Staff profiles
Dr Karen Collins
Phone 0114 225 5732
Email k.collins@shu.ac.uk
Karen Collins is a. a reader in health and social care research. She has worked within the Centre for Health and Social Care Research (CHSCR) at Sheffield Hallam University since 2007. She spent the previous 15 years working at the University of Sheffield both within the School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR) and the Academic Unit of Supportive Care based in the medical school.
Her background is in health services research and she has substantial experience in undertaking health services research and project management. Her specific expertise is focused on the psycho-oncology (specifically breast cancer) and palliative care research, patient satisfaction, patient and public involvement in health research and qualitative methodologies.
Her PhD focused on evaluating methodologies required to measure patient satisfaction. She has been involved in a number of UK funded cancer research studies (SDO, NIHR, Cancer Research UK, MacMillan) focusing on evaluating patient satisfaction, patient attitudes, patient preferences and choice for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Most recently, she has undertaken published work evaluating the attitudes and treatment preferences of older women to breast screening.
Karen is currently a member of the supervisory team for the following clinical and academic students/researchers
PhD students
- Rungkarn Inthawong (full-time PhD student, Sheffield Hallam University) Assessing the impact of reducing risk factors for cardio-vascular disease in Thailand (Oct 2010–)
- Nisar Ahmed (research associate, The University of Sheffield) Evaluation of an holistic assessment of supportive and palliative care needs (Oct 2009–)
- PhD studentship (full-time PhD student, Sheffield Hallam University) The development of a tailored information tool to support older women (>70 yrs) to make informed choices based on benefits and risks of continuation of mammographic screening' (October 2011–2014)
MD students
- Lopa Husain-Registrar, The University of Sheffield - Treatment Decisions in Breast Cancer: the Older Women's (>70 years) Perspective – a Qualitative Study (Sept 2009–)
- Emma Surgey-Registrar, The University of Sheffield - Psychosocial and physical outcomes in women at increased familial breast cancer risk (Sept 2010–)
BMed Sci student
Harriet Walker - medical student, nine month research placement - breast
screening and breast cancer information support for older women (Aug
2011–June 2012)
REF Fellowship
Research and centre mentor to Dr Heidi Probst who is undertaking a REF
Fellowship with CHSCR, Sheffield
Hallam University (Jan 2011–Oct 2012)
She acts as a reviewer (rapporteur) for the DProf students within the faculty. Additionally, she is an invited speaker on the Masters in Health and Social Care Leadership (Service Users, Carers and Organisations in Partnership module) and the MBA/MSc in Medical Leadership Programme (Managing Quality and Effectiveness in Health and Social Care module).
She is currently a member of the following internal and external committees
- National Colorectal Cancer Screening Committee (2010–)
- Patient and Public Involvement Forum for the Research Design Service for Yorkshire and the Humber
- Supportive and Primary Care Oncology Research Committee (a sub group of the North Trent Cancer Research Network) (2005–)
- facilitator of the North Trent Cancer Network Consumer Research Panel
- former executive member of INVOLVE (2004–2010)
- Chair, Faculty of Health and Wellbeing Cancer Research Group
- Sheffield Hallam Health and Wellbeing Service User and Carer Steering Committee
- Sheffield Hallam Health and Wellbeing Research Day Planning Committee
- Sheffield Hallam Health and Wellbeing Local Information Consultation Committee
- CHSCR Development Support Team.
- CHSCR lead for the Sheffield Hallam University Research and Consultancy Register
Research outputs: key publications since 2001
Refereed journals (in print)
Caldon LJM, Collins KA, Wilde DJ, Ahmedzai SH, Noble TW, Stotter A, Sibbering DM, Holt S, Reed MWR (2011). Why do hospital mastectomy rates vary? Differences in the decision-making experiences of women with breast cancer. British Journal of Cancer; 104: 1551-7.
