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Dr Megan Armstrong

Megan

Lecturer in Mental Health Research Methods

Email: megan.armstrong@qmul.ac.uk

Profile

I am a Lecturer in Mental Health Research Methods in the Unit for Psychological Medicine in the Centre for Psychiatry and Mental Health. I am a mixed method researcher and my main interests include reducing health inequalities, self-management of long-term conditions, and improving health and social care access. I research a wide range of populations including those experiencing homelessness, those experiencing socioeconomic deprivation, people with multiple long-term conditions, and palliative populations.

I have conducted research as a Principal Investigator funded by the NIHR School of Primary Care Research on the self-management of multiple long-term conditions in those experiencing socioeconomic deprivation. Additional grants I have led include how to actively include people experiencing socioeconomic deprivation in research and building a collaboration network between research academics and voluntary and community sector organisations to enhance research of health inequalities.

I also provided an impact case study for REF2021 on improving the quality and co-ordination of palliative care for people experiencing homelessness. I mentor and supervise post-doctoral researchers, as well as providing placements for In2Research students.

I am an editor for BMC Health Services Research and a representative for 'Developing an updated agenda for Primary Care research on Multiple Long-Term Conditions’ to complement the existing James Lind Alliance patient-led priorities for multimorbidity. I am also the support lead for PhD students in the Unit for Psychological Medicine.

Postgraduate Teaching

I teach Applied Research Methods on the following courses:

Research

Research Interests:

Health inequalities, Self-management, multiple long-term conditions, palliative care, primary care.

 

Examples of research funding:

I am Principal Investigator on the following projects:

  • Enhancing self-management in primary care for people experiencing socioeconomic deprivation with multiple long-term conditions. NIHR School for Primary Care Research. 
  • Implementation of digital health interventions in primary care settings. Systematic review with narrative synthesis. NIHR School for Primary Care Research (Co-Principal Investigator).
  • How to actively include people from low socioeconomic positions in research from participation to dissemination. UCL Beacon Bursary. 
  • Building a collaboration network between research academics and voluntary and community sector organisations to enhance research of health inequalities. UCL Research Culture Awards. 

I am co-investigator on the following projects:

Publications

Outstanding publications

  • Davies N, Armstrong M, Pigott J et al. (2024). Co-design of a facilitated self-management toolkit for people with Parkinson’s disease. nameOfConference


  • McMullen S, Poduval S, Armstrong M et al. (2024). A qualitative exploration of the role of culturally relevant social prescribing in supporting Pakistani carers living in the UK. nameOfConference


  • Armstrong M, Woodward A (publicationYear). Engaging people experiencing socioeconomic deprivation in qualitative research: reflections. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Pigott JS, Armstrong M, Davies N et al. (2024). Factors associated with self-rated health in people with late-stage parkinson’s and cognitive impairment. nameOfConference


  • Rookes TA, Nimmons D, Frost R et al. (2024). Effectiveness of complex behaviour change interventions tested in randomised controlled trials for people with multiple long-term conditions (M-LTCs): systematic review with meta-analysis. nameOfConference


  • Woodward A, Walters K, Davies N et al. (2024). Barriers and facilitators of self‐management of diabetes amongst people experiencing socioeconomic deprivation: A systematic review and qualitative synthesis. nameOfConference


  • Woodward A, Nimmons D, Davies N et al. (2024). A qualitative exploration of the barriers and facilitators to self‐managing multiple long‐term conditions amongst people experiencing socioeconomic deprivation. nameOfConference


  • Armstrong M, Walters K, Davies N et al. (publicationYear). Intervention components in the self-management of Parkinson’s: a mixed-methods synthesis of qualitative and quantitative evidence. nameOfConference


  • Pigott JS, Davies N, Chesterman E et al. (2024). Compound impact of cognitive and physical decline: A qualitative interview study of people with Parkinson's and cognitive impairment, caregivers and professionals. nameOfConference


  • Walters K, Armstrong M, Gardner B et al. (publicationYear). Clinical and cost-effectiveness of ‘Live Well with Parkinson’s’ self-management intervention versus treatment as usual for improving quality of life for people with Parkinson’s: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. nameOfConference


  • Rookes T, Frost R, Barrado-Martin Y et al. (2023). Type of goals set and progress towards these goals, as part of a behaviour change intervention, in people with mild cognitive impairment: a secondary analysis. nameOfConference


  • Pigott JS, Davies N, Chesterman E et al. (2023). Delivering Optimal Care to People with Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease: A Qualitative Study of Patient, Caregiver, and Professional Perspectives. nameOfConference


  • Woodward A, Davies N, Nimmons D et al. (2023). OP169 ‘It feels like the system is almost against you’: Self-management of multiple long-term conditions amongst people experiencing socioeconomic deprivation. SSM Annual Scientific Meeting


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Okpako T, Woodward A, Walters K et al. (2023). Effectiveness of self-management interventions for long-term conditions in people experiencing socio-economic deprivation in high-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. nameOfConference


  • Woodward A, Davies N, Walters K et al. (publicationYear). Self-management of multiple long-term conditions: A systematic review of the barriers and facilitators amongst people experiencing socioeconomic deprivation. nameOfConference


