The Health and Wellbeing Directorate of Public Health England (PHE) invited Fuse researchers to tender for a mapping exercise about UK research activity on work, health and wellbeing, including the scoping of a potential virtual network for dissemination and collaboration. A team of researchers from Durham and Teesside Universities submitted a successful bid to PHE. The team conducted a rapid literature review based on existing Fuse research on health and work interventions. They also used Fuse’s extended networks to distribute an online and paper survey to gauge academic interest in supporting the review and joining the network. The work started in January 2014 and was completed by the end of March within the available budget.

1,435 papers on the broad topic of Work, Health & Wellbeing were identified and 321 individuals/ organisations were listed as active UK researchers in this field, of which 110 responded to the questionnaire. The literature review helped to map six areas for further research. The majority (80%) of respondents were also interested in joining a virtual network on the topic of Work, Health & Wellbeing and their responses informed a draft business case for the virtual network that PHE is currently considering.

Contact details:

Dr Mike Brannan, Adult Life Course Lead,

Health and Wellbeing Directorate,

Public Health England

Tel: 020 765 48405

Email: Michael.Brannan@phe.gov.uk