About CAHRU
Remit
The Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit (CAHRU) is a specialist research unit that focuses on child and adolescent health within the school-aged population.
We undertake research relevant to the promotion of health among children and adolescents at local, national and international levels. The health behaviour, health and well-being of school-aged children are monitored and studied in the context of:
- teenage transitions
- developmental issues associated with puberty
- social inequalities
- family, school, peers, neighbourhood - local and national services and policies
- school as a setting for health promotion
- international comparisons
The aim of CAHRU is to conduct research which is scientifically robust, theoretically based, and of strategic significance and to disseminate it widely to key research user groups.
CAHRU is also the International Coordinating Centre of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC), a World Health Organization Cross-national Study in 43 countries. Professor Candace Currie, CAHRU Director, is the elected International Coordinator of HBSC (1995-2000, 2000-2005, 2005-2009, 2009-2012).
Background
CAHRU was established as a specialist research unit by Candace Currie and her research team in 2000. The Unit builds on a 15-year programme of research on child and adolescent health previously conducted at the Research Unit in Health and Behavioural Change (RUHBC), The University of Edinburgh.
CAHRU research projects cover a breadth of work from local to international. They address research questions that are theoretical, methodological, and empirical in nature, as well as related to practice and policy issues. There is a strong emphasis on application in all the research at CAHRU and dissemination activities are designed to reach policy makers and programme developers, schools, parents, carers and young people, as well as academic audiences.
Expertise
Knowledge of a wide range of child and adolescent health issues and social environmental determinants of health.
Research Methodology
- Quantitative research methods
Survey questionnaire design; survey sampling methodology; basic to advanced statistical analysis; reporting of data: descriptive and analytic. - Qualitative research methods
Interviewing; focus group discussions; qualitative data analysis; reporting of descriptive and interpretative findings.
Monitoring
- Monitoring health
National trends in health behaviour, health and social context from 1990; Scottish health trends in an international context.
Evaluation
- Evaluation of the Health Promoting School
Needs assessments; health profiling; development of tools for process and outcome evaluation; partnership working development of school-based interventions.
Development Work
- Development of a training resource
Producing training materials for teachers in collaboration with NHS Health Scotland. - Access to research information
Development of web-based and planned interactive access to research information for range of users.
Network Co-ordination
- Coordination of international research networks
Expertise developed from coordination of a major World Health Organization collaborative study in 36 countries since 1995, and a European Commission funded study among eight European partners 1998-2000.
Further Information
For more information please contact us at:
CAHRU (Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit)The Moray House School of Education
The University of Edinburgh
St Leonard's Land
Holyrood Road
Edinburgh EH8 8AQ
Scotland, UK
Tel: +44(0)131 651 6550
Fax: +44(0)131 651 6271
Email: cahru@ed.ac.uk