Rebecca Whear
Research Fellow Evidence Synthesis Health Services Research
R.S.Whear@exeter.ac.uk
6064
+44 (0) 1392 726064
South Cloisters 3.09
South Cloisters, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK
Overview
Rebecca Whear joined PenCLAHRC in August 2009. She is part of a team that helps to manage the PenCLAHRC question prioritisation process and conducts systematic reviews for relevant questions identified from this process.
After graduating from the University of Plymouth (BSc Psychology with Human Biology) she pursued her interest in human health by completing a masters at the University of Bristol (MSc Exercise, Health and Nutrition). She now has many years of experience in social and health related research. Latterly, she has mainly focused on systematic reviews but in the past has been involved with small pieces of quantitative and qualitative primary research.
Her main areas of interest include improving healthcare for patients and the NHS, the mental health and behaviour of young people, and dementia and dementia care.
Broad research specialisms
Her main skills are focused on the conduct of systematic reviews in health services research. However, she has also been involved with setting research agendas. Through her current role she has been involved in a number of systematic reviews related to the improvement of health services. The projects have ranged from looking at classroom management interventions to improve children’s outcomes to interventions to improve secondary care pathways for people with chronic and recurrent conditions. The reviews aim to work with clinicians and service users to answer the questions most relevant to them and their practices. This is in order to ensure the results of the research are taken forward appropriately to bridge the gap between research and practice. The reviews she has been involved often require complex synthesis of results including narrative synthesis, qualitative synthesis and less often, meta-analysis.
I have also trained as a mentor through the UEMS Mentoring Scheme, supported by the UEMS Equality & Diversity Group, and would be available to provide peer and other mentoring opportunities. Please feel free to contact me, in confidence, so we can discuss this further.
Qualifications
- 2004 MSc (University of Bristol)
- 2003 BSc (University of Plymouth)
Links
Research
Research interests
As well as a more broad interest in health services research she is specifically interested in mental health and behaviour in young people and dementia. She has been involved in research studying children's needs and services as well as a randomized controlled trial investigating the influence of micro-nutrients on the mental and behavioural well-being of young men in a young offenders institute. More recently, she has been involved in several reviews related to young people and their mental health including classroom management interventions to improve children's emotional and behavioural outcomes, investigating the association between the mental health of children at school and their being excluded from school and looking at school-based, non-pharmacological interventions to help children with ADHD.
Research projects
- Effectiveness of mealtime interventions on behaviour symptoms of people with dementia living in care homes: A systematic review
- Effectiveness of mealtime interventions on nutritional outcomes for the elderly living in residential care: A systematic review and meta-analysis
- What is the impact of using outdoor spaces such as gardens on the physical and mental well-being of those with dementia? A systematic review
Grants/Funding
- Co-applicant - Are interventions to reduce the impact of arsenic contamination of groundwater on human health and crop productivity in developing countries effective £37,236 AusAID 2011.
Publications
Journal articles
Eke H, Ball S, Allinson A, Anderson R, Hunt H, Hutton E, Lindsay C, Logan S, Madden N, Melluish J, et al (In Press). Interventions to improve continence for children and young people with neurodisability: a national survey of practitioner and family perspectives and experiences. BMJ Paeditatrics Open Abstract.
Dickens CM, abbott R, Whear R, Nikolaou V, Bethel A, Thomson Coon J, Stein K (In Press). Tumour necrosis factor α inhibitor therapy in chronic physical illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect on depression and anxiety. Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Rogers M, Sutton A, Campbell F, Whear R, Bethel A, Coon JT (2024). Streamlining search methods to update evidence and gap maps: a case study using intergenerational interventions. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 20(1).
Campbell F, Whear R, Rogers M, Sutton A, Robinson‐Carter E, Barlow J, Sharpe R, Cohen S, Wolstenholme L, Thompson‐Coon J, et al (2023). Non‐familial intergenerational interventions and their impact on social and mental wellbeing of both younger and older people—A mapping review and evidence and gap map. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 19(1).
