Research in this area focuses on understanding the psychosocial and emotional dimensions and predictors of both physical health and mental wellbeing, including quality of life research.
Research activity in this group focuses on understanding the psychosocial and emotional dimensions and predictors of both physical health and mental wellbeing. An established strand of research is that of psychosocial oncology, led by the work of a registered Health Psychologist (Dr Ceri Phelps) but also including funded PhD research (Zoe Cooke). Phelps’ work demonstrates a strong commitment to multidisciplinary research and external collaborations with both NHS and third sector organisations, linked to early intervention development and evaluation studies and NHS service evaluation projects.
A programme of research funded by Tenovus Cancer Care (since 2010) has involved the development and evaluation of a range of unique interventions designed to provide psychosocial support to individuals affected by cancer. This includes ecotherapy and online counselling interventions and is supported through multidisciplinary research teams including counsellors, computer games development academics, and NHS collaborators. This research group has increasingly worked with vulnerable populations and patient groups as co-researchers and co-designers with recent research funding from Tenovus (delayed due to COVID) enabling a methodologically ambitious project bringing patients and health professionals together to identify improved communication pathways to support individuals living with incurable cancer.
This group has a track record of NHS service evaluation research and is currently engaged in service evaluation research with local NHS partner Hywel Dda University Health Board. This research includes a five-year audit of client satisfaction and outcomes within their Staff Psychological Wellbeing Service (SPWBS), alongside research exploring barriers to accessing the SPWBS amongst staff across the health board region. Phelps is also part of a recently funded (2021) Welsh Health Hack research project with NHS collaborators, this exploring the use of a chatbot to signpost NHS staff across Wales to appropriate sources of psychological support.
The work of Rodriguez-Morales involves local and global research collaboration in areas linked to recovery from addiction, eating behaviour, and health and spiritualism. In addition, a recent collaboration with the Norwegian School of Sports Science, Oslo and the Wales Academy for Heath and Physical Literacy (UWTSD) is developing areas of research that crosses traditional academic boundaries. Greenway’s research with steroid users has also involved external collaboration with businesses and health providers around Wales.
Staff working in this are
- Dr Ceri Phelps (Research Group Leader)
- Dr Lymarie Rodriguez-Morales
- Dr Stuart Jones
Research Group Current Projects
- Psychosocial oncology relating to secondary breast cancer
- NHS Staff Wellbeing
- Online Cancer Toolkit Evaluation
- Nature Therapy
- Sports Injury Rehabilitation
- Covid-19 Stress and Mental Health
Outputs from previous projects
- Experiences of women diagnosed with secondary breast cancer
- Pharmacy-led health improvement: Skin cancer campaign
- Ecotherapy-based intervention for women affected by breast cancer
- Development of online intervention for young people affected by cancer (C:EVOLVE)
- Recovery in Twelve Step Fellowships
- Early recovery in Twelve Step Fellowships
- Addiction recovery
- Alcoholics anonymous, recovery and care of the self
