Biography
My first job after completing my BSc in Mathematics for Business (Middlesex University) and MSc in Statistics (University of Kent) in 1993 was conducting systematic reviews for Clinical Effectiveness Bulletins at Leeds University. Since then I have worked as a Systematic Reviewer and, after completing a MA in Library and Information Science (Loughborough University), as an Information Specialist on a number of evidence-based products and publications. These include a large systematic review on chronic stable angina for Brunel University, the evidence base for shared decision making tools for Dartmouth College in the USA, developing clinical guidelines for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and as an Information Specialist for The Cochrane Collaboration and BMJ Clinical Evidence. I have worked at Keele University in the Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre since 2004, where I provide support and training in aspects of systematic review methods, particularly information retrieval, and give guidance on information management.
Research and scholarship
I have a general interest in methodological research for systematic reviews. My main research interest is developing search strategies for systematic reviews, particularly for observational studies that are difficult to find in the large bibliographic databases such as Medline and EMBASE.
Teaching
I teach systematic review methods and literature searching skills on a number of postgraduate and undergraduate modules, including the Masters in Medical Science. I also run training workshops for staff and students in the Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre on various aspects of conducting systematic reviews, information retrieval and reference management.
Further information
Peer review:
- Spine
- Evidence Based Library & Information Practice
- Research Synthesis Methods
- British Journal of General Practice
- Physiotherapy
I am a member of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)
Selected Publications
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Pain assessment and pain treatment for community-dwelling people with dementia: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry, 807-821, vol. 34(6). link> doi> full text>2019.
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Justifications for using complementary and alternative medicine reported by persons with musculoskeletal conditions: A narrative literature synthesis. PLoS One, e0200879, vol. 13(7). link> doi> full text>2018.
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Expressed information needs of patients with osteoporosis and/or fragility fractures: a systematic review. Arch Osteoporos, 55, vol. 13(1). link> doi> full text>2018.
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Evidence flowers: An innovative, visual method of presenting "best evidence" summaries to health professional and lay audiences. Res Synth Methods, 273-284, vol. 9(2). link> doi> full text>2018.
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Comparative effectiveness of treatment options for subacromial shoulder conditions: A network meta-analysis. Cochrane Library. Update Software Ltd.. link> full text>2017.
Full Publications Listshow
Journal Articles
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Pain assessment and pain treatment for community-dwelling people with dementia: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry, 807-821, vol. 34(6). link> doi> full text>2019.
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Justifications for using complementary and alternative medicine reported by persons with musculoskeletal conditions: A narrative literature synthesis. PLoS One, e0200879, vol. 13(7). link> doi> full text>2018.
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Expressed information needs of patients with osteoporosis and/or fragility fractures: a systematic review. Arch Osteoporos, 55, vol. 13(1). link> doi> full text>2018.
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Evidence flowers: An innovative, visual method of presenting "best evidence" summaries to health professional and lay audiences. Res Synth Methods, 273-284, vol. 9(2). link> doi> full text>2018.
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Effective treatment options for musculoskeletal pain in primary care: A systematic overview of current evidence. PLoS One, e0178621, vol. 12(6). link> doi> full text>2017.
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Evidence for strategies that improve recruitment and retention of adults aged 65 years and over in randomised trials and observational studies: a systematic review. Age Ageing, 895-903, vol. 46(6). link> doi> full text>2017.
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Protocol: a systematic review of studies developing and/or evaluating search strategies to identify prognosis studies. Syst Rev, 88, vol. 6(1). link> doi> full text>2017.
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Multidisciplinary approaches to managing osteoarthritis in multiple joint sites: a systematic review. BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 266, vol. 17. link> doi> full text>2016.
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Community-based exercise and physical activity programmes led by exercise professionals for osteoarthritis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. doi> link> full text>2016.
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Herniated lumbar disc: injection interventions for sciatica. BMJ Clinical Evidence. link>
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A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of chronic widespread pain in the general population. Pain, 55-64, vol. 157(1). link> doi> full text>2016.
