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

Dr Laura Jones

Institute of Applied Health Research
Senior Lecturer in Qualitative and Mixed-Methods Applied Health Research

Contact details

Address
Murray Learning Centre
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr Jones is a Senior Lecturer in Qualitative and Mixed-Methods Applied Health Research.

Laura is an experienced applied health researcher and her research focusses on undertaking qualitative and mixed-methods research to answer challenging questions around women’s and maternal health and within maternity care. She is the chief investigator of a large qualitative study funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) exploring female genital mutilation-survivors, their male partners’, and healthcare professionals’ preferences for the timing of deinfibulation (opening surgery) and their views on how NHS care provision could be improved.

In addition, Laura is currently leading the qualitative phases of a number of clinical trials in women’s and maternal health. This research focuses on a core set of themes which are key to the successful design and delivery of pragmatic clinical trials including: (a) understanding the acceptability of trial questions to key stakeholders, including patients, carers and healthcare professionals, (b) understanding the factors that are likely to influence trial recruitment and participation, and (c) understanding patient experience of trial treatment regimens and trial processes in order to optimise design and delivery. 

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 

Biography

Laura qualified with a First Class BSc (Hons) in Human Biology with a diploma in professional studies from Loughborough University in 2004, staying on to successfully gain her mixed-methods PhD in 2008. With funding from the Child Growth Foundation, Laura’s PhD explored how early childhood events affect the timing and duration of puberty and subsequent propensity for risky behaviours in South African adolescents. Laura’s first post-doctoral position at Loughborough University investigated the determinants of childhood and adolescent obesity using data from a number of large birth cohort dataset.

In early 2009, Laura moved to the University of Nottingham to take up a UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies (UKCTCS) Research Fellowship and later (2012) a Senior Research Fellow position. Whilst at Nottingham, Laura was involved in a variety of mixed-methods tobacco control work and established significant expertise in harm reduction, specifically in secondhand smoke and smoke-free environments. Most notably, she lead the development and testing of a complex intervention to help protect disadvantaged children from the harms of secondhand smoke at home, which was found to be clinically and cost-effective.

In April 2013, Laura moved to the University of Birmingham to take up a Lectureship in Qualitative and Mixed-Methods Applied Health Research and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2018.  Since arriving in Birmingham, Laura has continued to build her research profile, with an increasing focus on women’s and maternal health projects. In particular, she is focussing on service provision for women who have experienced gender based violence. Since 2010, Laura has generated a substantial research income of £10.75 million (including £690k as chief investigator), published more than 50 papers, reports and book chapters and is a sought after methodological collaborator.

In addition to her research, Laura is also well respected teacher and is actively involved in developing the skills of others via mentoring and delivery of Introduction to Teaching and Learning sessions across the University. During her PGCert in Academic Practice (Distinction), she was awarded two teaching related prizes by the University of Birmingham. The first was for her commitment to and demonstration of effective academic practice and the second was for her outstanding contribution to the PGCert Academic Practice Programme.

Teaching

Postgraduate supervision

Laura has supervised four doctoral research students to completion and is currently supervising five others. Their projects, using qualitative and mixed-methods, focus on maternal health in low resource settings, men’s experience of pregnancy loss, and protecting children from secondhand smoke in UK primary and secondary care.

Laura is interested in supervising further doctoral research students who are planning to use qualitative or mixed methods within their research. Projects should focus on questions relating to women’s health, maternal health and/or maternity care research. She is particularly interested in supervising post graduate students who would like to undertake a PhD around female genital mutilation and gender based violence. 

If you are interested in studying any of these subject areas please contact Laura directly, or 
for any general doctoral research enquiries, please email 
mds-gradschool@contacts.bham.ac.uk

For a full list of available Doctoral Research opportunities, please visit our Doctoral Research programme listings 

Research

Core Research Themes

Female genital mutilation; maternal and women’s health; qualitative research in clinical trials; tobacco control; other

Current Research Activities (selected)

Female Genital Mutilation

Laura is the chief investigator of the FGM Sister Study (@FGMSisterStudy). The FGM Sister Study is one of the largest cross-culture and cross-language in depth qualitative studies of female genital mutilation in the UK. The study, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), explores female genital mutilation-survivors’, their male partners’ and healthcare professionals’ preferences for the timing of deinfibulation (opening surgery) and their views on how NHS services can best be delivered to meet the needs of female genital mutilation-survivors and their families.

Maternal and Women’s Health Trials

Laura leads the qualitative phases of several large clinical trials including: (1) a randomised trial of mifepristone and misoprostol alone in the medical management of missed miscarriage (MIFEMISO); (2) Emergency cervical cerclage to prevent miscarriage and preterm birth (C-STICH2). She is also leading the qualitative research in two further maternal woman’s health trials which have recently been funded and are due to start in 2020. 

