![Dr Zoë Skea Dr Zoë Skea](/img/200x200/staffpages/uploads/sme341/zoe_skea.jpg)
MA(Hons); MSc; PhD; FHEA
Lecturer, Advanced Research Fellow
- About
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- Email Address
- z.skea@abdn.ac.uk
- Telephone Number
- +44 (0)1224 438153
- Office Address
Health Services Research Unit
Health Sciences Building
University of Aberdeen
Foresterhill Aberdeen AB25 2ZD
- School/Department
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Biography
Zoë Skea joined the Unit in 1999. She graduated in Sociology from the University of Glasgow in 1995 and gained an MSc in Health Services and Public Health Research from the University of Aberdeen in 1999 and her PhD in 2005. Since joining the Unit, Zoë's portfolio of research involves sociologically informed investigations of stakeholders’ experiences of healthcare and of health services research. Zoë has particular interest and extensive expertise in using qualitative approaches to investigate patients’ perspectives of their care and treatment and also clinician – patient relations.
- Research
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Research Overview
Zoë currently has particular interests in:
‘Person centred care’ and associated concepts such as shared decision-making and support for self-management; clinician-patient communication issues; and issues relating to patient support and information provision. She also has interests in using evidence from patient/public and health professionals' perspectives to inform the design of health care research (e.g. clinical trials).
Zoë is always willing to discuss potential PhD supervisions and postdoctoral mentoring arrangements within these broad areas. Please contact Zoë at the e-mail address shown above or enquire at the Graduate School https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/
Current Research
'Come and work here!' Exploring the role of local community-led initiatives to improve recruitment and retention of healthcare staff in remote and rural areas (funded by NIHR).
Recruitment and retention of healthcare staff in rural and remote areas is a challenge for health services. Much of the focus of research in this area has been on work organisation and practitioners themselves. However there has been less focus on the experiences of the people in remote and rural communities and what they themselves can do to attract staff. Some communities have experimented proactively with initiatives to promote their local area; to get involved in the recruitment and selection process; and to welcome and integrate new health professionals and their family members into local life. These community-led initiatives are often ad hoc and undocumented; there is potential learning about what has worked and what has been less successful that remains untapped.
This project has been suggested by the public research partners on our current CSO study on recruitment and retention in remote and rural areas as a way to capture this learning.
Enhancing recruitment and retention of rural doctors in Scotland: A mixed methods study (Funded by the Chief Scientist Office).
Providing healthcare for people in remote and rural areas is a priority for Scotland. Provision depends on being able to recruit and retain doctors in these areas: when a local GP retires, or a small hospital cannot attract enough doctors, this can affect community sustainability. There is evidence that people born and/or brought up in remote and rural areas are more likely to want to work there, but little evidence exists about how to attract new people from diverse backgrounds to such areas and how to keep them there. This research will use qualitative interviews to better understand the experiences and motivations of doctors with respect to remote and rural jobs Scotland, and in doing so gather information on factors which influence career decision making in relation to remote and rural working. The interview findings will be used to develop a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) survey. This will provide insight into the value of different factors, and the degree to which respondents are prepared to trade off one factor against another. Hospitals and general practices cannot change where they are located, but this information will inform new ways to attract and retain doctors to remote and rural localities, which can be tested in a later study.
Past Research
Examples of recently completed projects include:
Baby boxes and parental capabilities: developing a measure of social outcomes.
The introduction of baby boxes is a unique Scottish policy within the UK, aiming to improve health outcomes for babies and provide practical support for new parents in Scotland. The overall aim of this study is to provide the methodological underpinnings for a future longer term study which will seek to design a holistic measure of wider social benefits. We anticipate that this could support not only a future evaluation of baby boxes but also other health interventions with an intended public health outcome.
Specific aims:
To improve understanding of how issues relating to the introduction of baby boxes have been reported in a sample of media coverage.
To explore how issues relating to the introduction of baby boxes have been publicly discussed within a sample of online parental discussion forums.
