Dr Martina Sykorova PhD, MREs, MA, Mgr, Bc

Dr Martina Sykorova

Department of Applied Health Sciences
Research Fellow

Contact details

Email
m.sykorova@bham.ac.uk
Twitter
@MartinaSykor
View my research portal
Address
Murray Learning Centre
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Martina Sykorova is a qualitative Research Fellow on the PRE-EMPT study that focuses on cervical length screening.

Martina’s previous research has focused on sleep disorders, chronic oedema and chronic wounds. Martina has experience of using a range of qualitative methods including semi-structured interviews, focus groups and participant observations.

Martina’s interests include qualitative research and implementation science.

‪Martina Sykorova - ‪Google Scholar

Martina SYKOROVA | ResearchGate 

Qualifications

  • PhD in Health Studies, University of Nottingham, 2025
  • MRes Business and Management, University of Nottingham, 2017
  • MA Public Health, Nottingham Trent University, 2013
  • Mgr. Specialist in Public Health Protection, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic, 2011
  • Bc. Public Health, University of South Bohemia, Czech Republic, 2008

Biography

I am a healthcare researcher with a strong focus on qualitative methods and an interest in the social science aspects of health and care. My research is primarily based within NHS settings, particularly in primary care, and I have extensive experience conducting interviews, focus groups, and observations, alongside writing detailed field notes. While my expertise is predominantly qualitative, I also have experience in quantitative research, including conducting prevalence studies of chronic wounds and chronic oedema in hospitals, community settings, care homes, and a prison. My work focuses on under-served and often overlooked conditions, aiming to inform more inclusive, equitable, and evidence-based healthcare practices.

Research Interests

My research interests focus on under-served and under-recognised health conditions, such as sleep disorders, chronic wounds, and chronic oedema. I am particularly interested in how these conditions are understood and managed in primary and community care settings. I have a background in public health and hold a PhD in Health Studies from the University of Nottingham. My doctoral research was a qualitative study using an ethnographic approach to explore the work of a community nursing service within the NHS. I am also interested in implementation science and behavioural science, particularly how evidence-based practices are introduced and sustained in real-world healthcare contexts. My work aims to support more equitable, person-centred approaches to care.

Teaching Summary

I have experience facilitating seminars and supporting learning on a range of skills-based short courses for researchers and postgraduate students, including Introduction to Statistics with SPSS, Problems with Academic Writing, and Presentation Skills for Researchers. In addition, I served as a tutor and dissertation supervisor for MSc students (LSHTM), providing guidance on research design, methodology, and academic writing.

Teaching

Previously Martina has supervised Masters students at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Postgraduate supervision

Martina is open to expressions of interest in postgraduate research which are related to any of his research interests.

Research

Research interests:

  • Chronic conditions
  • Pre-term birth
  • Implementation science
  • Qualitative methods
  • Ethnography
Current project: The PRE-EMPT study

Publications

  • Sýkorová M., et al. (2025). ‘Factors influencing English general practitioners referrals to specialist sleep services: a qualitative study using the COM-B model’ (PREPRINT) DOI:10.1101/2025.10.26.25338808
  • Strongman et al. (2025). ‘Validation of algorithms identifying diagnosed Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and narcolepsy in coded primary care and linked hospital activity data in England’ Sleep Epidemiology;5:100110. DOI:10.1016/j.sleepe.2025.100110
  • Strongman et al. (2025). ‘Incidence and prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea and narcolepsy in the UK: a population-based descriptive study’ (PREPRINT) DOI:10.1101/2025.06.18.25329848
  • Sýkorová M., et al. (2025). ‘Barriers and facilitators to specialist service referrals for sleep disorders from healthcare professionals’ perspective: A scoping review of qualitative research evidence’ (PREPRINT) medRxiv 2025.01.20.25320835; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.20.25320835
  • van Someren F., et al. (2025). ’Trends and variation in issuance of high-cost narcolepsy drugs by NHS England organisations and regions from 2019 to 2022’ J Sleep Res.;34(4):e14415. doi: 10.1111/jsr.14415. 
  • Sýkorová M., et al. (2024). ‘Topical oxygen therapy and singlet oxygen in wound healing: A scoping review’ Int Wound J.;21(4):e14846. doi: 10.1111/iwj.14846. 
  • Moffatt C.J., et al. (2021). ‘An international survey to explore outcome measures in chronic oedema and lymphoedema’ Journal of Wound Care; 26(11;S1):S21–S32.
  • Moffatt C.J. et al. (2021). ‘An international study to explore the challenges faced by the medical device industry in the development of compression products and reimbursement’ Journal of Wound Care; 26(11;S1):S33–S4.
  • Edgley A. et al. (2021). ‘“I Cry. I Simply Cry.” An Ethnography of a Lymphedema Summer Camp’ Lymphatic Research and Biology; 19(5): 479-487.
  • Moffatt C.J. et al. (2021). ‘Factors Predicting Limb Volume Reduction Using Compression Bandaging Within Decongestive Lymphatic Therapy in Lymphedema: A Multicountry Prospective Study’ Lymphatic Research and Biology; 19(5): 412-422.
  • Moffatt C.J. and Sykorova M. (2021). ‘How common is Chronic Oedema?’ In: Hazeldine M. and guests (Ed.). How to Live with Lymphoedema: Meet the Experts. Wordzworth Publishing. Chapter 4 p.35-42.
  • Quere I. et al. (2019). ‘LIMPRINT: Estimation of the Prevalence of Lymphedema/Chronic Edema in Acute Hospital in In-Patients’ Lymphatic Research and Biology. 17(2):135-140.
  • Moffatt C.J., et al. (2019). ‘Prevalence and Risk Factors for Chronic Edema in U.K. Community Nursing Services’ Lymphatic Research and Biology. 17(2):147-154.
  • Moffatt C.J. et al. (2019). ‘Clinical and Ethical Challenges in Undertaking LIMPRINT in Vulnerable Populations’ Lymphatic Research and Biology. 17(2):155-162.
  • Moffatt C.J., et al. (2019). ‘LIMPRINT: The UK Experience – Subjective Control of Swelling in Patients Attending Specialist Lymphedema Services’ Lymphatic Research and Biology. 17(2):211-220.

View all publications in research portal