Sivell S, Marsh W. Edwards A, Manstead ASR, Clements A, Elwyn G and On behalf of the BresDex group. Theory-based design and field-testing of an intervention to support women choosing surgery for breast cancer: BresDex. Patient Education and Counseling. Available on line 14 May, 2011
Walters SJ, Winslow M, Collins K, Robinson T, Green T5, Madan J, Reed MWR, Wyld L (2011) Health care professionals' preferences for extending mammographic breast screening to the over 70s. Journal of Geriatric Oncology; 2 (1): 1-10.
Caldon L, Marshall-Cork H, Speed G, Reed MWR, Collins KA (2010).Patients as researchers-innovative experiences in Health Services Research. International Journal of Consumer Studies July Special Edition; 34; 547-550.
Collins K, Winslow M, Reed MWR, Robinson T, Walters S, Madan JJ, Green T, Cocker H, Wyld L (2010). The views of older women towards mammographic screening: a qualitative and quantitative study. British Journal of Cancer. 102, 1461-1467 (11 May 2010)
Collins, K., Winslow, M., Reed, M.W.R., Robinson, T., Walters, S., Madan, J.J., Green, T., Cocker, H., Wyld, L, 2010. The views of older women towards mammographic screening: a qualitative and quantitative study. British Journal of Cancer (in press)
Wyld, L., Collins, K., Winslow, M., Reed, M.W.R., Madan, J., Robinson, T., Walters, S., Green, T., Cocker, H., 2010. The views of older women regarding mammographic screening: a qualitative and quantitative study. European Journal of Cancer, Suppl, 8 (3), pp. 242
Wyld, L., Winslow, M., Reed, M.W.R., Robinson, T., Walters, S., Madan, J.J., Green, T., Cocker, H., Collins, K., 2009. Extension of mammographic screening to the over 70s. A study of patient and health care professional opinion. European Journal of Surgical Oncology, 35 (11), pp. 1236.
Collins, K., Winslow, M., Reed, M.W.R., Karnon, J., Madan, J., Robinson, T., Walters, S., Wyld, L., 2008. The views of older women (>70years) towards mammographic screening: A qualitative study. European Journal of Surgical Oncology , 34,(10) October 2008, pp. 1197.
Wyld L, Collins K, Winslow M, Reed M, Robinson T, Walters S, Madan JJ, Green T and Cocker H. (2009). Extension of mammographic screening to the over 70s. A study of patient and health care professional opinion. European Journal of Surgical Oncology 35 (11),1236.
Husain LS, Collins K, Read MW, Wyld L (2008). Choices in cancer treatment: a qualitative study of the older women's (>70 years) perspective. Psycho Oncology, 17:410-416.
Collins K, Stevens T. (2006) Can Consumer Research Panels form an effective part of the cancer research community? Clinical Effectiveness in Nursing 9 (3-4):112-118
Collins K, Ahmedzai S (2005) Consumer involvement in research. Cancer Nursing Practice, 4 (3): 8-11
Collins K, Bowns I, Walters S (2004) General practitioners' perceptions of asynchronous telemedicine in a randomized controlled trial of teledermatology. Journal of Phoneemedicine and Phoneecare 10(2):94-98
Collins K, Walters S, Bowns I (2004) Patient satisfaction with teledermatology: quantitative and qualitative results from a randomised controlled trial. Journal of Phoneemedicine and Phoneecare, 10(1):29-33
Collins K, O'Cathain. (2003) The continuum of patient satisfaction-from satisfied to very satisfied. Social Science and Medicine, 57:2465-2470
Collins K, Nicolson P (2002) The meaning of satisfaction for people with dermatological problems: re-assessing approaches to qualitative health psychology. Journal of Health Psychology. 7(5):615-629
Collins K, Nicolson P, Bowns I (2001) Patient Satisfaction in Phoneemedicine. Health Informatics Journal 6 (2): 81-85
Published abstracts
Wyld, L., Collins, K., Winslow, M., Reed, M.W.R., Madan, J., Robinson, T., Walters, S., Green, T., Cocker, H., 2010. The views of older women regarding mammographic screening: a qualitative and quantitative study. European Journal of Cancer, Suppl, 8 (3), pp. 242
Wyld L, Collins K, Winslow M, Reed M, Robinson T, Walters S, Madan JJ, Green T and Cocker H. (2009). Extension of mammographic screening to the over 70s. A study of patient and health care professional opinion. European Journal of Surgical Oncology 35 (11),1236.
