Staff profiles
Dr Hora Soltani
PhD, MMedSci, BSc, RM, PG Dip (Health Care Education)
Phone 0114 225 5444
E-mail h.soltani@shu.ac.uk
Hora is a reader in the Centre for Health and Social Care Research at the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing and is currently leading the Commissioning and Service Delivery Theme within the Centre, as well as contributing to maternity research and supervising several doctorate students.
Hora completed her PhD in 1997 and her Masters of Medical Sciences in Human Nutrition in 1993, both from Sheffield University. She also obtained her Postgraduate Certificate in Systematic Reviews and Health Services Research from Sheffield University, School of Health and Related Research in 2001. She has worked in various clinical and research settings as a staff midwife and research fellow in hospitals, universities and a Health Authority. Prior to her current role she was involved in leading maternity research in Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, as well as supporting Maternity User Involvement in service development and research.
She contributes to maternity research by writing, peer reviewing and being a member of editorial and international review board of several journals (e.g. 'Evidence Based Midwifery Journal', 'Midwifery' and 'Maternal and Child Nutrition'). In addition, she affiliates with wider international organisations such as the Research Advisory Network (providing support to International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and Cochrane pregnancy and childbirth review group.
Hora has interests in a variety of research methodology including qualitative, quantitative and systematic reviews. Her research interests include a range of public health and maternity research areas such as maternal and infant health and nutrition (with specific focus on weight, diabetes and breastfeeding), models of maternity care, management of third stage of labour. She has acted as the UK based principle investigator for a multi-centre international project called 'Structured Early Labour Assessment by Nurses' (SELAN project, led by Ellen Hodnett from Toronto University, Canada). In addition, she leads a couple of Cochrane systematic reviews which are multi-professional and multi-centred and has been involved in providing consultancy in the development of evidence based guidelines by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Hora has recently been awarded funding from the 'World Health Organisation (WHO)' for a project on maternal health and the management of the third stage of labour in the Middle East.
Selected research outputs since 2001
Peer reviewed publications
Soltani H (2010) (1. Preconception matters and 2. Nutrition and metabolism during pregnancy) in 'Physiology in childbearing with Anatomy and Related Biosciences' (Third edition), Eds: Stables D and Rankin J.
Soltani H, Hutchon DR, Poulose TA. (2010) Timing of prophylactic oxytocics for the third stage of labour after vaginal birth. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. In press.
Soltani H, Poulose TA, Hutchon DR. (2010) Placental cord drainage after spontaneous vaginal delivery as part of the management of the third stage of labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews-update. In press.
Soltani H. (2010) Uterine massage for preventing postpartum haemorrhage. An invited commentary. The WHO Reproductive Health Library. In press.
Sandall J, Devane D, Soltani H, Hatem M, Gates,S. (2010) Improving quality and safety in maternity care - the contribution of midwife-led care. Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health. In press.
Soltani H. (2009) Obesity in pregnancy: an evidence-based commentary. Evidence Based Midwifery 7(4): 140-142.
Soltani H and Arden M. (2009) Factors associated with breastfeeding up to 6 months postpartum in Mothers with diabetes. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing; 38(5):586-594.
Murray-Davis B, Soltani H, Wilkins H. (2009) Using a childbirth simulator in midwifery education. British Journal of Midwifery, 17(4):234 - 237.
Soltani H, Dickinson F, Kalk J. (2008) Breast feeding practices and views among diabetic women: A retrospective cohort study. Midwifery: 24, 471-479.
Soltani H. (2008) Global implications of evidence biased practice; management of the third stage of labour. Midwifery 24(2):138-142.
Dickinson F and Soltani H. (2008) Nitrazine Yellow and pre-labour rupture of membrane. The Practicing Midwife. 11(5):48-52.
Ross A, Dickinson F, Soltani H. (2008) Going home: who should do the postnatal exam? The Practicing Midwife. 11(3):19-24.
Hatem M, Sandall J, Devane D, Soltani H, Gates S. (2008) Midwife-led versus other models of care for childbearing women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD004667. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD004667.pub2.
Soltani H, Dickinson F. (2005) Exploring women's views on information provided during pregnancy. British Journal of Midwifery, 13(10), 633-6.
Soltani H, Dickinson F, (2005) Exploring women's views on the patterns of antenatal care. British Journal of Midwifery, 13(9):570-576.
Munro J, Watts K, Hughes AJ, Soltani H. (2005) Exploring women's experiences of electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) in labour. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 23(3):282.
Wood C, Soltani H. (2005) Does pethidine relieve pain? A critical review of the evidence. The Practicing Midwife 8(7):16,18-20,22-5.
Soltani, H, Taylor, G., (2003). Changing attitudes and perceptions to hyperemesis gravidarum. Midwives, 6(12):520-524.
Soltani H. Midwifery research: the past, present and future. (2002) RCM Midwives Journal 5(11):384-8.