Previous Research Activities (selected)

Tobacco Control

Laura has led a programme of research exploring ways to reduce disadvantaged children’s exposure to secondhand smoke in the home. To date, this has involved three qualitative studies with disadvantaged families and healthcare professionals and the subsequent development and testing of a complex intervention that was shown to be clinically and cost-effective. This five year project had a budget of nearly £1 million.

Other tobacco and vaping related research that Laura has been involved in (as principle and co-investigator) includes: (1) a CRUK funded exploration of parents views and experiences of vaping in the home to protect children from exposure to secondhand smoke (PPEC Study); (2) a CRUK funded exploration to understand the nature and drivers of dual use of electronic and tobacco cigarettes (Dual User Study); (3) a systematic qualitative evidence synthesis of the barriers to and enablers of smoke-free homes; (4) evaluating a mobile Stop Smoking Service; (5) the development and evaluation of a novel intervention providing insight into the tobacco industry to prevent the uptake of smoking in school-aged children; (6) preventing uptake and promoting cessation of smoking in Ghana: the role of pictorial or text health warnings, and conventional or generic packaging, for cigarette packs; (7) action research: smoking in a disadvantaged community in Nottingham and (8) a mapping review of global car smoking laws.

Other

Previous projects including feasibility studies or qualitative research within a clinical trial: (1) Healthy Dads: Healthy Kids - a cultural adaptation and feasibility study of a weight management programme for fathers of younger children (HDHK), (2) pressure garment therapy to prevent or reduce abnormal scarring following serious burn injury (PEGASUS); (3) complex, simple or absent wound dressings in elective surgery (Bluebelle), and (4) undertaking appendicectomy to impact upon the clinical course of ulcerative colitis (ACCURE).

Other activities

Academic Support & Teaching

Academic consultant for the National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training (2011 to present)

Academic advisor for the Department of Health and for several English Primary Care Trust (PCT) led smoke-free family initiatives (including NHS Lincolnshire, Derbyshire City and County, Nottingham City and County) (2009 to present)

Teacher on UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies Continued Professional Development courses for Healthcare Professionals working in tobacco control

Grants

Jones LL, Longman J, Passey M and Mathers J. Protecting children from exposure to secondhand smoke at home: synthesising the international qualitative evidence of the facilitators and barriers to creating smoke-free homes. Wellcome Trust ISSF Mobility Scholarship, £3690 (Awarded March 2014)

Moiemen  N, Deeks J, Dziewulski P, Dickinson W, Wilson Y, Jones LL, Mathers J, Frew E, Kinghorn P, Bishop J, Mackie I, Dheansa B, Shah M, Jeffery S, Sadideen H, Calvert M, Doyle K, Gardiner F, and Whiting K. A study to assess feasibility of a randomised multi-centre clinical trial in children and adults, to examine the clinical and cost-effectiveness of pressure garments to improve scarring. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment, £534,069 (Awarded December 2013)

Rick C, Jenkinson C, Pall H, Ives N, Wheatley K, Jones LL and Mathers J. Understanding how coping mechanisms/accommodation and anosognosia affect the assessment of quality of life for people with a chronic condition (Parkinson’s disease) MRC Midland Hub for Trials Methodology Research, £43599 (Awarded June 2013)

Coleman T, Orton S, Jones LL and Cooper S. Smoking in the home after childbirth: prevalence, determinants and the relationship to smoking in pregnancy National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research PhD Studentship: £85260 (Awarded September 2012)

Szatkowski L, Lewis S, McNeill A, Britton J, Jones LL, Bains M, Docherty G, Bauld L, Parrott S, Fairs-Billam T and Letniowski T. “Development and evaluation of a novel intervention providing insight into the tobacco industry to prevent the uptake of smoking in school-aged children”.  National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Health Research Programme, £710,751 (Awarded July 2012)

Owusu-Dabo E, Singh A, Owusuaa Amartey A, Jones LL, Munafò M and Britton J. “Preventing uptake and promoting cessation of smoking in Ghana: the role of pictorial or text health warnings, and conventional or generic packaging, for cigarette packs” Association of Physicians of Great Britain and Ireland: Links with Developing Countries Scheme 2011, £9900. (Awarded April 2012)

McNeill A, Jones LL, Sendzik T, Fong G and Bauld L. “Mapping review of global car smoking laws” Department of Health, £27,987. (Awarded March 2012)

McEwen A, Amos A, Robinson J, Jones LL and Streets E. “Tobacco control health inequalities pilot on children’s centre workforces and smoking cessation services” Department of Health, £186,192 (Awarded March 2010)

