Stephanie Tierney

The University of Warwick · Royal College of Nursing Research Institute

Objective: Working with people with eating disorders (EDs) is known to elicit strong emotional reactions, and the therapeutic alliance has been shown to affect outcomes with this clinical population. As a consequence, it is important to understand healthcare professionals’ (HCPs’) experiences of working with this client group. Method: A meta-synth...

Objective: To: (i) identify interventions aimed at increasing physical activity (PA) levels among South Asian (SA) adults, and (ii) identify the specific changes in the content and delivery mode of interventions designed to increase PA levels among SA people aged 18+. Design: A systematic review of quantitative studies. Data synthesis: Extracted da...

Background Compassion in healthcare represents an ideal way of interacting with patients. It entails an active response to suffering, distress or discomfort that can be associated with people seeking health related support or treatment. However, reports from within healthcare highlight that compassionate care (CC) is not always achieved. It may be...

Background Compassion has become a topic of increasing interest within healthcare over recent years. Yet despite its raised profile, little research has investigated how compassionate care is enacted and what it means to healthcare professionals (HCPs). In a grounded theory study, we aimed to explore this topic from the perspective of people workin...

Objective: Theory and clinical literature suggest that pride may play an important role in the maintenance of restrictive eating disorders. A grounded theory study explored experiences of, and reflections on, pride among women with a current or past diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. Design: This is a qualitative study using grounded theory. Method...

Aim To explore healthcare professionals' views of measuring compassionate care. Method As part of a grounded theory study participants, who were healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with type 2 diabetes, were invited to discuss the topic of compassionate care measurement through semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Resu...

Aim To explore activities, interactions and behaviours during the first appointment in adult care for young people with cystic fibrosis. Method Observational data were collected at 12 first appointments. Framework analysis was applied to written field notes. Findings Interaction enablers and interaction barriers were identified in the data. Practit...

Key practitioner message: The PEP-S is a valid, reliable, quick and easy to administer self-report questionnaire that measures pride related to eating pathology. The PEP-S assesses four clinically relevant dimensions: (1) pride in weight loss, food control and thinness, (2) pride in healthy weight and healthy eating, (3) pride in outperforming oth...

Cleft lip and palate are among the most common congenital malformations, with an incidence of around 1 in 700. Cleft palate (CP) results in impaired Eustachian tube function, and 90% of children with CP have otitis media with effusion (OME) histories. There are several approaches to management, including watchful waiting, the provision of hearing a...

To explore the experiences of parents whose child received a late diagnosis of cleft palate (>24 hr after birth). Parents of 17 children and three nurses specialised in cleft care (specialist nurses) took part in a qualitative, semi-structured interview. Framework analysis was applied to data. Loss and rebuilding was an overarching concept-from the...

Approximately 75% of children with cleft palate (CP) have Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) histories. Evidence for the effective management of OME in these children is lacking. The inconsistency in outcome measurement in previous studies has led to a call for the development of a Core Outcome Set (COS). Despite the increase in the number of publish...

Background There is currently a growing emphasis in primary care on upscaling the provision of evidence-based services for specific conditions, such as heart failure (HF), which have traditionally been seen as part of a specialist’s domain. While contextual challenges associated with improvement in primary care have been documented previously, we s...

No gold standard method currently exists for the development of a core outcome set (COS) although key issues to consider have been identified [1]. Methodologi-cal decisions in the design of a project to develop a COS for otitis media with effusion (OME) in children with cleft palate (CP) will be explained. Stakeholder groups Clinicians involved in...

Objective: To explore the views of children with cleft palate and their parents about daily life with otitis media with effusion and associated hearing loss. Design: A qualitative study. Semistructured interviews were used to collect data from parents. Participatory techniques, including activities on a tablet computer, were used to collect data...

Purpose: There is a paucity of evidence to guide the treatment of Otitis Media with Effusion (OME), which is a common problem causing hearing impairment in children with Cleft Palate (CP). The surgical insertion of grommets is being used as a means of correcting hearing impairment and preventing complications of untreated OME, but there remains act...

AimsTo demonstrate Framework Analysis using a worked example and to illustrate how criticisms of qualitative data analysis including issues of clarity and transparency can be addressed. Background Critics of the analysis of qualitative data sometimes cite lack of clarity and transparency about analytical procedures; this can deter nurse researchers...

