Dr Jo Kesten
BSc(Lough.), PhD(Lough.)
Current positions
Senior Research Fellow
Bristol Medical School (PHS)
Contact
Press and media
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Research interests
Joanna’s research interests are the use of qualitative methods to understand ‘what works, for whom and in what circumstances’ in public health interventions. In particular her research explores the acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness of public health interventions. Joanna primarily uses qualitative methods in her research and is also interested in mixed methods research. Most of her research to date has been in the areas of child health and physical activity interventions.
Joanna joined the NIHR CLAHRC West and the Health Protection Research Unit in February 2015. Prior to this she worked in the Centre for Exercise, Nutrition and Health Sciences on the Bristol Girls Dance Project, a cluster randomised controlled trial designed to determine the effectiveness of a dance-intervention to improve the objectively assessed physical activity of 11-12 year old girls with Professor Russ Jago. Before moving to Bristol, Joanna spent a year in CEDAR (Centre for Diet and Activity Research) at Cambridge University, examining the effects of environmental changes on travel behaviour, physical activity and health.
Her PhD thesis examined the role of community readiness in the prevention of overweight and obesity in pre-adolescent girls.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Improving access to HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): examining pharmacy delivery
Principal Investigator
Role
Co-Investigator
Description
Scoping review: Our researchers searched 10 databases to review the published evidence. They identified 649 potentially relevant journal articles and after screening for eligibility, reviewed 56. Most of the eligible…Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
01/02/2022 to 01/01/2027
Collaborative and intensive pragmatic qualitative (CLIP-Q) research
Principal Investigator
Role
Co-Investigator
Description
The CLIP-Q approach involves:
• Collaboration at all stages of projects, including their design, conduct and implementation.
Where possible, co-produce projects with people with lived experience. Meaningful collaboration enables the diverse…Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
01/01/2020 to 31/07/2023
Drug use in street sex workers: the DUSSK study
Principal Investigator
Role
Co-Investigator
Description
What we found and what this means
Fewer street sex workers took part than expected. This was because many of the women who could have taken part didn’t feel they were…Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
01/02/2018 to 31/12/2020
Evaluating sexual health rapid results service
Principal Investigator
Role
Co-Investigator
Description
Computer modelling study
Unity introduced an online self-sampling service for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in June 2017. Modelling this new service alongside existing services showed that…Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
01/04/2017 to 28/02/2023
FAB Kids
Role
Co-Investigator
Description
We have developed an interactive workshop aimed at Year 5 and 6 children (initially) that extols the virtues of making healthy lifestyle choices. The workshop is closely aligned with the…Managing organisational unit
School for Policy StudiesDates
01/07/2013 to 31/07/2015
Thesis supervisions
Publications
Recent publications
11/02/2026Development and implementation of a pharmacy PrEP awareness-raising and referral pathway
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Understanding Vaccination Uptake Amongst Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in UK Sexual Health Services
Vaccines
MAternal Dietary changEs (MADE)
MAternal Dietary changEs (MADE)
Development and implementation of pharmacy PrEP awareness raising and initiation: acceptability and feasibility of a UK pilot
A qualitative study of healthcare professional views on appropriate prescribing interventions for people who are co-dependent on opioids and benzodiazepines / z-drugs
Related people
Professor Jeremy Horwood
Professor of Social Science and Health
Bristol Medical School (PHS)
Professor Matthew Hickman
Professor in Public Health and Epidemiology
Bristol Medical School (PHS)
Dr Hannah Family
Research Fellow (Qualitative and Behavioural Science)
Bristol Medical School (PHS)
Dr Sarah Denford
Senior Research Fellow
Bristol Medical School (PHS)
Dr Jenny Scott
Senior Lecturer
Bristol Medical School (PHS)