Dr Helen Humphreys

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About

I am a senior research fellow in the Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology. My PhD, awarded in 2018, used a human-centred design approach to develop physical activity pathways for NHS services across a number of long-term health conditions. I subsequently worked as a researcher in the Physical Activity, Wellbeing and Public Health group at Sheffield Hallam University where I explored the impact of lifestyle interventions on quality of life for people living with long-term conditions, and the role of exercise in enhancing wellbeing and clinical outcomes.

I joined the Centre for Behavioural Science and Applied Psychology as a senior research fellow in 2022. Here I lead a variety of research projects applying behavioural science theory to explore factors and design interventions that influence behaviour. I specialise in participatory research approaches that engage professional stakeholders and members of the public in research and intervention planning, including a range of qualitative methods, realist evaluation and co-design. My work draws on behaviour change theory and concepts from positive psychology, human-centred design and circular design. I am particularly interested in the role of behaviour change within innovation and undertake research consultancy related to innovation in elite sport.

Specialist areas of interest

Human-centred design
Participatory approaches
Physical activity

Teaching

Sheffield Institute of Social Sciences

College of Social Sciences and Arts

Publications

Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2024). Beyond the individual: socio-ecological factors impacting activity after Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetic Medicine. http://doi.org/10.1111/dme.15286

Robinson, R., Crank, H., Humphreys, H., Fisher, P., & Greenfield, D.M. (2023). Allied health professional's self-reported competences and confidence to deliver physical activity advice to cancer patients at a single Centre in England. Disability and rehabilitation, 45 (24), 4058-4064. http://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2143580

Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2023). Physical activity after gestational diabetes: more motivation or change the situation? The Sport and Exercise Scientist, 77 (Autumn).

Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2023). A systematic review and thematic synthesis of the barriers and facilitators to physical activity for women after Gestational Diabetes: A socio-ecological approach. British Journal of Diabetes, 23 (1). http://doi.org/10.15277/bjd.2023.413

Humphreys, L., Frith, G., Humphreys, H., Crank, H., Dixey, J., Greenfield, D.M., & Reece, L.J. (2023). Evaluation of a city-wide physical activity pathway for people affected by cancer: the Active Everyday service. Supportive Care in Cancer, 31 (2). http://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07560-y

Saxton, J.M., Pickering, K., Wane, S., Humphreys, H., Crank, H., Anderson, A.S., ... Wilson, C. (2022). Co-designed weight management intervention for women recovering from oestrogen-receptor positive breast cancer. BMC Cancer, 22 (1). http://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-022-10287-y

Robinson, R., Crank, H., Humphreys, H., Fisher, P., & Greenfield, D.M. (2022). Time to embed physical activity within usual care in cancer services: a qualitative study of cancer healthcare professionals' views at a single centre in England. Disability and rehabilitation. http://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2134468

Shearn, K., Brooks, A., Humphreys, H., & Wardle, C. (2022). Mixed methods Participatory Action Research to inform service design based on the Capabilities Approach, in the North of England. Children and Society: the international journal of childhood and children's services, 36 (4), 450-471. http://doi.org/10.1111/chso.12496

Fowler Davis, S., Humphreys, H., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Withers, S., Lowe, A., & Copeland, R. (2022). Understanding the Needs and Priorities of People Living with Persistent Pain and Long-Term Musculoskeletal Conditions during the COVID-19 Pandemic—A Public Involvement Project. Healthcare, 10 (6). http://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10061130

O'Doherty, A.F., Humphreys, H., Dawkes, S., Cowie, A., Hinton, S., Brubaker, P.H., ... Nichols, S. (2021). How has technology been used to deliver cardiac rehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic? An international cross-sectional survey of healthcare professionals conducted by the BACPR. BMJ Open, 11 (4). http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046051

Humphreys, H., Kilby, L., Kudiersky, N., & Copeland, R. (2021). Long COVID and the role of physical activity: a qualitative study. BMJ Open, 11 (3). http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047632

Speake, H., Copeland, R., Breckon, J., & Till, S. (2019). Challenges and opportunities for promoting physical activity in health care: a qualitative enquiry of stakeholder perspectives. European Journal of Physiotherapy. http://doi.org/10.1080/21679169.2019.1663926

