Dr Nikolaos Efstathiou PhD, MSc, RGN, PGCEd

Nikolaos Efstathiou

School of Nursing and Midwifery
Associate Professor

Contact details

Email
n.efstathiou@bham.ac.uk
Twitter
@NikolaosEfstat2
View my research portal
Address
School of Health Sciences
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Nikolaos is an Associate Professor in Nursing. He  also holds an honorary appointment as Adjunct Professor at the School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa.

Nikolaos is an experienced academic and researcher. He holds a PGCert in Learning and Teaching in HE. His research interests lie in palliative and end-of-life care, decision-making, and limitations of life-sustaining treatments.  He has received grants from the National Institute for Health and Care Research,  UK charities, and European organisations and societies for research and visits to international research centres. He has successfully disseminated research findings in peer reviewed journals and through presentations at national and international conferences.

Nikolaos has a clinical background in Critical Care and maintains his clinical activity by working closely with NHS partners to undertake research and apply findings in practice.

Qualifications


  • PGCEd, Birmingham City University, 2006
  • PhD in Nursing, University of Glamorgan, 2004
  • MSc in Nursing, University of Wales, 1996
  • BNurs, TEI of Athens, 1992
  • Registered Nurse 1992

Biography

Nikolaos is an Associate Professor in Nursing. He  also holds an honorary appointment as Adjunct Professor at the School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa.

Nikolaos is an experienced academic and researcher. He holds a PGCert in Learning and Teaching in HE. His research interests lie in palliative and end-of-life care, decision-making, and limitations of life-sustaining treatments.  He has received grants from the National Institute for Health and Care Research,  UK charities, and European organisations and societies for research and visits to international research centres. He has successfully disseminated research findings in peer reviewed journals and through presentations at national and international conferences.

Nikolaos has a clinical background in Critical Care and maintains his clinical activity by working closely with NHS partners to undertake research and apply findings in practice.

Teaching

Teaching Programmes

Postgraduate supervision

Dr Efstathiou's expertise in qualitative research methods and Delphi Technique has led him to working with research students on various subjects (bariatric surgery, voiding difficulties, depression in renal dialysis patients, labour and sepsis and maternal mental illness, identifying research priorities, palliative and end-of-life care).

He is interested in supervising research students in the following areas:

  • End-of-Life care in acute care settings
  • Decision making in End-of-Life care

  • Withdrawal of life sustaining measures in intensive care units

Other activities

  • Adjunct Professor, School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa.
  • Associate Editor for the Nursing in Critical Care journal
  • Peer reviewer for medical and nursing journals.

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Drury, A, Dowling, M, Colomer-Lahiguera, S, Efstathiou, N, Semple, C, Fernandez-Ortega, P, Brochstedt Dieperink, K, Pape, E, Kotronoulas, G, Miguel, S, Bagcivan, G & on behalf of the European Oncology Nursing Society 2026, 'Consensus Research Priorities for Cancer Nursing in Europe: A Delphi Study', European Journal of Oncology Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2026.103102

Human-Centred Partnership in ICU Collaborators 2026, 'European Society of Intensive Care Medicine consensus statement on human-centred partnership in the intensive care unit', Intensive Care Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-026-08626-9

Smith, R, Efstathiou, N & Guo, P 2026, 'Nutritional management for patients with advanced head and neck cancer from the perspectives of healthcare professionals: a descriptive qualitative study', Palliative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163261496702

Bağçivan, G, Colomer-Lahiguera, S, Dowling, M, Kotronoulas, G, Semple, C, Efstathiou, N, Fernández-Ortega, P, Brochstedt Dieperink, K, Pape, E, Miguel, S & Drury, A 2025, 'Cancer nursing research priorities: findings from a cancer nurses’ consultation in Europe', British Journal of Nursing, vol. 34, no. 5, pp. S10-S18. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2024.0177

Walker, W, Jones, J, Owen, S, Kevern, P & Efstathiou, N 2025, 'Care after death: Bereaved family experiences of a nurse-led supported viewing service', International Journal of Palliative Nursing, vol. 31, no. 8, pp. 392-402. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijpn.2024.0076

Abstract

Udkunta, K, Efstathiou, N & Guo, P 2026, 'Experiences and perceptions of older people residing in long-term care facilities in Thailand: A qualitative study', Palliative Medicine, vol. 40, no. 5, pp. 765-765. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163261433418

Setayesh, S, Topping, A, Guo, P, Pettifer, A, Diridis, K, Mcfadzean, R, Gately, Y & Efstathiou, N 2026, 'Family Experiences of End-of-Life Decision-Making and Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Treatments in Adult ICUs: Findings from Phase 1 of the ELPIS Study', Palliative Medicine, vol. 40, no. 5, pp. 778-778. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163261433418

Zhang, Q, Efstathiou, N, Zhou, X, Pettifer, A, Adistie, F, Ontrakrai, N, Weetman, K, Seckin, M, Bailey, C & Guo, P 2026, 'Palliative care needs, experiences, and outcomes of paediatric patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a mixed methods systematic review', Palliative Medicine, vol. 40, no. 5, pp. 1038-1038. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163261433418

Review article

Walker, W, Collins, P, Jones, J, Winfield, J & Efstathiou, N 2026, 'Family members' experiences of end-of-life care in the home: a systematic review and qualitative content analysis', British Journal of Community Nursing, vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 128-140. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2025.0133

Pettifer, A, Seckin, M, Efstathiou, N, Guo, P, Tiwana, R & Bailey, C 2026, 'Inequity in Palliative Care and Bereavement Support: An Umbrella Review of the Evidence', Frontiers in public health, vol. 14, 1943244. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1943244

Udkunta, K, Efstathiou, N & Guo, P 2026, 'Models of Care and Interventions to Improve Person-Centred Care for Older People in Long-Term Care Facilities: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review', Journal of Advanced Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.70527

Li, J, Guo, P, Liu, H & Efstathiou, N 2026, 'Palliative care needs and experiences of patients with advanced heart failure and family caregivers in Asia: A mixed methods systematic review', Palliative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163261476455

Dirik, HF, Theiakouli, C & Efstathiou, N 2026, 'The Influence of Nursing Leadership Styles on Medication Safety: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review', International Nursing Review, vol. 73, no. 1, e70166. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.70166

Weblin, J, Butler, K & Efstathiou, N 2026, 'The use of normal saline instillation as part of endotracheal suction in mechanically ventilated patients: a scoping review', Physiotherapy, vol. 132, 101909. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2026.101909

Bates, C, Efstathiou, N, Sutton, C, Hamed, N & Maidment, I 2026, 'The views of healthcare professionals and family members on deprescribing preventive medication in people living with dementia: a qualitative systematic review', BMC Geriatrics, vol. 26, no. 1, 768. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-026-07480-0

View all publications in research portal