Britton J, De Gruchy J, McNeill A, Lewis S, Venn A, McKeever T, Hari I, Leonardi-Bee J, Murray R,  Coleman T, Smyth A, Godfrey C, Parrot S, Jones LL, Hubbard R and Sherwood W. “Smoking: new approaches to cessation service delivery, prevention of passive smoke exposure in children, and healthcare cost estimation” National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) programme grants for applied research, £1,972,426 (Awarded October 2009)

Travel Grants

Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Europe Travel Award, €1000, Awarded March 2013

Awards

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)

Society Membership

Member of Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) (2013 to present)

Committee member of Society for Study of Human Biology (SSHB) (2011 to present)

Member and previous fellowship holder of the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies (UKCTAS) (2009 to present)

Publications

Selected Publications (Since 2014)

Jones LL, Danks E, Clarke J, Alidu L, Costello B, Kolly K, Byrne A, Fassam-Wright M, Latthe P, Taylor J. Exploring the views of female genital mutilation survivors, their male partners and healthcare professionals on the timing of deinfibulation surgery and NHS FGM care provision (the FGM Sister Study): protocol for a qualitative study. BMJ Open (2019) 9:e034140

Jolly K, Griffin T, Sidhu M, Adab P, Burgess A, Collins C, Daley A, Entwistle A, Frew E, Hardy P, Hurley K, Jones J, McGee E, Pallan M, Sun Y, Young M, Morgan P. A weight management programme for fathers: cultural adaptation of Healthy Dads, Healthy Kids UK and feasibility RCT. Health Technology Assessment (2019 in press).

Williams HM, Coomarasamy A, Topping AE, Jones LL. Men and Miscarriage: a Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis. Qualitative Health Research (2019) Sep 16:1049732319870270.

Parretti HM, Hughes CA, Jones LL. 'The rollercoaster of follow-up care' after bariatric surgery: a rapid review and qualitative synthesis. Obesity Reviews (2019) Jan;20(1):88-107.

Marsland H, Meza G, de Wildt G, Jones LL. A qualitative exploration of women’s experiences of antenatal and intrapartum care: The need for a woman-centred approach in the Peruvian Amazon. PLOS ONE (2019) 14(1):e0209736.

Moiemen N, Mathers J, Jones L, Bishop J, Kinghorn P, Monahan M, Calvert M, Slinn G, Gardiner F, Bamford A, Wright S, Litchfield I, Andrews N, Turner K, Grant M & Deeks J. Pressure garment to prevent abnormal scarring after burn injury in adults and children: the PEGASUS feasibility RCT and mixed-methods study. Health Technology Assessment (2018) 22(36).

Kaur J, Farley A, Jolly K and Jones LL. Primary care healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes and practices towards promoting the reduction of children's secondhand smoke exposure: a mixed-methods review and synthesis. Nicotine and Tobacco Research (2017) doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntx278

Frank A, Beales E, de Wildt G, Meza Sanchez G, Jones LL. "We need people to collaborate together against this disease": A qualitative exploration of perceptions of dengue fever control in caregivers' of children under 5 years, in the Peruvian Amazon. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases (2017) 11(9):e0005755

Robertshaw L, Dhesi SK, Jones LL. Challenges and Facilitators for Health Professionals Providing Primary Healthcare for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of Qualitative Research. BMJ Open (2017) 7:e015981

Ratschen E, Thorley R, Jones LL, Opazo Breton M, Cook J, McNeill A, Britton J, Coleman T, Lewis S. A Randomised Controlled Trial of a Complex Intervention to reduce Children’s Exposure to Secondhand Smoke in the Home, Tobacco Control. Published Online First: [21 Apr 2017]. doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2016-053279

Marsh J, McNeill A, Lewis S, Coleman T, Bains M, Larwood J, Purdy J and Jones LL. Protecting children from secondhand smoke: a mixed-methods feasibility study of a novel smoke-free homes intervention. Pilot and Feasibility Studies (2016) 2:53

Keeley T, Williamson P, Callery P, Jones LL, Mathers JM, Jones J, Young B and Calvert M. The use of qualitative methods to inform Delphi surveys in core outcome set development. Trials (2016), 4;17(1):230

Passey M, Longman J, Robinson J, Wiggers J, Jones LL. Smoke-free homes: what are the barriers, motivators and enablers? A qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis. BMJ Open (2016) 6:e010260 doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2015-010260

Moxey J and Jones LL. A qualitative study exploring how Somali 

women exposed to female genital mutilation experience and perceive antenatal and intrapartum care in England. BMJ Open (2016),6:e009846. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009846

Orton S, Jones LL, Cooper S, Lewis S and Coleman T. Predictors of children’s secondhand smoke exposure at home: a systematic review and narrative synthesis of the evidence. PLOS ONE (2014), 9(11):e112690

View all publications in research portal