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Dr Katarzyna Karolina Machaczek PhD, MSc, BSc

Research Fellow

Summary

Dr Katarzyna Machaczek is a Research Fellow based in the College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences at Sheffield Hallam University. Her main expertise is in the field of physical activity & mental ill health, with over 15 years’ experience in the development and evaluation of complex health interventions.

About

Dr Katarzyna Machaczek is a Research Fellow based in the College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences at Sheffield Hallam University. Her main expertise is in the field of physical activity & mental ill health, with over 15 years’ experience in the development and evaluation of complex health interventions. Katarzyna is named investigator on research grants worth over £4.6M, including the £2.5M NIHR PGfAR project ‘SPACES: Supporting Physical Activity through Co-production in people with Severe Mental Illness’ (2021-2027) working alongside Dr Emily Peckham, Professor Simon Gilboddy, Professor Robert Copeland, Dr Michelle Horspool, Dr Garry Tew, Dr Brendon Stubbs, Dr Gemma Traviss-Turner, Professor Andrew Hill, Professor Scott Weich, Mr Steve Parrott, Professor Cindy Cooper, Professor Stephen Walters and Dr Helen Quirk. The work aims to develop and evaluate an intervention that supports individuals with severe mental ill health by increasing their physical activity levels. She has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and conference proceedings in the field and currently leads the ‘Physical Activity & Mental Ill Health’ workstream for the RICOVR COVID-19 rehabilitation programme as part of Sheffield Hallam’s £15M flagship ‘Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre’ (AWRC). She is also Co-lead for a UKRI Closing the Gap network: ‘Examining and Implementing ‘whole systems’ approaches to physical activity for aiding mental health recovery’ (2021).

Health Promotion
Physical activity behaviour amongst different patient groups
The impact of mindfulness on a range of mental and physical conditions
Health Services Research
Realist methodologies and their application in evaluating public health interventions

Teaching

School of Health and Social Care

College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences

Research

Current Projects

  • Peckham, E. & Gilbody, S., Copeland, R., Machaczek, K., Horspool, M., Tew, G., Stubbs, B., Traviss-Turner, G., Hill, A., Weich, S., Parrott, S., Cooper, C., Walters, S., Quirk, H., Wildbore, E., Beeken, R. Title: Supporting Physical Activity through Co-production in people with Severe mental illness (SPACES). 2021-2027 Funder: NIHR Programme Grant for Applied Research; Role: Co-applicant; Grant value: £2,418,231.00.
  • Copeland, R., et al., RICOVR. A vision for a ‘COVID-19 rehabilitation’ research & innovation unit at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC). 2020-2022 Role: Lead of Physical activity and mental ill health workstream. Transforming lives through innovations that help people move. Funder: SHU.
  • Machaczek, K. & Firth, J., Goyder, E., Quirk, H., Copeland, R., Carney, R., de-la Haye, S. Title: Examining and implementing “whole systems’ approaches to physical activity for aiding mental health recovery. 2020-2021 Funder: UKRI Closing the Gap Network Collaboration Fund; Role: Joint Principal Investigator; Grant value: £1,998.
  • Ker, S,. & Peckham, E., Gilbody S., Machaczek, K., Jones, Tew, G. Finding out about barriers and facilitators to people with severe mental illness (SMI) using the NHS Couch to 5k programme, participating and volunteering at parkrun. 2022 Funder: NIHR research capability funding (RCF): Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys; Role: Co-applicant; Grant value: £8,600
  • Machaczek, K., Peckham, E., Goyder, E., Firth, J., Mitchell, C. Pollard, N. Tackling barriers to participation in physical activity (PA) research and physical activity interventions for people with severe mental ill health (SMI) from under-served communities in Yorkshire and the Humber. 2022-2023 Funder: NIHR CRN Y&H. Role: Principal Investigator; Grant value: £23,000.
  • Machaczek, K., Peckham, E., Tew, G., Stubbs, B., Liddle, C. Provision of physical activity opportunities in Mental Health Trusts in England – a Usual Care Mapping Study. 2022-2023 Funder: UKRI Policy Support Fund [provision to the Sheffield Institute for Policy Studies (SIPS)]. Grant value: £9,975
  • Machaczek, K. & Firth, J., Goyder, E., Quirk, H., Peckham, E., de-la Haye, Stephanie, Pollard, N., Burton, H., Copeland, R. Examining and implementing whole systems approaches to physical activity for aiding mental health recovery – factors determining maintenance of physical activity. 2022-2023 Funder: UKRI Closing the Gap Network Collaboration Fund & CRN Y&H Grant value: £3,470