Abbott R, Thompson Coon J, Bethel A, Rogers M, Whear R, Orr N, Garside R, Goodwin V, Mahmoud A, Lourida I, et al (2023). PROTOCOL: Health and social care interventions in the 80 years old and over population: an evidence and gap map. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 19(2). Abstract.
Campbell F, Whear R, Rogers M, Sutton A, Barlow J, Booth A, Tattersall A, Wolstenholme L, Thompson-Coon J (2023). PROTOCOL: What is the effect of intergenerational activities on the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people?. Campbell Syst Rev, 19(3). Abstract. Author URL.
Whear R, Campbell F, Rogers M, Sutton A, Robinson‐Carter E, Sharpe R, Cohen S, Fergy R, Garside R, Kneale D, et al (2023). PROTOCOL: What is the effect of intergenerational activities on the wellbeing and mental health of older people?. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 19(2).
Orr N, Abbott R, Bethel A, Paviour S, Whear R, Garside R, Coon JT (2023). What are the effects of animals on the health and wellbeing of residents in care homes? a systematic review of the qualitative and quantitative evidence. BMC Geriatrics, 23(1). Abstract.
Whear R, Campbell F, Rogers M, Sutton A, Robinson-Carter E, Sharpe R, Cohen S, Fergy R, Garside R, Kneale D, et al (2023). What is the effect of intergenerational activities on the wellbeing and mental health of older people?: a systematic review. Campbell Syst Rev, 19(4). Abstract. Author URL.
Abbott R, Bethel A, Rogers M, Whear R, Orr N, Shaw L, Stein K, Thompson Coon J (2022). Characteristics, quality and volume of the first 5 months of the COVID-19 evidence synthesis infodemic: a meta-research study. BMJ Evid Based Med, 27(3), 169-177. Abstract. Author URL.
Whear R, Abbott RA, Bethel A, Richards DA, Garside R, Cockcroft E, Iles-Smith H, Logan PA, Rafferty AM, Shepherd M, et al (2022). Impact of COVID-19 and other infectious conditions requiring isolation on the provision of and adaptations to fundamental nursing care in hospital in terms of overall patient experience, care quality, functional ability, and treatment outcomes: systematic review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 78(1), 78-108. Abstract.
Sugg HVR, Richards DA, Russell A, Burnett S, Cockcroft EJ, Thompson Coon J, Cruickshank S, Doris FE, Hunt HA, Iles‐Smith H, et al (2022). Nurses’ strategies for overcoming barriers to fundamental nursing care in patients with <scp>COVID</scp>‐19 caused by infection with the <scp>SARS‐COV</scp>‐2 virus: Results from the ‘<scp>COVID‐NURSE</scp>’ survey. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79(3), 1003-1017. Abstract.
Thompson‐Coon J, Campbell F, Sutton A, Whear R, Rogers M, Barlow J, Carter ER, Sharpe R, Cohen S, Wolstenholme L, et al (2022). PROTOCOL: Intergenerational interventions and their effect on social and mental wellbeing of both children and older people—A mapping review and evidence and gap map. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 18(2).
Whear R, Bethel A, Abbott R, Rogers M, Orr N, Manzi S, Ukoumunne OC, Stein K, Coon JT (2022). Systematic reviews of convalescent plasma in COVID-19 continue to be poorly conducted and reported: a systematic review. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 151, 53-64.
Richards DA, Sugg HVR, Cockcroft E, Cooper J, Cruickshank S, Doris F, Hulme C, Logan P, Iles-Smith H, Melendez-Torres GJ, et al (2021). COVID-NURSE: evaluation of a fundamental nursing care protocol compared with care as usual on experience of care for noninvasively ventilated patients in hospital with the SARS-CoV-2 virus—protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ Open, 11(5), e046436-e046436. Abstract.
