http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/8616 2026-07-16T11:12:58Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33583 Title: The Value of Religion, Spirituality, and Humanism to Older People Authors: Nelson-Becker, H; Pickard, JG Editors: Twigg, J; Martin, W Abstract: The sustaining bottom note of religion, spiritual and humanistic beliefs is set by the cultural tone. Older adults are likely to have matured in a spiritual/religious milieu and to display religious commitment. Their multidetermined religious and spiritual perspectives may influence a growth orientation that leads to wisdom or results in rigidity. This chapter points to ways culture integrates with spiritual, religious, and humanistic beliefs, ethics, behaviour, and sacred texts in the lives of older people. The role of suffering, ritual, and how death is honoured and remembered are briefly addressed. 2026-01-30T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33581 Title: Spirituality and social work: theory and practice Authors: Nelson-Becker, H Editors: Fouche, C; Beddoe, L Abstract: Spirituality, religion, and meaning are human needs that are inscribed within international social work professional standards and ethical codes. Definitions used in the social work literature cover a complex spectrum resulting in a common, though fluid, understanding. Theories such as existentialism, a person-centred approach, and humanism all provide support and background for the way spirituality and/or religion may be addressed as coping strategies. It is important to acknowledge the role religious and spiritual perspectives or actions have had in providing support or harm to service users. The fluctuating history of rejection, followed by increasing acceptance of spirituality in the profession is ongoing. The nature of spirituality in practice with service users is briefly addressed and ethical practice issues are discussed. Spirituality may form an important part of a service user plan to maintain wellbeing and achieve resilience. Spiritual competence, like cultural competence, is a goal for all social workers. 2026-06-16T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33577 Title: Decision-analytic models in the economic evaluation of community health worker programmes globally: a systematic review Authors: Chen, S; Banstola, A; Junghans Minton, C; Harris, M; Anokye, N Abstract: Introduction: Economic evidence on community health worker (CHW) programmes is crucial for scaling these initiatives. Although decision-analytic models (DAMs) are essential for projecting long-term value, it is unclear how rigorously they have been applied to CHW evaluations, potentially compromising the reliability and comparability of cost-effectiveness estimates used for policy decisions. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify full economic evaluations of CHW-led or CHW-integrated interventions that employed a DAM. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, six databases (Medline, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, Web of Science and Scopus) were searched from inception to June 2025. Eligible studies were full economic evaluations assessing CHW-led or CHW-integrated interventions using DAMs. Study selection and data extraction were conducted independently by two reviewers. Methodological quality was appraised using the Philips checklist, and data were extracted on model type, data sources and validation practices. Findings were synthesised narratively across model structures, income groups and quality domains. Results: 37 studies met the inclusion criteria. Decision trees were used in 32% of studies and Markov models in 30% with the remainder applying microsimulation, dynamic transmission or hybrid approaches. Most evaluations were undertaken in low- and middle-income countries, with few from low-income or high-income settings. Data constraints in low-income settings limited model complexity, whereas models in high-income settings tended to adopt more sophisticated structures but narrower intervention scopes. The mean quality score was 67%, with substantial gaps in model validation and limited exploration of structural uncertainty. Overall, 84% of studies concluded that CHW-led interventions were cost-effective, with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios generally favourable across settings. Conclusions: Although CHW interventions are generally cost-effective, the strength of this evidence is constrained by methodological limitations in existing models. Future modelling should prioritise rigorous validation, localisation of input data and explicit valuation of CHW and societal contributions to enhance the credibility of economic evidence for policy use. PROSPERO registration number: CRD420251066586. Description: Data availability statement: Data are available on reasonable request. 2026-06-22T00:00:00Z http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33574 Title: Clinical and cost-effectiveness of the iStep-MS physical activity and sedentary behaviour intervention for managing fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis: Protocol for a multi-centre randomised controlled trial Authors: Bailey, DP; Norris, E; LeWarne, MD; Cerexhe, L; Anokye, N; Banstola, A; Gwatsvaira, J; Norris, M; Ryan, M; Stuart, B; Thomson, A; Kilbride, C Abstract: ... Description: ... 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z