Staff Profile

I am a mixed-methods researcher with a strong qualitative background working across a number of roles:

In the NIHR Innovation Observatory I lead a programme of work which focuses on identifying and understanding unmet healthcare need using qualitative methods.  

I am a Research Fellow in the NIHR North East and North Cumbria Applied Research Collaboration role in which my focus is on conducting and supporting research and implementation in local health and care settings.

In my NIHR Research Support Service Methodologist role, I support researchers in the development, design and delivery of health and care research.

The NIHR Innovation Observatory is a world leading health and care innovation scanning centre providing data-driven insights to foster innovation and equitable access to high quality care. We aim to transform health systems and improve population health by providing advanced data-driven insights that foster innovation and equitable access to high quality care. At the core of our work is the development of data-driven methods to identify, capture and synthesise intelligence on new health innovations. We develop and share cutting edge methods in horizon scanning, building capacity in the systems across the public, voluntary and industry sectors. We deliver essential intelligence and insights about medicines and MedTech innovation to the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE), NHS England, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the NIHR, the UK Health Security Agency, the Department for Health and Social Care and industry - allowing these organisations to prepare for policies, regulation and frontline delivery for new, emerging and disruptive technologies.

Qualifications

• 2014 PhD (Health Studies) Universities of Plymouth and Exeter "Factors affecting the development of an evidence-based information service in a third sector provider of complementary cancer care"
• 2006 BSc (Hons) Complementary Medicine & Health Sciences, Salford University

Previous Positions

• 2010-2012 Senior Research Assistant, University of Southampton
• 2009-2010 Research Assistant, Plymouth University
• 2007-2009 KTP Associate, Penny Brohn Cancer Care, Bristol
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Areas of expertise

• Qualitative Methods
• Long term health conditions
• Health economics

Google Scholar: Click here.

SCOPUS: Click here.

I run 'An Introduction to NVivo' course for postgraduate students from the Faculty of Medical Sciences and the Faculty of Science, Agriculture & Engineering.

I have co-developed and delivered 'De-mystifying Research and Evaluation'; a half-day course aimed at supporting health and care professionals to start to consider how research may be relevant to their role.

I recently co-developed and delivered a two-day Qualitative Research Methods course which we delivered to researchers and healthcare professionals in Ghana and Kenya. This was part of a NIHR Global Health project.

I supervise dissertations across a number of BSc and MSc/MRes courses and currently supervise three PhD students.

