Research Fellow
Institute for Social Marketing University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA
Ashley joined ISM in 2018. She is closely involved in two studies linked to the implementation of the Scottish prison smoking ban from 30th November 2018 ('Tobacco In Prisons study' (NIHR) and 'E-cigarettes In Prisons study' (CRUK). Ashley is a qualitative specialist who previously worked for NatCen Social Research from 2009-2017.
Ashley's research interest include the health and well-being of prison staff and people in custody (prisoners). She is currently the full-time researcher on the Tobacco In Prisons study (NIHR). The study uses a range of methods, across 3 phases, to examine the process and outcomes of the removal of tobacco from Scotland’s prison system from 30th November 2018. She is also closely involved in a linked study exploring the role of e-cigarettes in the implementation of smoke-free prisons and ongoing management of prisoner populations.
Scottish staff perceptions on the potential benefits and risks of e-cigarettes in smoke-free prisons
Brown, A on behalf of the TIPs research team. Scottish staff perceptions on the potential benefits and risks of e-cigarettes in smoke-free prisons. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco-Europe conference, Munich, 6-8 September 2018
Experiences of early use of e-cigarettes immediately prior to implementation of a prison smoking ban: a qualitative interview study
Brown A on behalf of E-cigarettes in Prisons study team. Experiences of early use of e-cigarettes immediately prior to implementation of a prison smoking ban: a qualitative interview study. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Europe Conference. Oslo, 12th-14th September 2019.
Providing evidence to support implementation of smokefree prison policy: experiences from Scotland
Brown, A on behalf of the Tobacco In Prisons study team. Providing evidence to support implementation of smokefree prison policy: experiences from Scotland. Law Enforcement and Public Health conference. Edinburgh, 23rd October 2019
Tobacco In Prisons and E-cigarettes In Prisons studies
Brown A and Hunt K. Vaping in Scotland’s smokefree prisons: Tobacco In Prisons and E-cigarettes In Prisons studies. Cutting down and quitting vaping in prisons guidance: launch and training event. NHS Health Scotland. Glasgow, 30th January 2020.
Opinions and experiences of a national smokefree prison policy: evidence from the Tobacco In Prisons study
Brown, A on behalf of the Tobacco In Prisons study team. Opinions and experiences of a national smokefree prison policy: evidence from the Tobacco In Prisons study. Society for Social Medicine Conference. Online, 9-11th September 2020.
Evaluating the process and outcomes of implementing a national smokefree prisons policy in Scotland: study findings and lessons for other jurisdiction and high smoking prevalence groups
Hunt K, Brown A, and Best C (presenting authors) on behalf of the Tobacco in Prisons and E-cigarettes in Prisons study teams. Evaluating the process and outcomes of implementing a national smokefree prisons policy in Scotland: study findings and lessons for other jurisdiction and high smoking prevalence groups. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Europe Conference. Online, 17-18th September 2020.
Reducing tobacco harms in people leaving prison and the households they return to.
Brown A on behalf of the research team. Reducing tobacco harms in people leaving prison and the households they return to. Prison Visitor Centre event. Online, November 2024.
Challenges in remaining abstinent from smoking following release from a smokefree prisons
Brown A, Woods Brown C & K Hunt. Challenges in remaining abstinent from smoking following release from a smokefree prisons. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Conference. Edinburgh, March 2024.
Challenges in maximising the benefits of smokefree prison policy for people leaving prison.
Brown A, Woods Brown C & K. Hunt. Challenges in maximising the benefits of smokefree prison policy for people leaving prison. Society for Social Medicine Conference. Glasgow, 4th-6th September 2024.
GUEP member
I am a member of the UoS General University Ethics Panel
UoS Supervisory Development Working Group
I am a member of the Supervisory Development Working Group, which aims to enhance support for doctoral supervision.
Long Covid and Critical Service Occupations: impact on Employees and Organisations
PI: Dr Alice MacLean
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
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Understanding mental health and substance use service utilisation by people released from prison: A mixed-methods study
PI: Dr Catriona Connell
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
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Long Covid: Amplifying the voices of people with lived experience to improve understanding, support, treatment and education. Share-to-improve: Long Covid experience (COv-VOICES) Study
PI: Professor Kate Hunt
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
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Transitions to more harmful forms of gambling during Covid-19 pandemic: behaviours and targeted marketing in young people and bettors on sport
PI: Professor Kate Hunt
Funded by: UK Research and Innovation
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Evaluating Graduated Progress towards and Impacts of the Implementation of Indoor Smokefree prison facilities in Scotland
PI: Professor Kate Hunt
Funded by: National Institute for Health Research
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Article
Brown A, Donnachie C, Critchlow N, Bunn C, Dobbie F, Gray C, Purves R, Reith G, Wardle H & Kate H (2025) Changes and continuities in gambling careers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal qualitative study of regular sports bettors in Britain. BMC Public Health, 25, Art. No.: 63. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-21077-5
Data Article / Data Paper
Brown A, Woods-Brown C & Hunt K (2025) Identifying potential barriers and enablers to smoking abstinence after leaving a smokefree prison using the capabilities, opportunities, motivations -behaviour (COM-B) model: a qualitative interview study.
