Publications by authors named "Michael Ussher"

Introduction: Given the increasing usage of vaping during pregnancy and limited longitudinal health-related data, there is an urgent need to assess the potential risks of vaping.

Aims And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant UK adults (n = 140). Five study groups were purposively recruited: exclusive-smokers (n = 38), exclusive-vapers (former smokers) (n = 35), dual users of smoking and vaping (n = 25), dual users of smoking and nicotine replacement therapy (n = 10), and "never-users" of nicotine or tobacco products (n = 32).

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Introduction: Persistent musculoskeletal pain is a leading cause of disability and need for rehabilitation globally. Many people with the condition attend pain management programmes (PMPs) for rehabilitation and support with self-management. Physical activity (PA) is an essential self-management strategy facilitated on PMPs as it benefits symptoms, general health and well-being.

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Background: Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes represent significant global health challenges, with physical activity (PA) being essential for disease management and prevention. Despite the well-documented benefits, many individuals with (pre)diabetes remain insufficiently active. General practitioners (GP) provide an accessible platform for delivering interventions; however, integrating PA interventions into routine care is hindered by resource constraints.

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Background: Vaccination during pregnancy is crucial for safeguarding maternal and neonatal health, but vaccination rates remain suboptimal, especially in women from Black and Asian ethnic minorities. We explored the perspectives and decision-making processes of pregnant women regarding uptake of the three recommended vaccines in pregnancy: Influenza, Pertussis (whooping cough) and COVID-19. We also explored women's attitudes to taking part in vaccine trials during pregnancy and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to obtain information on vaccines.

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Introduction: Smoking during pregnancy is harmful to maternal and child health. Vaping is used for smoking cessation but evidence on health effects during pregnancy is scarce. We conducted a systematic review of health outcomes of vaping during pregnancy.

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Introduction: Smoking during pregnancy is harmful to unborn babies, infants and women. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is offered as the usual stop-smoking support in the UK. However, this is often used in insufficient doses, intermittently or for too short a time to be effective.

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Introduction: Vaccination during pregnancy protects both the mother and the foetus from vaccine-preventable diseases. However, uptake of the recommended vaccines (influenza, pertussis, COVID-19) by pregnant women remains low in Europe and the USA. Understanding the reasons for this is crucial to inform strategies to increase vaccination rates in pregnant women.

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Background And Aims: Offering financial incentives is effective for smoking cessation during pregnancy. We tested the effectiveness of financial incentives for maintaining postpartum cessation, comparing 12-month and 3-month incentives with each other and with usual care (UC).

Design, Setting And Participants: This study was a pragmatic, multi-centre, three-arm randomized controlled trial involving four English, National Health Service, stop smoking services.

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Background: The escalating global prevalence of type 2 diabetes and prediabetes presents a major public health challenge. Physical activity plays a critical role in managing (pre)diabetes; however, adherence to physical activity recommendations remains low. The ENERGISED trial was designed to address these challenges by integrating mHealth tools into the routine practice of general practitioners, aiming for a significant, scalable impact in (pre)diabetes patient care through increased physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviour.

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic response prompted rapid changes to how contraceptive services were delivered in England. Our aim was to examine women's experiences of accessing contraceptive services since March 2020 and to understand any inequalities of access.

Methods: We conducted telephone interviews with 31 women aged 17-54 years who had accessed contraceptive services in England since March 2020.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study explores whether reducing the frequency of bathing infants in the first six months can help prevent eczema, proposing the need for a well-designed intervention to support parents in this approach.* -
  • It involved interviews with families to identify challenges and motivators, which were then integrated into effective behavior change strategies and materials through collaboration with experts and families.* -
  • Key findings highlighted that social influences, emotional rewards, and family support can encourage adherence to the intervention, while hygiene concerns and fear of judgment may hinder participation.*
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Objective: Within the UK, dietary fibre intakes are well below recommended intakes and associated with increased risk of obesity. This study aimed to explore the views of parents and children on barriers and facilitators to increasing fibre intakes and improving diets, alongside investigating the appropriateness of intervention components to overcome modifiable barriers.

Design: Qualitative study including semi-structured interviews and focus groups informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model.

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Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the safety of e-cigarettes (EC) and nicotine patches (NRT) when used to help pregnant smokers quit.

Design: A recent trial of EC versus NRT reported safety outcomes in the randomized arms. We conducted a further analysis based on product use.

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Background: Pregnant women and their babies face significant risks from three vaccine-preventable diseases: COVID-19, influenza and pertussis. However, despite these vaccines' proven safety and effectiveness, uptake during pregnancy remains low.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42023399488; January 2012-December 2022 following PRISMA guidelines) of interventions to increase COVID-19/influenza/pertussis vaccination in pregnancy.

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Background: Some pregnant smokers try e-cigarettes, but effectiveness and safety of such use are unknown.

Objectives: To compare effectiveness and safety of nicotine patches and e-cigarettes in pregnancy.

Design: A pragmatic multi-centre randomised controlled trial.

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Introduction: Many people quit smoking during pregnancy, but postpartum smoking relapse is common. Maintaining smoking abstinence achieved during pregnancy is key to improving maternal and child health. There are no evidence-based interventions for preventing postpartum smoking relapse.

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Background: Physical activity can support smoking cessation for smokers wanting to quit, but there have been no studies on supporting smokers wanting only to reduce. More broadly, the effect of motivational support for such smokers is unclear.

Objectives: The objectives were to determine if motivational support to increase physical activity and reduce smoking for smokers not wanting to immediately quit helps reduce smoking and increase abstinence and physical activity, and to determine if this intervention is cost-effective.

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Background: The growing number of patients with type 2 diabetes and prediabetes is a major public health concern. Physical activity is a cornerstone of diabetes management and may prevent its onset in prediabetes patients. Despite this, many patients with (pre)diabetes remain physically inactive.

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Aims: For smokers unmotivated to quit, we assessed the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of behavioural support to reduce smoking and increase physical activity on prolonged abstinence and related outcomes.

Design: A multi-centred pragmatic two-arm parallel randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Primary care and the community across four United Kingdom sites.

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