Soltani-K H, Hampshaw S, Thornton Jones H. Antenatal screening: turning research into practice. British Journal of Midwifery 2002;10(4):243-246.
Thornton-Jones H, Hampshaw S, Soltani-K H and Madhok H. (2002) Reviewing local screening policies- a worthwhile exercise? British Journal of Clinical Excellence 7(3):165-176.
Conference presentation highlights
Sandall J, Hatem M, Devane D, Soltani H, Gate S. Midwife-led versus other models of care for childbearing women: Implications of findings from a Cochrane meta-analysis. British fetal maternal medicine conference. July 2009.
Sandall J, Hatem M, Devane D, Soltani H, Gate S. Midwife-led versus other models of care for childbearing women: a Cochrane meta-analysis. Normal Birth Conference 2009.
Soltani H, Dickinson F, Kalk J. Antenatal breast expression and the risk of labour induction-from a baby friendly perspective and promotion of breastfeeding in diabetic women. Accepted for oral presentation at International Confederation of midwives (ICM)-Glasgow 1-5 June 2008.
Schofield K, Murray Davis B, Wilkinson H, Soltani H. Effective use of the Noelle Manikin in midwifery education. Accepted for oral presentation at International Confederation of midwives (ICM)-Glasgow 1-5 June 2008.
Soltani H. Cord Clamping Conference. Cord Clamping and the third stage of labour. 12 Oct 2007, Darlington, supported by British Medical Association (BMA). (Invited speaker)
Soltani H, Dickinson F, Payne K and Kalk J. A study of breastfeeding practices among diabetic women; identification of factors that influence breastfeeding in this group. Diabetes UK: Annual professional Conference, Birmingham March 2006.
Soltani H, Dickinson F and Symonds I. Rethinking the management of third stage of labour: a systematic review of placental cord drainage. International Confederation of midwives Congress, Brisbane 24-28 July 2005.
Hatem M, Hodnett E, Devane D, Sandall J, Soltani H. Comparison of models of maternity care. International Confederation of midwives Congress, Brisbane 24-28 July, 2005.
Dickinson F, Soltani H, Allsop J. Review of the use of nitrazine yellow swabs in pre-labour spontaneous rupture of membranes. Poster presentation, International Confederation of midwives Congress, Brisbane 24-28 July 2005.
Munro J, Soltani H, Watts Kim, Hughs A et al. Women's experience of electronic fetal monitoring. Oral presentation at 'Normal Birth Conference' 10 June 2004.
Soltani H and Dickinson F. Women's perception and expectation of antenatal care. Oral presentation at Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Conference 19 May 2004.
Soltani H, Dickinson F. Antenatal care sensitive to women's needs: a survey of women's perception and expectation. Association of Canadian Midwives Conference, Montreal Canada Oct. 2003.
Taylor G, Soltani H. Hyperemesis gravidarum: Women's experiences and carer's perception of the disorder. RCM conference 2003.
Cotton L, Soltani H. A systematic approach towards women centred care: Involving Maternity User Group (MUG) in research and service development. Consumers in Research, 3rd National Conference, Harrogate. (7 Nov 2002)
Soltani H, Legg L, McFarlane S. (Southern Derbyshire nurses, midwives and health visitors research group). An exploratory study to identify attitudes and needs of nurses and midwives employing evidence based care. RCN International Nursing Research Conference (Manchester, 2002)
Soltani H. Application of systematic reviews and critical appraisal technique in maternal care: the case for acupuncture and acupressure in Hyperemesis. 3rd Annual Research Conference of the School of Nursing and Midwifery Studies; 'Transforming Healthcare through Research, Education and Technology'. Dublin (13-15 Nov. 2002)
Soltani H, Crockett S. Involving consumers in obstetrics, gynaecology and midwifery research. Nottingham and Derby Research Alliance; Involving consumers in R&D. Derby (5 Dec. 2002)
Soltani H, Taylor A, Kingdom A, Ireland K and Madhok R. Working in partnership towards evidence based health care: a local approach in dissemination and implementation of NICE guidance. Presented in NICE Conference in December 2001.
Soltani H, Kingdom A. Evidence Based Practice, a Local Perspective! Presented in 'First National Conference on Evidence Based Midwifery Network', 27 Sep 2001.
Soltani H, Hampshaw S, Thornton Jones H, Madhok R. A review of antenatal screening practice: transformation of research into practice. Presented in Research in Midwifery Conference April 2001.
Book chapters
Soltani H. (2007) Women's involvement in health care: a practical model for maternity services. In: Challenges for Midwives (Volume II) by Richens Y (eds). MA Healthcare Ltd, ISBN: 10 1 85642 295X, pp:1-12.
Soltani H, Physiology in childbearing with Anatomy and Related Biosciences (2nd edition), Eds: Stables D and Rankin J, published in early 2005