Collins K, Winslow M, Reed MWR, Karnon J, Madan J, Robinson T, Walters S, Wyld L. (2008) The views of older women (>70years) towards mammographic screening: A qualitative study. European Journal of Surgical Oncology (EJSO), 34, (10) October 2008:1197
Hussain LS, Collins K, Reed MWR and Wyld L, (2006). Treatment Decisions in Breast Cancer: the Older Women's (>70 years) Perspective - a Qualitative Study. Oral Presentation BASO, November 2006
Hussain LS, Collins K, Reed MWR and Wyld L, (2006). Treatment Decisions in Breast Cancer: the Older Women's (>70 years) Perspective - a Qualitative Study. Oral Presentation at IPOS, October 2006
Hussain LS, Collins K, Reed MWR and Wyld L, (2006). Treatment Decisions in Breast Cancer: the Older Women's (>70 years) Perspective - a Qualitative Study. Psycho-oncology, Volume 15, S2
Conference oral presentations
Ahmed N, Hughes PM, Winslow M, Bath P, Collins K, Noble B. Feasibility study of the Sheffield Profile for Assessment and Referral for Care (SPARC): A holistic needs questionnaire. International Congress on Palliative Care. Montreal, Canada, October 9-12, 2012.
Inthawong R, Whitfield M, Collins K. Estimating the impacts of reducing risk factors for cardio-vascular disease in Thailand. First Health Challenge Thailand Conference. July 2-3, 2011, London.
Hughes P , Ahmed N, Winslow M, Bath P, Collins K, Noble B. A feasibility study to assess the use of a screening tool in a palliative care population. COMPASS Collaborative Annual Scientific Meeting Supportive and Palliative Care Research: Making a Difference. Edinburgh, April 14-15th 2011.
Hughes P , Ahmed N, Winslow M, Bath P, Collins K, Noble B. A feasibility study to assess the use of a screening tool in a palliative care population. COMPASS Collaborative Annual Scientific Meeting Supportive and Palliative Care Research: Making a Difference. Edinburgh, April 14-15th 2011.
Wyld L, Winslow M, Reed MW, Walters S, Robinson T, Karnon J, Madan J, Green T , Collins K. Should we screen older women for breast cancer? Presentation for NIHR CLAHRC for South Yorkshire Health Inequalities Theme. The University of Sheffield 8 Dec 2010.
Collins K, Winslow M, Reed MW, Walters S, Robinson T, Karnon J, Madan J, Green T, Wyld L. To screen or not to screen: older women and HCP views on breast screening. Presentation for NIHR CLAHRC for South Yorkshire Health Inequalities Theme. The University of Sheffield 8 Dec 2010.
Wyld L, Winslow M, Reed MW, Walters S, Robinson T, Karnon J, Madan J, Green T , Cocker H, Collins K. The views of older women towards mammographic screening: a qualitative and quantitative study. 7th European Breast Cancer Conference 24-27 March 2010, Barcelona, Spain.
Collins K, Winslow M, Reed MW, Robinson T, Madan J, Green T, Cocker H. The views of older women (>70yrs) towards mammographic screening in the elderly: a qualitative study. British Psychosocial Oncology Society 2008, Leeds. 4-5 December 2008
Caldon L, Collins K, Noble B, Ahmedzai SA, Reed MW. Why do hospital mastectomy rates vary? A qualitative study of the decision making journeys of women with breast cancer. The women's perspective. British Psychosocial Oncology Society 2008, Leeds. 4-5 December 2008
Caldon L, Collins K, Walsh K, Sivell S, Evans R, Edwards A, Elwyn, G, Reed MW. New technologies to support the decisions of women facing surgical choices for breast cancer: the reactions and concerns of health professionals. British Psychosocial Oncology Society 2008, Leeds. 4-5 December 2008
Collins K, Reed MW, Wyld L. Ethnicity and Breast Cancer. Psychosocial Research in Breast Cancer Study Day. The University of Sheffield, Sheffield. 10 Oct 2008.
