
Dr Nicola Mills
B.Sc.(Sus.), Ph.D.(Bristol), MSc (LSHTM)
Current positions
Senior Research Fellow
Bristol Medical School (PHS)
Contact
Press and media
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Research interests
I have specialist expertise in the application of qualitative research methods within randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to improve recruitment and informed consent. In recent years I have used qualitative methods to understand the barriers to recruitment, building these findings into flexible training packages to support staff who recruit patients to RCTs. I also use a range of qualitative methods more broadly to ascertain experiences and acceptability of healthcare interventions. I worked within the MRC ConDuCT-II (COllaboration and iNnovation in DifficUlt or complex randomised Controlled Trials In Invasive procedures) Hub for 10 years to develop methodological research in trial recruitment, and have been an active member of the University of Bristol Qualitative research integrated within Trials (QuinteT) team since its inception, developing research and training activities to improve the design and conduct of RCTs. I am the RCT recruitment training lead for the QuinteT group; co-lead for two Bristol Medical School short course - 'Optimising recruitment to Randomised Controlled Trials' and ‘Qualitative Research to Optimise Design and Conduct of Randomised Trials’ and a former Associate Editor for Trials journal.
Projects and supervisions
Research projects
Advancing training for health professionals and trialist to optimise RCT recruitment and informed consent
Principal Investigator
Managing organisational unit
Bristol Medical School (PHS)Dates
01/09/2018 to 30/06/2019
Thesis supervisions
Publications
Recent publications
25/01/2023Lockdown Experiences and Views on Future Research Participation of Autistic Adults in the UK During the First 6 Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Autism in Adulthood
Development of a new adapted Quintet Recruitment Intervention (QRI-Two) for rapid application to RCTs underway with enrolment shortfalls - to identify previously hidden barriers and improve recruitment
Trials
Short-term safety outcomes of mastectomy and immediate pre-pectoral implant-based breast reconstruction
British Journal of Surgery
Staff training to improve participant recruitment into surgical randomised controlled trials
Research Methods in Medicine & Health Sciences.
Understanding the perspectives of recruiters is key to improving randomised controlled trial enrolment
Trials
Thesis
Evaluation of a primary care epilepsy specialist nurse service
Supervisors
Award date
01/01/2000