Professor Alicia O'Cathain
BSc, MSc, MA, PhD
Population Health, School of Medicine and Population Health
Professor of Health Services Research
+44 114 222 0770
Full contact details
Population Health, School of Medicine and Population Health
3015
Regent Court (ScHARR)
30 Regent Street
91Ö±²¥
S1 4DA
- Profile
-
I am Director of the Health and Care Research Unit which focuses on the development and evaluation of complex interventions and services in healthcare, social care and third sector organisations. I have helped to develop interventions and evaluate them, leading the qualitative research and process evaluations. I also use mixed methods to understand service users' experiences of care. I am currently leading a project to help men in surveillance for abdominal aortic aneurysms to manage anxiety and exit surveillance when appropriate. I have written extensively on methodology (how best to undertake mixed methods research, focusing more recently on qualitative methods with randomised controlled trials, and how to develop complex interventions).
NIHR Senior Investigator
Current projects
- 2024 to 2028 NIHR HSDR DAMPEN-D Improving the Detection, Assessment, Management, and Prevention of delirium in hospices: A Cluster Randomised-Controlled Trial and Process Evaluation to evaluate and explain the effectiveness of the CLECC-Pal guideline implementation £2.3m (Workpackage Lead: process evaluation)
- 2024 to 2029 NIHR PGfAR PREHAB-CARDIAC The development and evaluation of two Prehab interventions for patients undergoing elective and urgent heart surgery £2.7m (Workpackage Lead: qualitative)
- 2024 to 2029 NIHR PGfAR DECIDE-TAD Mixed methods co-design and evaluation of a Decision Support Tool to enable shared decision making for people who are considering cascade screening for Thoracic Aortic Disease £2.9m (Workpackage Lead: qualitative)
- 2024 to 2027 NIHR HSDR Implementing professional support for the voluntary sector workforce: A multi-case action research study £796,348 (Mentor co-applicant)
- 2024 to 2026 NIHR Three Schools Dementia Research Programme Identifying brain health and dementia research priorities with a Somali community and developing inclusive dementia research methods £175,227 (Co-applicant)
- 2023 to 2026 NIHR HTA A Patient-reported outcome measure for PRolApse, Incontinence and meSh complication surgEry: The APPRAISE study £1.5 million (Workpackage Lead: Qualitative)
- 2023 to 2024 NIHR PGfAR OPTimising the prevention, identification and management of ICU-Delirium £150k (Co-applicant)
- 2023 to 2024 NIHR HSDR To co-design a toolkit of resources to support the implementation of individualised service funds for people with learning disabilities: EQUALD study £517k (Mentor Co-applicant)
- 2022 to 2025 THIS Institute PhD Fellowship: Exploring variation in adherence to clinical practice guidelines in rare diseases using ADPKD as a disease model to improve the quality and safety of healthcare £221K (Second supervisor)
- 2022 to 2025 NIHR HSDR National Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme: reducing the psychosocial consequences of screening and developing a patient-centred Exit Strategy £648k (Lead Investigator)
- 2022 to 2027 NIHR PHR Evaluation of a sustainable obesity prevention programme delivered at scale ‘HENRY’: Effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and its role in obesity prevention within the wider complex system £1.9m (Work package Lead: Process Evaluation)
- 2022 to 2023 NIHR PDG Pre-habilitation before cardiac surgery in the UK (CARDIAC PREHAB-UK) £142k (Co-applicant)
- 2022 to 2024 NIHR The Yorkshire & Humber Palliative Care Research Network: Addressing Inequalities Across All Ages £150k (Co-applicant)
- 2021 to 2024 NIHR Senior Investigator Award £80k
- Research interests
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Mixed methods, evaluation of new health services, patient views of health care, using qualitative research with RCTs, developing complex interventions.
- Publications
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Show: Featured publications All publications
Featured publications
Journal articles
- . BMC Health Services Research, 22(1).
