Dr Jill Thompson

BSc (Hons), MA, PhD

School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery

Director of Research

Senior Lecturer in Global Health and Wellbeing

Jill.thompson@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 2075

Room 104, 362 Mushroom Lane

Full contact details

Dr Jill Thompson
School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery
Room 104
362 Mushroom Lane
Sheffield
S10 2TS

Profile

I am a Senior Lecturer and medical sociologist at the School of Allied Health Professions, Nursing and Midwifery.

My research interests focus on children’s experiences of health and health access in both national and international contexts, and I have undertaken work in Ghana, Fiji and Nepal.

I also have a particular focus on migrant children’s health and the use of technologies to improve children’s health experiences.

Research interests

I am a social scientist, and my research has a dual focus on rigorous qualitative evaluation methodologies and advancing the health and wellbeing among children and young people, both nationally and globally.

Evaluation

My expertise lies in the qualitative evaluation of complex interventions, using both process and realist evaluation methodologies. I am adept at applying these methodologies across diverse health and social contexts, working collaboratively with stakeholders to generate evidence that is robust, relevant, and actionable. A cornerstone of my approach is the strategic integration of participatory approaches throughout the research and evaluation lifecycle.

Children and young people

Alongside my methodological expertise, I possess a sustained commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people. My research in this area spans a wide array of critical topics, including mental health, health promotion and children’s experiences of health care access in both national and global contexts.

Previous projects

A National evaluation of Green Social Prescribing to improve mental health (DEFRA funded)
Mixed-Realities Play Kit to Prepare Children Aged 4-10 for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). (Funded by INNOVATE UK and TUOS Knowledge Exchange)
Promoting sustainable livelihoods: unpacking possibilities for empowerment with young migrants in Ghana. (Funded by British Academy Youth Futures).
Promoting disaster resilience in children: developing a network to research culturally appropriate, sustainable public health interventions in Fiji and Samoa. (Funded by Academy of Medical Sciences and GCRF)
Identifying the additional needs of migrant children. (Sheffield Children’s Hospital Funded)
Engaging young people and migrant families in enhancing quality care in the management of long-term health conditions. (GNCT funded)
A realist synthesis to explain how, for whom, and in what circumstances different community mental health crisis services work (NIHR funded).
Hidden Voices: Exploring the impact of migration on children’s perspectives of health (World University Network Funded).
Assessment and Satisfaction of services for Juvenile Huntington’s Disease (Research for Patient Benefit funded).
Exploring the impact of community-based peer support on promoting health literacy’ (COPES) (NIHR Public Health Research funded)

