Dr Fiona Kennedy

Profile

I am a Senior Research Fellow within the division of Primary Care, Palliative Care and Preventive Medicine within the Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (LIHS). I am the trial manager on a Yorkshire Cancer Research funded RCT called APPROACH which is exploring the use of a mobile app supportive intervention to encourage cancer patients to develop effective habits around increased physical activity. I am also co-applicant on an NIHR Programme Development Grant aiming to explore experiences of weight management services among women diagnosed with breast cancer on low incomes and/or South Asian, Black African and Black Caribbean backgrounds, who are often not well represented in services or research.

Prior to this role, I was a member of the Patient Reported Outcomes Group (based at St James’ Hospital, within the section of Patient Centred Outcomes Research, Leeds Institute of Medical Research, (LIMR)), where I led several projects funded by Cancer Research UK and Yorkshire Cancer Research exploring the development, introduction and evaluation of electronic patient reported outcomes (ePRO) in cancer clinical care.

My background is in psychology, specifically health psychology. I completed a PhD in 2009 at the University of the West of England (UWE, Bristol), funded by the charity Breast Cancer Campaign (now Breast Cancer Now), exploring the psychosocial impact and perception of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), which is a very early stage of breast cancer increasingly detected by routine mammogram screening.

Research interests

My research interests centre on applied, patient-led research, including research exploring quality of life and identifying patient needs, utilising patient-reported outcomes (PRO). My research predominantly focuses on cancer patients, with a view to undertaking research that ultimately improves cancer patient outcomes.

Qualifications

• PhD Health Psychology
• MSc Health Psychology
• BSc (hons) Psychology

Professional memberships

• British Psychosocial Oncology Society
• UK Trial Managers' Network
• UK Society for Behavioural Medicine
• UK Society for Behavioural Medicine - Cancer Special Interest Group

Student education

I supervise PhD/doctorate level students and MSc students on a range of topics, mostly in the area of experiences of cancer. I have supervised one PhD student and one Doctorate in Clinical Psychology student to completion, and I am currently supervising a further PhD student and 2 Doctorate in Clinical Psychology trainee.

Research groups and institutes

• Leeds Institute of Health Sciences
• Division of Primary Care, Palliative Care and Public Health

Current postgraduate researchers

• Kathleen Kane