Dr Rhiannon Phillips
Research Fellow
- phillipsr19@cardiff.ac.uk
- Neuadd Meirionnydd
- Welsh speaking
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Overview
I'm a Health Psychologist with an interest in a variety of approaches that aim to build confidence and resilience, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, psycho-education, and self-management techniques. I work across a range of clinical areas, including infections, long-term conditions, women's reproductive health, and child health.
Research Interests
- Women's reproductive health and child health
- Infections, musculoskeletal conditions, and mental health
- Patient-centred care and shared decision-making
- Development and evaluation of complex interventions
- Health behaviour change
Current Projects
- Starting a family when you have inflammatory arthritis: can a co-production approach to creating pre-conception health improve the sustainability of NHS services? Funding: Health and Care Research Wales Health Studentship Award.
- Improving the health and quality of life of women with Rheumatic Diseases during family planning, pregnancy and early parenting: women and health professionals’ perspectives on needs and priorities. Funding: Wellcome Trust ISSF Cross-disciplinary Award.
- Wales Centre for Primary and Emergency Care Research (PRIME Centre Wales). Funding: Health and Care Research Wales Centre Grant 2015-2020.
- A novel peer-support intervention using Motivational Interviewing for breastfeeding maintenance: a UK feasibility study . Funding: NIHR HTA (13/18/05).
- Primary care use of a C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Point of Care Test (POCT) to help target antibiotic prescribing to patients with Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD) who are most likely to benefit (The PACE Study). Funding: NIHR HTA (12/33/12).
Biography
Education and Qualifications
- 1999 BSc (1st Class Hons.), Psychology, University of Wales Swansea
- 2004 PhD, School of Medicine, University of Leeds
Career Overview
- 2013-present: Research Fellow, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
- 2012-2013: Senior Health Promotion Practitioner, Public Health Wales
- 2008-2012: Trial Manager/Research Fellow, University of Bath
- 2006-2008: Project Manager, part-time secondment to the Wales Centre for Health
- 2005-2008: Research Fellow, School of Psychology, Cardiff University
- 2004-2005: Research Associate, School of Psychology, Cardiff University
Honours and awards
Cardiff University Medic Star Awards (2017), PRIME Centre Wales - research team of the year winners
Health and Care Research Wales (2017), STAR Family Study - Patient and Public Involvement award finalists
Cardiff University Medic Star Awards (2016), PRIME Centre Wales - research team of the year finalists
Professional memberships
- Chartered Psychologist (Health Psychology), British Psychological Society (BPS)
- Registered Practitioner Psychologist, Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Academic positions
- 2013-present: Research Fellow, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
- 2008-2012: Trial Manager/Research Fellow, University of Bath
- 2005-2008: Research Fellow, School of Psychology, Cardiff University
- 2004-2005: Research Associate, School of Psychology, Cardiff University
- 2000-2003: Teaching Assistant, University of Leeds
- 1999-2000: Research Assistant, School of Psychology, Cardiff University
Speaking engagements
2017: Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, Cardiff. Information and support needs of women with Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases during family planning, pregnancy and early parenting.
2017: Public Engagement event at the National Eisteddfod in Angelsey. Digwyddiad i'r Cyhoedd yn yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn Ynys Môn. Micro-organisms - the good, the bad, and the ugly! Micro-organebau: Y da, y drwg, a'r hyll!
2017: STAR Family Stakeholder Event, Park Plaza, Cardiff. Improving care and support for women with musculoskeletal conditions during pregnancy plannng, pregnancy and early parenting.
2016: Health Care Quality Research Group Meeting, Cardiff. The Journey to Parenthood for Women with Rheumatic Diseases.
2016: South West Society for Academic Primary Care Annual Conference, Cardiff. Qualitative process evaluation of the pilot phase of a randomised controlled trial of use of a C-reactive protein point of care test to help target antibiotic prescribing to patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary care (the PACE study).