- . British Medical Journal, 374.
- . British Journal of General Practice Open (BJGP Open).
- . Implementation Science, 14(1).
- . BMJ Open, 9(8).
- . Qualitative Health Research.
- . Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 5.
- . Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes.
- . PLoS ONE, 13(9).
- . BMJ, 355.
- . Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 2(64).
- . Journal of Medical Internet Research, 18(6).
- . The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(6), 515-525.
- . BMJ, 353, i2647.
- . Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 21(1), 5-14.
- . Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 1.
- . Trauma Violence Abuse, 16(3), 299-315.
- . BMJ, 350, h1258-h1258.
- . BMC Med Res Methodol, 14, 24.
- . Health Technol Assess, 18(38), 1-vi.
- . Trials, 15, 215.
- . BMJ Qual Saf, 23(1), 47-55.
- . BMJ Open, 3(6).
- . Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68(12), 2610-2621.
- . BMJ, 340, c1066.
- . Psychol Health, 25(6), 699-712.
- . J MIX METHOD RES, 3(1), 3-6.
- . J Health Serv Res Policy, 13 Suppl 2, 19-25.
- . Qual Health Res, 18(11), 1574-1585.
- . J Health Serv Res Policy, 13(2), 92-98.
- . BMC Health Serv Res, 7, 85.
- . Soc Sci Med, 61(8), 1761-1771.
- . BMC Med Res Methodol, 4, 25.
- . J Health Serv Res Policy, 9(4), 226-233.
- . Health Expectations.
All publications
Journal articles
- . Journal of Vascular Nursing.
- . Heart, heartjnl-2024.
- . BMJ Open, 14(3), e081861-e081861.
- . BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 24(1), 148.
- . Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration.
- . Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 169, 111275-111275.
- . BMJ Open, 14(1), e076434-e076434.
- . Health Expect.
- . Health and Social Care Delivery Research, 10(38).
- . Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes, 6(1).
- . BMC Health Services Research, 22(1).
- . BMC Medical Research Methodology, 22(1).
- . Perspectives in Public Health, 142(4), 237-240.
- . Patient Preference and Adherence, 16, 771-780.
- . Emergency Medicine Journal.
- . Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 7(1).
- . Programme Grants for Applied Research, 9(11), 1-146.
- . British Medical Journal, 374.
- . Health Expect.
- . Health Research Policy and Systems, 19(1).
- . BMC Public Health, 20(1).
- . BMJ Open, 10.
- . British Journal of Pain.
- . BMJ Open, 10(10), e039089-e039089.
- . Health Services and Delivery Research, 8(24).
- . British Journal of General Practice Open (BJGP Open).
- . BMJ Open, 10(4).
- . Implementation Science, 14(1).
- . Emergency Medicine Journal.
- . BMJ Open, 9(11).
- . Drug and Alcohol Review.
- . Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 5(1).
- . PLOS ONE, 14(10).
- . International Journal for Equity in Health, 18(1).
- . Annals of Emergency Medicine.
- . BMJ Open, 9(8).
- . Qualitative Health Research.
- . BMJ Quality and Safety, 28(7), 556-563.
- . Journal of Clinical Epidemiology.
- . BMJ Open, 9(5).
- . BMC Pulmonary Medicine, 19.
- . Programme Grants for Applied Research, 7(3).
- . Journal of Clinical Epidemiology.
- . Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 5.
- . British Journal of Health Psychology.
- . Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
- . Prehospital Emergency Care, 1-27.
- . Education for Information, 34(4), 285-291.
- . BMJ Open, 8(11).
- . International Journal for Equity in Health, 17(1), 159-171.
- . Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes.
- . PLoS ONE, 13(9).
- . Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
- . F1000Research, 7.
- . PLoS ONE, 12(5).
- . Programme Grants for Applied Research, 5(1).
- . BMJ, 355.
- . Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 2(64).
- . Journal of Interpersonal Violence.