Relevant Projects

  • Peckham, E. & Gilbody, S., Copeland, R., Machaczek, K., Horspool, M., Tew, G., Stubbs, B., Traviss-Turner, G., Hill, A., Weich, S., Parrott, S., Cooper, C., Walters, S., Quirk, H., Wildbore, E., Beeken, R. Title: Supporting Physical Activity through Co-production in people with Severe mental illness (SPACES). 2021-2027 Funder: NIHR Programme Grant for Applied Research; Role: Co-applicant; Grant value: £2,418,231.00.
  • Copeland, R., et al., RICOVR. A vision for a ‘COVID-19 rehabilitation’ research & innovation unit at the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC). 2020-2022 Role: Lead of Physical activity and mental ill health workstream. Transforming lives through innovations that help people move. Funder: SHU.
  • Machaczek, K. & Firth, J., Goyder, E., Quirk, H., Copeland, R., Carney, R., de-la Haye, S. Title: Examining and implementing “whole systems’ approaches to physical activity for aiding mental health recovery. 2020-2021 Funder: UKRI Closing the Gap Network Collaboration Fund; Role: Joint Principal Investigator; Grant value: £1,998.
  • Machaczek, K., Allmark, P., Goyder, E., Weich, S., Shea, M. Title: The application and evaluation of an innovative Improved Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) care pathway for the integration of physical activity into the management of mild-t0-moderate depression. 2017-2019 Funder: Sheffield Health and Social Care Foundation Trust (SHSC), NIHR Research Capability Fund to support the development of an NIHR project hosted by SHSC. Role: Principal Investigator; Grant value: £20,000.
  • Machaczek, K., Allmark, P., Rickett, T. Title: Factors contributing to the initiation and maintenance of regular physical activity amongst individuals suffering from mild to moderate depression. 2016-2017 Funder: RDSYH NIHR PPI Award; Role: Principal Investigator; Grant Value: £400.00.
  • Piercy, H.; Machaczek, K., Yap, S. Title: Developing a decision aid to support informed family planning decisions for parents of children with a rare genetic condition (DECIGEN). 2014-2016. Funder: NIHR Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care Yorkshire and the Humber (CLAHRC YH); Role: Replacing a co-applicant; Grant Value: £49,950.
  • Title: Developing a strategic platform to facilitate and focus collaborative working on translational research and knowledge exchange projects with four major Health and Social Care Organisations. 2013-2015. Funder: Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF); Role: Joint Principal Investigator with Professor Charmaine Childs; Grant Value: £165,000.
  • Gordon, G., Machaczek, K., Pollard, N., Allmark, P. Title: An ethnographic study of a Walking for Health (W4H) group 2015-2016 Funder: The Ramblers and Macmillan Cancer Support; Role: Collaborator.
  • Machaczek, K., Kilner, K., Allmark, P., Gee, M. Title: Developing Research Capacity at Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH). 2014-2015, Funder: Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust; Role: Principal Investigator; Grant Value: £20,000.
  • Allmark, P. & Machaczek, K. Title: How might improving Financial Capability (FC) enhance health at an individual and population level? 2014, Funder: The Wellcome Trust; Role: Co-applicant; Grant Value: £5,000.
  • Machaczek, K. & Whitfield, M. Title: Developing an in-house health economics capacity at B. Braun Medical Ltd. 2013-2014, Funder: B. Braun Medical Ltd.; Role: Joint Principal Investigator; Grant Value: £27,000.
  • Green, G.; Tod, A., Machaczek, K., Allmark, P., Gilbertson, J. Title: Social Capital, Resilience and Health in the City of Hull 2012-2013 Funder: Hull City Council; Role: Co-applicant; Grant Value: £40,000.
  • Heller, B.; Machaczek, K. Title: Second Life for the Third Age. 2012. Funder: NIHR Collaborations for Leadership in Applied.