Humphreys, L., Crank, H., Frith, G., Speake, H., & Reece, L. (2017). Bright spots, physical activity investments that work: Active Everyday, Sheffield’s physical activity service for all people living with and beyond cancer. British Journal of Sports Medicine. http://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-098672

Speake, H., Copeland, R., Till, S., Breckon, J., Haake, S., & Hart, O. (2016). Embedding physical activity in the heart of the NHS: the need for a whole-system approach. Sports Medicine, 46 (7), 939-946. http://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0488-y

Conference papers

Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2022). A systematic review using the socio-ecological model for physical activity interventions aiming to prevent type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes (abstract only). Journal of Sports Sciences, 40 (Sup 1), 7. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02640414.2022.2125766

Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2022). A systematic review using the socioecological model for physical activity interventions aiming to prevent type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes [abstract only]. Journal of Sports Sciences. http://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2022.2125766

Pickering, K., Wane, S., Speake, H., Crank, H., Anderson, A., Cain, H., ... Saxton, J. (2021). The new normal; adjusting to remote ways of providing bespoke weight management support to breast cancer survivors during the COVID-19 global pandemic. CANCER RESEARCH, 81 (4).

Reports

Arden, M., Millings, A., Thorneloe, R., Wilcockson, H., Humphreys, H., Paddock, D., & Clarke, E. (2024). Behavioural Science: Increasing uptake of family hub services. Evaluation Protocols. UK Government. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65df2d11b8da630011c86397/Intervention_development_and_evaluation_protocols_report.pdf

Millings, A., Wilcockson, H., Clarke, E., Lamb, M., Humphreys, H., Paddock, D., ... Coldwell, M. (2022). Applying behavioural science to promoting uptake of family hubs services Research report summary. Department for Education. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1123978/Summary_Applying_behavioural_science_to_promoting_uptake_of_family_hubs_services.pdf

Millings, A., Wilcockson, H., Clarke, E., Lamb, M., Humphreys, H., Paddock, D., ... Coldwell, M. (2022). Applying behavioural science to promoting uptake of family hubs services Research report. (1284). Department for Education. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1123977/Applying_behavioural_science_to_promoting_uptake_of_family_hubs_services.pdf

Copeland, R., Lowe, A., Humphreys, H., Breckon, J., Haake, S., & Heller, B. (2021). UOA2403 REF3 Placing Physical Activity at the Heart of the NHS. Sheffield Hallam University. https://www.shu.ac.uk/research/in-action/projects/move-more

Theses / Dissertations

Speake, H. (2018). Exploring the user-centred design of aphysical activity pathway in NHS care. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Copeland, R. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00087

Internet Publications

Humphreys, H., Kilby, L., Kudiersky, N., & Copeland, R. (2020). Long Covid and the role of physical activity: a qualitative study. http://doi.org/10.1101/2020.12.03.20243345

Presentations

Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2023). “I know what I need to do, it’s just doing it” a Socio-Ecological analysis of Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity after Gestational Diabetes. Presented at: Women in Sport and Exercise Academic Network (WiSEAN) Conference, Liverpool John Moores University

Posters

Bugg, A., Maden-Wilkinson, T., Carter, A., Humphreys, H., & Nichols, S. (2023). A Cross-Sectional Study to Assess the Prevalence of Poor Sarcopenia Specific Quality of Life in Mid-Life Adults. Presented at: International Sarcopenia Translational Research Conference, Newcastle University, 2023

Ioannou, E., Humphreys, H., Homer, C., & Purvis, A. (2023). “I’m doing all I can” wider Constraints to Physical Activity after Gestational Diabetes: a Socio-Ecological approach. Presented at: The 11th International Symposium on Diabetes (DIP), Hypertension, Metabolic Syndrome and Pregnancy: Innovative Approaches in Maternal Offspring Health, Thessaloniki

Postgraduate supervision

PhD - Natalie Grinvalds - Development of realist theory of the co-location of health and leisure facilities to promote physical activity (completed 2022)

PhD - Nik Kudiersky - Feasibility and effects of early-initiated aerobic exercise in stroke patients

PhD - Gabbi Frith - Optimising Secondary Prevention in Early Cardiac Rehabilitation

PhD - Alex Bugg - Sarcopenia in patients with Chronic Heart Failure PhD

PhD - Elysa Ioannau - Preventing Diabetes after Gestational Diabetes: A co-produced qualitative study in minoritised communities

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