Mandy Cheetham

The social meanings of the C-Card scheme: the importance of friends and peers

This paper draws on findings from an analysis of interviews with young people aged 14–18 years, to explore the peer influences in young peoples informal social networks which can affect their access to sexual health services. The research focuses on the social meanings of a C-Card condom distribution scheme in North East England. Such schemes are widespread in the UK as a way of providing access to condoms and sexual health advice for young people in health and community settings. Focusing on one aspect of a broader study, the paper outlines the important social, emotional and practical resources provided by young peoples chosen friendship groups in the process of acquiring a C-Card, which offers a route to accessing sex and relationships advice and condoms. Informal peer networks inform attitudes and expectations which can influence gendered patterns of behaviour. Through a focus on the educational possibilities of the C-Card scheme, the study suggests a need to revisit the dynamics of young peoples peer relationships and harness their potential to influence sexual attitudes and behaviour in positive ways, rather than simply seeing these always as a source of negative pressure.

025 PP: “A FRESH SET OF EYES?” NEGOTIATING THE REALITIES OF EMBEDDED RESEARCH IN PUBLIC HEALTH

In collaboration with Fuse, the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, a local authority public health department in North East England appointed an embedded researcher as part of a new, innovative approach to increasing research evidence in public health. There were two parts to the researchers role: one to undertake a qualitative evaluation of an ‘integrated wellbeing model’, a preventive, asset-based approach that supports individuals, families and communities to improve their health and wellbeing. The other was to support the use of research evidence in public health more widely. The researcher was based with the public health team 3 days a week for a year until July 2016. This paper explores the reality of this methodological approach in the field of public health, drawing on the perspectives of the host organisation and the embedded researcher. We describe the assumptions underpinning the approach, how collaborative relationships were established, and what they meant. We reflect on the ways in which this research design, data interpretation and reporting were affected. Examples are used to highlight the challenges and opportunities of a University and Local Authority collaborating in this way. We review what we have learned about collaboration, with a view to sharing transferable messages. The aim is to explore the effectiveness of embedded research, and prompt debate about the pros and cons of collaborating in this way, drawing on our experiences.