  • Pigott JS, Armstrong M, Chesterman E et al. (publicationYear). Remote Consultations for People With Parkinson Disease and Cognitive Impairment: Interview Study With Patients, Caregivers, and Health Care Professionals. nameOfConference


  • Davis S, Serfaty M, Low J et al. (2023). Experiential Avoidance in Advanced Cancer: a Mixed-Methods Systematic Review. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Shah R, Read J, Davies N et al. (publicationYear). People with Parkinson’s perspectives and experiences of self-management: Qualitative findings from a UK study. nameOfConference


  • Mitchinson L, Chu C, Bruun A et al. (2022). How best to capture the impact of complementary therapies in palliative care: A systematic review to identify and assess the appropriateness and validity of multi-domain tools. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Rookes TA, Schrag A, Walters K et al. (2022). Measures of fidelity of delivery and engagement in self-management interventions: A systematic review of measures. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Rawal R, Read J, Chesterman E et al. (2022). The effectiveness of aromatherapy and reflexology in neurodegenerative disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Nimmons D, Armstrong M, Pigott J et al. (2022). Exploring the experiences of people and family carers from under-represented groups in self-managing Parkinson's disease and their use of digital health to do this. nameOfConference


  • Lamirel D, Davis S, Low J et al. (2022). Talking control sessions in people with advanced cancer: a qualitative analysis of sessions. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Armstrong M, Aker N, Nair P et al. (2022). Trust and inclusion during the Covid‐19 pandemic: Perspectives from Black and South Asian people living with dementia and their carers in the UK. nameOfConference


  • Armstrong M, Tuijt R, Read J et al. (2021). Health care professionals’ perspectives on self-management for people with Parkinson’s: qualitative findings from a UK study. nameOfConference


  • Armstrong M, Shulman C, Hudson B et al. (2021). Barriers and facilitators to accessing health and social care services for people living in homeless hostels: a qualitative study of the experiences of hostel staff and residents in UK hostels. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Aspden T, Armstrong M, Serfaty M (2021). Views of healthcare professionals on recruiting to a psychosocial randomised controlled trial: a qualitative study. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Armstrong M, Shulman C, Hudson B et al. (2021). The benefits and challenges of embedding specialist palliative care teams within homeless hostels to enhance support and learning: Perspectives from palliative care teams and hostel staff. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Tuijt R, Tan A, Armstrong M et al. (2020). Self‐Management Components as Experienced by People with Parkinson’s Disease and Their Carers: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of the Qualitative Literature. nameOfConference


  • Armstrong M, Kupeli N, Flemming K et al. (2020). Complementary therapy in palliative care: A synthesis of qualitative and quantitative systematic reviews. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Candy B, Armstrong M, Flemming K et al. (2020). The effectiveness of aromatherapy, massage and reflexology in people with palliative care needs: A systematic review. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Anderson RJ, Bloch S, Armstrong M et al. (2019). Communication between healthcare professionals and relatives of patients approaching the end-of-life: A systematic review of qualitative evidence. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Armstrong M, Flemming K, Kupeli N et al. (2019). Aromatherapy, massage and reflexology: A systematic review and thematic synthesis of the perspectives from people with palliative care needs. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Serfaty M, Armstrong M, Vickerstaff V et al. (2019). Acceptance and commitment therapy for adults with advanced cancer (CanACT): A feasibility randomised controlled trial. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Armstrong M, Morris C, Abraham C et al. (2017). Interventions utilising contact with people with disabilities to improve children's attitudes towards disability: A systematic review and meta-analysis. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Armstrong M, Morris C, Tarrant M et al. (2017). Rasch analysis of the Chedoke–McMaster Attitudes towards Children with Handicaps scale. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Armstrong M, Morris C, Abraham C et al. (2016). Children’s contact with people with disabilities and their attitudes towards disability: a cross-sectional study. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • MacMillan M, Tarrant M, Abraham C et al. (2014). The association between children's contact with people with disabilities and their attitudes towards disability: a systematic review. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref

Supervision

I am a PhD supervisor for:

  • Jennifer Pigott. Supporting the needs of people with Parkinson’s Disease and Cognitive Impairment. (upgraded). (Tertiary)
  • Mouhammed Ramadhan. Novel remote assessment methods in Parkinsonian disorders. (Subsidiary)
  • Tasmin Rookes: How does Mild Cognitive Impairment in older adults’ impact engagement with complex interventions and maintenance of changes to behaviour? (Tertiary)

I supervise Dr Abi Woodward's fellowship:

  • Addressing the unmet health and wellbeing needs of ethnic minority family carers through co-production of inclusive and accessible social prescribing opportunities. NIHR School for Primary Care Research

I am interested in supervising PhD projects on health inequalities, self-management, and the management of multiple long-term conditions. 

Public Engagement

How can researchers actively include people experiencing socioeconomic deprivation in research? | UCL Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health Blog

Health and social care access for people experiencing homelessness and lessons for primary care | UCL Research Department of Primary Care and Population Health Blog

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