Sugg HVR, Russell A-M, Morgan L, Iles-Smith H, Richards DA, Morley N, Burnett S, Cockcroft E, Thompson Coon J, Cruickshank S, et al (2021). Fundamental nursing care in patients with the SARS-CoV-2 virus: results from the ‘COVID-NURSE’ mixed methods survey into nurses’ experiences of missed care and barriers to care. BMC Nursing, 20
Eke H, Hunt H, Ball S, Rogers M, Whear R, Allinson A, Melluish J, Lindsay C, Richardson D, Rogers J, et al (2021). Improving continence in children and young people with neurodisability: survey of current NHS practice and systematic review of effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and contextual factors that modify implementation of interventions. Health Technology Assessment
Whear R, Thompson-Coon J, Rogers M, Abbott RA, Anderson L, Ukoumunne O, Matthews J, Goodwin VA, Briscoe S, Perry M, et al (2020). Patient-initiated appointment systems for adults with chronic conditions in secondary care. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 4(4). Abstract. Author URL.
Abbott R, Orr N, McGill P, Whear R, Bethel A, Garside R, Stein K, Thompson-Coon J (2019). How do "robopets" impact the health and well-being of residents in care homes? a systematic review of qualitative and quantitative evidence. Int J Older People Nurs, 14(3). Abstract. Author URL.
Hunt H, Abbott R, Boddy K, Whear R, Wakely L, Bethel A, Morris C, Prosser S, Collinson A, Kurinczuk J, et al (2019). “They've walked the walk”: a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative evidence for parent-to-parent support for parents of babies in neonatal care. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 25(4), 166-176. Abstract.
Hunt H, Whear R, Boddy K, Wakely L, Bethel A, Morris C, Abbott R, Prosser S, Collinson A, Kurinczuk J, et al (2018). Parent-to-parent support interventions for parents of babies cared for in a neonatal unit-protocol of a systematic review of qualitative and quantitative evidence. Syst Rev, 7(1). Abstract. Author URL.
Abbott RA, Martin AE, Newlove-Delgado TV, Bethel A, Whear RS, Thompson Coon J, Logan S (2018). Recurrent Abdominal Pain in Children: Summary Evidence from 3 Systematic Reviews of Treatment Effectiveness. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 67(1), 23-33. Abstract. Author URL.
Newlove-Delgado TV, Martin AE, Abbott RA, Bethel A, Thompson-Coon J, Whear R, Logan S (2017). Dietary interventions for recurrent abdominal pain in childhood. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 3(3). Abstract. Author URL.
Martin AE, Newlove-Delgado TV, Abbott RA, Bethel A, Thompson-Coon J, Whear R, Logan S (2017). Pharmacological interventions for recurrent abdominal pain in childhood. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017(3). Abstract.
Abbott RA, Martin AE, Newlove-Delgado TV, Bethel A, Thompson-Coon J, Whear R, Logan S (2017). Psychosocial interventions for recurrent abdominal pain in childhood. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 1(1). Abstract. Author URL.
Whear R, Thompson-Coon J, Boddy K, Papworth H, Frier J, Stein K (2015). Establishing local priorities for a health research agenda. Health Expect, 18(1), 8-21. Abstract. Author URL.
Richardson M, Moore D, Gwernan-Jones R, Thompson-Coon J, Ukoumunne O, Rogers M, Whear R, Newlove-Delgado T, Logan S, Morris C, et al (2015). Non pharmacological interventions for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) delivered in school settings: Systematic reviews of quantitative and qualitative research. Health Technology Assessment, 19(45)
Parker C, Whear R, Ukoumunne OC, Bethel A, Thompson-Coon J, Stein K, Ford T (2015). School exclusion in children with psychiatric disorder or impairing psychopathology: a systematic review. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, 20(3), 229-251. Abstract.
Whear R, Abbott R, Thompson-Coon J, Bethel A, Rogers M, Hemsley A, Stahl-Timmins W, Stein K (2014). Effectiveness of mealtime interventions on behavior symptoms of people with dementia living in care homes: a systematic review. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 15(3), 185-193. Abstract. Author URL.
