http://hdl.handle.net/1893/21457 Electronic copies of Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport working papers. Fri, 25 Sep 2026 08:44:11 GMT 2026-09-25T08:44:11Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38169 Title: ‘It’s a bit of a mess’: the impact of later alcohol trading hours for bars and nightclubs in Scotland according to qualitative interviews with local stakeholders Author(s): Mitchell, Gemma; Maxwell, Karen J; O’Donnell, Rachel; Cook, Megan; Uny, Isabelle; Emslie, Carol; Nicholls, James; Fitzgerald, Niamh Abstract: Background and aims: Permitting alcohol outlets to trade later at night is associated with increased intoxication, violence and burden on public services. Between 2017 and 2019 two processes led to later trading hours in 10 nightclubs in Glasgow (1-hour pilot extension, to 4am) and 38 bars in Aberdeen (1-3 hours extension, to 3am). We explored stakeholder views on the impact of these later hours against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and UK cost of living crisis. Methods: Semi-structured interviews conducted March 2022 to March 2023 with 39 stakeholders (10 public health/community/police; 14 frontline services; 9 licensing stakeholders (non-trade); and 6 venue owners/managers), analysed using framework analysis. Results: Participants across both cities reported mixed consumer demand for extended trading hours. Consequently, later hours were used irregularly and unpredictably by venues and economic benefits were at best smaller than anticipated. Low demand was attributed to the pandemic, cost of living crisis and changing drinking patterns. Frontline workers were more likely than those in other/more senior roles in policing, health and local government to report increased violence and disorder during the later hours. In Aberdeen, changes were perceived broadly negatively, due to greater demand from often vulnerable drinkers later at night, which outstripped the capacity of ambulance, policing, transport and voluntary services. In Glasgow, impact on services was more often described as mixed or neutral, although some transport and voluntary services were not available to cover the extra hour. Conclusions: Night-time economy stakeholders in Glasgow and Aberdeen perceived little or no economic benefits from the introduction of later trading hours, lower than anticipated consumer demand and increased demand for services, which often outstripped service capacity. Policymakers should treat with scepticism claims of benefits from later trading hours and consider other measures which address alcohol harms and pressure on services. Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1893/38169 2025-10-30T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/37168 Title: Development of a co-produced Theory of Change for optimal health and social care services for women who use drugs or are in treatment for drug use during the perinatal period Author(s): Cheyne, Helen; Maxwell, Abstract: Background Women who use drugs in the perinatal period can have complex health and social needs and require additional support during and after pregnancy yet there is wide variation in availability of services and women may avoid engaging with services due to fears of surveillance and judgement. The Stepping Stones addressed this issue through exploring women’s experiences and care pathways. An aim of the study was to co-produce recommendations for optimal perinatal services for women who use drugs or are in treatment for drug use during and after pregnancy. Methods We used a co-production approach to develop a Theory of Change which sets out key requirements for the optimal care services. Working with a multidisciplinary group of experts including peer advisors, we integrated experiential knowledge with primary and secondary research data produced by the Stepping Stones study, in a series of co-production workshops. Findings The Theory of Change sets out key recommendations to improve services for women who use drugs during the perinatal period. These include: person-centred and trauma informed policy development and commissioning, with shared values throughout services and co-production of guidance involving women with lived experiences; support for staff training and infrastructure; service level interventions such as provision of community hubs, care co-ordination and advocacy, and non-stigmatising, relational based care. Conclusions Using the Theory of Change we found that adding services in one area may not be effective if the whole system of care is not considered. We found that most of the recommendations were directed at organisational/ strategic and service level with fewer recommendations at individual staff level. This is in recognition that staff are only able to provide optimum care when service infrastructure, resources, training, and shared values enable them to do so. Consideration of a whole service approach is necessary to deliver safe, person centred services to women who use or are in treatment for drug use and their infants. Tue, 24 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1893/37168 2025-06-24T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/37031 Title: Secondary analysis of the Game of Stones trial of text messages with financial incentives for men with obesity Author(s): Dombrowski, Stephan U; Hoddinott, Pat; Macaulay, Lisa; O’Dolan, Catriona; Swingler, James; Cotton, Seonaidh; Avenell, Alison; Getaneh, Abraham M; Gray, Cindy; Hunt, Kate; Kee, Frank; MacLean, Alice; McKinley, Michelle C; Torrens, Claire; Marjon, van der Pol Abstract: Objective: To explore whether socio-economic, health and behavioural characteristics moderate effectiveness of a text message intervention with or without financial incentives versus a control group, and to examine differences in exploratory outcomes. Methods: Three-group randomized trial including 585 men with obesity comparing daily automated behavioural text messages for 12-months alongside financial incentives; text messages alone; or a waiting list control. Moderator analyses examined percent weight change after 12 months for 9 socio-economic and 11 health factors. Exploratory outcomes included: self-reported physical activity, sedentary behaviour, smoking and alcohol behaviours, engagement in 15 weight management strategies, and weight-management related confidence. Results: No moderator effects were found by any factors for either comparison versus control. There were no differences between groups for health behaviours. The texts with incentives group had higher levels of engagement in six strategies including weight goals, food changes and self-weighing, and higher levels of confidence compared to the control group. Conclusion: No evidence of differential intervention effectiveness was found across socio-economic, health or wellbeing status. The texts and financial incentives group showed greater engagement in weight management and favourable changes in weight management confidence compared to the control group. Fri, 20 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1893/37031 2024-12-20T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/1893/37030 Title: Long-term Effects of Text Messages with Financial Incentives for Men with Obesity: Two-year Follow-up of the Game of Stones trial Author(s): Dombrowski, Stephan U; Hoddinott, Pat; Swingler, James; Macaulay, Lisa; O’Dolan, Catriona; Cotton, Seonaidh; Avenell, Alison; Getaneh, Abraham M; Gray, Cindy M; Hunt, Kate; Kee, Frank; MacLean, Alice; McKinley, Michelle C; Torrens, Claire; van der Pol, Marjon Abstract: Objectives: To compare the difference in percentage weight change at 24 months following a 12-month text messaging with financial incentive intervention compared to a waiting list control group, and to compare the text messaging alone group to the control group. Design: Assessor-blinded three-arm randomised clinical trial. Setting: Three disadvantaged communities from the UK. Participants: 585 men with body mass index (BMI) of ≥30kg/m2 enrolled between July 2021 and May 2022, of which 377 participants (64%) completed 24 months’ follow-up. Interventions: 12 months of daily behavioural text messages combined with financial incentives; 12 months of the same text messages alone; or waiting for 12 months followed by receipt of the first 3 months (months 12-15) of text messages (control). Main outcome measures: Within-participant change from baseline weight. Results: At 24 months, the mean percent weight change (standard deviation) was −3.9% (6.9%) for the text messaging with financial incentives group, −2.6% (6.8%) for the text messaging alone group, and −2.2% (6.8%) for the control group. Compared with the control group, the mean percent weight change was not significantly greater in the text messaging with financial incentives group (mean difference, −1.0%; 97.5% CI, −2.6 to 0.6; P = .22) or the text messaging alone group (mean difference, −0.0%; 97.5% CI, −1.6 to 1.5; P = .95).At least 5% weight loss at 24 months was achieved by 52 (40%) participants in the text messaging with financial incentives group; 32 (28%) in the text messaging alone group and 43 (32%) in the control group. Conclusions: A scalable, low-cost text message with financial incentives intervention supported clinically relevant maintenance of weight loss 12 months after the intervention ceased, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Fri, 13 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/1893/37030 2024-12-13T00:00:00Z