- . BMJ Open, 6(10).
- . BMC Psychiatry, 16(1).
- . Journal of Medical Internet Research, 18(6).
- . The Lancet Psychiatry, 3(6), 515-525.
- . BMJ, 353, i2647.
- . Injury, 47(6), 1170-1183.
- . Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 21(1), 5-14.
- . Trials, 16(1).
- . Health Expectations, 18(6), 2951-2961.
- . BMJ Open, 5(11).
- . Methodology, 11(4), 119-125.
- . Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 1.
- . Trauma Violence Abuse, 16(3), 299-315.
- . Implementation Science, 10(1).
- . BMJ, 350, h1258-h1258.
- . Journal of Public Mental Health, 14(3), 127-134.
- . BMJ Open, 5(2), e006448-e006448.
- . Int J STD AIDS, 26(6), 369-378.
- . Emergency Medicine Journal.
- . BMC Med Res Methodol, 14, 24.
- . Social Science & Medicine, 120, 12-20.
- . BMC Family Practice, 1(15).
- . BMC Public Health, 14.
- . J Health Serv Res Policy, 19(4), 224-230.
- . Emerg Med J, 31(e1), e9-e18.
- . Contemp Clin Trials, 38(2), 338-343.
- . Health Technol Assess, 18(38), 1-vi.
- . Health Technology Assessment, 18(34).
- . J Epidemiol Community Health, 68(2), 101-102.
- . Trials, 15, 215.
- . Trials, 15, 36.
- . BMJ Qual Saf, 23(1), 47-55.
- . Fam Pract, 31(2), 193-200.
- . J Med Internet Res, 16(5), e123.
- . Health Services Management Research, 26(4), 110-118.
- . Trials, 14(S1).
- . Trials, 14(S1).
- . BMJ Open, 3.
- . BMJ Open, 3(6).
- . Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 6(1), 119-123.
- . Health Qual Life Outcomes, 10, 138.
- . Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68(12), 2610-2621.
- . Contemp Clin Trials, 33(5), 853-859.
- . Contemporary Clinical Trials, 33(5), 853-859.
- . J Health Serv Res Policy, 17 Suppl 1, 31-39.
- . Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 6(1), 5-20.
- . Qual Life Res, 21(3), 465-473.
- . Health Expect, 15(1), 78-86.
- . Trials, 12, 259.
- . Soc Sci Med, 72(11), 1904-1912.
- . BMJ Qual Saf, 20(2), 134-140.
- . International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches, 5(2), 219-222.
- Using mixed methods research to explore the effect of an adaptation exercise on general population valuations of health states. Quality of Life Research, 1-9.
- . Health Expect, 13(4), 350-358.
- . Fam Pract, 27(5), 554-555.
- . BMC Med Res Methodol, 10, 52.
- . BMJ, 341, c4587.
- . BMJ, 340, c1066.
- . Psychol Health, 25(6), 699-712.
- Do walk-in centres for commuters work? A mixed methods evaluation.. The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 59(569).
- . BRIT J GEN PRACT, 59(569), 940-942.
- . BRIT J GEN PRACT, 59(569), 934-939.
- , 135-158.
- . Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs, 8(2), 85-90.
- User satisfaction with commuter walk-in centres.. The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 59(569).
- . International Journal of Multiple Research Approaches, 3(1), 2-7.
- . J MIX METHOD RES, 3(1), 3-6.
- . BMC Med Res Methodol, 9, 82.
- . J Health Serv Res Policy, 13 Suppl 2, 19-25.
- . Qual Health Res, 18(11), 1574-1585.
- . Br J Gen Pract, 58(554), 641-643.
- . Homeopathy, 97(3), 152-155.
- . J Health Serv Res Policy, 13(2), 92-98.
- . J MIX METHOD RES, 1(2), 147-163.
- . BMC Health Serv Res, 7, 85.