Payne K., de Normanville C., Stansfield K., Barnett N., Machaczek K., Qutishat D., Okasheh R., Ion V., Wicks H., Smewing Ch., (2010) Prevention and Lifestyle Behaviour Change A Competence Framework. https://www.makingeverycontactcount.co.uk/docs/Prevention and Lifestyle Behaviour Change A Competence Framework.pdf

The development and evaluation of physical activity programmes for people with serious mental ill health. 

 

Collaborators or sponsors

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and affiliated organisations
  • University of Sheffield, U.K.
  • University of York, U.K.
  • University of Manchester, U.K.
  • Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
  • Maastricht University, the Netherlands
  • Kaunas University, Lithuania
  • The National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine, U.K.
Local Government
  • Sheffield City Council
  • Doncaster Council
NHS Organisations
  • Sheffield Health and Social Care - NHS Foundation Trust NHS Yorkshire & the Humber
  • Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDASH)
  • South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
  • Improved Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Service
Others
  • Sheffield International Venues
  • England Athletics
  • Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA
  • Rotherham United FC Community Sport Trust
  • The World Health Organisation Healthy Cities Network, in particular the WHO Global Network of Age-friendly Cities and Communities.
  • B. Braun Medical Ltd.
Voluntary Organisations
  • Sheffield MIND
  • Survivors of Depression in Transition (SODIT), Sheffield
  • SOAR, Sheffield
  • Flourish, Sheffield
Government Agencies
  • NIHR CLAHRC YH
  • NIHR White Rose
  • NIHR Programme Grant for Applied Research (PGfAR)
Research Councils
  • The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
  • UKRI Closing the Gap Network Collaboration Fund

Publications

Journal articles

Firth, J., Deenik, J., Castellanos, N., Diez, G.G., Schuch, F.B., Scrivano, L., ... Ward, P.B. (2025). Priorities and opportunities for lifestyle psychiatry: consensus from the LifePsych Society. World Psychiatry, 24 (2), 277-279. http://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21325

Firth, J., Solmi, M., Löchner, J., Cortese, S., López-Gil, J.F., Machaczek, K., ... Torous, J. (2025). Promoting healthy digital device usage: recommendations for youth and parents (editorial). World Psychiatry, 24 (1), 1-2. http://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21261

Machaczek, K., Quirk, H., & Burton, H. (2024). 162 A qualitative investigation into causal mechanisms underpinning adherence to physical activity programmes among people with serious mental illness [abstract only]. European Journal of Public Health, 34 (Supple). http://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckae114.037

Tew, G., Peckham, E., Ker, S., Philip, H., Smith, J., Machaczek, K., & Faires, M. (2024). Physical activity in adult users of inpatient mental health services: a scoping review. PLoS One, 19 (8). http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0301857

Jones, G., Bailey, L., Beeken, R.J., Brady, S., Cooper, C., Copeland, R., ... Peckham, E. (2024). Supporting physical activity through co-production in people with severe mental ill health (SPACES): protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 10. http://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-024-01460-0

Machaczek, K., Firth, J., Tew, G., Stubbs, B., Jones, G., & Peckham, E. (2023). Towards the standardization of physical activity programs for severe mental ill health: a survey of current practice across 54 Mental Health Trusts in England. Psychiatry Research, 330. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115602

