Research themes
Jonathan is interested in the role that qualitative and mixed-methods approaches have in providing insights that are relevant to our understanding of important medical and social phenomena, and their interaction with health and social policy. He is a senior member of the Social Studies in Medicine research grouping in the Institute of Applied Health Research.
Jonathan’s current research themes include the application of qualitative methodologies to understand the patient experience of disease and treatments and how those insights translate to issues including;
- the content and selection of outcomes for clinical research;
- the acceptability of treatments and the related feasibility of clinical trials;
- patients’ and carers’ adaptation to the impacts of chronic disease and the role of medical and surgical treatments in this.
Current / recent research projects
The Pegasus Study – is a mixed methods trial feasibility study funded by the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme. It is exploring the feasibility of a trial of pressure garment therapy for the prevention of hypertrophic scarring in burns. Pegasus includes extensive qualitative and mixed methods research with burns patients and clinicians in order to gauge the acceptability and feasibility of the trial, and to inform patient-centred selection of outcome measures that represent the patient experience of pressure garment therapy.
STOP-COLITIS – is an NIHR Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation funded trial of faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in achieving and maintaining remission for patients with ulcerative colitis. The study includes qualitative research with patients and clinicians that will inform the selection of an optimal route of administration of the transplantation.
The ACCURE study – is an NIHR Research for Patient Benefit funded feasibility study for a trial of appendicectomy in ulcerative colitis. Qualitative research has gathered data on the acceptability of this surgical intervention and the related clinical trial and has also explored how patients with ulcerative colitis attempt to adapt to life with the disease, and in turn how medical and surgical therapies play a role in this.
Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s Disease – funded by the MRC this research included a systematic review of qualitative research that has examined the patient experience of this surgical procedure that is typically used in late stage Parkinson’s Disease. This review has provided valuable new insights into patient perspectives on deep brain stimulation and has pointed to a need for further research into patient views so that clinical practice in this area can adequately consider these.
The Bluebelle Study – is an NIHR Health Technology Assessment funded feasibility study for a trial of post-surgical wound dressing types to prevent surgical site infection. This study is a collaboration with researchers at Bristol University that has included a substantive qualitative component.
As well as Jonathan’s current research interests he has also published in a number of health policy related areas including research focusing on the expansion of undergraduate medical education, widening access to medicine policy, the impact of and public involvement in regeneration policy, and healthcare professionals’ reactions to health policy interventions.
Jonathan is interested in supervising PhD students in areas related to his current research interests.
Jonathan is the Director of the Birmingham Hub of the NIHR West Midlands Research Design Service. As such he works with a range of applied health researchers and methodologists to support researchers developing applications for research funding to national peer-reviewed funding streams.