Professor Alicia O'Cathain BSc, MSc, MA, PhD
Professor of Health Services Research
Address:
Medical Care Research Unit
Health Services Research
School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR)
University of Sheffield
Regent Court, 30 Regent Street
Sheffield S1 4DA
Tel: (+44) (0)114 22 20770
Fax: (+44) (0)114 22 20749
Email: a.ocathain@sheffield.ac.uk
Room: 3015
Biography
I joined the university in 1997 and specialize in the evaluation of new health services and technologies. I am currently evaluating the NHS 111 urgent care service, primary care trust commissioning, and telehealth for long-term conditions. I am a mixed methodologist, applying both qualitative and quantitative methods within evaluations.
Research interests
Mixed methods, evaluation of new health services, patient views of health care, urgent care.
Teaching Interests
Research Methods. I recently developed and ran a module on Randomised Controlled Trials in Health and Social Care.
Professional Activities
Deputy Chair of MRC Population Health Science Fellowships Panel and Panel Member of MRC Methodology Fellowships Board
Panel Member of NIHR Applied Research Programme Grants
Associate Editor of Journal of Mixed Methods Research
Current projects
- Maximising the value of qualitative research in trials (QUART Study)
- Evaluating PCT outcomes and processes
- Telehealth for long-term conditions (Healthlines Study)
- Evaluation of ‘111’ telephone line
- Factors affecting avoidable emergency admissions
- Outcomes and processes valued by 999 ambulance users
Key publications
- O’Cathain A, Murphy E, Nicholl JP. Three techniques for integrating qualitative and quantitative methods in health services research. BMJ 2010; 341:c4587.
- Relton C, Torgerson D, O’Cathain A, Nicholl J. Rethinking pragmatic RCTs: introducing the ‘cohort multiple RCT’ design. BMJ 2010;340:c1066, doi: 10.1136/bmj.c1066.
- O’Cathain A. Mixed methods involving qualitative research. In Bourgeault I, Dingwall R, DeVries R (eds). The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Methods in Health Research. Sage Publications, 2010, pp 575-588.
- O’Cathain A. Assessing the quality of mixed methods research: toward a comprehensive framework. In Tashakkori & Teddlie (eds). Handbook of Mixed Methods Research, Second Edition, 2010, pp531-555.
- O’Cathain A. Reporting results. In Andrew S, Halcomb E (eds). Mixed Methods Research for Nursing and the Health Sciences. Blackwell Publishing, 2009, pp135-158.
- O’Cathain A, Coster J, Salisbury C, Pearson T, Maheswaran R, Nicholl J. Do walk-in centres for commuters work? A mixed methods evaluation. British Journal of General Practice 2009;59:934-939.
Section
Alicia O'Cathain is based in the Medical Care Research Unit in Health Services Research