Professor Alison Metcalfe

Alison Metcalfe leads a programme of research activity focusing on genetic risk communication and management of genetic conditions within families and between health professionals and families. Her work spans different life stages from antenatal to end of life care. The research examines the impact the genetic risk information has on people’s lives and Alison collaborates with families and health professionals to co-design new interventions to facilitate improved family communication and functioning in living with a long-term or inherited genetic condition.

With an eclectic background, clinically Alison is a registered nurse working systemically with families to facilitate their coping and adaptation to living with an inherited genetic condition and its risks for children and young people. Academically she has a joint honours degree in psychology and biology, a PhD in biomolecular science and a postgraduate certificate in family therapy. She has significant research management experience in both university and NHS settings, and was previously Pro Vice-Chancellor for Health and Wellbeing at Sheffield Hallam University, as well as Vice Dean for Research at the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery 2011-2017.

Alison has undertaken a number of leadership roles across universities in developing research activity, from the entrepreneurial to translation and implementation of research into practice. She has particular interests in improving development opportunities for staff and students, and is currently Pro Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning at Sheffield Hallam.

From her work, Alison has published widely in the leading relevant peer-reviewed journals, regularly gives international plenary talks, lectures and invited workshops for health professionals and patient groups. She currently and has previously served on committees nationally and internationally that have focused on topics within Alison's areas of experience and knowledge including; integrating genomics into practice, care and support of families, development of health professionals research skills and translation of research into practice.

Journal articles

Machirori, M., Patch, C., & Metcalfe, A. (2019). Black and Minority Ethnic women's decision-making for risk reduction strategies after BRCA testing: Use of context and knowledge. European journal of medical genetics, 62 (5), 376-384. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmg.2018.12.006

Gimpel, C., Bergmann, C., Bockenhauer, D., Breysem, L., Cadnapaphornchai, M.A., Cetiner, M., ... Schaefer, F. (2019). International consensus statement on the diagnosis and management of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in children and young people. Nature Reviews Nephrology. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-019-0155-2

Efstathiou, N., Walker, W., Metcalfe, A., & Vanderspank-Wright, B. (2018). The state of bereavement support in adult intensive care: A systematic review and narrative synthesis. Journal of critical care, 50, 177-187. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrc.2018.11.026

Goldman, A., Metcalfe, A., & MacLeod, R. (2018). The process of disclosure: Mothers' experiences of communicating X-Linked carrier risk information to at-risk daughters. Journal of genetic counseling, 27 (5), 1265-1274. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-018-0251-7

Mendes, Á., Metcalfe, A., Paneque, M., Sousa, L., Clarke, A.J., & Sequeiros, J. (2018). Communication of information about genetic risks: putting families at the center. Family Process, 57 (3), 836-846. http://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12306

Jackson, J., Gettings, S., & Metcalfe, A. (2018). “The power of Twitter”: using social media at a conference with nursing students. Nurse Education Today, 68, 188-191. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2018.06.017

Vetsch, J., Wakefield, C.E., Warby, M., Tucker, K., Patterson, P., McGill, B.C., ... Fardell, J.E. (2018). Cancer-Related Genetic Testing and Personalized Medicine for Adolescents: A narrative review of impact and understanding. Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, 7 (3). http://doi.org/10.1089/jayao.2017.0102

Machirori, M., Patch, C., & Metcalfe, A. (2018). Study of the relationship between Black men, culture and prostate cancer beliefs. Cogent Medicine, 5, 1442636. http://doi.org/10.1080/2331205X.2018.1442636

Metcalfe, A. (2018). Sharing Genetic Risk Information: Implications for family nurses across the life span. Journal of Family Nursing, 24 (1), 86-105. http://doi.org/10.1177/1074840718755401

Oakley, C., Taylor, C., Ream, E., & Metcalfe, A. (2017). Avoidant conversations about death by clinicians causes delays in reporting of neutropenic sepsis: Grounded theory study. Psycho-Oncology, 26 (10), 1505-1512. http://doi.org/10.1002/pon.4320

