention. Using the person-based approach, 'Germ Defence' was iteratively adapted, guided by relevant literature, co-production with Pati…
A Compositional Analysis of Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and Sleep and Associated Health Outcomes in Children and Adults with Cystic Fibrosis
This study sought to investigate the association of light physical activity (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sedentary time (SED), and sleep with lung function in children and adults with CF. In total, 86 children (41 females; 13.6 ± 2.8 years; FEV 1 % predicted : 86 ± 1%) and 43 adults (21 females; 24.6 ± 4.7 years; FEV 1 % predicted : 63 ± 21%) with CF participated in this study. Wrist-worn accelerometery was used to assess…
Sleep, Sedentary Time and Physical Activity Levels in Children with Cystic Fibrosis
The aim of this study was to compare the use of generic and cystic fibrosis (CF)-specific cut-points to assess movement behaviours in children and adolescents with CF. Physical activity (PA) was assessed for seven consecutive days using a non-dominant wrist-worn ActiGraph GT9X in 71 children and adolescents (36 girls; 13.5 ± 2.9 years) with mild CF. CF-specific and generic Euclidean norm minus one (ENMO) cut-points were used to determine sedentar…
Feasibility and acceptability of daily testing at school as an alternative to self-isolation following close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19
Daily testing may be a feasible and acceptable alternative to self-isolation among close contacts of people who test positive. However, improved communications are needed to ensure that all students and parents have a good understanding of the rationale for testing, what test results mean, how test results should be acted on, and how likely students are to test positive following close contact. Support is needed for students and parents of studen…
A qualitative process analysis of daily contact testing as an alternative to self-isolation following close contact with a confirmed carrier of Sars-CoV-2
Participants in this study viewed DCT as a sensible, feasible, and welcome means of avoiding unnecessary self-isolation. Although negative LFTs provided reassurance, most people still restricted their activity as recommended. DCT was also highly valued by those in vulnerable households as a means of providing reassurance of the absence of infection and as an important means of detecting infection and prompting self-isolation when necessary
Exploring the impact of shielding advice on the wellbeing of individuals identified as clinically extremely vulnerable amid the Covid-19 pandemic
This research highlights the difficulties in providing generic messaging that is applicable and appropriate given the diversity of individuals identified as CEV and the importance of sharing tailored and timely advice to inform shielding decisions. Providing messages that reinforce self-determined action and assistance from support services could reduce the negative impact of shielding on mental health and feelings of social isolation
Incorporating movement breaks into primary school classrooms; a mixed methods approach to explore the perceptions of pupils, staff and governors
There is a wide appeal for classroom-based activity breaks, when delivered in a manner that is not disruptive. Future research which examines the potential benefits of such activity breaks is warranted
The Agile Co-production and Evaluation framework for developing public health interventions, messaging and guidance
A lesson identified from the COVID-19 pandemic is that we need to extend existing best practice for intervention development. In particular, we need to integrate (a) state-of-the-art methods of rapidly coproducing public health interventions and messaging to support all population groups to protect themselves and their communities with (b) methods of rapidly evaluating co-produced interventions to determine which are acceptable and effective. Thi…
Mpox knowledge, behaviours and barriers to public health measures among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in the UK
There are differential needs, preferences, and experiences of GBMSM that limit the acceptability of some mitigation and prevention measures. Future public health interventions and campaigns should be co-designed in consultation with key groups and communities to ensure greater acceptability and credibility in different contexts and communities
Understanding adherence to self-isolation in the first phase of the Covid-19 pandemic in England
Understanding adherence to isolation and associated reasoning during the early stages of the pandemic is essential to pandemic preparedness for future emerging infectious disease outbreaks. Individuals make complex decisions around adherence by calibrating transmission risks, therefore treating adherence as binary should be avoided
How Do We Get the Public Into Public Health Research? Learnings and Key Recommendations From Initiating a Community Involvement Project Scheme
Information needs of ethnically diverse, vaccine-hesitant parents during decision-making about the HPV vaccine for their adolescent child
Engagement in rapid public health research among young people from underserved communities
This research explored barriers to engagement in rapid public health co-production. Working with communities to co-produce rapid recruitment and research procedures to suit the needs and the context in which young people live is necessary
Adapting and Co-Producing a Psychological First Aid Intervention for Care Home Staff
Care home staff are routinely exposed to stressful and traumatic events, increasing risks of psychological distress, burnout, and reduced workforce resilience. Psychological First Aid (PFA), recommended by the World Health Organization, provides an evidence-based framework for delivering immediate emotional and practical support; however, its adaptation for care home contexts is limited. This study aimed to co-produce and adapt an existing PFA tr…
Medicine (24 works) · Nursing (17 works) · Public health (14 works) · Psychology (11 works) · Qualitative research (10 works) · Biostatistics (9 works) · Environmental health (9 works) · COVID-19 and Mental Health (8 works) · Family medicine (8 works) · Medical education (7 works)