Q&A Professor Noble and Dr Forbes

Q1 What are your job titles?
Professor Helen noble, Professor of Nursing
Dr Trisha Forbes, Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Q2 What is the title of your NIKRF-funded research?
The PAINT Project: A multimethods international maPping exercise of Arts Interventions in reNal uniTs.

Q3 What inspired you to pursue research in this field?
We have always had a passion for research around mental health and well-being, and Trisha has personal lived experience of serious mental health challenges. She has a particular interest in the link between mental health and the arts, and was the Chairperson of the Northern Ireland Mental Health Arts Festival for three years. When the opportunity came up to work as the postdoctoral researcher on this project, Trisha was excited to bring these interests together within the renal population. She had never worked in the renal discipline before and this aspect of the job has been a steep learning curve, but both Helen and Trisha have found the kidney community to be particularly welcoming and built up so many fantastic working relationships.

Q4 Have there been any surprising findings so far?
We find it surprising that, proportionately, so few renal units are prioritising the mental health and well-being of their patients, by taking on a more person-centred approach, such as the introduction of arts activities for their patients. When research has shown that psychological challenges, such as depression and anxiety, are so prevalent among this population, it seems remiss not to make every effort to tackle this issue head on.

Q5 What do you hope your research will achieve? 
The PAINT Project has provided further evidence for the importance of arts activities for kidney patients in a global context. It has mapped out evidence of the arts being used in renal settings internationally and has explored experiences of HCPs and arts facilitators in a range of countries. We are in the process of conducting co-design workshops with input from colleagues at Nifty Fox Creative, to develop a policy brief, which will drive forward the main findings and recommendations to come from the PAINT Project. This policy brief will be launched at an event in the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast, on 17^th January 2025. We also have a paper currently under review in a person-centred edition of the journal ‘Nephron’.

Q6 Any advice for those considering a career in kidney medicine or research?
‘Working in the realm of kidney research is such a rewarding experience. This patient group and the wider renal community are so welcoming and supportive, and it’s a pleasure to feel part of the extended kidney family!’