2015: Health Care Quality Research Group Meeting, Cardiff. Health literacy based interventions for people with multi-morbidity.
2015: Stakeholder Engagement Event. Cardiff. Development of an MI based peer-support intervention for breastfeeding maintenance.
Committees and reviewing
- Comittees: PRIME Centre Wales Operational Group
- Grant reviewing: NIHR, RfPPB, and ESRC
- Peer-review for journals: NIHR Journals series, Patient Education and Counseling, Journal of Adolescence, Clinical Psychology Review, Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Publications
2023
- Pickles, T., Horton, M., Christensen, K. B., Phillips, R., Gillespie, D., Mo, N. and Choy, E. 2023. P035 Patient-reported outcome measures for rheumatoid arthritis disease activity: using Rasch measurement theory to achieve more meaningful measurement. Rheumatology 62(Supp 2) (10.1093/rheumatology/kead104.076)
2022
- Phillips, R. et al. 2022. Perceived threat of COVID-19, attitudes towards vaccination, and vaccine hesitancy: A prospective longitudinal study in the UK. British Journal of Health Psychology 27(4), pp. 1354-1381. (10.1111/bjhp.12606)
- Grant, A. et al. 2022. Views and experience of breastfeeding in public: A qualitative systematic review. Maternal and Child Nutrition 18(4), article number: e13407. (10.1111/mcn.13407)
2021
- Phillips, R. et al. 2021. Engaging and supporting women with chronic kidney disease with pre‐conception decision‐making (including their experiences during COVID 19): A mixed‐methods study protocol. Journal of Advanced Nursing 77(6), pp. 2887-2897. (10.1111/jan.14803)
- Esan, O. et al. 2021. Pregnancy and perinatal outcomes for women with Cystic Fibrosis: a UK population-based cross-sectional study, 2003-2017. Authorea (10.22541/au.162182734.44469184/v1)
2020
- Phillips, R. et al. 2020. C-Reactive Protein-guided antibiotic prescribing for COPD exacerbations: a qualitative evaluation. British Journal of General Practice 70(696), pp. e505-e523. (10.3399/bjgp20X709865)
- Young, C., Phillips, R., Ebenezer, L., Zutt, R. and Peall, K. 2020. Management of Parkinson’s Disease during pregnancy: literature review and multi-disciplinary input. Movement Disorders Clinical Practice 7(4), pp. 419-430. (10.1002/mdc3.12925)
- Francis, N. A. et al. 2020. C-reactive protein point-of-care testing for safely reducing antibiotics for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the PACE RCT. Health Technology Assessment 24, article number: 15. (10.3310/hta24150)
- Pell, B., Williams, D., Phillips, R., Sanders, J., Edwards, A., Choy, E. and Grant, A. 2020. Using visual timelines in telephone interviews: Reflections and lessons learned from the STAR Family Study. International Journal of Qualitative Methods 19, pp. 1-11. (10.1177/1609406920913675)
2019
- Copeland, L. et al. 2019. Feasibility and acceptability of a motivational interviewing breastfeeding peer support intervention. Maternal and Child Nutrition 15(2), article number: e12703. (10.1111/mcn.12703)
2018
- Phillips, R. et al. 2018. Identifying the unmet information and support needs of women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases during pregnancy planning, pregnancy and early parenting: mixed-methods study. BMC Rheumatology 2, article number: 21. (10.1186/s41927-018-0029-4)
- Phillips, R. et al. 2018. Reaching a consensus on research priorities for supporting women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases during pre-conception, pregnancy and early parenting: A Nominal Group Technique exercise with lay and professional stakeholders. Wellcome Open Research 3, article number: 75. (10.12688/wellcomeopenres.14658.1)
- Phillips, R. et al. 2018. Development of a novel motivational interviewing (MI) informed peer-support intervention to support mothers to breastfeed for longer. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth 18, article number: 90. (10.1186/s12884-018-1725-1)
- Grant, A. et al. 2018. Availability of breastfeeding peer-support in the UK: a cross-sectional survey. Maternal and Child Nutrition 14(1), article number: e12476. (10.1111/mcn.12476)
2017
- Paranjothy, S. et al. 2017. A novel peer-support intervention using motivational interviewing for breastfeeding maintenance: a UK feasibility study. Health Technology Assessment 21(77), pp. 1-138. (10.3310/hta21770)
- Bates, J. et al. 2017. General practitioner use of a C-reactive protein point-of-care test to help target antibiotic prescribing in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (the PACE study): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 18, article number: 422. (10.1186/s13063-017-2144-8)
- Grant, A., Williams, D., Pell, B., Stanton, H. and Phillips, R. 2017. The impact of inflammatory rheumatic diseases (such as arthritis and lupus) on transitions to motherhood: The STAR Family study. Presented at: British Sociological Association Annual Conference 2017, University of Manchester, UK, 4-7 April 2017.