To investigate how a range of Scottish parents feel about and respond to baby boxes as they roll out into routine practice.
PAtient-centred Care for Fibromyalgia: New pathway Design (PACFiND)
This project (funded by Versus Arthritis) aims to improve healthcare services for patients with fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a common condition with symptoms of pain, fatigue and sleep disturbance. There is not much evidence on the best way to organise health services for fibromyalgia. Patients are dissatisfied with current services and believe no-one takes responsibility.
We will gather information from patients about their current healthcare. We will work with health professionals to understand how services are organised. We will then identify what better care for patients with fibromyalgia looks like. We will also estimate the benefits and costs of existing and alternative care models. By the end of the study we will have developed a new model of care for people with fibromyalgia. The model will prioritise what people with fibromyalgia think is important. It will be cost-effective and ensure better outcomes for patients. We will develop a plan for how the service can be put in place to ensure higher levels of patient satisfaction across the country. We will also produce an online resource offering information and support to patients via Healthtalk.
Using Care Opinion for patient-centred quality improvement
NHS Scotland formally supports the use of Care Opinion as a way for patients and families to give feedback to the NHS and for hospitals to identify improvements which could be made to respond to patient comments. This project will involve 1) analysis of recent comments about NHS Grampian services and how staff have responded, and 2) interviews with staff at different levels in the organisation about their experience of working with Care Opinion data, to understand their concerns and how they can be better supported to use Care Opinion. The lead investigator is already involved in two English studies on how staff use different types of patient experience data for quality improvement, including online data. This project will bring learning from those projects into the Scottish context, and pave the way for a Scotland-wide study of Care Opinion.
Supervision
Supervisees
- MRS NNEOMA DIKE
- MRS GEORGIE RENDALL
Funding and Grants
2022-2023 National Institute for Health Research. ‘Come and work here!’ Exploring the role of local community-led initiatives to improve recruitment and retention of healthcare staff in remote and rural areas.Locock, L., Hollick, R., Murchie, P., Skatun, D., Skea, ZC. & Watson, V. £243,666.53.
2021-2022 NHS Grampian Endowments. Remote and rural healthcare: Pilot study to investigate experiences, differences and changes to medical care for people living in remote and rural areas of Scotland.' Maclaren A, Locock L, Skea ZC, Wilson P, Skåtun D £11,957
2020-2022 Chief Scientist Office. Enhancing Recruitment And Retention Of Rural Doctors In Scotland: A Mixed-Methods Study. Locock L and Cleland J, Evans J, Hollick R, Murchie P, Skåtun D, Skea ZC, Watson V, Wilson P, Denison A. £298,984
2019-2020 NHS Grampian Endowments. Baby boxes and parental capabilities: developing a measure of social outcomes. Skea ZC, Locock L, Ryan M, Morgan H, Black, M. £10,427
2018-2019 NHS Grampian Endowments. Using Care Opinion for patient-centred quality improvement.Locock L, Entwistle V, Skea ZC. £11,959
2016-2018 NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme. (REBALANCE) REview of Behaviour And Lifestyle interventions for severe obesity: AN evidenCE synthesis. Avenell A, Skea ZC, Aveyard P, Boyers D, de Bruin M, Webber L, MacLennan, G. £478,689.71
2014-2015 NHS Grampian Endowment Fund. Entwistle V, Swinton J, Oldroyd L, Skea Z, Sierawska A. Shared Decision-Making with Adults with Learning Difficulties: Pump Priming a New Research Theme for Person Centred Care. £11.670
2013-2015 The Health Foundation. Entwistle V, Cribb A, Watt I, Skea Z, Owens J. Re-conceptualising support for self-management of long-term conditions (Concept:SSM). £259,597
2011-2012 Prostate Cancer UK. Skea Z & MacLennan S (Joint CI), McCann S, N'Dow J. Support groups for men who have prostate cancer, their families and friends: identifying best practice models. £24,680
2011-2012 Scottish Cancer Research Network. Skea Z & MacLennan S (Joint CI). Information for choice in urological cancer: What people need, prefer and use. £21,629
2009 -2012 CSO Postdoctoral Fellowship in Health Services and Health of the Public Research. Schumm K, Campbell M, Ramsay C, Skea Z, MacLennan S, N'Dow J. The acceptability and usefulness of a trial participation decision aid: a mixed methods study of patients and clinicians in the UK. £167,975