Abbott RA, Whear R, Rodgers LR, Bethel A, Thompson Coon J, Kuyken W, Stein K, Dickens C (2014). Effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness based cognitive therapy in vascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 76(5), 341-351. Abstract.
Thompson Coon J, Abbott R, Rogers M, Whear R, Pearson S, Lang I, Cartmell N, Stein K (2014). Interventions to reduce inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotic medications in people with dementia resident in care homes: a systematic review. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 15(10), 706-718. Abstract. Author URL.
Goodwin VA, Abbott RA, Whear R, Bethel A, Ukoumunne OC, Thompson-Coon J, Stein K (2014). Multiple component interventions for preventing falls and fall-related injuries among older people: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Geriatr, 14 Abstract. Author URL.
Whear R, Marlow R, Boddy K, Ukoumunne OC, Parker C, Ford T, Thompson-Coon J, Stein K (2014). Psychiatric disorder or impairing psychology in children who have been excluded from school: a systematic review. SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, 35(5), 530-543. Author URL.
Martin AE, Newlove-Delgado TV, Abbott RA, Bethel A, Thompson-Coon J, Nikolaou V, Logan S (2014). Psychosocial interventions for recurrent abdominal pain in childhood. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014(2). Abstract.
Parker C, Whear R, Ukoumunne OC, Bethel A, Thompson-Coon J, Stein K, Ford T (2014). School exclusion in children with psychiatric disorder or impairing psychopathology: a systematic review. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties Abstract.
Whear R, Coon JT, Bethel A, Abbott R, Stein K, Garside R (2014). What is the impact of using outdoor spaces such as gardens on the physical and mental well-being of those with dementia? a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative evidence. J Am Med Dir Assoc, 15(10), 697-705. Abstract. Author URL.
Abbott RA, Whear R, Thompson-Coon J, Ukoumunne OC, Rogers M, Bethel A, Hemsley A, Stein K (2013). Effectiveness of mealtime interventions on nutritional outcomes for the elderly living in residential care: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ageing Res Rev, 12(4), 967-981. Abstract. Author URL.
Whear R, Abdul-Rahman A-K, Thompson-Coon J, Boddy K, Perry MG, Stein K (2013). Patient initiated clinics for patients with chronic or recurrent conditions managed in secondary care: a systematic review of patient reported outcomes and patient and clinician satisfaction. BMC Health Serv Res, 13 Abstract. Author URL.
Whear R, Thompson-Coon J, Rogers M, Abbott RA, Ukoumunne O, Perry M, Stein K (2013). Patient-initiated appointment systems for people with chronic conditions in secondary care. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2013(12). Abstract.
Thompson-Coon J, Abdul-Rahman A-K, Whear R, Bethel A, Vaidya B, Gericke CA, Stein K (2013). Telephone consultations in place of face to face out-patient consultations for patients discharged from hospital following surgery: a systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res, 13 Abstract. Author URL.
Whear R, Abdul-Rahman A-K, Boddy K, Thompson-Coon J, Perry M, Stein K (2013). The clinical effectiveness of patient initiated clinics for patients with chronic or recurrent conditions managed in secondary care: a systematic review. PLoS One, 8(10). Abstract. Author URL.
Coon JT, Martin A, Abdul-Rahman AK, Boddy K, Whear R, Collinson A, Stein K, Logan S (2012). Interventions to reduce acute paediatric hospital admissions: a systematic review. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 97(4), 304-311. Abstract.
Martin A, Coon JT, Abdul-Rahman A, Boddy K, Whear R, Collinson A, Stein K, Logan S (2012). Interventions to reduce acute paediatric hospital admissions: a systematic review. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 97(Suppl 1).
Coon JT, Martin A, Abdul-Rahman A-K, Boddy K, Whear R, Collinson A, Stein K, Logan S (2012). Interventions to reduce acute paediatric hospital admissions: a systematic review. Arch Dis Child, 97(4), 304-311. Abstract. Author URL.