- . BMC Med Inform Decis Mak, 7, 39.
- . BMC Health Serv Res, 7, 61.
- . Fam Pract, 23(2), 233-239.
- . Critical Perspectives on Accounting, 17(2-3), 270-282.
- . J Telemed Telecare, 12(5), 262-265.
- . Soc Sci Med, 61(8), 1761-1771.
- . Sociol Health Illn, 27(6), 802-830.
- . Emerg Med J, 22(3), 171-176.
- . HUM RELAT, 58(2), 147-171.
- . BMC Med Res Methodol, 4, 25.
- . J Health Serv Res Policy, 9(4), 226-233.
- . Health (London), 8(3), 311-328.
- . Health Expect, 7(2), 98-103.
- . CRIT SOC POLICY, 24(2), 210-232.
- Evaluation of advanced access in the national primary care collaborative.. Br J Gen Pract, 54(502), 334-340.
- . Fam Pract, 21(2), 180-182.
- . J Adv Nurs, 45(3), 280-286.
- . Soc Sci Med, 57(12), 2465-2470.
- . Emerg Med J, 20(3), 289-292.
- . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 11(1), 1-9.
- . Clinical Governance, 8(3), 222-226.
- . Int J Nurs Stud, 39(8), 857-866.
- . Emerg Med J, 19(4), 337-340.
- . Midwifery, 18(2), 136-144.
- . BMJ, 324(7338), 643.
- . Emerg Med J, 19(2), 160-163.
- . Evidence-Based Healthcare, 6(4), 180-181.
- . Evidence-based Obstetrics and Gynecology, 4(4), 173-174.
- Integrating community pharmacy and NHS direct - Pharmacists' views. Pharmaceutical Journal, 268(7196), 621-623.
- . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 9(S1), 33-33.
- . BMJ, 321(7254), 150-153.
- . BMJ, 320(7241), 1035.
- . J Health Serv Res Policy, 4(3), 154-160.
- General practice based physiotherapy: its use and effect on referrals to hospital orthopaedics and rheumatology outpatient departments.. Br J Gen Pract, 45(396), 352-354.
- Fractured neck of femur patients: Reply. Journal of Public Health, 17(1), 117.
- . J Public Health Med, 16(2), 205-210.
- On-site physiotherapy.. Br J Gen Pract, 43(372), 307-308.
- On-site physiotherapy [4]. British Journal of General Practice, 43(372), 307-308.
- . BMJ, 305(6846), 160-164.
- Cost effectiveness of minor surgery in general practice: a prospective comparison with hospital practice.. Br J Gen Pract, 42(354), 13-17.
- CAFFEINE AND BABIES. BRIT MED J, 299(6691), 121-121.
- . BMJ, 298(6688), 1643.
- . J Epidemiol Community Health, 43(2), 133-139.
- . J Clin Pathol, 41(12), 1273-1276.
- . BMJ, 297(6646), 487-488.
- A NEW PROGNOSTIC CLASSIFICATION OF RECTAL-CANCER - IS IT FEASIBLE. J PATHOL, 155(4), A347-A347.
- . BMJ, e077418-e077418.
- . Journal of Clinical Nursing.
- The role of socioeconomic deprivation in explaining neighborhood and clinic effects in the effectiveness of psychological interventions. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
- . Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research.
- . Health Expectations.
- . Journal of Medical Internet Research.
- .
- . Health Services and Delivery Research, 6(19), 1-192.
- Self-management intervention to reduce pulmonary exacerbations by supporting treatment adherence in adults with cystic fibrosis: a randomised controlled trial. Thorax.
Chapters
- (pp. 169-180). Wiley
- In Hesse-Biber S & Burke Johnson R (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of multimethod and mixed methods research inquiry (pp. 406-425). New York: Oxford University Press.
- Process evaluation of complex interventions: A summary of Medical Research Council guidance, Complex Interventions in Health: An Overview of Research Methods (pp. 222-231).
