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In OPTIMA, we test whether the STEPS app can help support parents waiting for specialist assessment and treatment for their child with a clinical service. It is important that we share the results of this work with other researchers, clinicians and the general public, by publishing the results in a scientific journal. Before any study …

The OPTIMA feasibility study – A short summary of our latest published paper. Read More »

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Click here to download the poster that was presented at the Academy of Research and Improvement.

In October some of the OPTIMA team attended two conferences that focussed on the importance of patient participation and listening to those with lived experience when researching mental health. First up was the Big Emerging Minds summit in Oxford. Emerging Minds is a network that “aims to reduce the prevalence of mental health problems experienced …

OPTIMA on the road Read More »

Parents taking part in OPTIMA are invited to complete a joint drawing task with their child; ‘Etch-A-Sketch Online’ (ESO). This research task is based on one that used the traditional Etch-A-Sketch toy and has been developed for use in online research by Dr Bonamy R. Oliver and her team at UCL1. ESO enables researchers to …

ESO Drawing Task Read More »

Good quality health research will involve members of the public to ensure that the work is relevant and valuable to potential beneficiaries; this is called patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE). It is not the same as recruiting volunteers to take part in research as participants. It is more about doing research with members …

Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Read More »

Several child health services, which are supporting OPTIMA, are using an online portal called myHealthE. It is a new secure NHS digital platform developed to update the way Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services collect health information about young people who are in contact with their services. Instead of asking parents to complete paper questionnaires …

What is myHealthE and how do we use it in OPTIMA? Read More »

If you have recently been referred to a service for support regarding your child’s behaviour, it may have been suggested you attend some form of parent training. This can often be the first point of intervention for those seeking specialist support for their child(ren), especially as many face long waiting times for a full clinical …

Parenting interventions Read More »