• Articles

  • Bowes C, Breckons M, Holmes RD, Durham J, Bareham BK. Barriers to Accessing Primary Dental Care in Adults with Alcohol Dependence: A Qualitative Study. JDR Clinical & Translational Research 2024, 9(4), 325-336.
  • Walker R, Fothergill-Misbah N, Kariuki S, Ojo O, Cilia R, Dekker MCJ, Agabi O, Akpalu A, Amod F, Breckons M, Cham M, Del Din S, Dotchin C, Guggsa S, Kwasa S, Mushi D, Nwaokorie FO, Park T, Rochester L, Rogathi J, Sarfo FS, Shalash A, Ternent L, Urasa S, Okubadejo N. Transforming Parkinson's Care in Africa (TraPCAf): Protocol for a multimethodology National Institute for Health and Care Research Global Health Research Group project. BMC Neurology 2023, 23, 373.
  • Edwards D, Rasaiah S, Ahmed S, Breckons M, Stone SJ, Currie CC, Durham J, Whitworth J. The financial and quality of life impact of urgent dental presentations: A cross-sectional study. International Endodontic Journal 2023, 56(6), 697-709.
  • Walker J, Dotchin C, Breckons M, Fisher E, Lyimo G, Mkenda S, Walker R, Urasa S, Rogathi J, Spector A. Patient and caregiver experiences of living with dementia in Tanzania. Dementia 2023, 22(8), 1900-1920.
  • Breckons M, Thorne S, Walsh R, Bhopal S, Owens S, Rankin J. Parental perspectives on emergency health service use during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom: A qualitative study. PLoS ONE 2023, 18(5), e0285375.
  • MacGregor F, Breckons M, Swainston K. Organisational barriers and facilitators to the implementation of best practice within paediatric forensic radiographic practice - A scoping review. Radiography 2023, 30(1), 43-51.
  • Al-Sultani HFF, Breckons M, Field J, Thomason JM, Moynihan P. Development of patient-centric eating advice for complete denture wearers. Gerodontology 2023, 40(1), 56-73.
  • Durham J, Breckons M, Vale L, Shen J. DEEP Study: Modeling Outcomes and Costs of Persistent Orofacial Pain. JDR Clinical & Translational Research 2023, 8(1), 16-26.
  • Durham J, Breckons M, Vale L, Shen J. DEEP Study: Modeling Outcomes and Costs of Persistent Orofacial Pain. Journal of Dental Research Clinical and translational research (JDR-CTR) 2023, 8(1), 16-26.
  • Bigirumurame T, Hiu SKW, Teare MD, Wason JMS, Bryant A, Breckons M. Current practices in studies applying the target trial emulation framework: a protocol for a systematic review. BMJ Open 2023, 13(6), e070963.
  • Lewis EG, Breckons M, Lee RP, Dotchin C, Walker R. Rationing care by frailty during the COVID-19 pandemic. Age and Ageing 2021, 50(1), 7-10.
  • Brocklehurst P, Hoare Z, Woods C, Williams L, Brand A, Shen J, Breckons M, Ashley J, Jenkins A, Gough L, Preshaw P, Burton C, Shepherd K, Bhattarai N. Dental therapists compared with general dental practitioners for undertaking check-ups in low-risk patients: pilot RCT with realist evaluation. Health Services and Delivery Research 2021, 9(3).
  • Cullen I, Shaban F, Ali O, Breckons M, Chilonga K, Wapalila D, Suleilman J, Elinisa M, Woodburn B, Walker R, Horgan L. Day case laparoscopic cholecystectomy at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre, Tanzania. Surgical Endoscopy 2021, 35, 4259-4265.
  • Goulao B, Carnell S, Shen J, MacLennan G, Norrie J, Cook J, McColl E, Breckons M, Vale L, Whybrow P, Rapley T, Forbes R, Currer S, Forrest M, Wilkinson J, Andrich D, Barclay S, Mundy A, N'Dow J, Payne S, Watkin N, Pickard R. Surgical Treatment for Recurrent Bulbar Urethral Stricture: A Randomised Open-label Superiority Trial of Open Urethroplasty Versus Endoscopic Urethrotomy (the OPEN Trial). European Urology 2020, 78(4), 572-580.
  • Pickard R, Goulao B, Carnell S, Shen J, Maclennan G, Norrie J, Breckons M, Vale L, Whybrow P, Rapley T, Forbes R, Currer S, Forrest M, Wilkinson J, McColl E, Andrich D, Barclay S, Cook J, Mundy A, N'Dow J, Payne S, Watkin N. Open urethroplasty versus endoscopic urethrotomy for recurrent urethral stricture in men: The open rct. Health Technology Assessment 2020, 24(61), 1-110.