2016
- Taylor, A. M. et al. 2016. Neural responses to a modified Stroop paradigm in patients with complex chronic musculoskeletal pain compared to matched controls: an experimental functional magnetic resonance imaging study. BMC Psychology 4(5), pp. 1-13. (10.1186/s40359-016-0109-4)
2015
- Stallard, P. et al. 2015. A cluster randomised controlled trial comparing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a school-based cognitive-behavioural therapy programme (FRIENDS) in the reduction of anxiety and improvement in mood in children aged 9/10 years. Public Health Research 3(14) (10.3310/phr03140)
- Taylor, A. M. et al. 2015. A functional magnetic resonance imaging study to investigate the utility of a picture imagination task in investigating neural responses in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain to daily physical activity photographs. PLoS ONE 10(10), article number: e0141133. (10.1371/journal.pone.0141133)
- Grant, A., Ashton, K. and Phillips, R. 2015. Foucault, surveillance, and carbon monoxide testing within stop-smoking services. Qualitative Health Research 25(7), pp. 912-922. (10.1177/1049732314553992)
- Stallard, P., Skryabina, E., Taylor, G., Phillips, R., Daniels, H., Anderson, R. and Simpson, N. 2015. Can school-based CBT programmes reduce anxiety in children? Results from the Preventing Anxiety in Children through Education in Schools (PACES) randomised controlled trial. European Psychiatry 30(S1), pp. 190., article number: 190. (10.1016/S0924-9338(15)30152-8)
2014
- Anderson, R. et al. 2014. Cost-effectiveness of classroom-based cognitive behaviour therapy in reducing symptoms of depression in adolescents: a trial-based analysis. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 55(12), pp. 1390-1397. (10.1111/jcpp.12248)
- Stallard, P., Skryabina, E., Taylor, G., Phillips, R., Daniels, H., Anderson, R. and Simpson, N. 2014. Classroom-based cognitive behaviour therapy (FRIENDS): a cluster randomised controlled trial to Prevent Anxiety in Children through Education in Schools (PACES). Lancet Psychiatry 1(3), pp. 185-192. (10.1016/S2215-0366(14)70244-5)
- Taylor, J. A., Phillips, R., Cook, E., Georgiou, L., Stallard, P. and Sayal, K. 2014. A qualitative process evaluation of classroom-based cognitive behaviour therapy to reduce adolescent depression. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 11(6), pp. 5951-5969. (10.3390/ijerph110605951)
- Stallard, P., Taylor, G., Anderson, R., Daniels, H., Simpson, N., Phillips, R. and Skryabina, E. 2014. The prevention of anxiety in children through school-based interventions: study protocol for a 24-month follow-up of the PACES project. Trials 15, article number: 77. (10.1186/1745-6215-15-77)
2013
- Stallard, P., Spears, M., Montgomery, A. A., Phillips, R. and Sayal, K. 2013. Self-harm in young adolescents (12-16 years): onset and short-term continuation in a community sample. BMC Psychiatry 13, article number: 328. (10.1186/1471-244X-13-328)
- Francis, N. A., Phillips, R., Wood, F. C., Hood, K., Simpson, S. A. and Butler, C. C. 2013. Parents' and clinicians' views of an interactive booklet about respiratory tract infections in children: a qualitative process evaluation of the EQUIP randomised controlled trial. BMC Family Practice 14(1), article number: 182. (10.1186/1471-2296-14-182)