Eisler, I., Flinter, F., Grey, J., Hutchison, S., Jackson, C., Longworth, L., ... Ulph, F. (2017). Training Genetic Counsellors to Deliver an Innovative Therapeutic Intervention: their views and experience of facilitating multi-family discussion groups. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 26 (2), 199-214. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-016-0008-0

Eisler, I., Ellison, M., Flinter, F., Grey, J., Hutchison, S., Jackson, C., ... Ulph, F. (2016). Developing an intervention to facilitate family communication about inherited genetic conditions, and training genetic counsellors in its delivery. European Journal of Human Genetics, 24, 794-802. http://doi.org/10.1038/ejhg.2015.215

Rowland, E., Plumridge, G., Considine, A.-.M., & Metcalfe, A. (2016). Preparing young people for future decision-making about cancer risk in families affected or at risk from hereditary breast cancer: A qualitative interview study. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 25, 9-15. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2016.08.006

Chudleigh, J., Buckingham, S., Dignan, J., O'Driscoll, S., Johnson, K., Rees, D., ... Metcalfe, A. (2016). Parents' Experiences of Receiving the Initial Positive Newborn Screening (NBS) Result for Cystic Fibrosis and Sickle Cell Disease. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 25 (6), 1215-1226. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-016-9959-4

Waldboth, V., Patch, C., Mahrer-Imhof, R., & Metcalfe, A. (2016). Living a normal life in an extraordinary way: A systematic review investigating experiences of families of young people's transition into adulthood when affected by a genetic and chronic childhood condition. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 62, 44-59. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.07.007

Dheensa, S., Metcalfe, A., & Williams, R. (2015). What do men want from antenatal screening? Findings from an interview study in England. Midwifery, 31 (1), 208-214. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2014.08.011

Rowland, E., & Metcalfe, A. (2014). A systematic review of men's experiences of their partner's mastectomy: coping with altered bodies. Psycho-Oncology, 23 (9), 963-974. http://doi.org/10.1002/pon.3556

Newington, L., & Metcalfe, A. (2014). Researchers' and clinicians' perceptions of recruiting participants to clinical research: a thematic meta-synthesis. Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, 6 (3), 162-172. http://doi.org/10.14740/jocmr1619w

Newington, L., & Metcalfe, A. (2014). Factors influencing recruitment to research: qualitative study of the experiences and perceptions of research teams. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 14, 10. http://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-14-10

Dheensa, S., Williams, B., & Metcalfe, A. (2013). Shattered Schemata and Fragmented Identities: Men's experiences of antenatal genetic screening in Great Britain. Journal of Family Issues, 34 (8), 1081-1103. http://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X13484274

Rowland, E., & Metcalfe, A. (2013). Communicating inherited genetic risk between parent and child: A meta-thematic synthesis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 50 (6), 870-880. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2012.09.002

Bench, S., Day, T., & Metcalfe, A. (2013). Randomised controlled trials: an introduction for nurse researchers. Nurse Researcher, 20 (5), 38-44. http://doi.org/10.7748/nr2013.05.20.5.38.e312

Dheensa, S., Metcalfe, A., & Williams, R.A. (2013). Men's experiences of antenatal screening: A metasynthesis of the qualitative research. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 50 (1), 121-133. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2012.05.004

Plumridge, G., Metcalfe, A., Coad, J., & Gill, P. (2012). The role of support groups in facilitating families in coping with a genetic condition and in discussion of genetic risk information. Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy, 15 (3), 255-266. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1369-7625.2011.00663.x

Metcalfe, A., Plumridge, G., Coad, J., Shanks, A., & Gill, P. (2011). Parents' and children's communication about genetic risk: a qualitative study, learning from families' experiences. European Journal of Human Genetics, 19 (6), 640-646. http://doi.org/10.1038/ejhg.2010.258