  • McSweeney L, Breckons M, Fattakhova G, Oluboyede Y, Vale L, Ternent L, Balp MM, Doward L, Brass CA, Beyer F, Sanyal A, Anstee QM. Health-Related Quality of Life and Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in NASH-related Cirrhosis. JHEP Reports 2020, 2(3), 100099.
  • Flynn D, Moloney E, Bhattarai N, Scott J, Breckons M, Avery L, Moy N. COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Health Policy and Technology 2020, 9(4), 673-691.
  • Sharma S, Breckons M, Brönnimann Lambelet B, Chung JW, List T, Lobbezoo F, Nixdorf DR, Oyarzo JF, Peck C, Tsukiyama Y, Ohrbach R. Challenges in the Clinical Implementation of a Biopsychosocial Model for Assessment and Management of Orofacial Pain. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation 2020, 47(1), 87-100.
  • Shen J, Breckons M, Vale L, Pickard R, OPEN Trial Investigators The. Using Time Trade-Off Methods to Elicit Short-Term Utilities Associated with Treatments for Bulbar Urethral Stricture. PharmacoEconomics - Open 2019, 3, 551–558.
  • Potthoff S, Presseau J, Sniehotta FF, Breckons M, Rylance A, Avery L. Exploring the role of competing demands and routines during the implementation of a self-management tool for type 2 diabetes: a theory-based qualitative interview study. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 2019, 19(1), 23.
  • Shen J, Hill S, Mott D, Breckons M, Vale L, Pickard R. Conducting a Time Trade-Off Study Alongside a Clinical Trial: A Case Study and Recommendations. PharmacoEconomics - Open 2019, 3(1), 5-20.
  • Lynch E, McGovern R, Elzerbi C, Breckons M, Deluca P, Drummond C, Alam MF, Boniface S, Coulton S, Gilvarry E, McArdle P, Patton R, Russell I, Strang J, Kaner E. Adolescent perspectives about their participation in alcohol intervention research in emergency care: A qualitative exploration using ethical principles as an analytical framework. PLoS One 2019, 14(6).
  • Patterson JM, Exley C, McColl E, Breckons M, Deary V. Feasibility and acceptability of combining cognitive behavioural therapy techniques with swallowing therapy in head and neck cancer dysphagia. BMC Cancer 2018, 18, 1.
  • Breckons M, Shen J, Vale L, Durham J. DEEP Study: Indirect and out-of-pocket costs of Persistent Orofacial Pain. Journal of Dental Research 2018, 97(11), 1200-1206.
  • Breckons M, Bissett S, Exley C, Araujo-Soares V, Durham J. Care Pathways in Persistent Orofacial Pain: Qualitative Evidence from the DEEP Study. Journal of Dental Research Clinical and Translational Research 2017, 2(1), 48-57.
  • Durham J, Al-Baghdadi M, Baad-Hansen L, Breckons M, Goulet JP, Lobbezoo F, List T, Michelotti A, Nixdorf DR, Peck CC, Raphael K, Schiffman E, Steele JG, Story W, Ohrbach R. Self-management programmes in TMD: results from an international Delphi process. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation 2016, 43(12), 929-936.
  • Durham J, Shen J, Breckons M, Steele JG, Araujo-Soares V, Exley C, Vale L. Healthcare Cost and Impact of Persistent Orofacial Pain: The DEEP Study Cohort. Journal of Dental Research 2016, 95(10), 1147-1154.
  • Foster C, Grimmett C, May CM, Ewings S, Myall M, Hulme C, Smith PW, Powers C, Calman L, Armes J, Breckons M, Corner J, Fenlon D, Batehup L, Lennan E, May CR, Morris C, Neylon A, Ream E, Turner L, Yardley L, Richardson A. A web-based intervention (RESTORE) to support self-management of cancer-related fatigue following primary cancer treatment: a multi-centre proof of concept randomised controlled trial. Supportive Care in Cancer 2016, 24(6), 2445-2453.
  • Parsons CF, Breckons M, Durham J. Twitter: a viable medium for daily pain diaries in chronic orofacial pain?. British Dental Journal 2015, 219(2), 75-78.
  • Foster C, Calman L, Grimmett C, Breckons M, Cotterell P, Yardley L, Joseph J, Hughes S, Jones R, Leonidou C, Armes L, Batehup L, Corner J, Fenlon D, Lennan E, Morris C, Neylon A, Ream E, Turner L, Richardson A. Managing fatigue after cancer treatment: development of RESTORE, a web-based resource to support self-management. Psycho-Oncology 2015, 24(8), 940-949.
  • Durham J, Steele JG, Breckons M, Story W, Vale L. DEEP Study: does EQ-5D-5L measure the impacts of persistent oro-facial pain?. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation 2015, 42(9), 643-650.