- Phillips, R., Spears, M. R., Montgomery, A. A., Millings, A., Sayal, K. and Stallard, P. 2013. Could a brief assessment of negative emotions and self-esteem identify adolescents at current and future risk of self-harm in the community? A prospective cohort analysis. BMC Public Health 13, article number: 604. (10.1186/1471-2458-13-604)
- Stallard, P. and Buck, R. 2013. Preventing depression and promoting resilience: feasibility study of a school-based cognitive-behavioural intervention. British Journal of Psychiatry 202(s54), pp. s18. (10.1192/bjp.bp.112.119172)
2012
- Millings, A., Buck, R., Montgomery, A., Spears, M. and Stallard, P. 2012. School connectedness, peer attachment, and self-esteem as predictors of adolescent depression. Journal of Adolescence 35(4), pp. 1061-1067. (10.1016/j.adolescence.2012.02.015)
- Stallard, P. et al. 2012. Classroom based cognitive behavioural therapy in reducing symptoms of depression in high risk adolescents: pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ 345, article number: e6058. (10.1136/bmj.e6058)
2011
- Wynne-Jones, G., Buck, R., Varnava, A., Phillips, C. J. and Main, C. J. 2011. Impacts on work performance; what matters 6 months on?. Occupational Medicine 61(3), pp. 205-208. (10.1093/occmed/kqr005)
2010
- Stallard, P. et al. 2010. Protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a school based cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) intervention to prevent depression in high risk adolescents (PROMISE). Trials 11, article number: 114. (10.1186/1745-6215-11-114)
- Wynne-Jones, G., Buck, R., Porteous, C., Cooper, L., Button, L. A., Main, C. J. and Phillips, C. J. 2010. What happens to work if you're unwell? Beliefs and attitudes of managers and employees with musculoskeletal pain in a public sector setting. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation 21(1), pp. 31-42. (10.1007/s10926-010-9251-7)
- Buck, R., Barnes, M. C., Cohen, D. A. and Aylward, M. 2010. Common health problems, yellow flags and functioning in a community setting. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation 20(2), pp. 235-246. (10.1007/s10926-009-9228-6)
2009
- Wynne-Jones, G., Buck, R., Varnava, A., Phillips, C. and Main, C. J. 2009. Impacts on work absence and performance: what really matters?. Occupational Medicine 59(8), pp. 556-562. (10.1093/occmed/kqp125)
2008
- Buck, R. et al. 2008. Health and well-being in work in Merthyr Tydfil: a bio-psychosocial appraoch. Wellbeing in Work Stage 2 Final Report to the Wales Centre for Health and the Welsh Assembly Government. Project Report. Wellbeing in Work Partnership.
- Phillips, C., Main, C., Buck, R., Aylward, M., Wynne-Jones, G. and Farr, A. 2008. Prioritising pain in policy making: the need for a whole systems perspective. Health Policy 88(2-3), pp. 166-175. (10.1016/j.healthpol.2008.03.008)
2006
- Buck, R. and Morley, S. 2006. A daily process design study of attentional pain control strategies in the self-management of cancer pain. European Journal of Pain 10(5), pp. 385. (10.1016/j.ejpain.2005.04.001)
2004
- Buck, R. 2004. Naturally occurring attentional strategies in the self-management of cancer pain. PhD Thesis, University of Leeds.