Caldon L, Collins K, Walsh K, Reed MW. New technologies to support the decisions of women facing surgical choices for breast cancer: the reactions and concerns of health professionals. Annual Sheffield Oncology Research Day., Sheffield. 12 Sept 2008.
Collins K, A unique collaboration between cancer researchers and consumers: Supportive and Primary Care Research Oncology Research Group. 6th Annual National Cancer Conference, University of Sheffield, 27 September 2006
Collins K, Patient and Public involvement in cancer and palliative care research: the who what how and why? The 6th Palliative Care Congress. University of Sheffield, 5-7 April 2006
Collins K, Lessons learned from the North Trent Network Consumer Research Panel. NCRI/Macmillan Cancer Relief Meeting. London. 22 Sept 2005
Collins K, Sitzia J. What can consumer research panels achieve-getting the evidence. Workshop facilitation. NCRI/Macmillan Cancer Relief Meeting. London. 22 Sept 2005
Collins K, Harrison S. Training users to be involved in research: an overview of the NTCRN Consumer Research Panel. Sheffield School of Nursing. 14 September 2005
Collins K, Harris M. Public involvement in health and social care research. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Research Department Seminar. 1 July 2005
Collins K, Harrison S. Giving users the tools to participate in research: the induction programme of a consumer research panel. INVOLVE 4th National Conference 'People at the Heart of Research' East Midlands Conference centre 10-11 November 2004
Collins K. Is interpretative phenomenological analysis really phenomenological? Occasional Qualitative Research Seminar. School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, May 2003.
Collins K. General Practitioners' Perceptions of Phoneemedicine in Dermatology: A Psychological Perspective. The British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, Canterbury, Kent. June 2002.
Collins K, Nicolson P. The Reality of Conducting Qualitative Research alongside a Randomised Controlled Trial. 17th International Qualitative Analysis Conference 'Dirty Work: Social Process and Meaning in Ethnography' University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada November 2001.
Collins K. Perceptions of the methods used to elicit users' views on the processes of health care: perceived gaps and current research needs. Department of Health, Service Delivery and Organisation. School of Tropical Medicine September 2001.
Collins K. Perceptions of the methods used to elicit users' views on the processes of health care: perceived gaps and current research needs. School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield. Occasional Seminar. November 2001.
Collins K. What does satisfaction really mean to patients? PhD Conference, School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield. December 2001.
Conference poster presentations
Collins K, Tod AM. Optimizing lung cancer treatment in older patients: a mixed method study. The National Lung Cancer Conference for Nurses. Annual Conference , Glasgow, Nov 24-25 2011.
Inthawong R, Whitfield M, Collins K. Estimating the benefit of reducing risk factors for cardio-vascular disease in Thailand. Sheffield Hallam University Research Day 30 June, 2011, Sheffield.
Ahmed N, Hughes P, Winslow M, Bath P, Collins K, Noble B. Feasibility Study of the Sheffield Profile for Assessment and Referral for Care (SPARC): A Holistic Needs Questionnaire. 12th Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care, Lisbon, Portugal May 18-21 2011.
Wyld L, Winslow M, Reed MW, Walters S, Robinson T, Karnon J, Madan J, Green T , Cocker H, Collins K. The views of older women towards mammographic screening: a qualitative and quantitative study. 7th European Breast Cancer Conference 24-27 March 2010, Barcelona, Spain.
