Overview I am a senior health care scientist using a mixed methods approach.

I lead and advise on projects concerning 

• Health services research at the primary health care and secondary health care interface.
• The health of older people with a focus on self-management and supportive care  
• Cancer care with a focus on self-management and supportive care.

Current projects

HAPPY study: Heart failure and participation in physical activity. (NIHR-RfPB, Principal Investigator)

Self-management approches to heart failure-related fatigue: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (funded by NIHR School of Primary Care Research (SPCR), joint principal investigator with Dr Rachel Johnson) 

MAB study: pilot feasibility RCT of Mistletoe And Breast cancer. (funded by the Society for cancer research, Switzerland, joint principal investigator with Professor Gene Feder)

Women & Cancer: Supporting treatment adherance and survivorship (funded by UoB Cancer fund, principal investigator)

DIPP study:  Development and impact of guidelines, decision tools and training in community referral and diagnosis in patients with papillioedema versus papillioedema. (Funded by University Hospital Bristol Above and Beyond, NIHR SPCR, NIHR programme development grant. Joint Principal Investigator with Dr Denize Atan) 

Background

I am a graduate the University of Bath and was awarded my PhD from the Institute of Child Health (UCL) in 1996.  I held previous appointments at the University of Leicester (1996-1999) and the University of Exeter (1999-2006).  I have contributed to several NICE guidance whilst working at the National Collaborating Centre for Women’s and children’s Health (2006-2009). 

Methodologies

My main methdological expertise is in systematic review and evidence synthesis. I have a special interest in mixed methods synthesis reviews. However I have experience of many approaches including 

• Meta-analysis
• Thematic synthesis
• Mixed methods synthesis 
• Rapid reviews
• Overviews (umbrella reviews)

I also have experience in surveys, stakeholder consultation methods, qualitative interview studies and clinical trial management. 

Patient and health professional involvement

Patient and public involvement, and health professional consultation has been a part of my projects since 2011. 

Teaching 

University of Bristol student choice projects with Year 2 and year 3 medical students.

Postgraduate teaching of mixed methods evidence synthesis.

I am the NIHR School for Primary Care Research trainee lead for Bristol pre-doctoral students and summer interns. 

I supervise one PhD student.

Other research activities

Founding member of NIHR SPCR Evidence synthesis working group.

Founder and past chair of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Group. This brings together people from within the Unversity of Bristol, the University of the West England and non-academic stakeholders.

E-SPACE group lead - Evidence synthesis group within the Centre for Acdaemic Primary Care (CAPC), University of Bristol.

Key words

Health services research 

Self-management/self care 

Older people's health 

Cancer

Complementary approches to health 

Systematic review and evidence synthesis