Dr Gretchen Bjornstad
Senior Lecturer
G.J.Bjornstad@exeter.ac.uk
7416
01392 727416
South Cloisters 2.05
South Cloisters, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK
Overview
Gretchen is a Senior Lecturer and the Programme Manager for the Child Health and Maternity national priority programme in the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South West Peninsula (PenARC).
Gretchen leads two modules in the Health Research pathway of the BSc Medical Sciences programme: Introduction to Health Research and Ethical Issues in Health Research. She is also a tutor for the BMBS Making Sense of Evidence small group sessions.
Gretchen previously worked with PenCRU, the Peninsula Childhood Disability Research Unit. There, she managed the feasibility study of an intervention to improve the health and wellbeing of parent carers of children with disabilities, working closely with parent carers in the Family Faculty public involvement group.
She completed her D.Phil. in the Department of Social Policy and Intervention at the University of Oxford in 2009. Her postdoctoral work has been focused on the evaluation of interventions for improving the mental health and wellbeing of children and families. She specialises in trials and systematic reviews of interventions. She also has experience working with children in residential treatment settings and as a family counsellor.
Qualifications
- DPhil - Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, 2009
- MSc - Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, 2004
- BA - Psychology, Reed College, Portland, OR, 2001
Research group links
Research
Research interests
I am interested in the evaluation, implementation, and development of evidence-based interventions for improving the health and well-being of children and families.
Research projects
- NIHR Cross-ARC Children's Health and Maternity Priority Programme
- SPaCE - Support for Parent Carers in England
- ADaPT Study of Trauma-Focused CBT for Children in Care
- Systematic review of delivery modalities of CBT for adolescent depression
- CAMHS RISE - Working with young people with experience of CAMHS services to develop new research questions - a collaboration with Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Research grants
- 2021 National Institute for Health Research Three Schools Mental Health Programme
Three Research Schools Mental Health Research Award: Support for Parent Carers in England, the SPaCE Project. A 2-year project to investigate the prevalence of mental health problems in parent carers, and to map pathways to assessment, referral, and treatment for parent carers with mental health problems. (Co-investigator, £283,436, 2022-2024)
Links
- Children and Young People's Mental Health Research Collaboration (ChYMe)
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South West Peninsula (PenARC)
Publications
Journal articles
Bjornstad G, Sonthalia S, Rouse B, Freeman L, Hessami N, Dunne JH, Axford N (2024). A comparison of the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural interventions based on delivery features for elevated symptoms of depression in adolescents: a systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 20(1). Abstract.
Garrood A, Bjornstad G, Borek A, Gillett A, Lloyd J, Brand S, Tarrant M, Ball S, Hawton A, McDonald A, et al (2023). Healthy Parent Carers: Acceptability and practicability of online delivery and learning through implementation by delivery partner organisations. Health Expect, 26(5), 2050-2063. Abstract. Author URL.
Russell A, Gudka B, Berry V, Bjornstad G, Bryant E, Kelman C (2023). Parent-carer experiences using a peer support network: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health
Forbes C, Morley N, Liabo K, Bjornstad G, Boult H, Ahmed S, Ciesla K, Vafai Y, Bridges S, Logan S, et al (2022). Prioritising child health and maternity evidence-based interventions or service models: a stakeholder-driven process. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1). Abstract.
Axford N, Morpeth L, Bjornstad G, Hobbs T, Berry V (2022). “What works” registries of interventions to improve child and youth psychosocial outcomes: a critical appraisal. Children and Youth Services Review, 137, 106469-106469.
Lloyd J, Bjornstad G, Borek A, Cuffe-Fuller B, Fredlund M, McDonald A, Tarrant M, Berry V, Wilkinson K, Mitchell S, et al (2021). Healthy Parent Carers programme: mixed methods process evaluation and refinement of a health promotion intervention. BMJ Open, 11(8). Abstract. Author URL.
Bjornstad G, Cuffe-Fuller B, Ukoumunne OC, Fredlund M, McDonald A, Wilkinson K, Lloyd J, Hawton A, Berry V, Tarrant M, et al (2021). Healthy Parent Carers: feasibility randomised controlled trial of a peer-led group-based health promotion intervention for parent carers of disabled children. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 7
Axford N, Bjornstad G, Matthews J, Whybra L, Berry V, Ukoumunne OC, Hobbs T, Wrigley Z, Brook L, Taylor R, et al (2021). The Effectiveness of a Community-Based Mentoring Program for Children Aged 5-11 Years: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial. Prev Sci, 22(1), 100-112. Abstract. Author URL.
Bjornstad GJ, Sonthalia S, Rouse B, Timmons L, Whybra L, Axford N (2020). PROTOCOL: a comparison of the effectiveness of cognitive behavioural interventions based on delivery features for elevated symptoms of depression in adolescents. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 16(1). Abstract.
Liabo K, Boddy K, Bortoli S, Irvine J, Boult H, Fredlund M, Joseph N, Bjornstad G, Morris C (2020). Public involvement in health research: what does ‘good’ look like in practice?. Research Involvement and Engagement, 6(1). Abstract.
