Case study: Kevin's story: His partnership with the Clinical Research Network

In recognition of his involvement with The School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Kevin Anthony, PhD has been appointed the role of Honorary Assistant Professor. We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Kevin on his appointment, and thank him for his continuous involvement within the Clinical Research Network (CRN). 

Kevin has predominantly worked in community settings throughout his career, and has a background in Physiotherapy. Whilst working within a specialist falls prevention service, Kevin first found his interest in research. This interest in research fed into his studies, where he completed an MA in Research Methods, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Kevin then began further studies with a PhD in rehabilitation and ageing, funded by NIHR Applied Research Collaborations (ARC). 

Since Kevin began his work within the research environment, he has continued to work with the CRN to develop an organisational research and evaluation culture, for Nottingham CityCare, a community health services provider. One notable achievement is gaining approval for a merger of the three elements of Clinical Audit, Research, and Evaluation under the CARE banner. To find out more about the CARE strategy, click here. This merger has facilitated the flow from novice to expert researcher through exposure and support at all levels of the project. 

Kevin’s appointment of Professorship benefits the clinical research environment as it serves to facilitate the ability to meet CARE aims, and further demonstrates the advances that have been made in nurturing a research and evidence based organisational culture. The Professorship also serves to advance and embed our system-wide working relationships with local stakeholders, such as the University of Nottingham, meaning that we are able to extend and expand the partnership between University and CityCare. 

Kevin continues to partner with the CRN, and is now investigating the use of technology for the prevention of falls at night. This involves the use of BIDE, a falls prevention device, that plays a voice message from a loved one or carer, urging the user to move more safely. Find out more about BIDE here. Kevin aims to conduct a feasibility study to investigate whether providing a verbal prompt, via BIDE, will prevent falls when a person gets out of bed at night. It is hoped that this technology will reduce the amount of admissions to hospital caused by preventable falls at night.