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Major Research
Projects and associated publications Risk management for offenders with learning disabilities; Bob Heyman, John Taylor, Carol Buswell and Greg O’Brien This project has investigated risk management in relation to the rehabilitation of offenders with learning disabilities staying in health service medium and low security forensic units. The project is particularly concerned with the ways in which clients progress through a system which is designed to gradually become less restrictive as they are rehabilitated. The research explores the ways in which staff appraise risks and try to balance them against autonomy, and the ways in which patients interpret their experiences of this system. A follow-up project will explore rehabilitation from the perspectives of discharged patients. Associated publications Heyman B., Buswell-Griffiths C. and Taylor J. (2001) Risk escalators and the rehabilitation of offenders with learning disabilities. Social Science & Medicine. Note that the
English term "learning disabilities" and the American "intellectual
Risk management for people with mental health problems. Bob Heyman, Jackie Davies and Paul Godin This project will explore risk management for in-patients with mental health problems in relation to rehabilitation, using qualitative, case study methods. The research is being conducted at two mental health Trusts in London, one a forensic facility with medium and low secure units, and the other a large in-patient mental health facility which contains a secure Unit. The qualitative methodology will include, subject to informed consent, informal observation of ward routines, staff interviews, case studies with patients and their carers and observation of ward reviews. Associated
publications Risk management and the quality of life of coronary by-pass patients in London and Athens. Maria Nikolaou and Bob Heyman This project will compare the quality of life of patients six months after they have discharged from hospital after coronary by-pass surgery. Patients treated at four hospitals will be compared, two public and two private, one of each situated in London and Athens. The study will have two phases. In the first, qualitative interview data will be collected from patients about their recovery, concerns and quality of life. In the second phase, information about emergent themes will be used to develop and carry out a comparative survey. Associated
publications How older pregnant women and professionals understand and manage pregnancy-related risks; Bob Heyman and Mette Henriksen This project has focused on the ways in which 'older' pregnant women understand and respond to risks which they or medical staff may associate with their pregnancies. Data collection methods have included qualitative interviews with and a large survey of pregnant women; tape recordings of genetic counselling sessions with medical staff; and interviews with doctors and midwives. Hospital interventions focus on the detection of age-related genetic disorders, particularly Down's Syndrome. But women understand this issue in relation to wider concerns which need to be understood within a multi-dimensional framework of ageing. The research has focused on women's multi-dimensional, complex understandings of 'age' as well as their responses to their age being defined as a medical problem. Bob Heyman is collaborating with colleagues from King’s College London and Warwick University in an ESRC funded project concerned with evaluating an innovative ‘one stop’ genetic screening and testing system (OSCAR) from women’s perspectives. The project is part of the ESRC Innovative Health Technologies Programme. Associated publications Heyman B. and Henriksen M. (2001) Risk, Age and Pregnancy. A Case Study of Prenatal Genetic Screening and Testing. Basingstoke: Palgrave. ISBN 0-333-73940-X Henriksen, M. and Heyman, B. (1998) Being old and pregnant. In B. Heyman (Ed.)(1998) Risk, Health and Health Care: A Qualitative Approach. London: Edward Arnold. ISBN 0 340 66201 8 Heyman, B., Henriksen,
M. and Maughan (1998) Probability and health risks: A qualitative approach.
Social Science & Medicine, 47, 1295-1306. The Warmer Homes Project: A random control trial of the health impact of fuel poverty interventions: Barbara Harrington, Nick Merleau-Ponty and Bob Heyman This large, lottery-funded project is based in NE England. A sample of households has been identified as fuel-poor and randomly allocated to groups who receive heating efficiency interventions either in 2001 or 2002. The health impact of the interventions will be assessed prospectively. A qualitative arm of the study will explore the meaning of fuel poverty and of improvements to heating efficiency. Associated
publications The health needs of adults with learning disabilities; Bob Heyman, Sandie McKean, John Swain and Maureen Gillman This on-going project is using a qualitative case study approach to explore the health needs experiences of health services of people with learning disabilities. Associated publications McKean S., Heyman
B., Gillman M. and Swain J. Developing Primary Health Care for Young Adults
with Learning Difficulties. Unpublished report, Learning Disabilities
Federation (North Tyneside) and University of Northumbria. How day staff conceptualise and manage the 'challenging behaviour' of people with learning disabilities; Bob Heyman, John Swain and Maureen Gillman This project has explored the views of staff about the management of the 'challenging behaviour' of people with learning disabilities attending day centres. Their views have been used to develop a systematic framework for the logic-in-use of the construct and to critically evaluate the philosophy and assumptions which underlie it. Although focusing primarily on professional carers, the project has drawn upon data on the views of people with learning difficulties using day centres. Associated
publications Promoting the sexual well-being of people with learning disabilities: A risk management perspective; Bob Heyman, Liz Handyside and Sarah Huckle This project has
investigated the views of people with learning disabilities and their
carers about their sexual development, need for intimate relationships,
and need for support services. Our qualitative data illustrate considerable
variability of views among adults with learning disabilities. Some reject
sexuality decisively; some would like to form an intimate relationship;
some are involved in a relationship which they would like to develop further
but experience barriers to being able to do so; some enjoy long-term relationships
involving various degrees of independence. Family carers are often concerned
about the risks which they associate with their relative becoming involved
in sexual relationships and, to avoid these risks, may restrict this person's
autonomy in various ways, for example stopping them from seeing a potential
partner without supervision. Professional carers need to seriously address
these concerns rather than dismiss family carers as Associated publications Heyman, B. and Huckle, S. (1995) Sexuality as a Perceived Hazard in the Lives of Adults with Learning Difficulties, Disability & Society, 10, 139-155. Heyman B., and
Handyside E.C. (1999) How can therapists help to promote the sexual well-being
of adults with learning difficulties? A risk management dilemma. In Swain
J. and French S. (Eds.) Therapy and Learning Difficulties: Advocacy,
Participation and Partnership. Butterworth Heinemann. How adults with learning disabilities and their carers understand and manage risks; Bob Heyman and Sarah Huckle This project, based on qualitative interviews, has investigated the perceptions that adults with learning disabilities have about the risks and dangers which they associate with everyday life, and has related their views to those of formal and family carers. Risk concerns, and differences of perspective about their management, can be understood in terms of differences in approach to the dilemma of risk versus autonomy. The impact of family risk management strategies on the quality of life of people with learning disabilities has been explored. This research has given rise to a number of smaller projects, outlined below. Associated publications Heyman B. and Huckle S. (1993) Normal Life in a Hazardous World: How Adults with Moderate Learning Difficulties and their Carers Cope with Risks and Dangers, Disability, Handicap & Society, 8, 143-160. Heyman B. and Huckle S. (1993) Not Worth the Risk? Attitudes of Adults with Learning Difficulties and their Informal and Formal Carers to the Hazards of Everyday Life, Social Science & Medicine, 12, 1557-1564. Heyman B. and Huckle S. (1995) How adults with learning disabilities and their carers see 'the community. In Heyman B. (Ed.) Researching Community Health Care: Client Perspectives, Chapman & Hall. Heyman B. (1995) Talking to People with Learning Difficulties, in Reed J. and Procter S. (Eds) Practitioner Research in Health Care, Chapman & Hall. Heyman B. Swain J., Gillman M., Handyside E. C. and Newman W. (1997) Alone in the Crowd: How Adults with Learning Difficulties Cope with Social Network Problems. Social Science & Medicine, 44, 41-53. |