- , Qualitative Research in Health Care: Third Edition (pp. 102-111).
- , SAGE Handbook of Mixed Methods in Social & Behavioral Research (pp. 531-556). SAGE Publications, Inc.
- , The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Methods in Health Research (pp. 575-588). SAGE Publications Ltd
Book reviews
Conference proceedings papers
- A qualitative systematic review investigating the views of stroke survivors, formal and informal carers on the psychosocial impact of eating and drinking difficulties. BRITISH JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, Vol. 86(1) (pp 71-72)
- . Trials, Vol. 20(Supplement 1) (pp 99-99). Brighton, UK, 6 October 2019 - 9 October 2019.
- . Trials, Vol. 20(Supplement 1) (pp 112-112). Brighton, UK, 6 October 2019 - 9 October 2019.
- . International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, Vol. 34(S1) (pp 166-166)
- . Emergency Medicine Journal, Vol. 34(12) (pp A879.1-A879)
- . Annals of Emergency Medicine, Vol. 70(4) (pp S93-S94)
- . Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, Vol. 16 (pp S40-S41)
- A systematic review of the different approaches to intervention development. TRIALS, Vol. 18
- Applying the theoretical domains framework to adherence to nebuliser treatment in adults with cystic fibrosis. EHP Bulletin of the European Health Psychology Society, Vol. 18(Supp.)
- . Emergency Medicine Journal, Vol. 33(9) (pp e4.5-e5)
- . Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, Vol. 15 (pp S26-S26)
- Understanding adherence to nebuliser treatment in adults with cystic fibrosis using the Theoretical Domains Framework. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, Vol. S1(15) (pp S26-S26), 8 June 2016 - 11 June 2016.
- . Trials, Vol. 16(S2)
- . Value in Health, Vol. 17(3) (pp A194-A194)
- . J EPIDEMIOL COMMUN H, Vol. 65
- THE IMPACT OF DISEASE ADAPTATION ON GENERAL POPULATION VALUES. VALUE HEALTH, Vol. 12(3) (pp A35-A35)
- How appropriate is cognitive behavioural therapy computer software for the treatment of depression in people with multiple sclerosis?. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS JOURNAL, Vol. 14 (pp S263-S264)
- The acceptability of cognitive behavioural therapy software for the treatment of depression in people with multiple sclerosis. J EPIDEMIOL COMMUN H, Vol. 62 (pp A12-A13)
Scholarly editions
- A qualitative study exploring the general population’s perception of rheumatoid arthritis after being informed about disease adaptation.
Posters
- VARIATION IN INTERPRETATION OF GUIDANCE AS AN EXPLANATION OF BETWEEN-SERVICE VARIATION IN AMBULANCE QUALITY INDICATORS ON NON-CONVEYANCE.
Presentations
Other
- Homeopathy: the clinical picture is no clearer Response. HOMEOPATHY, 98(1), 71-71.
- SLEEPING POSITION AND SIDS. LANCET, 2(8602), 106-106.
- . The Lancet, 332(8602), 106.
Preprints
- Research group
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Health and Care Research Unit (HCRU)
PhD Students
- Carolyn Taylor
- Matt Gittis
- Cheryl Grindell
- Nick Firth
- Jane Manson
- Sean White
NIHR Postdoctoral Fellows
- Teaching interests
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- Research methods
- Teaching activities
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- Deputy Module Lead for Research Methods Online on Masters programmes in ScHARR.
- I was Chair of the ScHARR Postgraduate Research Committee 2008-2012.
- Professional activities and memberships
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- Panel Member of NIHR HS&DR Programme 2021-2024
- Panel Member of NIHR Applied Research Programme Grants 2007-2017
- Deputy Chair of MRC Population Health Science Fellowships Panel 2010-2014
- Associate Editor of Journal of Mixed Methods Research 2007-2012
Links