Neighbourhood deprivation levels and indicators of social distress
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The relationship between neighbourhood deprivation levels and indicators of social distress.
IRAS ID
281976
Contact name
Michael Rosato
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Ulster University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
E055, HBS Project Number
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 31 days
Research summary
Social determinants of health are defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2020). While persistent deprivation is a key factor for analysis, recent research suggests that, as area-level deprivation definitions may persist across time, the movement of people in and out of these areas (the churn) may show movement of these people in to or out of areas of higher deprivation (Jiang, Pacheco & Dasgupta, 2019). Within Northern Ireland (NI) we can use time-stamped small area-level deprivation measures to identify those areas classed as persistently deprived.
This project is one part of a two-part project: this part - focusing on the relationship between neighbourhood and localised personal distress (measured through hospital episodes and prescribing levels); with the focus of the other study (through NISRA) revolving around socioeconomic trajectories and related outcomes of those who live in these areas (especially over time) and those who leave.
This HBS-based project utilizes: (a) linked administrative data from the GP registration system; (b) the patient administration system; (c) accident and emergency (A&E) presentations in all trust areas – the NIRAES and Symphony systems; (d) the enhanced prescription database; (e) NI multiple deprivation measures (at SOA level); (f) the self-harm register; (g) and mortality data.
One feature of current research is that it typically focuses on urban areas. Figures released by NISRA suggest that in NI, while deprivation is more visible in urban areas, it is also a rural (and specifically border-area) phenomenon (Northern Ireland Assembly, 2018). This research will allow equal weight to be given to both urban and rural areas.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NW/0391
Date of REC Opinion
22 Sep 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion