Anne O'Brien

Biography

Since joining the School of Allied Health Professionals initially as a Lecturer-Practitioner, I have worked in varying School roles including BSc Hons Physiotherapy Programme Lead and most recently as the School Director of Learning and Teaching. I am currently completing an NIHR Clinical Academic funded Doctorate, alongside my other academic commitments at Keele University.

A Senior Lecturer since 2012, I teach across several faculty undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at Keele. Most recently I have been School Inter-professional Lead for the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. I have been joint course Director of ASPIRE; an inter-disciplinary PG rheumatology programme run with the School of Nursing and Midwifery. Having worked clinically for 15 years as a Clinical Specialist Rheumatology Physiotherapist, my clinical area of interest is arthritis and the management of patients with rheumatic conditions, in particular inflammatory arthritis.

I continue to be involved in national and regional related research projects. I have published five chapters in rheumatology textbooks, most recently writing a chapter on Polymyalgia Rheumatica for a new 2019 Nursing textbook entitled “Nursing older people with arthritis and other rheumatological conditions”.

Research and scholarship

Having successfully been awarded an NIHR Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship in 2015, I am currently researching researching "The assessment and management of Polymyalgia Rheumatica from the Physiotherapist's perspective" for my doctoral studies. Previously whilst completing an MPhil, I undertook a randomised controlled trial into the conservative management of hand therapy approaches in rheumatoid arthritis.

I have presented both my clinical and educational research at the World Congress of Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy UK, American College of Rheumatology, European League against Rheumatism and British Society of Rheumatology and Midlands Rheumatology Society conferences over the past 19 years. I continue to be involved in national and regional rheumatology research projects.

I am an approved external examiner for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and have most recently been an external examiner for the University of Central Lancashire. More recent pedagogic research has included an exploration of how in the West Midlands Healthcare programmes are developing leadership within their undergraduate programmes and the role of modelling (patient simulation) in undergraduate teaching and assessment activities.

I am a member of the Health Professions Council, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the British Health Professionals in Rheumatology and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I have chaired, some Best Practice Award Presentations on behalf of the British Society of Rheumatology. I have chaired and participated in several professional and regulatory health professional and Nursing validation panels/ approval events on behalf of the Health and Care Professions Council as well as Internal Quality Audits for the University.

Publications:

O’Brien, A.V. (2019) Polymyalgia Rheumatica. In: Nursing Older People with Arthritis and other Rheumatological Conditions. Ed: Ryan S. Springer Publications. (In press)
Muller, S., O’Brien, A.V., Heliwell, T., Hay, C., Gilbert, K.., Mallen, C.D., Busby, K. on behalf of PMRGCAuk (2018) Support available for and perceived priorities of people with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis: Results of the PMRGCAuk Members' Survey 2017. Clinical Rheumatology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-018-4220-1

Bosworth, A., Cox, M., O'Brien, A., Jones, P., Sargeant, I., Elliott, A., Bukhari, M. (2015). Development and Validation of a Patient Reported Experience Measure (PREM) for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and other Rheumatic Conditions. Curr Rheumatol Rev, vol. 11(1), 1-7.

Mallen, C.M., Helliwell, T., O'Brien, A.V., Mackie, S. (2014). Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Hands on Reports on the Rheumatic Diseases – Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Arthritis Research UK Series 7: (4) 1-6.

O'Brien, A.V., Jones, L., Turner, A., Tawney, L., Baxter, S., Johnson, C.D., Owen, P., Dudley, R. (2016). Understanding and Maximising Leadership in Pre-registration Healthcare Curricula: Research Report September 2015. http://www.hee.nhs.uk/hee-your-area/west-midlands/our-work/attracting-developing-our-workforce/leadership/leadership-prospectus-programmes/maximising-leadership-pre

Bukhari, M., Jones, P., Sargeant, I., Cox, M., Elliott, A., Bullock, S., O'Brien, A., Bosworth, A. (2013) Validation of a Patient Reported Experience Measure In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatism (on-line only) ACR

Heine, P.J., Williams, M.A., Williamson, E., Bridle, C., Adams, J., O'Brien, A.V., Evans, D., Lamb, S.E., SARAH Team. (2012) Development and delivery of an exercise intervention for rheumatoid arthritis: Strengthening and stretching for rheumatoid arthritis of the hand (SARAH) trial. Physiotherapy. vol. (2):(98), 122-130.

