Jack Birch
@jackmbirch.bsky.social
Research Associate @nihr-pru-bass.bsky.social at Newcastle Uni. PhD from @mrcepid.bsky.social, University of Cambridge. Public health nerd, korfball fanatic, ⚽ referee. All views my own
Pinned
Jack Birch
@jackmbirch.bsky.social
· Aug 8
Are there inequalities in the attendance at and effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions for adults in the UK? An individual participant data meta-analysis
Objectives Interventions for obesity that require individual behaviour change, such as behavioural weight management interventions, may contribute to health inequalities. We explored if there was evid...
bmjpublichealth.bmj.com
Very happy to see a big paper from my PhD *OUT TODAY*
We explored if there were inequalities in the attendance & effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions in an individual participant data meta-analysis.
See the thread for findings 👇
bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/2/...
We explored if there were inequalities in the attendance & effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions in an individual participant data meta-analysis.
See the thread for findings 👇
bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/2/...
Reposted by Jack Birch
With abstract submissions now ✨OPEN✨ for the joint SSMPH EuroEpi 2026 conference, we are delighted to introduce the other co-chair of this year's Local Organising Committee: Prof Oyinlola Oyebode from @qmul-wiph.bsky.social
Link to blog: bit.ly/4bmvXhr
Conference website: bit.ly/4oyrifb
Link to blog: bit.ly/4bmvXhr
Conference website: bit.ly/4oyrifb
January 29, 2026 at 8:17 AM
With abstract submissions now ✨OPEN✨ for the joint SSMPH EuroEpi 2026 conference, we are delighted to introduce the other co-chair of this year's Local Organising Committee: Prof Oyinlola Oyebode from @qmul-wiph.bsky.social
Link to blog: bit.ly/4bmvXhr
Conference website: bit.ly/4oyrifb
Link to blog: bit.ly/4bmvXhr
Conference website: bit.ly/4oyrifb
Reposted by Jack Birch
We spent this week connecting with the @nihr.bsky.social Policy Research Units in Dementia and Neurodegeneration @denpru-qm.bsky.social and Policy Innovation and Evaluation @piru-lshtm.bsky.social.
Read more about what we got up to on our LinkedIn page below:
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Read more about what we got up to on our LinkedIn page below:
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
#denpruqm | NIHR Policy Research Unit Behavioural and Social Sciences
We've had a great two days connecting with two other NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) Policy Research Units.
On Tuesday 27th January, we visited the Policy Research Unit in Dem...
www.linkedin.com
January 29, 2026 at 11:40 AM
We spent this week connecting with the @nihr.bsky.social Policy Research Units in Dementia and Neurodegeneration @denpru-qm.bsky.social and Policy Innovation and Evaluation @piru-lshtm.bsky.social.
Read more about what we got up to on our LinkedIn page below:
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Read more about what we got up to on our LinkedIn page below:
www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Reposted by Jack Birch
First paper of 2026! In our study, we examined whether public health messages can encourage people to adopt protective behaviours, such as wearing masks, washing hands, and keeping distance, to reduce the spread of respiratory infections like COVID-19 and influenza.
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Motivational effectiveness of prosocial public health messaging to reduce respiratory infection risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis - Communications Medicine
Grimani et al. examine whether prosocial messages can optimise the effect on population behaviour to reduce respiratory infection transmission. Prosocial message interventions, particularly those incl...
www.nature.com
January 7, 2026 at 11:07 AM
First paper of 2026! In our study, we examined whether public health messages can encourage people to adopt protective behaviours, such as wearing masks, washing hands, and keeping distance, to reduce the spread of respiratory infections like COVID-19 and influenza.
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
www.nature.com/articles/s43...
Reposted by Jack Birch
Great stuff here from @soozaphone.bsky.social about the flimsiness of arguments being trotted out today against lowering the drink drive limit in England & Wales
open.substack.com/pub/suzigage...
I might be one of the cynics complaining about enforcement though...
open.substack.com/pub/suzigage...
I might be one of the cynics complaining about enforcement though...