Publications

Journal articles

Spencer G & Thompson J (2024) Children and young people's perspectives on disasters – Mental health, agency and vulnerability: A scoping review. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 108, 104495-104495.
Taylor B, Thompson J & Ryan T (2024) ‘Moving on’ for adults with a learning disability and their families: a constructivist grounded theory study. Qualitative Health Research. View this article in WRRO
Yohani S, Salami B, Taylor M, Bukambu E, Pachani N, Fouche C, Thompson J & Vallianatos H (2023) African migrant children's mental health: A scoping review. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 97, 101900-101900.
Rogers MM, Ali P, Thompson J & Ifayomi M (2023) “Survive, learn to live with it … or not”: A narrative analysis of women's repeat victimization using a lifecourse perspective. Social Science & Medicine, 338, 116338-116338.
Clibbens N, Booth A, Sharda L, Baker J, Thompson J, Ashman M, Berzins K, Weich S & Kendal S (2023) Explaining context, mechanism and outcome in adult community mental health crisis care: a realist evidence synthesis. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. View this article in WRRO
Thompson J, Holding E, Haywood A & Foster A (2023) Service users’ perspectives of a national social prescribing programme to address loneliness and social isolation: a qualitative study. Health and Social Care in the Community, 2023.
Clibbens N, Baker J, Booth A, Berzins K, Ashman MC, Sharda L, Thompson J, Kendal S & Weich S (2023) Explanation of context, mechanisms and outcomes in adult community mental health crisis care: the MH-CREST realist evidence synthesis. Health and Social Care Delivery Research, 11(15), 1-161.
Bray L, Booth L, Gray V, Maden M, Thompson J & Saron H (2022) Interventions and methods to prepare, educate or familiarise children and young people for radiological procedures: a scoping review. Insights into Imaging, 13.
Thompson J, Spencer G & Curtis P (2021) Children's perspectives and experiences of the COVID‐19 pandemic and UK public health measures. Health Expectations.
Salami B, Mogale S, Ojo F, Kariwo M, Thompson J, Okeke-Ihejirika P & Yohani S (2021) Health of African refugee children outside Africa: a scoping review. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 61, 199-206.
Spencer G, Fairbrother H & Thompson J (2020) Privileges of power: authenticity, representation and the “problem” of children’s voices in qualitative health research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 19. View this article in WRRO
Smith J, Ali P, Birks Y, Curtis P, Fairbrother H, Kirk S, Saltiel D, Thompson J & Swallow V (2020) Umbrella review of family-focused care interventions supporting families where a family member has a long-term condition. Journal of Advanced Nursing. View this article in WRRO
Holding E, Thompson J, Foster A & Haywood A (2020) Connecting communities: A qualitative investigation of the challenges in delivering a national social prescribing service to reduce loneliness. Health & Social Care in the Community. View this article in WRRO
Chambers E, Gardiner C, Thompson J & Seymour J (2019) Patient and carer involvement in palliative care research : an integrative qualitative evidence synthesis review. Palliative Medicine, 33(8), 969-984. View this article in WRRO
Spencer G, Smith M, Thompson J, Fairbrother H, Hoare K, Fouché C & Curtis P (2019) Health experiences of children and young people who migrate – Opportunities for health education. Health Education Journal, 78(1), 96-107. View this article in WRRO
Bissell P, Thompson J & Gibson BJ (2018) Exploring Difference or Just Watching the Experts at Work? Interrogating Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in a Cancer Research Setting Using the Work of Jurgen Habermas. Sociology, 52(6), 1200-1216. View this article in WRRO
Curtis P, Thompson J & Fairbrother H (2018) Migrant children within Europe: a systematic review of children's perspectives on their health experiences. Public Health, 158, 71-85. View this article in WRRO
Thompson J, Tod A, Bissell P & Bond M (2017) Understanding food vulnerability and health literacy in older bereaved men: A qualitative study. Health Expectations, 20(6), 1342-1349. View this article in WRRO
Fitzsimmons DA, Thompson J, Bentley CL & Mountain GA (2016) Comparison of patient perceptions of Telehealth-supported and specialist nursing interventions for early stage COPD: a qualitative study. BMC Health Services Research, 16(1), 420-420. View this article in WRRO
Harris J, Croot L, Thompson J & Springett J (2016) How stakeholder participation can contribute to systematic reviews of complex interventions. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 70(2), 207-214. View this article in WRRO
Harris J, Springett J, Croot E, Booth A, Campbell F, Thompson J, Goyder E, Van Cleemput P, Wilkins E & Yang Y (2015) Can community-based peer support promote health literacy and reduce inequalities? A realist review. Journal of Public Health Research, 3(3). View this article in WRRO
Bentley CL, Mountain GA, Thompson J, Fitzsimmons DA, Lowrie K, Parker SG & Hawley MS (2014) A pilot randomised controlled trial of a Telehealth intervention in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: challenges of clinician-led data collection. Trials, 15(1). View this article in WRRO
Thompson J, Bissell P, Cooper CL, Armitage CJ & Barber R (2014) Exploring the impact of patient and public involvement in a cancer research setting.. Qual Health Res, 24(1), 46-54. View this article in WRRO
Harris J, Croot L, Springett J, Wilkins E, Booth A, Campbell F, Thompson J & Yang Y (2013) Promoting Health Literacy through Community Based Peer Support: what works for whom under which circumstances and why?. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITATIVE METHODS, 12, 728-728.
Campbell F, Booth A, Harris J, Croot L, Goyder E, Springett J, Thompson J, Van Cleemput P, Wilkins E & Yang Y (2013) Promoting Health Literacy through Community Based Peer Support: integrating qualitative and quantitative research in evidence synthesis.. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITATIVE METHODS, 12, 726-727.
Thompson J, Bissell P, Cooper C, Armitage CJ & Barber R (2012) Credibility and the 'professionalized' lay expert: reflections on the dilemmas and opportunities of public involvement in health research.. Health (London), 16(6), 602-618. View this article in WRRO
Fitzsimmons DA, Thompson J, Hawley M & Mountain GA (2011) Preventative tele-health supported services for early stage Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial pilot. Trials, 12(6). View this article in WRRO
Ward PR, Thompson J, Barber R, Armitage CJ, Boote JD, Cooper CL & Jones GL (2010) Critical perspectives on 'consumer involvement' in health research Epistemological dissonance and the know-do gap. J SOCIOL, 46(1), 63-82. View this article in WRRO
Thompson J, Barber R, Ward PR, Boote JD, Cooper CL, Armitage CJ & Jones G (2009) Health researchers' attitudes towards public involvement in health research.. Health Expect, 12(2), 209-220. View this article in WRRO
Spencer G, Dankyi E, Ofori CAE, Agyekum MW, Nyarko S, Asante D, Kwankye SO & Thompson J () Young migrants on the move: Ethics and methods of conducting qualitative research ‘in the moment’. Qualitative Research.
Thompson J, Smith J & Evans J () How can qualitative research enhance and strengthen randomised controlled trials undertaken with children and young people?. Evidence Based Nursing.
Ashman M, Clibbens N, Thompson J, Gilburt H, Thompson E & Khalid Y () Involving stakeholders with lived and professional experience in a realist review of community mental health crisis services: a commentary. Research Involvement and Engagement, 10(1).
Spencer G, Kwankye SO, Thompson J & Dankyi E () Rethinking Empowerment: Young African Migrants’ Understandings of Power and Empowerment in Ghana. Sociological Research Online.
Rivers G, Hinchliff S & Thompson J () Transgender and non-binary peoples experiences of cervical cancer screening: a scoping review. Journal of Clinical Nursing (JCN). View this article in WRRO
Thompson J, Yamada-Rice D, Thompson S, Murray L & Taylor M () Development and introduction of a mixed realities playkit: decreasing the incidence of general anaesthesia for paediatric MRI. BMJ Innovations.
Busebaia TJA, Thompson J, Fairbrother H & Ali P () The role of family in supporting adherence to diabetes self‐care management practices: An umbrella review. Journal of Advanced Nursing.
Thompson J & Yemada-Rice D () The Importance of Multimodal Play and Storytelling to a Mixed Realities Play-Kit for Preparing 4 to 10-year-olds for an MRI scan. Multimodality and Society.
Spencer G, Thompson J, Froehlich F, Asafo D, Doku MT, Asiamah G, Mornuu J, Kassim A, Kwankye SO & Dankyi E () Young people�s involvement in migration research � opportunities for (re)shaping research priorities and practices. Journal of the British Academy, 11s3, 43-67.
Spencer G, Dankyi E, Thompson J, Acton F & Kwankye SO () The Health Experiences of Young Internal Migrants in Ghana—Identifying Priorities for Sustainable Health Promotion. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22), 15229-15229.
Spencer G, Smith M, Hoare K, Fouché C & Thompson J () Health experiences of child migrants in the Western Pacific region. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 1-13.
Thompson J, Fairbrother H, Spencer G, Curtis P, Fouche C, Hoare K, Hogan D, O’Riordan J, Salami B, Smith M , Taylor B et al () Promoting the health of children and young people who migrate: reflections from four regional reviews. Global Health Promotion, 175797591988845-175797591988845. View this article in WRRO
Curtis P, Thompson J & Fairbrother H () Migrant children within Europe: a systematic review of children’s perspectives on their health experiences. Public Health.
Foster A, Thompson J, Holding E, Ariss S, Mukuria C, Jacques R, Akparido R & Haywood A () Impact of social prescribing to address loneliness: A mixed methods evaluation of a national social prescribing programme. Health & Social Care in the Community.