Recent conference proceedings:
Austin, K., Dures, E., Almeida, C., Cramp, F., Gilbert,K.,Guly, C., Mackie, S., O’Brien, A., Watts, R., Robson, J. (2019) Patient perceptions of physical activity after a diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis: a secondary analysis of multi-national qualitative data. EULAR Conference, Madrid, 12-15 June 2019

O’Brien, A.V.; Liddle, J.; Muller, S.; Thomas, M.J.; Mallen, C.D. (2019) Uncertainty and inconsistency: challenges to overcome for UK physiotherapists in the management of people with polymyalgia rheumatica. World Confederation for Physical Therapy Congress, Geneva, Switzerland. May 10-13th 2019.

O’Brien, A.V.; Liddle, J.; Muller, S.; Thomas, M.J.; Mallen, C.D. (2019) What is the role of UK physiotherapists in the management of people with Polymyalgia Rheumatica? - Findings from a qualitative study. British Society of Rheumatology Annual Conference. Birmingham, April 30th-May 2nd 2019.

Edwards, H., Munford, V., O’Brien, A., Pandyan, A. (2019) Same Content, Different Countries, Different Standards: International experienced physiotherapy educators’ opinions on online training course inclusions. Networking for Education in Healthcare 2019 conference.

Bosworth, A., Cox, M., Johnstone, G., Shah, P., O’Brien, A., Jones, P., Sargeant, I., Bukhari, M. (2013) Development of patient-reported experience measures for rheumatoid arthritis: results of a pilot study. Rheumatology 52: Suppl 1, i90

Selected Publications

Austin K, Dures E, Almeida C, Cramp F, Guly CM, Hill CL, Hoon EA, Mackie S, O'Brien AV, Watts RA, Robson JC. 2022. Patient Perceptions of Physical Activity After a Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis: Analysis of Multinational Qualitative Data. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken), 99-106, vol. 74(1). link> doi>
Austin K, Dures E, Almeida C, Cramp F, Gilbert K, Guly C, Hill C, Mackie S, O'Brien A, Watts R, Robson J. 2020. PATIENT PERCEPTIONS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOLLOWING A DIAGNOSIS OF GIANT CELL ARTERITIS: A MULTINATIONAL QUALITATIVE STUDY. RHEUMATOLOGY (p. 86, vol. 59). link> doi>
O'Brien A. Polymyalgia Rheumatica. In Nursing Older People With Arthritis and Other Rheumatological Conditions - Perspectives in Nursing Management and Care for Older Adults. (12 vols.). Springer. doi> link>
Austin K, Dures E, Almeida C, Cramp F, Gilbert K, Guly C, Hill C, Mackie S, O'brien A, Watts R, Robson J. 2019. PATIENT PERCEPTIONS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AFTER A DIAGNOSIS OF GIANT CELL ARTERITIS: A SECONDARY ANALYSIS OF MULTINATIONAL QUALITATIVE DATA. ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES (p. 1183, vol. 78). link> doi>
O'Brien AV, Liddle J, Muller S, Thomas MJ, Mallen CD. 2019. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF UK PHYSIOTHERAPISTS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PEOPLE WITH POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA? FINDINGS FROM A QUALITATIVE STUDY. RHEUMATOLOGY (p. 30, vol. 58). link>