  • Heasman PA, Macpherson LE, Haining SA, Breckons M. Clinical research in primary dental care. British Dental Journal 2015, 219(4), 159-163.
  • Foster C, Breckons M, Cotterell P, Barbosa D, Calman L, Corner J, Fenlon D, Foster R, Grimmett C, Richardson A, Smith PW. Cancer survivors' self-efficacy to self-manage in the year following primary treatment. Journal of Cancer Survivorship 2015, 9(1), 11-19.
  • Molassiotis A, Russell W, Hughes J, Breckons M, Lloyd-Williams M, Richardson J, Hulme C, Brearley SG, Campbell M, Garrow A, Ryder WD. The Effectiveness of Acupressure for the Control and Management of Chemotherapy-Related Acute and Delayed Nausea: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 2014, 47(1), 12-25.
  • Durham J, Breckons M, Araujo-Soares V, Exley C, Steele J, Vale L. Developing Effective and Efficient care pathways in chronic Pain: DEEP study protocol. BMC Oral Health 2014, 14, 6.
  • Hughes JG, Russell W, Breckons M, Richardson J, Lloyd-Williams M, Molassiotis A. "I assumed that one was a placebo": Exploring the consent process in a sham controlled acupressure trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2014, 22(5), 903-908.
  • Molassiotis A, Russell W, Hughes J, Breckons M, Lloyd-Williams M, Richardson J, Hulme A, Brearley S, Campbell M, Garrow A, Ryder D. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of acupressure for the control and management of chemotherapy-related acute and delayed nausea: assessment of Nausea in Chemotherapy Research (ANCHoR), a randomised controlled trial. Health Technology Assessment 2013, 17(26), 1-114.
  • Grimmett C, Armes J, Breckons M, Calman L, Corner J, Fenlon D, Hulme C, May CM, May CR, Ream E, Richardson A, Smith PWF, Yardley L, Foster C. RESTORE: an exploratory trial of an online intervention to enhance self-efficacy to manage problems associated with cancer-related fatigue following primary cancer treatment: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 2013, 14(184), 1-8.
  • Fenlon D, Seymour KC, Okamoto I, Winter J, Richardson A, Addington-Hall J, Corner JL, Smith PW, May CM, Breckons M, Foster C. Lessons learnt recruiting to a multi-site UK cohort study to explore recovery of health and well-being after colorectal cancer (CREW study). BMC Medical Research Methodology 2013, 13, 153.
  • Hughes JG, Russell W, Breckons M, Richardson J, Lloyd-Williams M, Molassiotis A. "Until the trial is complete you can't really say whether it helped you or not, can you?": exploring cancer patients' perceptions of taking part in a trial of acupressure wristbands. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013, 13(1), 260.
  • Breckons M, Jones R, Morris J, Richardson J. Best paper selection. What do evaluation instruments tell us about the quality of complementary medicine information on the internet?. Yearbook of Medical Informatics 2009, 1, 110-111.
  • Breckons M, Jones R, Morris J, Richardson J. What do evaluation instruments tell us about the quality of complementary medicine information on the internet?. Journal of Medical Internet Research 2008, 10.
  • Mackereth P, Campbell G, Maycock P, Hennings J, Breckons M. Chair massage for patients and carers: a pilot service in an outpatient setting of a cancer care hospital. Complementary therapies in clinical practice 2008, 14, 136-142.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • MacGregor F, Breckons M, Swainston K. Organisational Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation of Best Practice within Forensic Radiographic Practice. In: The Society of Radiographers of South Africa (SORSA) Congress (SORSA 2023). 2023, Cape Town, South Africa: SORSA.
  • MacGregor F, Breckons M, Swainston K. A Scoping Review of Organisational Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of Best Practice within Forensic Radiographic Practice. In: The Society of Radiographers of South Africa (SORSA) Congress (SORSA 2023). 2023, Cape Town, South Africa: SORSA.