OF COURSE drink driving laws need to be updated in England and Wales
We are using antiquated regulations, and are out of step with much of the rest of the world
open.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:12 PM
Great stuff here from @soozaphone.bsky.social about the flimsiness of arguments being trotted out today against lowering the drink drive limit in England & Wales
open.substack.com/pub/suzigage...
I might be one of the cynics complaining about enforcement though...
open.substack.com/pub/suzigage...
I might be one of the cynics complaining about enforcement though...
Delighted to share this paper I co-authored that reviewed approaches for health inequality-related research priority setting that involve the affected communities.
academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/a...
academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/a...
Approaches for community intervention and research priority setting to reduce health inequalities: a scoping review
AbstractBackground. There is growing attention on research and intervention prioritization regarding the social determinants of health to address health in
academic.oup.com
December 8, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Delighted to share this paper I co-authored that reviewed approaches for health inequality-related research priority setting that involve the affected communities.
academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/a...
academic.oup.com/jpubhealth/a...
Reposted by Jack Birch
Thrilled to share my latest paper entitled, "Estimating Discrimination in Sentencing: Distinguishing between Good and Bad Controls"
Led by @jpinasanchez.bsky.social, the paper introduces a framework for examining discrimination in criminal justice processes.
🧵 1/10
publicera.kb.se/ejels/articl...
Led by @jpinasanchez.bsky.social, the paper introduces a framework for examining discrimination in criminal justice processes.
🧵 1/10
publicera.kb.se/ejels/articl...
December 8, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Thrilled to share my latest paper entitled, "Estimating Discrimination in Sentencing: Distinguishing between Good and Bad Controls"
Led by @jpinasanchez.bsky.social, the paper introduces a framework for examining discrimination in criminal justice processes.
🧵 1/10
publicera.kb.se/ejels/articl...
Led by @jpinasanchez.bsky.social, the paper introduces a framework for examining discrimination in criminal justice processes.
🧵 1/10
publicera.kb.se/ejels/articl...
Reposted by Jack Birch
Our researchers Dr Fiona Graham and Dr @laurajmcgowan.bsky.social were at Evidence Week 2025 in Parliament last week, organised by @senseaboutsci.bsky.social.
They discussed our work on virtual words in the NHS with MPs - read more about it here: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
They discussed our work on virtual words in the NHS with MPs - read more about it here: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
The National Institute for Health and Care Research Policy Research Unit in Behavioural and Social Sciences among world-class researchers, briefing MPs and parliamentary staff on the latest evidence… ...
The National Institute for Health and Care Research Policy Research Unit in Behavioural and Social Sciences among world-class researchers, briefing MPs and parliamentary staff on the latest evidence n...
www.linkedin.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Our researchers Dr Fiona Graham and Dr @laurajmcgowan.bsky.social were at Evidence Week 2025 in Parliament last week, organised by @senseaboutsci.bsky.social.
They discussed our work on virtual words in the NHS with MPs - read more about it here: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
They discussed our work on virtual words in the NHS with MPs - read more about it here: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...
Reposted by Jack Birch
We wrote an article explaining why you shouldn't put several variables into a regression model and report which are statistically significant - even as exploratory research. bmjmedicine.bmj.com/content/4/1/.... How did we do?
October 27, 2025 at 5:39 PM
We wrote an article explaining why you shouldn't put several variables into a regression model and report which are statistically significant - even as exploratory research. bmjmedicine.bmj.com/content/4/1/.... How did we do?
Reposted by Jack Birch
Lauren Bandy and I got a short piece in BMJ arguing that the proposed changes to UK sugar drink tax target the wrong end of the market. Changing the threshold where tax is applied from 5g sugar/100mL to 4g only hurts those that have ALREADY reformulated and changes nothing for high sugar drinks.
Changes to UK soft drinks tax are a missed opportunity for public health
The government’s decision not to introduce a higher rate tax for the most sugary drinks is good news for industry but not for public health, argue Lauren Bandy and Peter Scarborough
In the 2024 autu...
www.bmj.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Lauren Bandy and I got a short piece in BMJ arguing that the proposed changes to UK sugar drink tax target the wrong end of the market. Changing the threshold where tax is applied from 5g sugar/100mL to 4g only hurts those that have ALREADY reformulated and changes nothing for high sugar drinks.