Collins K, Winslow M, Reed M, Karnon J, Madan J, Robinson T, Walters S, Wyld L. The views of older women (>70yrs) towards mammographic screening: A study of patient and health care professional opinion. British Association Surgical Oncologists, London, November 2009
Collins K, Winslow M, Reed M, Robinson T, Karnon J, Madan J, Cocker H, Green T, Wyld L. Extension of mammographic screening to the over 70s: a study of patient and health care professional opinion. Association Breast Surgery, British Association Surgical Oncologists and Cancer Genetics Group Joint Scientific Conference 23-24 November 2009, Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Collins K, Winslow M, Reed M, Robinson T, Karnon J, Madan J, Cocker H, Green T, Wyld L. The views of older women (>70 years) to mammographic screening in the elderly: a qualitative study. Sheffield Hallam University Health and Wellbeing Research Day, Sheffield, 17 December 2008.
Collins K, Winslow M, Reed MW, Robinson T, Madan J, Green T, Cocker H. The views of older women (>70yrs) towards mammographic screening in the elderly: a qualitative study. British Psychosocial Oncology Society 2008, Leeds. 4-5 December 2008
Collins K, Winslow M, Reed M, Robinson T, Karnon J, Madan J, Cocker H, Green T, Wyld L. The views of older women (>70 years) to mammographic screening in the elderly: a qualitative study. BASO-The Association for Cancer Surgery. Joint Scientific Conference 2008. Royal College of Surgeons, London 3-4 November 2008.
Husain L, Reed M, Collins K, Wyld L. Factors Affecting Treatment Decisions in the Older Woman (>70years) with Breast Cancer: a qualitative study. International Psycho-oncology Society '9th World Congress of Psycho-oncology' Imperial College, London 16-20 September 2007.
Husain L, Reed M, Collins K, Wyld L. Attitudes of Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) towards Treatment Options for Women Over 70 Years with Breast Cancer: a qualitative study. Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland Annual Conference and Exhibition. Birmingham International Centre 14-16 May 2008.
Collins K. Supportive and Primary Care Research Oncology Group. 6th Annual Cancer Conference, University of Sheffield, Sept 2006
Collins K, Harrison S, Button S. Consumer involvement in research: the who what when and why? American Psychosocial Oncology Society 3rd Annual Conference, February 2006, Amelia Island, Florida, USA
Collins K, Harrison S, Button S. Consumer involvement in research: the who what when and why? 6th Sheffield Conference for patients, Public and professionals in Cancer Care 'How do the media and advertising present cancer research'. Sheffield, November 2005
Collins K, Ardron D, Button S. A Day in the Life of a Consumer Research Panel Member. North Trent Cancer Network Annual Conference. Sheffield, September 2005.
Collins K, Harrison S, Button S. Consumer involvement in research. Sheffield Health and Research Consortium 'Informing Practice through research: A Partnership Approach' Sheffield Wednesday FC, September 2005.
Collins K, Harrison S. Consumer involvement in research: the why, what, who and how? INVOLVE 4th National Conference: People at the Heart of Research, Nottingham, November 2004.
Collins K, Harrison S. Involving consumers in the research cycle. Transpennine Care Research Network Sheffield, October 2004.
Collins K, Harrison S. Involving consumers in the research cycle. North Trent Cancer Research Network 5th Annual Conference for Consumers in Cancer Care: Tomorrows World-making it happen today! Sheffield, October 2004.
Collins K, Harrison S. Consumer involvement in research: the why, what, who and how? North Trent Cancer Research Network 5th Annual Conference for Consumers in Cancer Care: Tomorrows World-making it happen today! Sheffield, October 2004.
Collins K. The Consumer Research Panel. Supportive Care in Cancer...are consumers getting a good deal? 4th annual consumer led cancer and supportive care conference. Academic Palliative Medicine Unit, The University of Sheffield, November 2003.
Bowns I, Collins K, Bowns I, Walters S, McDonagh. Randomised controlled trial of store and forward telemedicine in dermatology. British Association of Dermatologists Annual Conference, London. September 2003.
Collins K, O'Cathain A. Perceptions of the methods used to elicit users' views on the processes of health care: perceived gaps and current research needs. School of Tropical Medicine. The National Co-ordinating Centre for Service Delivery and Organisation, London, September 2001.
