Dr Laura Jones BSc (Hons), DPS, PhD, PCAP, FHEA

Dr Laura Jones

Institute of Applied Health Research
Associate Professor of Qualitative and Mixed Methods Applied Health Research

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0)121 414 3024
Email
l.l.jones@bham.ac.uk
Twitter
@drlauraljones
View my research portal
Address
Murray Learning Centre
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr Jones is an Associate Professor of Qualitative and Mixed Methods Applied Health Research in the Institute of Applied Health Research. Laura is the Deputy Director of Post Graduate Research responsible for student mental health and wellbeing in the College of Medical and Dental Sciences.

Laura’s research focusses on undertaking qualitative and mixed methods health research to answer challenging questions around women’s and maternal health. Her research sits at the complex intersection of using robust qualitative methodologies to engage underserved populations in sensitive health related research to inform policy and practice. The aim is to improve health and wellbeing for these seldom heard groups. 

She successfully led the largest UK qualitative study of female genital mutilation care provision. The results of which were featured exclusively on Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and are helping to change NHS policy and practice around caring for survivors.(FGM Sister Study). Currently, Laura is leading a multi methods feasibility study exploring the acceptability of a future trial of different surgical interventions for women with pelvic organ prolapse. (C-POP Study). Both studies received funding from the National Institute for Health Research.

Laura also leads multiple qualitative process evaluations in trials of women’s and maternal health nationally. Her trials research focuses on a core set of themes which are key to the successful design and delivery of inclusive pragmatic clinical trials.

Qualifications

  • PGCert Academic Practice, University of Birmingham, 2016
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, 2015
  • PhD Human Sciences, Loughborough University, 2008
  • BSc (Hons) Human Biology with Diploma in Professional Studies, Loughborough University, 2004 

Teaching

Postgraduate supervision

Dr Jones is interested in supervising doctoral researchers who are planning to use qualitative or mixed methods within their research. She is also interested in supervising doctoral research students in the following general research areas:

Qualitative and mixed methods to explore smoking at home and children’s exposure to secondhand smoke in disadvantaged communities
The use of qualitative methodologies within and alongside randomised controlled trials of complex healthcare interventions

Other activities

Allyship

  • Proud to be an LGBTQ+ ally at the University of Birmingham
  • I am a Mental Health First Aider – please feel free to get in touch
  • University of Birmingham Domestic Abuse Ally

Public Engagement Activities 

  • “A breath of fresh air” Pint of Science Public Engagement Event, Bodega Birmingham 2016

Awards and Honours 

  • University of Birmingham Outstanding Contribution to the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice Programme 2016
  • University of Birmingham Effective Academic Practice Teaching Prize 2015
  • Parental and household smoking and the increased risk of bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and other lower respiratory infections in infancy: systematic review and meta-analysis paper: General Medicine Award Runner Up, 6th Annual Biomed Central Research Awards 2012
  • Loughborough University Graduate Student of the Year Award. Faculty of Science Graduate School Research Prize for outstanding academic performance and achievements 2008

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Molloy, E, Pilarski, N, Morris, K, Hodgetts-Morton, V & Jones, L 2024, 'Fluidity of Equipoise in a Multi-Centred Pilot RCT: Influences on Clinician Decision-Making in Offering Trial Entry ', European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, vol. 296, pp. 170-178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.03.004

Antoun, L, Middleton, L, Smith, P, Saridogan, E, Cooper, K, Brocklehurst, P, McKinnon, W, Bevan, S, Woolley, R, Jones, L, Fullard, J, Morgan, M, Roberts, T & Clark, TJ 2023, 'LAparoscopic Versus Abdominal hysterectomy (LAVA): protocol of a randomised controlled trial', BMJ open, vol. 13, no. 9, e070218. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-070218

Jones, LL, Costello, BD, Danks, E, Jolly, K, Cross‐Sudworth, F, Byrne, A, Fassam‐Wright, M, Latthe, P, Clarke, J, Adbi, A, Abdi, H, Abdi, H & Taylor, J 2023, 'Preferences for deinfibulation (opening) surgery and female genital mutilation service provision: a qualitative study', BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, vol. 130, no. 5, pp. 531-540. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.17358

Jones, L, Danks, E, Costello, B, Jolly, K, Cross-Sudworth, F, Latthe, P, Fassam-Wright, M, Clarke, J, Byrne, A & Taylor, J 2023, 'Views of female genital mutilation survivors, men and health-care professionals on timing of deinfibulation surgery and NHS service provision: qualitative FGM Sister Study', Health Technology Assessment, vol. 27, no. 3. <https://doi.org/10.3310/JHWE4771>

Jones, J, Jones, L, Calvert, M, Damery, S & Mathers, J 2022, 'A literature review of studies that have compared the use of face-to-face and online focus groups', The International Journal of Qualitative Methods, vol. 21, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069221142406

Molloy, E, Pilarski, N, Morris, RK, Morton, V & Jones, L 2022, 'The acceptability of emergency cervical cerclage within a randomised controlled trial for cervical dilatation with exposed membranes at 16-27 + 6 weeks gestation: Findings from a qualitative process evaluation of the C-STICH2 pilot trial', European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, vol. 279, pp. 27-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.10.003