Whear R, Thompson-Coon J, Boddy K, Ford T, Racey D, Stein K (2012). The effect of teacher-led interventions
on social and emotional behaviour in
primary school children: a systematic
review. British Educational Research Journal Author URL.
Pearson M, Jones-Hughes T, Whear R, Cooper C, Peters J, Evans EH, Depledge M (2011). Are interventions to reduce the impact of arsenic contamination of groundwater on human health in developing countries effective?: a systematic review protocol. Environmental Evidence, 1, 1-7. Author URL.
Coon JT, Boddy K, Stein K, Whear R, Barton J, Depledge M (2011). DOES PARTICIPATING IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN OUTDOOR NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS HAVE a GREATER EFFECT ON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELLBEING THAN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INDOORS? a SYSTEMATIC REVIEW. JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH, 65, A38-A38. Author URL.
Thompson Coon J, Boddy K, Stein K, Whear R, Barton J, Depledge MH (2011). Does participating in physical activity in outdoor natural environments have a greater effect on physical and mental wellbeing than physical activity indoors? a systematic review. Environ Sci Technol, 45(5), 1761-1772. Abstract. Author URL.
Whear R, Axford N (2009). “Finish What's on Your Plate!”: the Relationships between Parenting,
Children's Nutrition and Outcomes. Child Care in Practice Author URL.
Axford N, Whear R (2008). Measuring and Meeting the Needs of Children and Families in the
Community: Survey of Parents on a Housing Estate in Dublin, Ireland. Child Care in Practice Author URL.
Conferences
Coon JT, Campbell F, Whear R, Barlow J, Booth A, Carter ER, Rogers M, Sutton A, Cohen S, Sharpe R, et al (2022). INTERGENERATIONAL INTERVENTIONS AND THEIR EFFECT ON SOCIAL AND MENTAL WELLBEING OF BOTH CHILDREN AND OLDER PEOPLE - a MAPPING REVIEW AND EVIDENCE GAP MAP. Author URL.
Whear R, Bethel A, Abbott R, Rogers M, Orr N, Manzi S, Ukoumunne O, Stein K, Coon JT (2022). P58 We need to talk about solutions looking through the lens of evidence syntheses of convalescent plasma therapy: a systematic review. SSM Annual Scientific Meeting.
Coon JT, Abbott R, Bethel A, Rogers M, Whear R, Shaw L, Orr N, Stein K (2021). OP31 a snapshot of the characteristics, quality and volume of the COVID-19 evidence synthesis infodemic: systematic review. SSM Annual Scientific Meeting.
Coon JT, Orr N, Shaw E, Nunns M, Whear R (2020). BURSTING OUT OF OUR BUBBLE: USING CREATIVE TECHNIQUES TO COMMUNICATE RESEARCH FINDINGS. Author URL.
Thompson-Coon J, Abbott R, Orr N, McGill P, Whear R, Bethel A, Garside R, Stein K (2019). HOW DO 'ROBOPETS' IMPACT THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF RESIDENTS IN CARE HOMES? a SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE EVIDENCE. Author URL.
Coon JT, Abbott R, Coxon G, Day J, Lang I, Lourida I, Pearson M, Reed N, Rogers M, Stein K, et al (2016). OP68 Implementing and disseminating best practice in the care home setting: a systematic scoping review.
Lang I, Rogers M, Abbott R, Whear R, Pearson S, Cartmell N, Thompson‐Coon J, Stein K (2014). P3‐290: HOW CAN WE REDUCE INAPPROPRIATE PRESCRIBING OF ANTIPSYCHOTIC MEDICATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA IN RESIDENTIAL CARE SETTINGS? a SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES.
Coon JT, Abbott R, Rogers M, Whear R, Pearson S, Lang I, Cartmell N, Stein K (2013). PP24 Interventions to Reduce Inappropriate Prescribing of Antipsychotic Medications to People with Dementia Living in Residential Care: a Systematic Review.
Teaching
Systematic review clinicsMSc Applied Health Services Research
