Dr Fiona Kennedy

Profile

I am a Senior Research Fellow within the division of Primary Care, Palliative Care and Public Health within Leeds Institute of Health Sciences (LIHS).  I am currently the project 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.

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)) from January 2014, 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. 

I work on the Yorkshire Cancer Research funded study called APPROACH (PIs: Dr Abigail Fisher & Dr Pippa Lally, University College London) to explore the potential of a mobile phone application to increase physical activity in Yorkshire cancer patients.  I also work on the Cancer Research UK-funded study exploring the efficacy of a brief, habit-based intervention for improving dietary and physical activity behaviours in people living with and beyond cancer (ASCOT).  

I have previously undertaken several studies that focused on collecting and evaluating the use of electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePRO) methods (quality of life and adverse events) to inform clinical practice and improve the communication of patient’s symptoms and side effects during or following cancer treatment.

I am a member of Breast Cancer Now’s Grant Committee, their Science Strategy Group and I am a member of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nutrition and Cancer Collaboration.

Qualifications

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

Professional memberships

• British Psychosocial Oncology Society

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 to completion, and I am currently supervising one D.Clin.Psychol trainee.  

Research groups and institutes

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

Current postgraduate researchers

• Kathleen Kane