Traveller research wins 2009 RCN Akinsanya Award
Published: 26 March 2009
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Research Society today announced Dr Patrice Van Cleemput as the winner of the Akinsanya Award 2009 for Innovation in Doctoral Scholarship in Nursing at the 2009 RCN International Nursing Research Conference.
The winning project - Gypsies and travellers accessing primary health care: interactions with health staff and requirements for "culturally safe" services -
explores the barriers which prevent travelling communities in England from accessing healthcare services.
Key findings indicate that low expectations, poor experiences of services and communication problems between Travellers and health staff stand in the way of access to healthcare.
Commenting on the winning entry, Professor Annie Topping, Professor of Health and Social Care, University of Huddersfield and Chair of this year's judging panel said:
"The submissions this year were of an exceptionally high standard and the four shortlisted theses clearly demonstrated the practical relevance nursing research can have in improving health and wellbeing. The winner was chosen in recognition of the valuable insights it provides into a community who are often marginalised and misunderstood."
Award-winner Dr Patrice Van Cleemput said:
"I am delighted that my work has received this excellent recognition. Having worked with the travelling community as a Specialist Health Visitor, I feel it is crucial that the barriers that prevent this marginalised group from accessing appropriate healthcare are understood so a timely solution can be sought."
Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the RCN, said:
"Once again the standards of this year's entries demonstrate the vital role nursing research is playing in improving healthcare across the board. There is an undeniable link between social exclusion and poor health - Dr Van Cleemput's research offers a valuable insight which could provide a real opportunity to improve the health prospects of this often socially excluded group."
The award is granted to the most innovative thesis in nursing disciplines. It aims to celebrate and promote excellence in nursing scholarship, innovation and its potential to influence health policy and practice.
Runners-up for the award were:
• Palliative care for people with learning disabilities - Dr Irene Tuffrey-Wijne (Highly commended)
• Engaging families with a premature family history of heart disease: A primary prevention study for coronary heart disease - Dr Martha Wrigley
• Exploring stability of methods in measuring body composition in primary care - Dr Valerie Shephard
The 2009 RCN International Nursing Research Conference is taking place in Cardiff from 24th - 27th March 2009.
Ends
Notes for Editors
The Akinsanya Award is an innovative nurse research prize that involves UK-wide competeion and crosses all nursing disciplines.
This year's shortlist was compiled from 18 theses submitted for consideration to the Award Committee.
The award is named after RCN Fellow Professor Justus A Akinsanya. The award will be given for the third time in 2009
In addition to the Award, the winning author will receive £250, supported in the dissemination of their work through a variety of media and will be awarded a free place at the RCN International Nursing Research Conference in Cardiff, Wales in 2009.
All theses submitted for the Awards are deposited in the RCN's 'Steinberg Collection', a unique collection of nursing thesis held in the RCN Library.
RCN Fellow Professor Jenny Hunt and Professor Carol Haigh of Manchester Metropolitan University will judge the entries with Professor Annie Topping
To find out more information on the RCN Research Society and Akinsanya Awards, please visit www.rcn.org.uk/development/researchanddevelopment/rs/awards/akinsanya
For further information, interviews or illustrations please contact the RCN Media Office on 0207 647 3633, press.office@rcn.org.uk or visit www.rcn.org.uk/news/mediacentre.php
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the voice of nursing across the UK and is the largest professional union of nursing staff in the world. The RCN promotes the interest of nurses and patients on a wide range of issues and helps shape healthcare policy by working closely with the UK Government and other national and international institutions, trade unions, professional bodies and voluntary organisations.