Chapters

Thompson J & Spencer G (2022) Reproducing Power Asymmetries Through Voice, Collaboration and Change: Opportunities for Children to Re-Shape Contemporary Global Challenges In Frankel S (Ed.), Establishing Child Centred Practice in a Changing World (pp. 9-23). Emerald
Spencer G, Dankyi E, Kwankye SO & Thompson J (2021) Children and Young People who Migrate – Representing and (Re)producing Vulnerabilities through Research, Advances in Research Ethics and Integrity (pp. 183-197). Emerald Publishing Limited

Conference proceedings papers

Thompson J, Fairbrother H & Curtis P (2018) Hidden voices : reflections on the health experiences of children who migrate. European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 28(Suppl_1) (pp 128-128). Edinburgh, UK, 17 May 2018 - 19 May 2018. View this article in WRRO
Farber A, Tan T-W, Hu B, Dember LM, Beck GJ, Dixon BS, Kusek JW, Feldman HI, Dember L, Kaufman J , Hawley M et al (2015) The effect of location and configuration on forearm and upper arm hemodialysis arteriovenous grafts. Journal of Vascular Surgery, Vol. 62(5) (pp 1258-1265)
Croot L, Harris J, Thompson J, Van Cleemput P, Booth A, Campbell F, Springett J & Wilkins E (2013) Promoting Health Literacy through Community Based Peer Support: a participatory approach to a realist review.. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITATIVE METHODS, Vol. 12 (pp 727-728)

Research group: I am interested in supervising students in my research areas and welcome prospective students getting in touch to discuss potential applications.

Teaching interests: I am Deputy Programme lead for the BMedSci Health and Human Sciences degree. On this degree I teach units in health promotion, sociological approaches to health and research methods.

Teaching activities: I currently teach Global Health, Health Promotion, Research Methods and the Dissertation module.

Professional activities and memberships

I am co-lead for the co-production theme of the South Yorkshire Children and Young People’s Health Research Network (SCYPHeR)

I co-lead the Child of the North N8 Research Partnership for the University of Sheffield, with my colleague Dr Hannah Fairbrother.

I am on the board of the African Children and Youth Migration Research Network.