Barbora Silarova

Dr. Barbora Silarova


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

11Years (2016-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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27 July 2019 in The Gerontologist
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
SSSerena Sabatini
Serena Sabatini
BSBarbora Silarova
Barbora Silarova
AMAnthony Martyr
Anthony Martyr
RCRachel Collins
Rachel Collins
CBClive Mr. Ballard
Clive Mr. Ballard
LCLinda Clare
Linda Clare
Background and Objectives: This systematic review aimed to synthesize and quantify the associations of awareness of age-related change (AARC) with emotional well-being, physical well-being, and cognitive functioning. Research Design and Methods: We conducted a systematic review with a correlational random effects meta-analysis. We included quantitative studies, published from January 1, 2009 to October 3, 2018, exploring associations between AARC and one or more of the following outcomes: emotional well-being, physical well-being, and cognitive functioning. We assessed heterogeneity (I2) and publication bias. Results: We included 12 studies in the review, 9 exploring the association between AARC and emotional well-being and 11 exploring the association between AARC and physical well-being. No study explored the association between AARC and cognitive functioning. Six articles were included in the meta-analysis. We found a moderate association between a higher level of AARC gains and better emotional well-being (r = .33; 95% CI 0.18, 0.47; p <.001; I2 = 76.01) and between a higher level of AARC losses and poorer emotional (r = −.31; 95% CI −0.38, −0.24; p < .001; I2 = 0.00) and physical well-being (r = −.38; 95% CI −0.51, −0.24; p < .001; I2 = 83.48). We found a negligible association between AARC gains and physical well-being (r = .08; 95% CI 0.02, 0.14; p < .122; I2 = 0.00). Studies were of medium to high methodological quality. Discussion and Implications: There is some indication that AARC gains and losses can play a role in emotional well-being and that AARC losses are associated with physical well-being. However, the number of included studies is limited and there was some indication of heterogeneity. PROSPERO Registration: CRD42018111472.

30 March 2019 in Heart
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
BSBarbora Silarova
Barbora Silarova
SSStephen Sharp
Stephen Sharp
JUJuliet A Usher-Smith
Juliet A Usher-Smith
JLJoanne Lucas
Joanne Lucas
RPRupert A Payne
Rupert A Payne
SGSimon J Griffin
Simon J Griffin
Objective To determine whether provision of web-based lifestyle advice and coronary heart disease risk information either based on phenotypic characteristics or phenotypic plus genetic characteristics affects changes in objectively measured health behaviours. Methods A parallel-group, open randomised trial including 956 male and female blood donors with no history of cardiovascular disease (mean [SD] age=56.7 [8.8] years) randomised to four study groups: control group (no information provided); web-based lifestyle advice only (lifestyle group); lifestyle advice plus information on estimated 10-year coronary heart disease risk based on phenotypic characteristics (phenotypic risk estimate) (phenotypic group) and lifestyle advice plus information on estimated 10-year coronary heart disease risk based on phenotypic (phenotypic risk estimate) and genetic characteristics (genetic risk estimate) (genetic group). The primary outcome was change in physical activity from baseline to 12 weeks assessed by wrist-worn accelerometer. Results 928 (97.1%) participants completed the trial. There was no evidence of intervention effects on physical activity (difference in adjusted mean change from baseline): lifestyle group vs control group 0.09 milligravity (mg) (95% CI −1.15 to 1.33); genetic group vs phenotypic group −0.33 mg (95% CI −1.55 to 0.90); phenotypic group and genetic group vs control group −0.52 mg (95% CI −1.59 to 0.55) and vs lifestyle group −0.61 mg (95% CI −1.67 to 0.46). There was no evidence of intervention effects on secondary biological, emotional and health-related behavioural outcomes except self-reported fruit and vegetable intake. Conclusions Provision of risk information, whether based on phenotypic or genotypic characteristics, alongside web-based lifestyle advice did not importantly affect objectively measured levels of physical activity, other health-related behaviours, biological risk factors or emotional well-being. Trial registration number ISRCTN17721237; Pre-results.

30 October 2018 in BMC Public Health
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
BSBarbora Silarova
Barbora Silarova
SNSharon M. Nelis
Sharon M. Nelis
RARosalie M. Ashworth
Rosalie M. Ashworth
CBClive Mr. Ballard
Clive Mr. Ballard
MBMarta Bieńkiewicz
Marta Bieńkiewicz
LCLinda Clare
Linda Clare
There is a major need for longitudinal research examining the experiences of people with dementia and their primary carers, as relatively little is known about how the factors associated with capability to ‘live well’ vary over time. The main aim of the IDEAL-2 study is to investigate how and why, over time, people with dementia and their primary carers might vary in their capability to live well with dementia, whilst exploring both their use of health and care services and their unmet needs. IDEAL-2 will build on the Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) cohort of 1547 people (who, at recruitment between July 2014 and July 2016, had mild-to-moderate dementia), and their 1283 primary carers in Great Britain. The existing cohort will be enriched with additional participants with mild-to-moderate dementia (and their primary carers where available and willing) from the following groups: people with rarer forms of dementia, and/or those who are ≥90 years or < 65 years of age at time of recruitment. We will assess the primary outcome, capability to live well with dementia, and the factors influencing it using questionnaires at yearly intervals for 3 years. Additionally, we will seek to link the cohort data with administrative data to obtain information about health service use. Some participants will be invited for in-depth face-to-face interviews. The cohort study will be supplemented by linked research focusing on: the co-production of new measures of living well; including the perspectives of people with advanced dementia living in residential care settings; including people with dementia from black, Asian, and minority ethnic groups; and understanding the experience of people living with undiagnosed dementia. IDEAL-2 will provide evidence about the key indicators of, and factors associated with, living well over the course of dementia and how these differ for particular subgroups. It will tell us which combinations of services and support are most beneficial and cost-effective. Moreover, the IDEAL-2 study will gather evidence from under-researched groups of people with dementia, who are likely to have their own distinct perceptions of living well.