Full Publications Listshow

Journal Articles

Austin K, Dures E, Almeida C, Cramp F, Guly CM, Hill CL, Hoon EA, Mackie S, O'Brien AV, Watts RA, Robson JC. 2022. Patient Perceptions of Physical Activity After a Diagnosis of Giant Cell Arteritis: Analysis of Multinational Qualitative Data. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken), 99-106, vol. 74(1). link> doi>
Muller S, O'Brien A, Helliwell T, Hay CA, Gilbert K, Mallen CD, Busby K, PMRGCAuk. 2018. Support available for and perceived priorities of people with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis: results of the PMRGCAuk members' survey 2017. Clin Rheumatol, 3411-3418, vol. 37(12). link> doi> full text>
O'Brien AV, Jones L, Turner A, Tawney L, Baxter S, Johnson CD, Owen P, Dudley R. 2016. Understanding and Maximising Leadership in Pre-registration Healthcare Curricula: Research Report September 2015. link> full text>
Bosworth A, Cox M, O'Brien A, Jones P, Sargeant I, Elliott A, Bukhari M. 2015. Development and Validation of a Patient Reported Experience Measure (PREM) for Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and other Rheumatic Conditions. Curr Rheumatol Rev, 1-7, vol. 11(1). link> doi>
Heine PJ, Williams MA, Williamson E, Bridle C, Adams J, O'Brien AV, Evans D, Lamb SE, SARAH Team. 2012. Development and delivery of an exercise intervention for rheumatoid arthritis: Strengthening and stretching for rheumatoid arthritis of the hand (SARAH) trial. Physiotherapy., 122-130, vol. (2):(98).
Heine PJ, Williams MA, Williamson E, Bridle C, Adams J, O'Brien AV, Evans D, Lamb SE, SARAH Team. 2012. Development and delivery of an exercise intervention for rheumatoid arthritis: Strengthening and stretching for rheumatoid arthritis of the hand (SARAH) trial. Physiotherapy., 122-130, vol. (2):(98).
Hewlett S, Clarke B, O'Brien A, Hammond A, Ryan S, Kay L, Richards P, Almeida C. 2008. Rheumatology education for undergraduate nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy students in the UK: standards, challenges and solutions. Rheumatology (Oxford), 1025-1030, vol. 47(7). link> doi>
Hewlett S, Clarke B, O'Brien A, Hammond A, Ryan S, Kay L, Richards P, Almeida C. 2008. Rheumatology education for undergraduate nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy students in the UK: standards, challenges and solutions. Rheumatology (Oxford), 1025-1030, vol. 47(7). link> doi>
Culver M and Chadwick A. 2005. Internet information on rheumatoid arthritis: An evaluation. Musculoskeletal Care, 33-43.
O'Brien AV, Jones P, Mullis R, Mulherin D, Dziedzic K. 2006. Conservative hand therapy treatments in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology., 577-583.
Almeida C, Clarke B, O'Brien A, Hammond A, Ryan S, Kay L, Hewlett S. 2006. Current provision of rheumatology education for undergraduate nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy students in the UK. Rheumatology (Oxford), 868-873, vol. 45(7). link> doi>
Chadwick A. 2004. A review of the history of hand exercises in rheumatoid arthritis. Musculoskeletal Care, 29-39, vol. 1(2).
Stevenson K, Chadwick AV, Hunter SM. 2004. National survey of lecturer-practitioners in physiotherapy. Physiotherapy, 139-144. doi>

Chapters

O'Brien A. Polymyalgia Rheumatica. In Nursing Older People With Arthritis and Other Rheumatological Conditions - Perspectives in Nursing Management and Care for Older Adults. (12 vols.). Springer. doi> link>
O'Brien AV and Backman C. 2010. Inflammatory arthritis. In Rheumatology - Evidence-based Practice for Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists. Dziedzic K and Hammond A (Eds.). Edinburgh,: Elsevier.
Chadwick A. 1998. Osteoarthritis. In Rheumatological Physiotherapy,. David C and Lloyd J (Eds.). London: Mosby Publications..
Chadwick A. 1998. Vasculitides. In Rheumatological Physiotherapy. David C and Lloyd J (Eds.). London: Mosby Publications..
O'Brien AV. Overview of physiotherapy. In Oxford Textbook of Rheumatology. (4th ed.). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Other

