Understanding the needs of homecare workers supporting people with dementia and cancer.
PI: Dr Nicola Cunningham
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
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Contact details
- Email n.a.cunningham@stir.ac.uk
- Telephone+44 (0)1786 466356
- ORCID
0000-0002-2699-8257
About me
My background begins with welfare rights and advice within the social care sector, prior to returning to Stirling University to complete BA (Hons) Sociology and Social Policy (1st Class), MSc Applied Social Research (with distinction) and PhD. I have a strong interest in welfare, health and wellbeing, social justice and human rights. My current research explores (i) the experiences of people living with dementia, cancer and wider multimorbidities and (ii) the education, training and social support needs of the social and community care workforce providing care at home. The right to live well underpins these current research and practice initiatives. I link to the strategic University theme of Living Well. This requires theoretical and conceptual work alongside a continued key focus on professional practice development and on understanding the lives and experiences of people living with dementia, cancer and multimorbidities.
Examining
BA (Hons) Health and Wellbeing, Edgehill University
Edge Hill University
Professional qualification
Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy (Advance HE)
Research
Wellbeing, welfare, ageing, social justice and human rights. My research interests are currently focused the experiences of people living with dementia, cancer and multimorbidities and the training, education and support requirements of the health and social care workforce providing support services at home and in the community. My research is driven by collaboration and participatory co-design. I currently collaborate with key third sector and private homecare providers to drive this research agenda forward.
As Principal Investigator, I have recently completed a Chief Scientist Office funded study: Understanding the needs of homecare workers supporting people with dementia and cancer.
Completed Project: Regenerative Medicine: Stroke Survivor and Carer Views and Motivations Towards a Proposed Stem Cell Trial. Completed 2017.
Theoretical and conceptual work explores issues around welfare and wellbeing, human rights and the significance of social isolation and social deprivation. Current forthcoming work and in progress challenges current frameworks of understanding with particular reference to dementia and the right to home-care.
Wider research interests include:
Cancer care: connecting research and practice Patient-centred supportive care Health and Illness transitions Funeral and Food Poverty Wellbeing Health and Welfare: Integrating health and social care services Disability and welfare reform
Projects
Outputs
Article
Evans J, Methven K & Cunningham N (2019) Linkage of social care and hospital admissions data to explore non-delivery of planned home care for older people in Scotland. Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, 20 (2), pp. 48-55. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAOA-05-2018-0018
Article
Understanding and Measuring the Wellbeing of Carers of People with Dementia
Cunningham N, Cunningham TR & Robertson J (2019) Understanding and Measuring the Wellbeing of Carers of People with Dementia. Gerontologist, 59 (5), pp. e552-e564. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gny018
Article
Cunningham N, Cowie J, Watchman K & Methven K (2019) Understanding the training and education needs of homecare workers supporting people with dementia and cancer: A systematic review of reviews. Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301219859781
Article
Cunningham NA, Abhyankar P, Cowie J, Galinsky J & Methven K (2018) Regenerative medicine: Stroke survivor and carer views and motivations towards a proposed stem cell clinical trial using placebo neurosurgery. Health Expectations, 21 (1), pp. 367-378. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.12632
Article
A Qualitative Study of Patient satisfaction in Oncology Wards Setting in Saudi Arabia
Banaser M, Stoddart K & Cunningham N (2017) A Qualitative Study of Patient satisfaction in Oncology Wards Setting in Saudi Arabia. Research and Reviews: Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences, 3 (3), pp. 85-97. http://www.rroij.com/open-access/a-qualitative-study-of-patient-satisfaction-in-oncology-wards-setting-in-saudi-arabia-.php?aid=86594
Article
Lost in Transition: Women experiencing infertility
Cunningham N (2014) Lost in Transition: Women experiencing infertility. Human Fertility, 17 (3), pp. 154-158. https://doi.org/10.3109/14647273.2014.930517
Article
Beyond the 'swampy lowlands': the welfare benefits of reflective practice through learning
Cunningham N & Moore K (2014) Beyond the 'swampy lowlands': the welfare benefits of reflective practice through learning. Journal of Poverty and Social Justice, 22 (3), pp. 271-275. https://doi.org/10.1332/175982714X14113977411575