Lillie, A.K., Clifford, C., & Metcalfe, A. (2011). Caring for families with a family history of cancer: why concerns about genetic predisposition are missing from the palliative agenda. Palliative Medicine, 25 (2), 117-124. http://doi.org/10.1177/0269216310383738

Plumridge, G., Metcalfe, A., Coad, J., & Gill, P. (2011). Parents' Communication with Siblings of Children Affected by an Inherited Genetic Condition. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 20 (4), 374-383. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-011-9361-1

Albada, A., Werrett, J., Van Dulmen, S., Bensing, J., Chapman, C., Ausems, M.G., & Metcalfe, A. (2011). Breast cancer genetic counselling referrals: how comparable are the findings between the UK and the Netherlands? Journal of Community Genetics, 2 (4), 233-247. http://doi.org/10.1007/s12687-011-0061-1

Williams, R.A., Dheensa, S., & Metcalfe, A. (2011). Men's involvement in antenatal screening: A qualitative pilot study using email. Midwifery, 27 (6), 861-866. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2010.09.004

Metcalfe, A., & Clifford, C. (2011). Response to Ingleton C & Green E (2010) Commentary on Metcalfe A, Pumphrey R & Clifford C (2009) Hospice nurses' and genetics: implications for end-of-life care. Journal of Clinical Nursing 19, 192-207. Journal Of Clinical Nursing, 20 (23-24), 3584-3586. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2011.03961.x

Plumridge, G., Metcalfe, A., Coad, J., & Gill, P. (2010). Family communication about genetic risk information: Particular issues for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part A, 152A (5), 1225-1232. http://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.a.33364

Mathers, J., Greenfield, S., Metcalfe, A., Cole, T., Flanangan, S., & Wilson, S. (2010). Family history in primary care: understanding GPs' resistance to clinical genetics - qualitative study. British Journal of General Practice (BJGP), 60 (574), 221-230. http://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp10X501868

Metcalfe, A., Pumphrey, R., & Clifford, C. (2010). Hospice nurses and genetics: Implications for end-of-life care. Journal Of Clinical Nursing, 19 (1-2), 192-207. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2009.02935.x

Metcalfe, A., Wilson, S., McCahon, D., Sleightholme, H., Gill, P., & Cole, T. (2009). Integrating genetic risk assessment for multi-factorial conditions into primary care. Primary Health Care Research and Development, 10 (03), 200-209. http://doi.org/10.1017/S1463423609001200

Metcalfe, A., Pumphrey, R., & Clifford, C. (2009). Children affected by genetic conditions in end-of-life care. Part 2: findings and discussion. International journal of Palliative Nursing, 15 (1), 22-28. http://doi.org/10.12968/ijpn.2009.15.1.37949

Coad, J., Plumridge, G., & Metcalfe, A. (2009). Involving children and young people in the development of art-based research tools. Nurse Researcher, 16 (4), 56-64. http://doi.org/10.7748/nr2009.07.16.4.56.c7161

Metcalfe, A., Werrett, J., Burgess, L., Chapman, C., & Clifford, C. (2009). Cancer genetic predisposition: information needs of patients irrespective of risk level. Familial Cancer, 8 (4), 403-412. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10689-009-9256-6

Metcalfe, A., Haydon, J., Bennett, C., & Farndon, P. (2008). Midwives' views of the importance of genetics and their confidence with genetic activities in clinical practice: implications for the delivery of genetics education. Journal Of Clinical Nursing, 17 (4), 519-530. http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2702.2006.01884.x

Metcalfe, A., Coad, J., Plumridge, G.M., Gill, P., & Farndon, P. (2008). Family communication between children and their parents about inherited genetic conditions: a meta-synthesis of the research. European Journal of Human Genetics, 16 (10), 1193-1200. http://doi.org/10.1038/ejhg.2008.84

Metcalfe, A., Pumphrey, R., & Clifford, C. (2008). Children affected by genetic conditions in end-of-life care. Part 1: Development of a study. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 14 (12), 596-601. http://doi.org/10.12968/ijpn.2008.14.12.32064