Contact
Biography
I am a Senior Research Fellow and Principal Investigator on an ESRC New Investigator Grant and a Nottingham Research Fellowship, both of which focus on the health and social experiences of migrant young people living with sickle cell in the UK. I also serve as a co-Principal Investigator on an NIHR HSDR-funded project aimed at developing culturally responsive pathways to support the transition of young people living with sickle cell from paediatric to adult healthcare services. Between 2020 and 2022, I held an NIHR Research for Patient Benefit grant and an ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship, undertaking research that further advanced understanding of sickle cell care and lived experience.
I hold a PhD in Nursing from the University of Manchester (2019), an MSc in Advanced Nursing from the University of Nottingham (2014), and a BSc in Nursing from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. After several years of nursing practice in Ghana, I moved into research as a doctoral student. My interest in medical sociology emerged during my PhD, and since then I have been steadily transitioning into the field, building an interdisciplinary programme of research at the intersection of migration, chronic illness, and inequality.
Expertise Summary
My overarching research interest is in the experiences of children and young people with congenital or long-term medical illnesses, encompassing health, social, educational, developmental and transitional experiences. Issues examined include life and transition experiences, self-management and sociological concepts such as belonging, normality, identity, stigma, gender, culture and migration in the context of chronic childhood medical conditions.
Teaching Summary
- Qualitative Research
- Art-based/Participatory Research
- Children ad Young People Research
- Chronic Medical Illnesses and Disabilities
- Systematic and Scoping Reviews
These teaching and learning interests are based on her research experience and interests.
Research Summary
I am a co-PI on 'Voices of Change: Exploring Culturally-Responsive Pathways for Young People Moving from Sickle Cell Paediatric to Adult Healthcare, which is funded under the NIHR HSDR scheme. This… read more
Selected Publications
EVANS, C, POKU, B, PEARCE, R, ELDRIDGE, J, HENDRICK, P, KNAGGS, R, MCLUSKEY, J, TOMCZAK, P, THOW, R, HARRIS, P, CONWAY, J and COLLIER, R, 2020. Characterising the evidence base for advanced clinical practice in the UK: A scoping review protocol, BMJ Open. 10, e036192
Current Research
I am a co-PI on 'Voices of Change: Exploring Culturally-Responsive Pathways for Young People Moving from Sickle Cell Paediatric to Adult Healthcare, which is funded under the NIHR HSDR scheme. This research aims to co-develop culturally responsive pathways for young people living with sickle cell transitioning from paediatric to adult healthcare. Sickle Cell Disorders are the fastest-growing inherited disorder in the UK, predominantly affecting people of African and Afro-Caribbean descent. This ethnic-minoritised population experiences significant health inequities, including racism and stigmatisation in healthcare provision, which can lead to mistrust and poor service management. The transition from paediatric to adult healthcare is a particularly challenging period for children and young people living with sickle cell. Poorly managed transitions can result in reduced treatment adherence, health deterioration, increased emergency hospitalisations, and life-threatening consequences. Current healthcare transition models do not adequately address cultural responsivity or consider the interconnected systems of family, community, and society in relation to health outcomes. This project will conduct a phased development process, including qualitative interviews, co-design workshops, and the development of an online resource. The study will engage children and young people living with sickle cell, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and key stakeholders (e.g., NHS service commissioners, teachers, school counsellors, charity organisation representatives) across regions where sickle cell is most prevalent (North West, London, Midlands) to co-produce components nd recommendations for a culturally-responsive sickle cell healthcare transition programme. The research is expected to inform service commissioning, organisation and delivery whilst addressing the urgent need to reduce morbidity and mortality in this underserved population.
I am also the PI on "Young Migrants, Disability and Chronic Illness: The Case of African Children and Young People with Sickle Cell Disorders Who Migrate to England", which has received funding from ESRC and the University under the New Investigator Grant and the Nottingham Research Fellowship. Migration is a defining feature of the 21st century due to conflicts, natural disasters, globalisation, climate change and socio-economic inequalities. This has created a super-diverse transnational migrant population. Nonetheless, international migrants are typically represented as young, health and able-bodied who use health-related services sparingly. This perceived "healthy migrant effect" disguises minority experiences within the population, such as the experiences of children and young people with long-standing chronic illnesses who have to migrate to another country. This project will first investigate the post-transition experiences of children and young people who migrate to the UK with a long-standing chronic illness. In so doing, it will help identify ways to improve the health, social experiences, and care for this vulnerable population to support their transition.
Past Research
- Explored the fatigue experiences of children and young people living with sickle cell disorders in the UK to guide the development of a fatigue self-management intervention.
- Reviewed the evidence on self-management interventions for children and young people with sickle cell disorders.
- Characterised the evidence base for advanced clinical practice in the UK.
- Reviewed the evidence on hospital discharge interventions for older adults.
- Explored the life experiences and self-care practices of Ghanaian adolescents in the context sickle cell disorder-related fatigue.
- Reviewed the evidence on the how adolescents experience life with sickle cell disorders.
- Reviewed the effectiveness of interventions targeting reductions in paediatric emergency department attendance for non-urgent care.
Future Research
My research ambition is to develop a research programme focused on investigating intersectionalities in the care and life experiences of children and young people with chronic illnesses to identify and address hidden inequalities and inadequacies in care and service provisions.