Stephenson College

Stephenson Research

Stephenson College is enthusiastic about promoting research amongst its members. We have a number of postgraduate research students, mainly as part of the School for Medicine, Pharmacy and Health and Durham University Business School (DUBS). Much of the research undertaken at Queen’s Campus is within the Wolfson Research Institute of Health and Wellbeing, which aims to help establish Durham as a world-leading university in multi- and inter-disciplinary health and wellbeing research.

We encourage all of our students to take part in research and scholarly activities. If there is an activity or an event that you would like us to offer, please get in touch.

What's On?

MRI Research Seminar

Stephenson College was delighted to support the MRI Research Seminar: Durham University Neuroimaging Centre and James Cook University Hospital which was held on the 15th February, 12.30-2.30, at F009 Wolfson Seminar Room, Wolfson Research Institute, Durham University, Queen's Campus, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 6BH. This event brought together Clinicians and Researchers from James Cook Hospital and Durham University to discuss their research questions and facilitate collaborative MRI research across institutions. The event was very well attended.

Staff and SCR Members

Jonathan Erskine

(School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health)

Jonathan's background is in Philosphy and Art History, but he worked for a number of years as a technical writer and journalist, and later as an IT manager. Following studies in Natural Sciences with the Open University, Jonathan joined the School for Medicine and Health in the Centre for Clinical Management Development, before joining the Centre for Public Policy and Health as Research Associate in 2008. His research interests are in the areas of health service reform, the boundaries between primary and secondary care, and the relationship between the design of health service systems and the built healthcare environment.

Jonathan has had a long association with the European Health Property Network (www.euhpn.eu) where he is Executive Director. He is a non-executive director with NHS Stockton, and Vice-Chair of the Board.

Research Interests:

Health system planning; capital investment; European health systems; health facilities and assets

Selected Publications
Books: sections

  • Degeling, P & Erskine, J (2009). New models of long-term care and implications for service redesign. In <span >Investing in Hospitals of the Future. Rechel, B, Wright, S, Edwards, N, Dowdeswell, B & McKee, M World Health Organization.

  • van Laarhoven, H & Erskine, J (2009). Orbis Medical Park, Sittard, Netherlands. In <span >Capital Investment for Health: Case Studies from Europe. Rechel, B, Erskine, J, Dowdeswell, B, Wright, S & McKee, M World Health Organization.

  • Macleod, M & Erskine, J (2009). Prevention is better than cure. In <span >Lessons Learned from Accident Investigations. Stoop, J European Safety, Reliability & Data Association (ESReDA).

Journal papers: academic

  • Erskine, J, Hunter, DH, Small, A, Hicks, C, McGovern, T, Lugsden, E, Whitty, P, Steen, N & Eccles, MP (Accepted). Leadership and transformational change in healthcare organisations: a qualitative analysis of the North East Transformation System. Journal of Health Services Management Research

  • Erskine, J, Hunter, DJ, Hicks, C, McGovern, T, Scott, E, Lugsden, E, Kunonga, E & Whitty, P (2009). New development: First steps towards an evaluation of the North East Transformation System. Public Money & Management 29(5): 273-276.

Reports: official

  • Mahadkar, S Mills, G & Erskine, J (2010). European Health Property Network Annual Workshop, Stockholm 2010. Health and Care Infrastructure Research and Innovation Centre; European Health Property Network..

  • Erskine, J & Dowdeswell, B (2009). Decentralised Healthcare Facilities. TNO-Healthcare; Ministry of Public Health, Wellbeing and Sport, Netherlands.

Reports: technical
  • Erskine, J (2011). Guidelines and Standards for Healthcare Buildings: A European Health Property Network Survey. European Health Property Network.