Reposted by Jack Birch
Earlier this month, all our researchers & co-investigators got together at the University of Bedfordshire in Luton.
We discussed topics such as engaging youth in research, public involvement, and ensuring meaningful impact.
Read more here: www.linkedin.com/posts/nihr-p...
We discussed topics such as engaging youth in research, public involvement, and ensuring meaningful impact.
Read more here: www.linkedin.com/posts/nihr-p...
At the beginning of October, all our researchers and co-investigators from across the NIHR Policy Research Unit Behavioural and Social Sciences got together at the University of Bedfordshire in Luton…...
At the beginning of October, all our researchers and co-investigators from across the NIHR Policy Research Unit Behavioural and Social Sciences got together at the University of Bedfordshire in Luton ...
www.linkedin.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Earlier this month, all our researchers & co-investigators got together at the University of Bedfordshire in Luton.
We discussed topics such as engaging youth in research, public involvement, and ensuring meaningful impact.
Read more here: www.linkedin.com/posts/nihr-p...
We discussed topics such as engaging youth in research, public involvement, and ensuring meaningful impact.
Read more here: www.linkedin.com/posts/nihr-p...
To have this as the policy for a mental health service is *wild*. If someone does not attend a mental health assessment appointment, they're probably worse not better...
October 6, 2025 at 4:05 PM
To have this as the policy for a mental health service is *wild*. If someone does not attend a mental health assessment appointment, they're probably worse not better...
Reposted by Jack Birch
We're are now accepting applications for an exciting DPhil at the @oxprimarycare.bsky.social, *FUNDED* by the THRIVING Food Futures research hub!
The project is about divisive policies, supervised by me, Dr Rachel Pechey @petescarbs.bsky.social @ashakaur.bsky.social
lnkd.in/eezGaZZ3
Pls share! ✨
The project is about divisive policies, supervised by me, Dr Rachel Pechey @petescarbs.bsky.social @ashakaur.bsky.social
lnkd.in/eezGaZZ3
Pls share! ✨
Crowd-pleasers or food fights? Exploring UK public support and objection to divisive policies that aim to reduce the environmental harm caused by the food system
www.phc.ox.ac.uk
September 22, 2025 at 8:34 AM
We're are now accepting applications for an exciting DPhil at the @oxprimarycare.bsky.social, *FUNDED* by the THRIVING Food Futures research hub!
The project is about divisive policies, supervised by me, Dr Rachel Pechey @petescarbs.bsky.social @ashakaur.bsky.social
lnkd.in/eezGaZZ3
Pls share! ✨
The project is about divisive policies, supervised by me, Dr Rachel Pechey @petescarbs.bsky.social @ashakaur.bsky.social
lnkd.in/eezGaZZ3
Pls share! ✨
Just back from attending another excellent @socsocmed.bsky.social conference #SSM2025
It was great catching up with old and new friends that I've made over my time in academia to date. I was happy to share our @nihr-pru-bass.bsky.social research on populism and public health interventions.
It was great catching up with old and new friends that I've made over my time in academia to date. I was happy to share our @nihr-pru-bass.bsky.social research on populism and public health interventions.
September 12, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Just back from attending another excellent @socsocmed.bsky.social conference #SSM2025
It was great catching up with old and new friends that I've made over my time in academia to date. I was happy to share our @nihr-pru-bass.bsky.social research on populism and public health interventions.
It was great catching up with old and new friends that I've made over my time in academia to date. I was happy to share our @nihr-pru-bass.bsky.social research on populism and public health interventions.