Austin K, Dures E, Almeida C, Cramp F, Gilbert K, Guly C, Hill C, Mackie S, O'Brien A, Watts R, Robson J. 2020. PATIENT PERCEPTIONS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOLLOWING A DIAGNOSIS OF GIANT CELL ARTERITIS: A MULTINATIONAL QUALITATIVE STUDY. RHEUMATOLOGY (p. 86, vol. 59). link> doi>
Austin K, Dures E, Almeida C, Cramp F, Gilbert K, Guly C, Hill C, Mackie S, O'brien A, Watts R, Robson J. 2019. PATIENT PERCEPTIONS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AFTER A DIAGNOSIS OF GIANT CELL ARTERITIS: A SECONDARY ANALYSIS OF MULTINATIONAL QUALITATIVE DATA. ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES (p. 1183, vol. 78). link> doi>
O'Brien AV, Liddle J, Muller S, Thomas MJ, Mallen CD. 2019. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF UK PHYSIOTHERAPISTS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PEOPLE WITH POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA? FINDINGS FROM A QUALITATIVE STUDY. RHEUMATOLOGY (p. 30, vol. 58). link>
O'Brien AV, Liddle J, Muller S, Lawton S, Whittle R, Mason E, Mallen CD. World Congress of Physiotherapy 2017 - Cape Town, South Africa. Current physiotherapy practice and assessment in Polymyalgia Rheumatica: a UK cross-sectional survey..
O'Brien AV, Liddle J, Muller S, Lawton S, Whittle R, Mason E, Mallen CD. World Congress of Physiotherapy 2017 - Cape Town, South Africa. Current physiotherapy practice and assessment in Polymyalgia Rheumatica: a UK cross-sectional survey..
O'Brien AV, Torney L, Baxter S, Johnson CD, Taylor A, Owen P, Dudley R, Turner A. From student recruitment to graduation: How are we developing the Physiotherapy leaders of the future in the West Midlands? Torney L., Baxter S., Johnson, D., Taylor, A., Owen, P., Dudley, R., Turner A., & Jones, L.
Bukhari M, Bosworth A, Cox M, O'Brien A, Jones P, Sargeant I, Elliott A. 2014. MODIFICATION OF A VALIDATED PATIENT-REPORTED EXPERIENCE MEASURE TOOL FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS FOR USE IN OTHER RHEUMATIC CONDITIONS: RESULTS OF A PILOT STUDY. RHEUMATOLOGY (pp. 93-94, vol. 53). link>
Mallen CM, Helliwell T, O'Brien AV, Mackie S. 2014. Polymyalgia Rheumatica.
Bosworth A, Cox M, Johnstone G, Shah P, O'Brien AV, Jones P, Sargeant I, Bukhari M. Development of patient-reported experience measures for rheumatoid arthritis: results of a pilot study. Rheumatology (p. i90, vol. Suppl 1,).
Williams MA, Heine P, McConkey C, Lord J, Dosanjh S, Williamson E, Adams J, Underwood M, Lamb S, SARAH trial team. SARAH: Strenghthening and stretching for people with rheumatoid arthritis of the hands: a randomised controlled trial. Rheumatology (p. i31, vol. Suppl 1).
O'Brien AV, Bukhari M, Jones P, Sargeant I, Cox M, Elliot A, Bullock S, O'Brien AV, Bosworth A. Validation Of a Patient Reported Experience Measure In Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Bukhari M, Shah P, Kitas G, Cox M, Nye A, O'Brien AV, Jones P, Sargeant I. Commissioner quality Metrics in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Impact on clinical practice and quality of care. Rheumatology (p. iii131, vol. 3).
O'Brien AV, Bucher C, Rimington L, Iwaszko M, Andrews MA. The changing face of modern undergraduate physiotherapy education: the Keele University in Staffordshire (UK) new curriculum framework. Physiotherapy (vol. S1).
O'Brien AV, Hewlett S, Clarke B, Hammond A, Ryan S, Kay L, Almeida C. 2007. What inspires junior health professionals to become rheumatology specialists? A survey questionnaire. RHEUMATOLOGY (pp. I154-I155, vol. 46). link>
O'Brien AV, Hewlett S, Clarke B, Hammond A, Ryan S, Kay L, Almeida C. What inspires junior health professionals to become rheumatology specialists? – A survey questionnaire. Rheumatology (p. i 154, vol. (1)).
O'Brien AV, Jones P, Mullis R, Mulherin D, Dziedzic K. 2006. Conservative hand therapy treatments in rheumatoid arthritis--a randomized controlled trial. Rheumatology (Oxford) (pp. 577-583, vol. 45). link> doi>
Chadwick A, Thwaites C, Meir P, Ryan S. 2005. Educational collaboration at its best - The Staffordshire experience. ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES (p. 589, vol. 64). link>
Chadwick AV, Simpson CS, Murray K, Spicer J, Mulherin D, Jones PW, Mullis R, Dziedzic K. 2004. CONSERVATIVE HAND THERAPY TREATMENTS IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA) - A RANDOMISED CONTROLLED TRIAL. RHEUMATOLOGY (p. 14, vol. 43). link>
Chadwick AV, Simpson C, Murray K, Spicer J, Mulherin D, Jones PW, Dziedzic K. 2002. Associations between impairment and activity limitation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM (p. S557, vol. 46). link>
Chadwick AV, Simpson C, Murray K, Mulherin D, Jones PW, Dziedzic K. Associations between impairment and activity limitation in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatism (p. S 557, vol. 9).

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