Students

Rachel Stocker

Rachel is a final year PhD student in the School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health, based in the Wolfson Research Institute of Health and Wellbeing. Rachel has a background in Psychology, completing her undergraduate degree in Psychology with Criminology at Leeds Metropolitan University in 2008. She then went on to specialise in Health Psychology, completing her MSc in Health Psychology and Stage 1 BPS Chartership at Teesside University in 2009. Her interest in chronic conditions and qualitative inquiry evolved during this time, with her MSc dissertation being titled “Examining Psychosocial Influences on the Self Management of Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus” (currently in preparation for publication). Her MSc dissertation used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis with semi structured interviews. Rachel then spent a year and a half lecturing at Sunderland and Teesside Universities on Health Psychology and Research Methods modules, and volunteering as an Assistant Psychologist in secondary care adult mental health for TEWV, before being successful in gaining a Durham Doctoral Studentship. The interdisciplinary nature of Health Psychology and her prior interest in chronic illness enables Rachel to investigate the experience of heart failure, specifically communication difficulties between clinicians, patients, and carers at diagnosis and prognosis within her PhD. Her thesis is entitled, “Experiences of prognostication and the transition point from active to palliative and end of life care in heart failure: A grounded theory study.”

Conference papers
  • Stocker, R, Close, H & Hungin, APS (2012), Assessing the uptake of the Liverpool Care Pathway for dying patients: a systematic review, 13: 1-240.
  • Stocker, R & Close, H (2012), Assessing the uptake of the Liverpool Care Pathway for dying patients: a systematic review, Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group Annual Conference. Northumbria University, England.
  • Stocker, R & Close, H (2012), Assessing the uptake of the Liverpool Care Pathway for dying patients: a systematic review, 41st Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC) Annual Scientific Meeting. Glasgow, Scotland.
  • Stocker, R. & Close, H (2012), Assessing the uptake of the Liverpool Care Pathway for dying patients: a systematic review, FUSE UKCRC Public Health Research Centres of Excellence Conference. Durham, England.
  • Stocker, R, Close, H & Hungin, A Pali S (2012), End of Life Care in Heart Failure: Is it time to reinvent the wheel?, Making Sense of: Chronicity: A Health, Illness and Disease Project. Oxford University, England.
  • Stocker, R, Close, H & Hungin, A Pali S (2012), Perceptions, attitudes and experiences of end of life care for heart failure: Are current end of life paradigms appropriate and applicable for heart failure?, Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group Annual Conference. Northumbria University, England. Journal papers: academic
  • Stocker, R. & Close, H. (2013). A novel method of enhancing grounded theory memos with voice recording. The Qualitative Report 18(1 (T&L): 1-4.

Maria Catterick

Maria is studying towards an MA in Managing Community Practice and is currently working on her dissertation entitled ‘If I was in Charge…’ In what ways can the experiences of adolescents and adults with FASD inform service delivery?; a study focusing on Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

A foster carer with direct experience of FASD, Maria has set up a local charitable community group called FASD Network (www.fasdnetwork.org); the only support group in this region for families affected by this disability. Maria also provides information and training to professionals across the fields of health, education, and justice etc in order to equip them with the data they need to accommodate the needs of service users with FASD.

Through discussions with parents, carers, professionals and adults with FASD, Maria felt it was important to focus her dissertation on a, ‘bottom up’ approach to a strategy to incorporate the voices of those most impacted by FASD and to enable them to contribute to the shaping of future services.

FASD is the leading cause of non-genetic learning disability. It is brain and central nervous system damage caused by maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. This permanent disability is entirely preventable if no alcohol is consumed. There is often an assumption that women who have problems with alcohol are the ones who have babies born with this hidden disability, however, it is a disability that can even occur with social drinking before a woman even knows she is pregnant. Despite this, there is no national UK strategy, consistent diagnostic training, or services and supports for people affected by FASD or for their carers.

Future Research Interests:

There are at least another ten or more studies that are awaiting research so if there are any students looking for a field of study that is largely untouched in the UK - across a range of disciplines - then FASD may be worth considering. Examples include:

  • Restorative justice is currently popular but does not work with people with FASD. Devising a UK FASD screening tool for repeat offenders may target rehabilitation more effectively.
  • Early intervention produces the best outcomes for children with FASD. A research project analysing a suitable UK FASD screening tool for use in LAC medicals for children entering the looked-after system can be a way for early diagnosis and support.
  • Using the meconium analysis to form a baseline understanding of alcohol exposure rates in newborns.
Previous Research:
  • A research poster was created for the 2nd European FASD conference in Barcelona from 21st-24th October 2012 and won first prize.
  • Williams, P., Catterick, M. and Calder, E. (2012) “As I See It….” The views of people living with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, their families and carers.