Teaching
BSc and Masters supervision:
- Intercalated BSc 2017/2018 - early parenting support for women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases
- CURES 2018 - supporting women with long-term musculoskeletal conditions with choices about infant feeding
- SSC 2017 - perinatal mental health service evaluation
- CUROP 2016 - developing a health literacy-based intervention for people with multi-morbidity
PhD supervision:
- Gladys Makuta - Determining the feasibility of measuring bacterial load in exhaled breath of children with pneumonia and empyema using a novel point-of-care test
- Zoë Abbott - Starting a family when you have inflammatory arthritis: can a co-production approach to creating pre-conception health improve the sustainability of NHS services?
As a Health Psychologist, I am interested in how the way that people think and behave can influence their health and well-being. My research focuses on finding ways to help people avoid becoming unwell in the first place, and to have a better quality of life or recover more quickly when they do become unwell.
I am especially interested in women's reproductive health and child health. I also have a more general interest in improving the quality of patient care, including approaches that activate and engage with patients and carers to offer them more choice and control over their health and well-being.
Research Interests
- Women's reproductive health and child health
- Infections, musculoskeletal conditions, and mental health
- Patient-centred care and shared decision-making
- Development and evaluation of complex interventions
- Health behaviour change
Current Projects
- Starting a family when you have inflammatory arthritis: can a co-production approach to creating pre-conception health improve the sustainability of NHS services? Funding: Health and Care Research Wales Health Studentship Award.
- Improving the health and quality of life of women with Rheumatic Diseases during family planning, pregnancy and early parenting: women and health professionals’ perspectives on needs and priorities. Funding: Wellcome Trust ISSF Cross-disciplinary Award.
- Wales Centre for Primary and Emergency Care Research (PRIME Centre Wales). Funding: Health and Care Research Wales Centre Grant 2015-2020.
- A novel peer-support intervention using Motivational Interviewing for breastfeeding maintenance: a UK feasibility study . Funding: NIHR HTA (13/18/05).
- Primary care use of a C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Point of Care Test (POCT) to help target antibiotic prescribing to patients with Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD) who are most likely to benefit (The PACE Study). Funding: NIHR HTA (12/33/12).
Previous Projects (Selected)
- A randomised controlled cluster trial comparing the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a school based cognitive behaviour therapy programme (FRIENDS) in the reduction of anxiety and improvement in mood in children aged 9/10 . Funding: NIHR PHR (09/3000/03).
- A cluster randomised controlled trial to determine the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of classroom-based cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) in reducing symptoms of depression in high-risk adolescents (PROMISE Project). Funding: NIHR HTA (06/37/04)
- Imaging neural responses to pain related stimuli in patients with chronic non-malignant pain (CNMP) pre and post a pain management programme (2009-2011), £59k from the Royal Collage of Anaesthetists.
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Imaging neural responses to pain-related stimuli in chronic pain patients (2008-2009), £16k from the Welsh Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, co-applicant with the CUBRIC Pain Research Group.
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Well-being in Work Stage 2 (2006-2008), in collaboration with Keele and Swansea Universities, £303k from the Wales Centre for Health/Welsh Assembly Government.
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Well-being in Work Phase 1 (2005/2006), £46k from the Wales Centre for Health/Welsh Assembly Government. Co-applicant; biopsychological approach to chronic conditions.
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Evaluation of the Occupational Health Physiotherapy Project pilot (2008-2009), £100k from the Welsh Assembly Government.
Supervision
- Health psychology
- Qualitative and mixed-methods research
- Maternal and child healh
Current supervision
Past projects
Engagement
'Super Bugs' interactive event for members of the public, Techniquest, Cardiff, June 2018.
'Starting a family when you have a long-term condition', coffee morning & meet the researchers event at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, June 2018.
'Bugs: the good, the bad, and the ugly', engaement event at the national Eisteddfod, Anglesey, August 2017.