23 January 2022 in Health & Social Care in the Community
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
BSBarbora Silarova
Barbora Silarova
NBNadia Brookes
Nadia Brookes
SPSinead Palmer
Sinead Palmer
ATAnn-Marie Towers
Ann-Marie Towers
Shereen HusseinShereen Hussein
Shereen Hussein
The main aim of this scoping review was to understand how work-related quality of life (WRQoL) in adult social care has been defined and measured in the literature and to map key components of WRQoL among those working in adult social care and similar contexts. The scoping review included studies that: 1- focused on WRQoL/work-related wellbeing (and their synonyms); and 2- included adult social care or community health care. We searched existing evidence from November 2019 until July 2020 through an electronic literature search of eight major databases complemented by the grey literature, searching the reference lists and by contacting our existing network of experts in the field. In addition, we repeated the searches to identify any relevant literature published in 2021. Reporting followed the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. In total, we included 68 publications. These publications indicate that there is an absence of agreement on a definition and measurement of WRQoL in adult social care. Based on a thematic analysis we identified six key components of WRQoL: organisational characteristics; job characteristics; mental wellbeing and health; physical wellbeing and health; spill-over from work to home; and professional identity. In summary, at the moment, there is no agreement on what WRQoL is and how to measure it in adult social care. As a result, there is very limited evidence on how to improve WRQoL among people working in adult social care. However, this scoping review suggests that there are six key components of WRQoL that researchers may consider to include in their future studies.

5 March 2024 in BMJ Open
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
STSophie Louise Turnbull
Sophie Louise Turnbull
CDCharlotte Dack
Charlotte Dack
JLJiedi Lei
Jiedi Lei
IAIrem Aksu
Irem Aksu
SGSabrina Grant
Sabrina Grant
BABen Ainsworth
Ben Ainsworth
Objectives To explore how healthcare practitioners (HCPs) made decisions about the implementation of digital health technologies (DHTs) in their clinical practice before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design A multimethods study, comprising semistructured interviews conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, supplemented with an online survey that was conducted during the pandemic with a different sample, to ensure the qualitative findings remained relevant within the rapidly changing healthcare context. Participants were recruited through HCP networks, snowballing and social media. Data were analysed thematically. Setting Phone interviews and online survey. Participants HCPs represented a range of professions from primary and secondary care across England, with varied socioeconomic deprivation. Results 24 HCPs were interviewed, and 16 HCPs responded to the survey. In the interviews, HCPs described three levels where decisions were made, which determined who would have access to what DHTs: health organisation, HCP and patient levels. These decisions resulted in the unequal implementation of DHTs across health services, created barriers for HCPs using DHTs in their practice and influenced HCPs’ decisions on which patients to supply DHTs with. In the survey, HCPs described being provided support to overcome some of the barriers at the organisation and HCP level during the pandemic. However, they cited similar concerns to pre-pandemic about barriers patients faced using DHTs (eg, digital literacy). In the absence of centralised guidance on how to manage these barriers, health services made their own decisions about how to adapt their services for those who struggled with DHTs. Conclusions Decision-making at the health organisation, HCP and patient levels influences inequalities in access to DHTs for HCPs and patients. The mobilisation of centralised information and resources during the pandemic can be viewed as good practice for reducing barriers to use of DHTs for HCPs. However, attention must also be paid to reducing barriers to accessing DHTs for patients.

21 July 2022 in Health & Social Care in the Community
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
WZWenjing Zhang
Wenjing Zhang
SRStacey Rand
Stacey Rand
AMAlisoun Milne
Alisoun Milne
GCGrace Collins
Grace Collins
BSBarbora Silarova
Barbora Silarova
Older carers, aged 65 or over, may find it difficult to balance caring while maintaining their own health and quality of life (QoL). For older carers, especially, established approaches to separately identifying, assessing and addressing carers' and care‐recipients' needs, may not fully consider the interwoven nature of caregiving relationships and the ways in which community‐based social care services may impact the QoL of both parties. The purpose of this scoping review is to identify and synthesise what is already known about the QoL of older carers and care‐recipients, considered together, which we refer to as ‘dyadic QoL’; both in general, and with regard to the impact of community‐based social care. We searched 16 electronic databases and grey literature in October and November 2020. A total 822 items were identified and reviewed based on the inclusion criteria: focusing on older carers and care‐recipients from a dyadic perspective and their QoL or well‐being, published since 2000 and in English. Fourteen papers were thematically analysed, and the findings were presented under two themes. First, the value of applying an overarching conceptual framework of ‘interdependence theory’ in understanding dyadic QoL, including two broad approaches: dyadic data analysis and the dynamics of caring relationships. Second, a number of papers highlighted the role of support from family, friends and neighbours and community‐based social care services in promoting QoL outcomes of caring dyads. This review emphasised that considering the QoL of carers and care‐recipients, together, would potentially improve the understanding of care needs, provision of care services and QoL outcomes. However, there is limited and fragmentary evidence about dyadic QoL or the impact of social care services on dyadic QoL outcomes. Future work is required to explore and evaluate the use of a dyadic approach in social care practice and research.