Article
Women's Experiences of Infertility - Towards a Relational Model of Care
Cunningham N & Cunningham T (2013) Women's Experiences of Infertility - Towards a Relational Model of Care. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 22 (23-24), pp. 3428-3437. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.12338
Article
Transitional experiences of women with breast cancer within the first year following diagnosis
McCann LA, Cunningham N, Wengstrom Y, Hubbard G & Kearney N (2010) Transitional experiences of women with breast cancer within the first year following diagnosis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 19 (13-14), pp. 1969-1976. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?partnerID=yv4JPVwI&eid=2-s2.0-77955951404&md5=543244b4d272b1fdc6bfe893ad2ffcd2; https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2009.03134.x
Article
Treatment decision-making in cancer care: The role of the carer
Hubbard G, Cunningham N, Rowa-Dewar NJ, Forbat L & Kearney N (2010) Treatment decision-making in cancer care: The role of the carer. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 19 (13-14), pp. 2023-2031. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2009.03062.x
Article
Cunningham N, Forbat L, Hubbard G & Kearney N (2010) The importance of relationships in the experience of cancer: A re-working of the policy ideal of the whole-systems approach. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 14 (1), pp. 23-28. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/14623889; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2009.06.006
Article
Cayless S, Forbat L, Cunningham N, Hubbard G & Kearney N (2010) Men with prostate cancer over the first year of illness: their experiences as biographical disruption. Supportive Care in Cancer, 18 (1), pp. 11-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0624-4
Research Report
Employment following cancer diagnosis: A narrative summary of the evidence
Cunningham N, Hubbard G & Stoddart K (2009) Employment following cancer diagnosis: A narrative summary of the evidence. Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives (SCHWL). Cancer Care Research Centre / University of Stirling. http://www.knowledge.scot.nhs.uk/media/CLT/ResourceUploads/12232/EmploymentandCancer.pdf
Meeting Abstract
Hubbard G, Forbat L, Cunningham N, McCann LA, Cayless S, Kidd L, Wengstrom Y & Kearney N (2009) Disrupted lives and threats to identity: The experiences of people with cancer within the first year following diagnosis. Psycho-Oncology, 18 (Supplement 2), pp. S35-S35. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1594
Article
Forbat L, Maguire R, McCann LA, Cunningham N & Kearney N (2009) The use of technology in cancer care: applying Foucault's ideas to explore the changing dynamics of power in health care. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65 (2), pp. 306-315. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04870.x
Meeting Abstract
Experiences of employment within the first year following a cancer diagnosis
Hubbard G, Cunningham N, Rowa-Dewar NJ & Kearney N (2008) Experiences of employment within the first year following a cancer diagnosis. Psycho-Oncology, 17 (Supplement 2), pp. S69-S70. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1389
Article
Cunningham N (2006) Content, context, reflexivity and the qualitative research encounter: Telling stories in the virtual realm. Sociological Research Online, 11 (1). http://www.socresonline.org.uk/11/1/illingworth.html; https://doi.org/10.5153/sro.1216
Article
The Internet Matters: Exploring the Use of the Internet as a Research Tool
Cunningham N (2001) The Internet Matters: Exploring the Use of the Internet as a Research Tool. Sociological Research Online, 6 (2). http://www.socresonline.org.uk/6/2/illingworth.html
Teaching
Chief Subject Examiner (Health Sciences) Senior Fellow Higher Education Academy (Advance HE) Macmillan Lecturer Graduate Certificate (Welfare and Benefits Advice): With a background in welfare advice, sociology, social policy and cancer care, I am an experienced UG and PG teacher and lead, successfully developing and delivering an innovative online Graduate Certificate (Welfare and Benefits Advice) programme: understanding welfare and policy, employment law and welfare benefits for health, social care and allied professionals supporting people affected by cancer and long term conditions. I have a strong interest in developing teaching and learning opportunities with a focus on the social care sector. Supporting academic transition and widening access to university education and accreditation is a strong driver. EDUCATION BA (Hons) Sociology and Social Policy (1st class) MSc Applied Social Research (with Distinction) PhD EXAMINING BA (Hons) Health and Wellbeing, University of Edgehill, Lancaster. OTHER ACTIVITIES Macmillan Cancer Support Professional