Laura Di Bona

MClinRes, PGDip (OT), PGCert, BSc

Population Health, School of Medicine and Population Health

Research Associate (Honorary)

l.dibona@sheffield.ac.uk

Regent Court (ScHARR)

Full contact details

Laura Di Bona
Population Health, School of Medicine and Population Health
Regent Court (ScHARR)
30 Regent Street
Sheffield
S1 4DA

Profile

I joined the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) in 2012 as a research associate, having completed an NIHR clinical academic training pathway (CATP) fellowship funded MSc in Clinical Research with distinction.

Prior to this I worked clinically as a healthcare assistant, then as an Occupational Therapist. I have experience in a variety of clinical settings and specialisms, but mostly I’ve worked in mental health. Alongside my clinical work, I carried out research into the benefits of leisure and therapeutic activities. I also led on audits and service evaluations focussing on occupational therapy and vocational rehabilitation practice.

I am involved in supervising and teaching occupational therapy, medical and MSc research students. I am a STEM ambassador and regularly facilitate public engagement events relating to the health sciences. Here is a video of an event I was involved in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StUjVMmzlAg

Research interests

I am interested in evaluating and improving clinical practice and outcomes, with a particular focus on:

Mental health of children and adults
Care of people with dementia
Service user engagement and involvement
Health inequalities
Occupational Therapy
Vocational Rehabilitation

Current Projects

Valuing Active Life in Dementia (VALID) www.ucl.ac.uk/valid: This is a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funded applied research programme. The VALID programme is evaluating occupational therapy for people with mild to moderate dementia and their family caregivers living in the community.
Adopt a Care Home Scheme: This is a collaborative project with Sheffield City Council. We have evaluated the extent to which a pilot of the Adopt a Care Home Scheme increased primary school children’s awareness and knowledge of dementia and contributed to the wellbeing of people with dementia who are in care homes. We are currently seeking further funding to continue to develop and evaluate the scheme.

Publications

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Featured publications

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Journal articles

Hynes SM, Field B, Ledgerd R, Swinson T, Wenborn J, di Bona L, Moniz-Cook E, Poland F & Orrell M (2016) Exploring the need for a new UK occupational therapy intervention for people with dementia and family carers: Community Occupational Therapy in Dementia (COTiD). A focus group study. Aging & Mental Health, 20(7), 762-769. View this article in WRRO
Parkinson S, Di Bona L, Fletcher N, Vecsey T & Wheeler K (2015) Profession-specific working in mental health: Impacts for occupational therapists and service users. New Zealand Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62(2), 55-55.
Di Bona L, Saxon D, Barkham M, Dent-Brown K & Parry G (2014) Predictors of patient non-attendance at Improving Access to Psychological Therapy services demonstration sites. Journal of Affective Disorders, 169, 157-164.
Di Bona L (2000) What are the benefits of leisure? An exploration using the Leisure Satisfaction Scale. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 63(2), 50-58.