Hodgetts-Morton, V, Hewitt, CA, Jones, L, Leighton, L, Pilarski, N, Molloy, E, Hinshaw, K, Norman, J, Waugh, J, Stock, S, Thornton, J, Toozs-Hobson, P, Johnston, T, Coomarasamy, A, Thangaratinam, S, Mol, B, Pajkrt, E, Marlow, N, Roberts, T, Middleton, L, Brocklehurst, P & Morris, K 2021, 'C-STICH2: emergency cervical cerclage to prevent miscarriage and preterm birth-study protocol for a randomised controlled trial', Trials, vol. 22, no. 1, 529. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-021-05464-6

Okeke Ogwulu, D, Williams, E, Chu, J, Devall, A, Beeson, L, Hardy, P, Cheed, V, Sun, Y, Jones, L, La Fontaine, J, Bender Atik, R, Brewin, J, Hinshaw, K, Choudhary, M, Ahmed, A, Naflalin , J, Nunes, N, Oliver, A, Izzat, F, Bhatia, K, Hassan, I, Jeve, Y, Hamilton, J, Shilpa, D, Bottomley, C, Ross, J, Watkins, L, Underwood, M, Cheong, Y, Kumar, CS, Gupta, P, Small, R, Pringle, S, Hodge, F, Shahid, A, Horne, AW, Quenby, S, Gallos, I, Coomarasamy, A & Roberts, T 2021, 'Cost-effectiveness of mifepristone and misoprostol versus misoprostol alone for the management of missed miscarriage: an economic evaluation based on the MifeMiso Trial', BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, vol. 128, no. 9, pp. 1534-1545. https://doi.org/10.1111/1471-0528.16737

Mohamud, A, Qureshi, Z, De Wildt, G & Jones, L 2021, 'Exploring Perceptions of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Abandonment (FGM/C) in Kenyan Health Care Professionals', Qualitative Health Research, vol. 2021, no. 11, pp. 1976-1989. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323211015967

Ferris, E, Cummins, C, Chiswell, C & Jones, L 2021, 'Exploring stakeholder views on intervening in hospital around childhood secondhand smoke exposure (Precedent): a protocol for a qualitative study', BMJ open, vol. 11, no. 10, e047817. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047817

Devall, A, Chu, J, Beeson, L, Hardy, P, Cheed, V, Sun, Y, Roberts, T, Ogwulu, CO, Williams, E, Jones, L, Papadopoulos, JLF, Bender-Atik, R, Brewin, J, Hinshaw, K, Choudhary, M, Ahmed, A, Naftalin, J, Nunes, N, Oliver, A, Izzat, F, Bhatia, K, Hassan, I, Jeve, Y, Hamilton, J, Deb, S, Bottomley, C, Ross, J, Watkins, L, Underwood, M, Cheong, Y, Kumar, C, Gupta, P, Small, R, Pringle, S, Hodge, F, Shahid, A, Gallos, I, Horne, A, Quenby, S & Coomarasamy, A 2021, 'Mifepristone and misoprostol versus placebo and misoprostol for resolution of miscarriage in women diagnosed with missed miscarriage: the MifeMiso RCT', Health Technology Assessment, vol. 25, no. 68, pp. 1-114. https://doi.org/10.3310/hta25680

Chapter

Jones, L & Albert, J 2021, Identifying and responding to female genital mutilation: reflections from a UK research–practice partnership. in C Bradbury-Jones & L Isham (eds), Understanding Gender-Based Violence: An Essential Textbook for Nurses, Healthcare Professionals and Social Workers. 1 edn, Springer, Cham, pp. 217-239. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65006-3_14

Preprint

Jones, L, Costello, B, Danks, E, Jolly, K, Cross-Sudworth, F, Byrne, A, Fassam-Wright, M, Latthe, P, Clarke, J, Abdi, A, Abdi, H, Abdi, H & Taylor, J 2022 'Preferences for deinfibulation (opening) surgery and female genital mutilation service provision: a UK qualitative study'. https://doi.org/10.22541/au.165365645.56035262/v1

Review article

Alhendyani, F, Jolly, K & Jones, L 2022, 'Views and experiences of maternal healthcare providers regarding influenza vaccine during pregnancy globally: a systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis', PLOS One, vol. 17, no. 2, e0263234. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0263234

Hartmann-Boyce, J, Theodoulou, A, Farley, A, Hajek, P, Lycett, D, Jones, LL, Kudlek, L, Heath, L, Hajizadeh, A, Schenkels, M & Aveyard, P 2021, 'Interventions for preventing weight gain after smoking cessation', The Cochrane Library, vol. 2021, no. 10, CD006219. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006219.pub4

View all publications in research portal

Expertise

Women's Health; Maternal Health; Female Genital Mutilation; Pelvic Organ Prolapse; Qualitative Research Methods; Clinical Trials; Cross-culture and multi-language Qualitative Research; Sensitive Qualitative Research

Media experience

BBC Radio 4 - Women's Hour