Background Cleft palate (CP) has an incidence of approximately 1 in 700. Children with CP are also susceptible to otitis media with effusion (OME), with approximately 90% experiencing nontrivial OME. There are several approaches to the management of OME in children with CP. The Management of Otitis Media with Effusion in Children with Cleft Palate...

Objective: pregnancy is a life-stage during which women undergo significant changes to their body and can feel acute responsibility for the development and well-being of the fetus. A synthesis of qualitative studies was conducted to increase our understanding of pregnancy experiences among women with an eating disorder. Design: a systematic sear...

In the case of eating disorders (EDs) like anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN), collecting information from people with experience of such conditions and those caring for them can make a valuable contribution to service development and be used to identify factors to increase engagement with therapy. Reading accounts from people with an E...

Objective To explore the experiences of children and young people with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) in relation to being treated for and living with this condition. Design A systematic review of qualitative research. Electronic databases and hand-searching were employed to identify relevant studies. The review centered on studies examining the v...

BACKGROUND: People with non-ST-segment acute coronary syndrome (NSTACS) need to receive appropriate evidence-based therapies to optimise outcomes. Nurses could play an integral part in ensuring appropriate care. AIMS: An integrative literature review was prepared to evaluate the role nurses undertake during the acute phase in identifying, risk stra...

BACKGROUND: Moving to adult care can be challenging for adolescents with a long-term condition; if not managed well it may result in non-adherence, failure to attend appointments and a decline in health post-transfer. Life expectancy for those with cystic fibrosis has improved considerably in recent decades. This patient group was selected as an ex...

Individuals of South Asian descent have a high prevalence of comorbidities that are risk factors for the development of heart failure (HF), including diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. However, little is known about the prevalence of HF, its management and prognosis for this population compared to Caucasians. Therefore, a literature review r...

The practical management of heart failure remains a challenge. Not only are heart failure patients expected to adhere to a complicated pharmacological regimen, they are also asked to follow salt and fluid restriction, and to cope with various procedures and devices. Furthermore, physical training, whose benefits have been demonstrated, is highly re...

A slight frame and poor appetite are common among patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) yet healthy body weight has been related to a better prognosis. A review of studies exploring body image (BI) among adults and adolescents with CF was conducted. Seven electronic databases were searched for potential papers. They located 128 references, of which 24...

Physical activity is recommended for people with stable heart failure (HF), because it is known to improve quality of life and health outcomes. However, adherence to this recommendation has been poor in many studies. A systematic review was conducted to examine the effectiveness of strategies used to promote exercise adherence in those with HF. The...

Keeping physically active has been shown to bring positive outcomes for patients diagnosed with heart failure (HF). However, a number of individuals with this health problem do not undertake regular exercise. A review of extant qualitative research was conducted to explore what it can tell us about barriers and enablers to physical activity among p...

Research has highlighted the benefits of physical activity for people with stable heart failure in improving morbidity and quality of life. However, adherence to exercise among this patient group is low. Barriers and enablers to sustained physical activity for individuals with heart failure have been little investigated. To explore reasons why peop...

People living with anorexia nervosa (AN) often report experiencing an inner voice that dominates their thinking and behaviour, and prevents them from progressing towards recovery. Little systematic investigation has been made of this entity. A qualitative study was conducted to explore people's experiences of living with an 'anorexic' voice. Data w...

During pregnancy, the eating behaviour and body of childbearing women can become open to public scrutiny. It is important to gather the views of those who are pregnant and have an eating/weight issue to ensure that maternity services meet their needs and to reduce any stress and discomfort they may endure. However, prompting women to engage in rese...

Discharge preparation is a multiprofessional activity that is not always conducted efficiently. Perspectives of staff provide an insight into challenges and solutions for this organizational process. The study aimed to examine current discharge practice in one hospital and to compare perceptions of this activity between healthcare workers from diff...

Sputum specimens are frequently requested from individuals with chronic suppurative conditions such as cystic fibrosis (CF). For a proportion of people, expectorating sputum can be difficult. Our goal was to explore the potential barriers and facilitators to expectorating sputum from the perspective of those with CF and physiotherapists involved in...