Article
MacLean A, Driessen A, Hinton L, Nettleton S, Wild C, Anderson E, Brown A, Hoddinott P, O'Dwyer C, Ziebland S & Hunt K (2025) Rethinking ‘recovery’: A comparative qualitative analysis of experiences of Intensive Care with COVID and Long Covid in the United Kingdom. Health Expectations, 28 (2), Art. No.: e70253. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.70253
Article
Brown A, Kate H, Woods-Brown C & Catherine A (2024) Recent evidence on rates and factors influencing smoking behaviours after release from smokefree prisons: a scoping review Journal: International Journal of Prison Health. International Journal of Prison Health. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPH-10-2023-0064
Article
Young adults’ experiences of biographical retrogression whilst living with Long Covid
Hunt K, Maclean A, Locock L, O'Dwyer C, Nettleton S, Ziebland S & Wild C (2024) Young adults’ experiences of biographical retrogression whilst living with Long Covid. Brown (Other) Sociology of Health and Illness.
Article
Maclean A, Hunt K, Brown A, Evered JA, Dowrick A, Fokkens A, Grob R, Law S, Locock L, Marcinow M, Smith L, Urbanowicz A, Verheij N & Wild C (2023) Negotiation of collective and individual candidacy for long Covid healthcare in the early phases of the Covid-19 pandemic: Validated, diverted and rejected candidacy. SSM - Qualitative Research in Health, 3, Art. No.: 100207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmqr.2022.100207
Article
Wardle H, Critchlow N, Brown A, Donnachie C, Kolesnikov A & Hunt K (2022) The association between gambling marketing and unplanned gambling spend: Synthesised findings from two online cross-sectional surveys. Addictive Behaviors, 135, Art. No.: 107440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107440
Article
McMeekin N, Wu O, Boyd K, Brown A, Tweed E, Best C, Craig P, Leyland A, Demou E, Pell J, Byrne T, Semple S, Sweeting H, Graham L & Hunt K (2022) Implementation of a national smoke-free prison policy: an economic evaluation within the Tobacco in Prisons (TIPs) study. Tobacco Control. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056991
Article
Best C, Brown A & Hunt K (2022) Purchasing of tobacco-related and e-cigarette-related products within prisons before and after implementation of smoke-free prison policy: analysis of prisoner spend data across Scotland, UK. BMJ Open, 12 (2), Art. No.: e058909. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058909
Article
O'Donnell R, Brown A, Eadie D, Mitchell D, Bauld L, Demou E, Purves R, Sweeting H & Hunt K (2022) Challenges associated with e-cigarette use by people in custody in Scottish prisons: a qualitative interview study with prison staff. BMJ Open, 12 (2), Art. No.: e051009. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-051009
Article
Brown A, Mitchell D & Hunt K (2022) Post-implementation perspectives on smokefree prison policy: a qualitative study with staff and people in custody. European Journal of Public Health, 32 (1), pp. 112-118. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckab075
Article
Hunt K, Brown A, Eadie D, McMeekin N, Boyd K, Bauld L, Conaglen P, Craig P, Demou E, Leyland A, Purves R, Dobson R, Mitchell D, O’Donnell R & Semple S (2022) Process and impact of implementing a smoke-free policy in prisons in Scotland: TIPs mixed-methods study. Public Health Research, 10 (1), pp. 1-137. https://doi.org/10.3310/WGLF1204
Article
Tweed EJ, Mackay DF, Boyd KA, Brown A, Byrne T, Conaglen P, Craig P, Demou E, Graham L, Leyland AH, McMeekin N, Pell JP, Sweeting H & Hunt K (2021) Evaluation of a national smoke-free prisons policy using medication dispensing: an interrupted time-series analysis. Lancet Public Health, 6 (11), pp. E795-E804. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667%2821%2900163-8
Letter
Sweeting H, Demou E, Brown A & Hunt K (2021) Prisoners and prison staff express increased support for prison smoking bans following implementation across Scotland: results from the Tobacco In Prisons study. Tobacco Control, 30 (5), pp. 597-598. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-055683
Article
Wardle H, Donnachie C, Critchlow N, Brown A, Bunn C, Dobbie F, Gray C, Mitchell D, Purves R, Reith G, Stead M & Hunt K (2021) The impact of the initial Covid-19 lockdown upon regular sports bettors in Britain: findings from a cross-sectional online study. Addictive Behaviors, 118, Art. No.: 106876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.106876
Article
Brown A, O’Donnell R, Eadie D, Ford A, Mitchell D, Hackett A, Sweeting H, Bauld L & Hunt K (2021) E-cigarette use in prisons with recently established smokefree policies: a qualitative interview study with people in custody in Scotland. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 23 (6), pp. 939-946. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntaa271
Article
Brown A, O'Donnell R, Eadie D, Purves R, Sweeting H, Ford A, Bauld L & Hunt K (2021) Initial views and experiences of vaping in prisons: a qualitative study with people in custody preparing for the imminent implementation of Scotland's prison smokefree policy. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 23 (3), pp. 543-549. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntaa088
Policy Document
Betting and Gambling Covid-19 Impact study
Wardle H, Critchlow N, Donnachie C, Brown A & Hunt K (2021) Betting and Gambling Covid-19 Impact study. University of Stirling. Stirling. https://www.stir.ac.uk/research/public-policy-hub/policy-briefings/