Peckham, E., Tew, G., Lorimer, B., Bailey, L., Beeken, R., Cooper, C., ... Stubbs, B. (2023). Interventions to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in severe mental ill health: How effective are they?’- A systematic review. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 25. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2023.100547

Keel, T., Machaczek, K., King, J., Breen, K., Stubbs, B., & Kinnafick, F. (2023). Physical activity interventions for inpatients in secure mental health settings: what works, for whom, in what circumstances and why? A protocol for a realist synthesis. BMJ Open, 13. http://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073453

Machaczek, K., Quirk, H., Firth, J., Carney, R., Copeland, R., Pollard, N., ... Goyder, E. (2022). A whole systems approach to integrating physical activity to aid mental health recovery – translating theory into practice. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 23. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2022.100480

Tomlinson-Perez, S., Machaczek, K.K., Firth, J., Pollard, N., Meda, G., Keddie, E., & Goyder, E. (2022). Evaluation of the uptake, retention and effectiveness of exercise referral schemes for the management of mental health conditions in primary care: a systematic review. BMC Public Health, 22. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12638-7

Machaczek, K., Allmark, P., Pollard, N., Goyder, E., Shea, M., Horspool, M., ... Weich, S. (2021). Integrating physical activity into the treatment of depression in adults: a qualitative enquiry. Health and Social Care in the Community. http://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13283

Quirk, H., Hock, E., Harrop, D., Crank, H., Peckham, E., Travis-Turner, G., ... Copeland, R. (2020). Understanding the experience of initiating community-based group physical activity by people with serious mental illness: a systematic review using a meta-ethnographic approach. European Psychiatry, 63 (1). http://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.93

Allmark, P., & Machaczek, K. (2018). Realism and pragmatism in a mixed methods study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 74 (6), 1301-1309. http://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13523

Machaczek, K., Allmark, P., Goyder, E., Grant, G., Ricketts, T., Pollard, N., ... Green, G. (2018). A scoping study of interventions to increase the uptake of physical activity (PA) amongst individuals with mild-to-moderate depression (MMD). BMC Public Health, 18, 392. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5270-7

Grant, G., Pollard, N., Allmark, P., Machaczek, K., & Ramcharan, P. (2017). The social relations of a health walk group: an ethnographic study. Qualitative Health Research, 27 (11), 1701-1712. http://doi.org/10.1177/1049732317703633

Gee, M., Piercy, H., & Machaczek, K. (2017). Family planning decisions for parents of children with a rare genetic condition: a scoping review. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, 14, 1-6. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2017.08.001

Piercy, H., Machaczek, K., Ali, P., & Yap, S. (2017). Parental experiences of raising a child with medium chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase deficiency. Global Qualitative Nursing research, 4, 1-8. http://doi.org/10.1177/2333393617707080

Grant, G., Machaczek, K., Pollard, N., & Allmark, P. (2017). Walking, sustainability and health: findings from a study of a Walking for Health group. Health and Social Care in the Community, 25 (3), 1218-1226. http://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12424

Cooper, D.M., Whitfield, M., Newton, D., Chiarella, J., & Machaczek, K. (2016). Introduction of a non-ported peripheral intravenous catheter with multi-use blood control septum offers improvements in the overall efficiency of the procedure and is clinically well accepted. International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management, 15 (3), 177-193. https://www.inderscience.com/info/inarticle.php?artid=78336

Allmark, P., & Machaczek, K. (2015). Financial capability, health and disability. BMC Public Health, 15 (1), 785. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1589-5

Whitfield, M., Machaczek, K., & Green, G. (2013). Developing a model to estimate the potential impact of municipal investment on city health. Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine, 90 (1 Supp), 62-73. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-012-9763-x