A factor said to drive the behaviours of people with the eating disorder anorexia nervosa is the inner voice some recount hearing. However, little systematic examination has been made of this entity. The study aimed to investigate experiences of and reflections on living with an anorexic voice. A qualitative approach was used because the study soug...

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are asked to provide a sputum sample at clinic to test for potentially harmful pathogens. However, some appear to struggle with this request. Research into the difficulties experienced by these patients is lacking. This study set out to explore this issue in depth, using a qualitative research approach. Semi-struc...

To explore the attitudes and practices of hospital-based healthcare professionals toward people with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) exhibiting disturbed eating or weight control. Eating disturbances and insulin manipulation are common among individuals with T1DM, although little is known about how these behaviors are assessed and managed in practi...

To understand the perspective of hospital-based health professionals with regard to preparing patients for discharge from an acute hospital in England. The hospital experience in England over recent years is characterised by increasing admission rates and decreasing length of stay. Legislation and policy initiatives have also focussed upon the need...

To compare patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) or cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) on frequency and severity of symptoms suggestive of hypoglycaemia and diabetes-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This was a cross-sectional comparison study. Participants with T1DM or CFRD completed a questionnaire that assessed sympto...

Anorexia nervosa (AN) can be an enduring condition. Increasing interest in the treatment of long-term cases has occurred over the recent years. This study explored healthcare practitioners' views of what constitutes a case of chronic AN and their opinions of its treatment. A Delphi study was conducted, involving members of specialist groups for pro...

Anorexia nervosa is a mental health problem that can seriously impede the physical, social, and psychological functioning of those who develop it. Unfortunately, outcome for this patient group, even after treatment, is not necessarily promising. To explore the views of young people about being treated for anorexia. Qualitative interviews were cond...

To explore patients' responses to developing and managing cystic fibrosis-related diabetes and to contrast their views with those of individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The incidence of diabetes among people with cystic fibrosis has increased with improvement in life expectancy. However, little is known about how patients respond to and mana...

Control is a major topic associated with the management of diabetes due to the importance placed on maintaining healthy blood glucose levels in this condition. Such an outcome can be influenced by individuals' sense of mastery over the disease, and more generally over their environment. In response to a diagnosis of diabetes, the self-management re...

Recent advances in communication have enabled an underground interest group, unrestricted by geographic boarders, to evolve. The so-called pro-anorexia movement has a particular presence in the form of Internet discussion boards. This paper examines the potential impact of such online activity for those visiting these resources, for practitioners w...

This article reports on a series of interviews held with individuals in the middle of a Foundation Degree, during which they were asked for their views of studying for this qualification. It draws on a research project conducted with part-time students involved in work-based learning. The research into their ‘learning journeys’ aimed to explore the...

Semi-structured, qualitative interviews with parents of young people treated for anorexia nervosa were conducted to find out their views in relation to treatment received by their children. Parents recalled how they had to adopt a proactive stance in order to ensure that their daughters received appropriate services. They had mixed opinions about t...

To determine the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for adolescents with AN. An extensive and systematic literature search was conducted for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) addressing the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for teenagers (11-18 years) with AN. Eight RCTs were located meeting the review's inclusion criteria, the...

English Despite growing awareness of and enthusiasm for evidence-based practice (EBP) among front-line social care staff employed by member agencies of the Centre for Evidence-based Social Services, using evidence in practice is a demanding task. This article highlights some of the challenges to evidence-based practice experienced by those involved...

This article debates the merits of an evidence-based approach to the management of anorexia nervosa, addressing arguments as to why such a professional endeavor is important, as well as examining current hurdles to its realization. Obstacles to evidence-based practice in this field include the quality of research, as well as barriers produced by pr...

Since its evolution in the 1960s the social model of disability, forged as an alternative to the medical model, has become increasingly established and influential. Consequently, supporters of this way of thinking have felt able to criticise it. Anorexia, not generally included in Disability Studies, will be used below to address perceived flaws in...

Most people would not ordinarily regard anorexia as a disability, exposing the narrow social understanding of the latter term, although for certain bureaucratic purposes, like claiming Disability Living Allowance, anorexia is demarcated thus. The oppression faced by people labelled 'anorexic' mirrors that which theorists suggest disadvantages disab...