Reposted by Jack Birch
Less inequality = fewer problems
@profkepickett.bsky.social lays our her vision for a good society at #SSM2025
@socsocmed.bsky.social
@profkepickett.bsky.social lays our her vision for a good society at #SSM2025
@socsocmed.bsky.social
September 12, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Less inequality = fewer problems
@profkepickett.bsky.social lays our her vision for a good society at #SSM2025
@socsocmed.bsky.social
@profkepickett.bsky.social lays our her vision for a good society at #SSM2025
@socsocmed.bsky.social
It was great to present our review of interview studies looking at populism and how people receive public health interventions @socsocmed.bsky.social #SSM2025 yesterday!
Looking forward to two more days of exciting talks 🤓
Looking forward to two more days of exciting talks 🤓
September 11, 2025 at 8:27 AM
It was great to present our review of interview studies looking at populism and how people receive public health interventions @socsocmed.bsky.social #SSM2025 yesterday!
Looking forward to two more days of exciting talks 🤓
Looking forward to two more days of exciting talks 🤓
#SSM2025 Early Career Researcher day! Follow this thread to see updates (I'm doing the updates, so look forward to inevitable typos)
Let us know if you're coming to the #SSM2025 Early Career Researcher day!
We get started at 09:30 with a packed schedule of sessions from considering how to best include the public in research, the role of qualitative methods in health research, to presenting research in the media.
See you soon!
We get started at 09:30 with a packed schedule of sessions from considering how to best include the public in research, the role of qualitative methods in health research, to presenting research in the media.
See you soon!
September 9, 2025 at 9:48 AM
#SSM2025 Early Career Researcher day! Follow this thread to see updates (I'm doing the updates, so look forward to inevitable typos)
Super interesting thread from @amckinlay.bsky.social on how trust relates to public health, and how this links to our recent work looking at how populism affects the acceptability of public health interventions
⬇️
⬇️
Trust (or lack of it) shapes how people respond to public health.
In our latest review in Social Science & Medicine, we found that distrust of “elites”(aka politicians, scientists, health professionals) doesn’t just affect individual choices.
In our latest review in Social Science & Medicine, we found that distrust of “elites”(aka politicians, scientists, health professionals) doesn’t just affect individual choices.
September 2, 2025 at 8:16 AM
Super interesting thread from @amckinlay.bsky.social on how trust relates to public health, and how this links to our recent work looking at how populism affects the acceptability of public health interventions
⬇️
⬇️
Reposted by Jack Birch
Thank you @jackmbirch.bsky.social for summarising your experiences at our recent #DigitalHealthDivide2025 workshop at @univie.ac.at!
Our researcher @jackmbirch.bsky.social recently attended a workshop on the digital health divide at the University of Vienna @univie.ac.at.
Read about how they considered how research practice can be improved when considering the digital health divide ⬇️
behscipru.nihr.ac.uk/3207-2/
Read about how they considered how research practice can be improved when considering the digital health divide ⬇️
behscipru.nihr.ac.uk/3207-2/
Considering the digital health divide - NIHR PRU Behavioural and Social Sciences
One of our Newcastle-based researchers, Dr Jack Birch, recently attended a workshop on the ‘digital health divide’ at the University of Vienna. “The digital health divide is how digital interventions ...
behscipru.nihr.ac.uk
August 19, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Thank you @jackmbirch.bsky.social for summarising your experiences at our recent #DigitalHealthDivide2025 workshop at @univie.ac.at!
Reposted by Jack Birch
After all the bollocks of claiming (wrongly) that the UK has two tier justice system, Farage is planning exactly that.
August 27, 2025 at 9:37 AM
After all the bollocks of claiming (wrongly) that the UK has two tier justice system, Farage is planning exactly that.
Reposted by Jack Birch
A really nice example on how to visually communicate the text contents of a paper on mobile phones
A must-read, must-share piece - clearly deconstructing the shoddy science of the Geiers (who are inexplicably in charge of studies at HHS).
Consider this an early warning for what lies ahead. 🛟🩺🧪
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Consider this an early warning for what lies ahead. 🛟🩺🧪
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Opinion | The Playbook Used to ‘Prove’ Vaccines Cause Autism (Gift Article)
Data can easily be manipulated to show a causation that doesn’t exist.
www.nytimes.com
August 19, 2025 at 2:07 PM
A really nice example on how to visually communicate the text contents of a paper on mobile phones
Reposted by Jack Birch
Our researcher @jackmbirch.bsky.social recently attended a workshop on the digital health divide at the University of Vienna @univie.ac.at.