Mcseveny, K., Heller, B., Light, A., & Machaczek, K. (2013). ‘You could, couldn’t you?’: a preliminary investigation of older people’s interaction with a bespoke virtual environment using a gesture interface. Journal of Gaming & Virtual Worlds, 5 (3), 235-249. http://doi.org/10.1386/jgvw.5.3.235_1

Machaczek, K., Whitfield, M., Kilner, K., & Allmark, P. (2013). Doctors' and nurses' perceptions of barriers to conducting handover in hospitals in the Czech Republic. American Journal of Nursing Research, 1 (1), 1-9. http://doi.org/10.12691/ajnr-1-1-1

Machaczek, K., Peckham, E., Mishu, M., Gibril, N., & Spanakis, P. (n.d.). Smoking cessation interventions for young adults – a scoping review. Substance Use and Misuse.

Conference papers

Machaczek, K., Gee, M., Allmark, P., Weich, S., Goyder, E., & Shea, M. (2018). An innovative approach to integrating physical activity (PA) into the management of mild-to-moderate depression (MMD) (Abstract only). Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 15 (S1), S54. http://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2018-0535

Book chapters

Machaczek, K., Whitfield, M., & Ismail, M. (2010). Patient relationship. In Windak, A., Tomasik, T., & Domagala, A. (Eds.) Guidebook for teachers of family medicine on health promotion and disease prevention. (pp. 56-59). Krakow: Zdrowie i Zarządzanie: http://www.gapproject.klrwp.pl/products_g.html

Machaczek, K., Carr, A., & Whitfield, M. (2010). A randomised controlled trial of the use of motivational enhancement techniques to improve engagement in and adherence to programmed physical activity in people with mental health problems and high CVD risk. In Suomi, R., & Ilveskoski, I. (Eds.) Navigating the fragmented innovation landscape. Turku Centre for Computer Science (TUCS): http://tucs.fi:8080/publications/insight.php?id=bSuIl10a

Reports

Machaczek, K., Peckham, E., Firth, J., Pollard, N., Mitchell, C., Quirk, H., ... Goyder, E. (2023). Broadening the inclusion in physical activity research and interventions for people with severe mental illness. Sheffield Hallam University. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-reports-22001

Whitfield, M., & Machaczek, K. (2010). Scoping the economic case for the 'Health Behaviour Change' Competence Framework. Yorkshire and the Humber NHS. http://www.yorksandhumber.nhs.uk/document.php?o=7728

Payne, K., De Normanville, C., Stansfield, K., Barnett, N., Machaczek, K., Qutishat, D., ... Smewing, C. (2010). Prevention and lifestyle behaviour change : a competence framework. NHS Yorkshire and The Humber. http://www.makingeverycontactcount.co.uk/docs/Prevention%20and%20Lifestyle%20Behaviour%20Change%20A%20Competence%20Framework.pdf

Presentations

Machaczek, K., & Green, G. (2011). Developing an evidence-based approach to city level public health investment in European cities. Presented at: The 5th Asia-Pacific Conference on Exercise and Sports Science (APCESS 2011), Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China, 2011

Whitfield, M., & Machaczek, K. (2010). Developing an evidence-based approach to city level public health investment in Europe. Presented at: 18th UKPHA Annual Public Health Forum, Bournemouth, UK, 2010

Smith, T., & Machaczek, K. (2007). What is the evidence for the impact of Leadership development and enhanced performance of healthcare organisations? Presented at: Leadership and Management Development Symposium, European Health Management Association Conference, Lyon, France

Other activities

Editorial Board Membership:

  • Journal of Social Work Education

Peer reviewing:

  • National Institute for Health Research: The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme
  • National Institute for Health Research: The Health Services and Delivery Research (HS&DR) Programme
  • National Institute for Health Research: Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
  • UK Research and Innovation
  • BMJ Public Health
  • Health and Social Care in the Community
  • Journal of Patient Safety
  • Journal of Advanced Nursing

Postgraduate supervision

June Chambers

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