  • Breckons M, Doward L, Magdalena Balp M, Twiss J, Oluboyede Y, Vale L, Ternent L, Brass C, Sanyal A, Anstee Q. Evaluating the patient-perceived impact of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with compensated cirrhosis. In: The Digital International Liver Congress. 2020, Online: EASL.
  • Polthoff S, Presseau J, Sniehotta F, Breckons M, Rylance A, Avery L. The impact of dual processes and competing goals on health professionals' uptake of a new information prescription for diabetes. In: International Congress of Behavioral Medicine. 2016, Melbourne, Australia: Springer.
  • Foster C, Grimmett C, May CM, Ewings S, Myall M, Hulme C, Smith P, Powers C, Calman L, Armes J, Breckons M, Corner J, Fenlon D, Lennan E, May CR, Morris C, Ream E, Turner L, Yardley L, Richardson A. RESTORE: Testing Feasibility and Acceptability of an Online Intervention to Support Self-management of Cancer-related Fatigue in a Multi-centre Proof of Concept Randomised Controlled Trial. In: IPOS 16th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology and Psychosocial Academy. 2014, Lisbon, Portugal: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
  • Hankins M, Foster C, Hulbert-Williams N, Breckons M. The Brief COPE in cancer research. In: British Psychosocial Oncology 2013 Conference. 2013, Southampton, UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
  • Foster C, Grimmett C, May C, Calman L, Yardley L, Richardson A, Smith P, Breckons M, Fenlon D, Armes J, Corner J, Hulme C, May C, Ream E. RESTORE: An Online Intervention to Enhance Self-Efficacy to Self Manage Cancer RelatedFatigue Following Treatment. In: 15th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology. 2013, Rotterdam, The Netherlands: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
  • Grimmett C, Breckons M, Calman L, Corner J, Fenlon D, Richardson A, Smith P, Yardley L, Team Design, Foster C. RESTORE: A web-based intervention to supportself-management of cancer related fatigue followingprimary cancer treatment. In: British Psychosocial Oncology Society Conference. 2013, Southampton, UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
  • Foster C, Breckons M, Hankins M, Fenlon D, Cotterell P. Developing a scale to measure self-efficacy to SELF-manage problems following cancer treatment. In: British Psychosocial Oncology 2013 Conference. 2013, Southampton, UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
  • Breckons M, Cotterell P, Fenlon D, Foster C. Using an Online Survey to Examine Cancer Survivors' Confidence to Self-Manage Problems Arising from Primary Cancer and Its Treatment. In: British Psychosocial 2012 Conference. 2012, Leeds, UK: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
  • Hughes J, Molassiotis A, Russell W, Breckons M, Lloyd-Williams M, Richardson J. The effectiveness and cost effectivenessof acupressure for chemotherapy-related nausea. In: International Research Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health 2012. 2012, Portland, Oregon, USA: BioMed Central Ltd.
  • Foster C, Cotterell P, Breckons M, Fenlon D. Cancer Survivors' Self-Efficacy to Self-Manage Problems Arising from Primary Cancer and its Treatment: Results of an Online Survey. In: Joint Meeting of the COSA 39th Annual Scientific Meeting and IPOS 14th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology. 2012, Brisbane, Australia: Wiley.

• Online Publication

  • Breckons M. Development of an evidence based information resource on complementary therapies and cancer. University of Plymouth, 2008. Available at: http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/files/extranet/docs/DFB/KTP%20Seminar%20Proceedings%202008v2.pdf#page=5.

• Reviews

  • Lewis EG, Rogathi J, Kissima J, Breckons M, Lee R, Urasa S. A cross-cultural investigation of the conceptualisation of frailty in northern Tanzania. Ageing & Society 2023, 43(1), 127-160.
  • Porter GJ, Owens S, Breckons M. A systematic review of qualitative literature on antimicrobial stewardship in Sub-Saharan Africa. Global Health Research and Policy 2021, 6, 31.