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Quality indicators for the primary care of osteoarthritis: a systematic review. Ann Rheum Dis, 490-498, vol. 74(3). link> doi> full text>2015.
- 2015.
- 2014.
- 2014.
- 2013.
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Absence from work and return to work in people with back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. doi>2013.
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Exercise for lower limb osteoarthritis: systematic review incorporating trial sequential analysis and network meta-analysis. BMJ, f5555, vol. 347. link> doi> full text>2013.
- 2012.
- 2011.
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Measures of Social Function and Participation in Musculoskeletal Populations Impact on Participation and Autonomy ( IPA), Keele Assessment of Participation (KAP), Participation Measure for Post-Acute Care (PM-PAC), Participation Objective, Participation Subjective (POPS), Rating of Perceived Participation (ROPP), and The Participation Scale. ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH, S325-S336, vol. 63. link> doi>2011.
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Herniated lumbar disc. Clin Evid (Online).2009.
- 2010.
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Herniated lumbar disc: injection interventions for sciatica. Systematic review 1118. BMJ Clinical Evidence.2009.
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A systematic review of postcoital bleeding and risk of cervical cancer. Br J Gen Pract, 453-460, vol. 56(527). link>2006.
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Interventions to improve adherence to exercise for chronic musculoskeletal pain in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, CD005956. link> doi> full text>2010.
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Consumers leading public consultation: the general public's knowledge of stroke. Family Practice, 8-14, vol. 22(1).2005.
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Defining shared decision making and concordance: are they one and the same?. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 383-384, vol. 78(921). doi>2002.
- 2008.
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Effective management of stable angina. Qual Health Care, 109-116, vol. 7(2).1998.
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Resource allocation for chronic stable angina: a systematic review of effectiveness, costs and cost-effectiveness of alternative interventions. Health Technol.Assess., i-iv, 1-176, vol. 2(10).1998.
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Managing menorrhagia. Qual.Health Care, 218-226, vol. 4(3).1995.
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Treating menorrhagia in primary care. An overview of drug trials and a survey of prescribing practice. Int J Technol Assess Health Care, 456-471, vol. 11(3). doi>1995.
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Brief interventions and alcohol use. Qual.Health Care, 267-273, vol. 2(4).1993.
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A systematic review and evidence synthesis of non-medical triage, self-referral and direct access services for patients with musculoskeletal pain. PLoS One, e0235364, vol. 15(7). link> doi> full text>2020.
Chapters
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Physical and psychological treatments for lumbar and cervical radicular pain (Chapter 6). In Managing Sciatica and Radicular Pain in Primary Care Practice. Springer Science & Business Media.2013.
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Treatment options of musculoskeletal pain: what is the evidence?. In Pain: Best Practice and Research Compendium. Breivic H and Shipley M (Eds.). Edinburgh: Elsevier.2007.
Other
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Comparative effectiveness of treatment options for subacromial shoulder conditions: A network meta-analysis. Cochrane Library. Update Software Ltd.. link> full text>2017.
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EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN CONDITIONS: A RAPID META-SYNTHESIS OF CURRENT BEST EVIDENCE IN PRIMARY CARE. RHEUMATOLOGY (p. 80, vol. 55). link>2016.
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Effective Treatment Options for Musculoskeletal Pain Conditions: A Rapid Meta-synthesis of Current Best Evidence in Primary Care. Rheumatology, Volume 55, Issue suppl_1, 1 April 2016, Pages i80,. doi> full text>
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Herniated lumbar disc: injection interventions for sciatica. link>2016.
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Improving Care for People with Long-Term Conditions: The ENHANCE study.
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Managing osteoarthritis in consultations (MOSAICS): an implementation study of NICE recommendations in primary care.
- 2012.
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The impact of back, neck and upper limb pain on work absence and performance.2009.
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A systematic bibliography of the relationship between employee health and occupational performance.2007.
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Clinical guidelines for the physiotherapy management of whiplash associated disorder.2005.