2001-2005 CSO Research Training Fellowship. Skea Z, Entwistle V, Watt I, Russell E. Communication in different arenas: the case of MMR vaccine. £81,850
2000-2001 CSO small grant. Bhattacharya S, Entwistle V, Skea Z, Templeton A. Decision making in hysterectomy for heavy menstrual bleeding: how satisfied are women? (A pilot study). £20,575
- Teaching
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Teaching Responsibilities
Zoë is currently the Course Co-ordinator for two University of Aberdeen courses - Qualitative Health Research PU5529 (on-campus) and Qualitative Health Research PU5039 (fully online). These courses form part of the Masters in Public Health and Masters in Global Health and Management programmes. She also contributes to the following courses: Evidence Based Health PU5031; Systematic Reviewing (PU5526);Fundamentals of Research Design (PU5027); Work-Based Placement with Health and Development Sector Organisation (PU5521); and Standard Project in Public Health (PU5910).
Zoë has developed a range of post-graduate research proposals within her programme of research (including an MRC doctoral training grant proposal and has been involved in two cross-college PhD studentship applications with colleagues from IAHS and CASS). She has supervised numerous MSc projects to successful completion (MSc in Health Services and Public Health Research; MSc in Public Health), one MPhil (Mental Health), one CSO postdoctoral fellow, and two PhD students (IAHS). She currently supervises an Elizabeth Russell Post-doctoral Research Fellow and two PhD students (IAHS).
Zoë provides one-to-one expert advice to colleagues within HSRU (and across IAHS) on a range of project proposals /funded projects (particularly in the area of qualitative methodology/mixed methods research).
- Publications
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Page 1 of 2 Results 1 to 50 of 61
Come and work here!’ Exploring local community-led initiatives to recruit and retain healthcare staff in remote and rural areas
Journal of Health Services Research & PolicyContributions to Journals: ArticlesRurality, healthcare and crises: investigating experiences, differences, and changes to medical care for people living in rural areas
Health & Place, vol. 87, 103217Contributions to Journals: Articles‘Moving to the countryside and staying’?: Exploring doctors migration choices to remote and rural areas
Journal of Rural Studies, vol. 108, 103210Contributions to Journals: ArticlesExploring Opinions and Concerns about the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine on a United Kingdom Online Discussion Forum
Journal of Colposcopy and Lower Genital Tract Pathology, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 117-123Contributions to Journals: ArticlesProtective and risk factors of mental health of working age adults with adventitious total bilateral blindness and low vision: a scoping review protocol
PloS ONE, vol. 19, no. 1, e0296659Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe impact of Long Covid on the school experiences of children and young people: a qualitative study
BMJ Open, vol. 13, no. 9, e075756Contributions to Journals: ArticlesCare Opinion and NHS Scotland:: NHS Staff findings from a case study research project on using online patient feedback
HSR UK Annual ConferenceContributions to Conferences: PostersBehavioural optimisation to address trial conduct challenges: case study in the UK-REBOA trial
Trials, vol. 23, no. 1, 398Contributions to Journals: ArticlesThe Baby Box Scheme in Scotland: A Study of Public Attitudes and Social Value
Health Expectations, vol. 25, no. 6, pp. 3307-3314Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13639
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/19442/2/Skea_etal_HE_The_Baby_Box_VoR.pdf
'Valuing place in doctors’ decisions to work in remote and rural locations
Future Healthcare Journal, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 248-251Contributions to Journals: ArticlesUnderstanding recruitment and retention of doctors in rural Scotland: Stakeholder perspectives
The Geographical Journal, vol. 188, no. 2, pp. 261-276Contributions to Journals: Articles“Using humanity to change systems” – Understanding the work of online feedback moderation: a case study of Care Opinion Scotland
Digital Health, vol. 8, pp. 1-13Contributions to Journals: ArticlesBehavioural optimisation to address trial conduct challenges: case study in the UK-REBOA trial
Contributions to Conferences: PostersCost-effectiveness of bariatric surgery and non-surgical weight management programmes for adults with severe obesity: a decision analysis model
International Journal of Obesity, vol. 45, no. 10, pp. 2179-2190Contributions to Journals: ArticlesMental-physical multimorbidity treatment adherence challenges in Brazilian primary care: A qualitative study with patients and their healthcare providers
