Contact
Biography
Professor Heather Buchanan is a Chartered Psychologist and Health & Care Professionals Council registered Health Psychologist. Heather joined the University of Nottingham in January 2007 and is based in the Academic Unit of Lifespan & Population Health in the Medical School. She completed her undergraduate degree in Social Sciences majoring in Psychology at Glasgow Caledonian University (with one year as an International Exchange Student at Lock Haven University, Pennsylvania) followed by an MSc in Psychology by research at the University of Stirling. She then moved to Newcastle University's Dental School where she obtained her PhD in Psychology and Dentistry. She has previously held roles at Tianjin Normal University as Visiting Professor with a Thousand Talents Award from the Chinese Government as well as professional roles within the UK Division of Health Psychology (Scientifc Chair, Conference Lead and Policy Lead). Heather is Course Director for the MSc Health Psychology. She currently has six PhD students and regularly supports clinical academics to submit fellowship grant applications for PhD funding across nursing, medicine and dentistry. She is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the British Journal of Health Psychology as well as acting as acting as a mentor for Early Career Researchers. She is a network member of BeSide (Behaviour Support in Dentistry) and BeCind (Behaviour Change in Dentistry). Her main research interest is in the patient experience. Her work includes: (1) applying psychology to the dental context (2) the patient experience of medical procedures/surgery and psychological factors that may influence this (3) adherence to treatment advice and (3) patient-practitioner communication including cross-cultural perspectives.
Expertise Summary
Keywords:
Dental anxiety; oral health; dental phobia; patient experience; adherence to treatment advice; patient-practitioner communication.
Teaching Summary
Heather is the Course Director of the MSc Health Psychology and convenes the following modules:
- Context & Perspectives in Health Psychology
- Healthcare Contexts
- Professional Skills in Health Psychology
She is the recipient of both individual and group Lord Dearing Awards for teaching excellence; several Personal Tutor Oscars and a School of Medicine Teaching Excellence Award.
Research Summary
Her main research interest is in the patient experience. Her work includes: (1) applying psychology to the dental context (2) the patient experience of medical procedures/surgery and psychological… read more
Recent Publications
PhD Supervision
Caitlin Sorrell. Online support groups and dental phobia: A feasibility study. (Part-time). 2025.
Katie Fielding. A mixed methods study to determine the feasibility of a multi-centre randomised control trial to compare patient's experience of buttonhole and rope ladder cannulation of arteriovenous fistulae for haemodialysis. NIHR Fellowship. 2024.
Sophie Carlisle. Improving the Effectiveness of Vaccines by Enhancing Positive Mood. Joan Browne Legacy Fund. 2021.
Karen Shepherd. (Part-time). Exploring the role of online support groups for parents of adolescents with Type 1 diabetes. 2021
Michelle Stubley. A qualitative exploration of Persistent Frequent Attendance in primary care: Patient and GP perspectives. Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Healthcare Research East Midlands and the NIHR 2021
Abdullah AL gunmeeyn. The Quality of Nursing Care and Patient Satisfaction in the King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC). Jordanian Government Scholarship. 2019.
Kieran Ayling. Psycho-behavioural Influences on Vaccine Success: Towards a Brief, Non-pharmacological Primary Care Intervention. NIHR School for Primary Care Research funding. 2017.
Gogem Topcu. Quality of life in carers of individuals with multiple sclerosis. UoN Vice Chancellor Award Studentship. 2016.
Hannah Jones. The early intervention dental trial: a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial of oral health advice for young people with serious mental illness. National Institute for Health Research funding. 2016.
Hussain Shammasi (DDent). Behaviour management techniques for referred anxious children: Clinician and patient perspectives. Saudi Arabian Government sponsorship. 2014.
Oonagh Meade . The role of online support groups for people affected by neuromuscular disorders and their family carers. Institute of Work, Health & Organisations Studentship. 2013
Kasia Campbell. The empowering processes occurring within online support groups for prostate cancer. Institute of Work, Health & Organisations Studentship 2012.
Althea Valentine. Children's experience and concepts of stress. University Studentship 2012.
Aimee Aubeeluck Quality of Life in Informal Carers of Huntington's Disease Patients. University Studentship 2005.
Current PhD students:
Bethany Lucas. Adherence to hypertensive medication. NIHR Fellowship. 2022-2026.
Mariam Abdelnaser. Transition to adolescent diabetic health services in Egypt. Funded by the Egyptian Government. 2022-2026.
Rosie Reyneke. Development of novel implementation frameworks for improved uptake of preventive medicine and vaccination in production animal practice. BBSRC DTP CASE studentship. 2021 - 2025.
Sally Danby. The negative effects of online support groups for supporting individuals with chronic conditions. (Part-time). 2020 - 2026.
Stage 2 Supervision (Independent Route)
- Althea Valentine; awarded December 2010.