Axford N, Bjornstad G, Matthews J, Heilmann S, Raja A, Ukoumunne OC, Berry V, Wilkinson T, Timmons L, Hobbs T, et al (2020). The effectiveness of a therapeutic parenting program for children aged 6–11 years with behavioral or emotional difficulties: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Children and Youth Services Review, 117, 105245-105245.
Axford N, Bjornstad G, Clarkson S, Ukoumunne O, Wrigley Z, Matthews J, Berry V, Hutchings J (2020). The effectiveness of the KiVa bullying prevention program in Wales, UK: results from a pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial. Prevention Science
Bjornstad G, Wilkinson K, Cuffe-Fuller B, Fitzpatrick K, Borek A, Ukoumunne OC, Hawton A, Tarrant M, Berry V, Lloyd J, et al (2019). Healthy Parent Carers peer-led group-based health promotion intervention for parent carers of disabled children: protocol for a feasibility study using a parallel group randomised controlled trial design. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 5(1). Abstract.
Clarkson S, Charles JM, Saville CWN, Bjornstad GJ, Hutchings J (2019). Introducing KiVa school-based antibullying programme to the UK: a preliminary examination of effectiveness and programme cost. School Psychology International
Borek A, McDonald B, Fredlund M, Bjornstad GJ, Logan GS, Morris C (2018). Healthy Parent Carers programme: development and feasibility of a novel group-based health-promotion intervention. BMC Public Health, 18, 270-270.
Whybra L, Warner G, Bjornstad GJ, Hobbs T, Brook L, Wrigley Z, Berry V, Ukoumunne O, Matthews J, Taylor R, et al (2018). The effectiveness of Chance UK’s mentoring programme in improving behavioural and emotional outcomes in primary school children with behavioural difficulties: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMC Psychology, 6, 9-9.
Axford N, Warner G, Hobbs T, Heilmann S, Raja A, Berry V, Ukoumunne O, Matthews J, Eames T, Kallitsoglou A, et al (2018). The effectiveness of the Inspiring Futures parenting programme in improving behavioural and emotional outcomes in primary school children with behavioural or emotional difficulties: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMC Psychology, 6, 3-3.
Underwood MK, Bjornstad GJ (2016). Children’s emotional experience of peer provocation: the relation. between observed behaviour and self-reports of emotions, expressions, and social goals. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 25(4), 320-330. Abstract.
Clarkson S, Axford N, Berry V, Edwards RT, Bjornstad G, Wrigley Z, Charles J, Hoare Z, Ukoumunne OC, Matthews J, et al (2016). Effectiveness and micro-costing of the KiVa school-based bullying prevention programme in Wales: study protocol for a pragmatic definitive parallel group cluster randomised controlled trial. BMC Public Health, 16 Abstract. Author URL.
Bjornstad GJ, Ramchandani P, Montgomery P, Gardner F (2015). Child-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for children who have been physically abused. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2015(3). Abstract.
Axford N, Farrington DP, Clarkson S, Bjornstad GJ, Wrigley Z, Hutchings J (2015). Involving parents in school-based programmes to prevent and reduce bullying: what effect does it have?. Journal of Children's Services, 10(3), 242-251. Abstract.
Lee S, Drake E, Pennucci A, Bjornstad G, Edovald T (2012). Economic evaluation of early childhood education in a policy context. Journal of Children's Services, 7(1), 53-63. Abstract.
Bjornstad GJ, Ramchandani P, Montgomery P, Gardner F (2009). Child-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for children who have been physically abused. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews(2).
Gardner F, Bjornstad GJ, Ramchandani P, Tao X, Montgomery P (2009). Family therapy for children who have been physically abused. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews(2).
Montgomery P, Bjornstad G, Dennis J (2008). Cochrane review: Media‐based behavioural treatments for behavioural problems in children. Evidence-Based Child Health: a Cochrane Review Journal, 2(4), 1154-1190. Abstract.
Montgomery P, Bjornstad G, Dennis J (2006). Media-based behavioural treatments for behavioural problems in children. Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online)(1). Abstract.
Bjornstad GJ (2005). Family therapy for attention-deficit disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews(2).
Underwood MK, Scott BL, Galperin MB, Bjornstad GJ, Sexton AM (2004). An Observational Study of Social Exclusion Under Varied Conditions: Gender and Developmental Differences. Child Development, 75(5), 1538-1555. Abstract.
Reports
Axford N, Lowther K, Timmons L, Bjornstad GJ, Brook L, Webb L, Sonthalia S (2018). Rapid review on safeguarding to inform the Healthy Child Programme 5 to 19. London, Public Health England.
Axford N, Barlow J, Coad J, Schrader-McMillan A, Bjornstad G, Berry VL, Wrigley Z, Goodwin A, Ohlson C, Sonthalia S, et al (2015). Rapid review to update evidence for Healthy Child Programme 0-5. London, Public Health England.