Read about how they considered how research practice can be improved when considering the digital health divide ⬇️
behscipru.nihr.ac.uk/3207-2/
Read about how they considered how research practice can be improved when considering the digital health divide ⬇️
behscipru.nihr.ac.uk/3207-2/
Considering the digital health divide - NIHR PRU Behavioural and Social Sciences
One of our Newcastle-based researchers, Dr Jack Birch, recently attended a workshop on the ‘digital health divide’ at the University of Vienna. “The digital health divide is how digital interventions ...
behscipru.nihr.ac.uk
August 19, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Our researcher @jackmbirch.bsky.social recently attended a workshop on the digital health divide at the University of Vienna @univie.ac.at.
Read about how they considered how research practice can be improved when considering the digital health divide ⬇️
behscipru.nihr.ac.uk/3207-2/
Read about how they considered how research practice can be improved when considering the digital health divide ⬇️
behscipru.nihr.ac.uk/3207-2/
Reposted by Jack Birch
Very happy to see a big paper from my PhD *OUT TODAY*
We explored if there were inequalities in the attendance & effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions in an individual participant data meta-analysis.
See the thread for findings 👇
bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/2/...
We explored if there were inequalities in the attendance & effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions in an individual participant data meta-analysis.
See the thread for findings 👇
bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/2/...
Are there inequalities in the attendance at and effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions for adults in the UK? An individual participant data meta-analysis
Objectives Interventions for obesity that require individual behaviour change, such as behavioural weight management interventions, may contribute to health inequalities. We explored if there was evid...
bmjpublichealth.bmj.com
August 8, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Very happy to see a big paper from my PhD *OUT TODAY*
We explored if there were inequalities in the attendance & effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions in an individual participant data meta-analysis.
See the thread for findings 👇
bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/2/...
We explored if there were inequalities in the attendance & effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions in an individual participant data meta-analysis.
See the thread for findings 👇
bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/2/...
Reposted by Jack Birch
Want to help improve mental health in academia? We are looking for bloggers for our November and December slots.
You can submit a pitch here and learn more about the process: voicesofacademia.com/contact-2/
You can submit a pitch here and learn more about the process: voicesofacademia.com/contact-2/
August 13, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Want to help improve mental health in academia? We are looking for bloggers for our November and December slots.
You can submit a pitch here and learn more about the process: voicesofacademia.com/contact-2/
You can submit a pitch here and learn more about the process: voicesofacademia.com/contact-2/
Reposted by Jack Birch
AI replicates, magnifies and perpetuates the biases already active in our health system and society www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
AI tools used by English councils downplay women’s health issues, study finds
Exclusive: LSE research finds risk of gender bias in care decisions made based on AI summaries of case notes
www.theguardian.com
August 11, 2025 at 5:42 AM
AI replicates, magnifies and perpetuates the biases already active in our health system and society www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Very happy to see a big paper from my PhD *OUT TODAY*
We explored if there were inequalities in the attendance & effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions in an individual participant data meta-analysis.
See the thread for findings 👇
bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/2/...
We explored if there were inequalities in the attendance & effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions in an individual participant data meta-analysis.
See the thread for findings 👇
bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/2/...
Are there inequalities in the attendance at and effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions for adults in the UK? An individual participant data meta-analysis
Objectives Interventions for obesity that require individual behaviour change, such as behavioural weight management interventions, may contribute to health inequalities. We explored if there was evid...
bmjpublichealth.bmj.com
August 8, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Very happy to see a big paper from my PhD *OUT TODAY*
We explored if there were inequalities in the attendance & effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions in an individual participant data meta-analysis.
See the thread for findings 👇
bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/2/...
We explored if there were inequalities in the attendance & effectiveness of behavioural weight management interventions in an individual participant data meta-analysis.
See the thread for findings 👇
bmjpublichealth.bmj.com/content/3/2/...