Policy Document
Managing COVID-19 transmission risks in bars: Insights for policymakers and practitioners
Fitzgerald N, Uny I, Brown A, Eadie D, Ford A, Stead M & Lewsey J (2021) Managing COVID-19 transmission risks in bars: Insights for policymakers and practitioners. Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office. Stirling. https://www.stir.ac.uk/research/public-policy-hub/policy-briefings/
Article
Managing COVID-19 transmission risks in bars: an interview and observation study
Fitzgerald N, Uny I, Brown A, Eadie D, Ford A, Lewsey J & Stead M (2021) Managing COVID-19 transmission risks in bars: an interview and observation study. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 82 (1), pp. 42-54. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.2021.82.42
Article
Demou E, Dobson R, Sweeting H, Brown A, Sidwell S, O'Donnell R, Hunt K & Semple S (2020) From smoking-permitted to smokefree prisons: a 3-year evaluation of the changes in occupational exposure to second-hand smoke across a national prison system. Annals of Work Exposures and Health, 64 (9), pp. 959-969. https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxaa073
Article
Hunt K, Critchlow N, Brown A, Bunn C, Dobbie F, Donnachie C, Gray C, Purves R, Reith G, Stead M, Mitchell D & Wardle H (2020) Protocol for a mixed-method investigation of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and gambling practices, experiences and marketing in the UK: the "Betting and gaming Covid-19 impact study". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (22), Art. No.: 8449. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228449
Conference Abstract
Changes in exposure to second-hand smoke following a smoking ban across a national prison system
Demou E, Dobson R, Sweeting H, Brown A, Sidwell S, O'Donnell R, Hunt K & Semple S (2020) Changes in exposure to second-hand smoke following a smoking ban across a national prison system. European Journal of Public Health, 30 (Supplement 5), Art. No.: ckaa165.1316. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckaa165.1316
Conference Abstract
Semple S, Demou E, Dobson R, Sweeting H, Sidwell S, Brown A, O’Donnell R & Hunt K (2020) OP18 From smoking-permitted to smokefree prisons: a 3-year evaluation of the changes in occupational exposure to second-hand smoke across a national prison system. Society for Social Medicine and Population Health Annual Scientific Meeting 2020, Hosted online by the Society for Social Medicine & Population Health and University of Cambridge Public Health, 9–11 September 2020. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 74 (Supplement 1). https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2020-ssmabstracts.18
Article
Perspectives on smokefree prison policy among people in custody in Scotland
Brown A, Hunt K, Eadie D, Purves R & Mohan A (2020) Perspectives on smokefree prison policy among people in custody in Scotland. International Journal of Prisoner Health, 16 (4), pp. 389-402. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-12-2019-0065
Article
Semple S, Dobson R, Sweeting H, Brown A & Hunt K (2020) The impact of implementation of a national smoke-free prisons policy on indoor air quality: results from the Tobacco in Prisons study. Tobacco Control, 29 (2), pp. 234-236. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2018-054895
Conference Abstract
Hunt K, Brown A, Semple S, Eadie D, Sweeting H, Demou E, Leyland A, Craig P, Dobson R & Bauld L (2019) OP88 Evaluating the move to, and implementation in 2018 of, smoke-free prison policy in scotland: the tobacco in prisons study (TIPS). Society for Social Medicine and Population Health and International Epidemiology Association European Congress Annual Scientific Meeting 2019, Hosted by the Society for Social Medicine & Population Health and International Epidemiology Association (IEA), School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland, 4–6 September 2019, University College Cork. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 73 (Suppl 1), Art. No.: A44. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2019-ssmabstracts.92
Article
Prison staff and prisoner views on a prison smoking ban: evidence from the Tobacco in Prisons Study
Brown A, Sweeting H, Logan G, Demou E & Hunt K (2019) Prison staff and prisoner views on a prison smoking ban: evidence from the Tobacco in Prisons Study. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 21 (8), pp. 1027-1035. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/nty092
Article
Sweeting H, Semple S, Demou E, Brown A & Hunt K (2019) Predictors of opinions on prison smoking bans: analyses of survey data from Scottish staff and prisoners. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 17 (June), Art. No.: 47. https://doi.org/10.18332/tid/109559
Article
Brown A, Sweeting H, Semple S, Bauld L, Demou E, Logan G & Hunt K (2019) Views of prison staff in Scotland on the potential benefits and risks of e-cigarettes in smoke-free prisons: a qualitative focus group study. BMJ Open, 9 (6), Art. No.: e027799. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027799
Sustainability in Public Health module (MPHP005)
I am supporting teaching on the Sustainability in Public Health module (MPHP005) in 2025/6.
Public Health Research (NURP023)
I was a guest lecturer on Public Health Research (NURP023) in 2023/4 and 2024/5
