RESPIRE-I Study Closed Out with 100% Recruitment!
Ms Sharon O’Neill [NICRN Admin Officer, Northern HSC Trust] , Suzanne Barrett [PhD – NICRN Research Psychologist] and Ms Brogan Campbell [Maternity Support Worker] in Whiteabbey Clinic
The NICRN supported a NERC-funded UK-wide RESPIRE-I Maternity Study closed out recruitment with 100+% recruitment in Northern HSC Trust on March 31st 2026 in a 10 month window. Participants were recruited from Ballymena, Antrim and Whiteabbey antenatal maternity clinics to examine the effects of air pollution in the home on foetal and maternal health. Led by Northern HSC Trust consultant Dr David Morgan Obs & Gyny and Prof. Duncan McVicar (QUB), NICRN research psychologist and CPH QUB Visiting Scholar Dr Suzanne Barrett from Impact Research Centre identified and sourced participants using Encompass systems for this longitudinal observational study. She worked with the three antenatal clinics to advertise the study and with Ms Sharon O’Neill (NICRN Administrator), to install and collect air pollution monitors in the homes of thirty consenting women and their partners, all currently registered with NHSCT maternity services. Air pollution monitors recording was undertaken for a period of at least two weeks in three locations in each home. Dr Barrett consented participants and sent study questionnaires and location diaries at appropriate times through University of Manchester’s REDCap system (Chief Investigator site: Dr Lucy Higgins Obs & Gyny, UoM). Dr Barrett extracted data from field notes, Encompass, and sourced additional requested data using Land & Property Services (LPS) Pointer database, for entry into each participant’s electronic Clinical Research Folders throughout their pregnancy. The total funding value for the Northern HSC Trust relating to this study was £76802. The study will continue to gather information to 12 months post-natal follow-up under the supervision of Dr David Morgan, activity ending in August 2027.