PloS ONE, vol. 16, no. 5, e0251320Contributions to Journals: ArticlesMoving to remote ethnography during Covid-19
Contributions to Conferences: Other Contributions- [ONLINE] PDF Visual Abstract
Anonymity, veracity and power in online patient feedback: A quantitative and qualitative analysis of staff responses to patient comments on the ‘Care Opinion’ platform in Scotland
Digital Health, vol. 6, pp. 1-13Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/2055207619899520
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/13600/1/Locock_etal_DigiHealth_VOR.pdf
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Exploring non-retention in clinical trials: A meta-ethnographic synthesis of studies reporting participant reasons for drop out
BMJ Open, vol. 9, no. 6, e021959Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-021959
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/12378/1/e021959.full.pdf
- [ONLINE] View publication in Mendeley
InS:PIRE - Evaluation of the scaling up of a quality improvement initiative: abridged report
University of Aberdeen. 52 pagesBooks and Reports: Other ReportsThe acceptability and feasibility of weight management programmes for adults with severe obesity: A qualitative systematic review
BMJ Open, vol. 9, no. 9, e029473Contributions to Journals: ArticlesBariatric surgery, lifestyle interventions and orlistat for severe obesity: the REBALANCE mixed-methods systematic review and economic evaluation
Health Technology Assessment, vol. 22, no. 68, pp. 1-286Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.3310/hta22680
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/11603/2/Avenell_etal_HTA_Bariatric_Surgery_Lifestyle_VOR.pdf
- [ONLINE] Corrigendum
Development of a standardised set of metrics for monitoring site performance in multicentre randomised trials: a Delphi study
Trials, vol. 19, 557Contributions to Journals: ArticlesSurgeons' and methodologists' perceptions of utilising an expertise-based randomised controlled trial design: A qualitative study
Trials, vol. 19, 478Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-018-2832-z
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/11079/1/s13063_018_2832_z.pdf
"The more you know, the more you realise it is really challenging to do": tensions and uncertainties in person-centred support for people with long-term conditions
Patient Education and Counseling, vol. 101, no. 8, pp. 1460-1467Contributions to Journals: ArticlesJugglers and tightrope walkers: The challenge of delivering quality community pharmacy services
PloS ONE, vol. 13, no. 7, e0200610Contributions to Journals: Articles“It’s trying to manage the work”: A qualitative evaluation of recruitment processes within a UK multi-centre trial
BMJ Open, vol. 7, no. 8, pp. 1-8Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016475
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/9151/1/e016475.full.pdf
We need to talk about purpose: a critical interpretive synthesis of health and social care professionals’ approaches to self-management support for people with long-term conditions
Health Expectations, vol. 20, no. 2, pp. 243-259Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.12453
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/5863/2/Morgan_et_al_2017_Health_Expectations.pdf
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
“Was that a success or not a success?”: a qualitative study of health professionals’ perspectives on support for people with long-term conditions
BMC Family Practice, vol. 18, 39Contributions to Journals: ArticlesDecision aids for people considering taking part in clinical trials
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, no. 11, CD009736Contributions to Journals: Articles'I've used the word cancer but it's actually good news': discursive performativity of cancer and the identity of urological cancer services
Sociology of Health & Illness, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 340-354Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.12192
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/5587/1/Kazimierczak2015.pdf
Strengthening the ethical assessment of placebo-controlled surgical trials: three proposals
Journal of Medical Ethics, vol. 15, 78Contributions to Journals: ArticlesInvolving patients in their care
Current Breast Cancer Reports, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 211-218Contributions to Journals: ArticlesDecision aids for randomised controlled trials: a qualitative exploration of stakeholders' views
BMJ Open, vol. 4, no. 8, e005734Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005734
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/3533/1/Gillies_2014.pdf
Patient information leaflets (PILs) for UK randomised controlled trials: a feasibility study exploring whether they contain information to support decision making about trial participation
Trials, vol. 15, 62Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-15-62
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/3317/1/Gillies_2014.pdf
Communicating good care: A qualitative study of what people with urological cancer value in interactions with health care providers
European Journal of Oncology Nursing, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 35-40Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2013.09.009
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/3113/1/Skea_2013.pdf
Determining information for inclusion in a decision-support intervention for clinical trial participation: A modified Delphi approach
Clinical Trials, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 967-976Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1740774513508339
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/4133/1/Gillies_2013.pdf
Determining items for inclusion in a decision support intervention for clinical trial participation: a modified Delphi approach
Contributions to Journals: Conference ArticlesProvision of cancer information as a "support for navigating the knowledge landscape": Findings from a critical interpretive literature synthesis
European Journal of Oncology Nursing, vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 360-369Contributions to Journals: ArticlesChallenges in the research ethics review of cluster randomized trials: International survey of investigators
Clinical Trials, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 257-268Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1740774513475530
Reporting of patient consent in healthcare cluster randomised trials is associated with the type of study interventions and publication characteristics
Journal of Medical Ethics, vol. 39, no. 2, pp. 119-124Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/medethics-2012-100746
Decision support interventions for people making decisions about participation in clinical trials (Cochrane protocol)
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, no. 3, CD009736Contributions to Journals: Literature Reviews- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD009736
Analysis of patient information leaflets (PILs), used in clinical trials using the Informed Consent Evaluation instrument (ICEi)
Trials, vol. 12, no. Suppl 1, pp. A121Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-12-S1-A121
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/2523/1/Gillies_2011.pdf
Enabling mutual helping?: Examining variable needs for facilitated peer support
Patient Education and Counseling, vol. 85, no. 2, pp. e120-e125Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2011.01.032
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/2651/1/Skea_2011.pdf
Impact of CONSORT extension for cluster randomised trials on quality of reporting and study methodology: review of random sample of 300 trials, 2000-8
British Medical Journal, vol. 343, no. -, d5886Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d5886
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/2145/1/Ivers_2011.pdf
Developing a placebo-controlled trial in surgery: issues of design, acceptability and feasibility
Trials, vol. 12, 50Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1745-6215-12-50
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/3971/1/Campbell%25202011.pdf
Concepts of information provision in cancer care: a critical interpretive synthesis of literature
Medical Encounter, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 63Contributions to Journals: ArticlesInadequate reporting of research ethics review and informed consent in cluster randomized trials: review of random sample of published trials
British Medical Journal, vol. 342, d2496Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d2496
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/2334/1/Taljaard_2011.pdf
'They're doing surgery on two people': a meta-ethnography of the influences on couples' treatment decision making for prostate cancer
Health Expectations, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 335-349Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1369-7625.2010.00624.x
Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of arthroscopic lavage in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee: a mixed methods study of the feasibility of conducting a surgical placebo-controlled trial (the KORAL study)
Health Technology Assessment, vol. 14, no. 5, pp. 1-180Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.3310/hta14040
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/2655/1/Campbell2010.pdf
When should a placebo be used in surgical trials?
Clinical Trials, vol. 6, no. 5, pp. 509Contributions to Journals: Abstracts- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1740774509345176