Background

Nicola O'Brien (née Hobbs)

Introduction

I am a chartered health psychologist and my research focuses on developing evidence-based behaviour change interventions to promote health of individuals and populations. I am particularly interested in developing scalable interventions that use physical activity for primary and secondary prevention of age-related musculoskeletal conditions. I have expertise in co-design methods for intervention development and in n-of-1 methods to test health behaviour theory and interventions at the individual level.

In 2012 I was granted an International Society of Behavioral Medicine Early Career Award. 

I am a research advisor for the NIHR Research Design Service NE. I provide first contact advice to health professionals and academic staff wishing to apply for national peer-reviewed funding for health and social care research. I advise on study design, methods and funding sources, and facilitate links to specialist support. 

Qualifications 

Stage 2 Qualification in Health Psychology, British Psychological Society (2011)

PhD Health Psychology, University of Stirling (2010)

MSc Health Psychology, University of Sussex (2003)

BSc Joint Honours Psychology and Philosophy, University of Leeds (2002)

Previous Positions

Research Associate (health psychology), Newcastle University (2010-2015)

Qualitative Research Fellow, Cancer Care Research Centre, University of Stirling (2010)

Health Psychologist (pain management), Human Rights Office of the Archbishop of Guatemala, Guatemala (2004-2007)

Memberships

Health Professions Council (Health Psychologist)

British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology

European Health Psychology Society

UK Society for Behavioural Medicine

Languages

English and Spanish

Research

Research Interests

Co-designing, developing and evaluating behaviour change interventions

Using an n-of-1 (single case) methodology to test theory and interventions at the individual level

Physical activity and disability behaviours in people with musculoskeletal and other chronic illnesses

Pain and pain management

Postgraduate Supervision

Current PhD, Rebecca Brown (MRC-Arthritis Research UK)

2016 PhD, Suzanne McDonald (MRC)

2016 Stage 2 Qualification in Health Psychology, Suzanne McDonald (British Psychological Society)

I am interested in hearing from potential PhD or Stage 2 Qualification in Health Psychology students regarding supervision.

Esteem Indicators

International Society of Behavioral Medicine Early Career Awardee (2012).

Funding

Taylor J-P, Killen A, Flynn D & O’Brien N. Feasibility and acceptability of a dementia with lewy body support and information group (2017-2019). The Lewy Body Society. £50,000

Moffatt S, Penn L, O’Brien N. Ways to Wellness (2016-2017). National Institute of Health Research School for Public Health Research Public Health Practice Evaluation Scheme. £51,609

Moffatt S, Wilson, Drinkwater C, Gibbon, Lowe, Martin, O’Brien N & Penn L. Ways to Wellness Management (2015-2016). Cabinet Office. £99,813

Jakovljevic D, O’Brien N, Avery L, MacGowan G. Personalised home-based physical activity intervention in older adults with Heart Failure: advancing towards an effective clinical therapy (2015-2016). National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre. £39,551

Hobbs N, Sniehotta F, Cuthbertson D, Mathers J. A systematic review of the effect of lifestyle interventions on musculoskeletal function in older adults: which behaviour change techniques are most effective? (2013-2014). Medical Research Council-Arthritis Research UK. £28,663

White M, Adamson A, Adams J, O’Brien N, Stead M, Vale L, Stockton D, Brown H & Halligan J. Phase 2 research to support the evaluation and implementation of adult cooking skills interventions in the UK: pilot RCT with process and economic evaluation components (2013-2014). Department of Health Public Health Research Consortium. £255,364

Hobbs N, Mathers J, Cuthbertson D. Impact of physical activity and vitamin D supplementation in obese older adults with musculoskeletal pain: a cross-sectional study and randomised clinical trial (MRes/PhD studentship) (2012- 2016). Medical Research Council-Arthritis Research UK. £120,000   

Isaacs J, van Laar J, Ng WF, Rapley T, Kay L, Blamire A & Birrell F (O’Brien N named collaborator). Newcastle Biomedicine Experimental Arthritis Treatment Centre: Translational research engagement programme to explore the attitudes of key stakeholders towards translational, early phase and invasive research. (2012-2017). Arthritis Research UK. £375,000

Teaching

I deliver a session on coding behaviour change techniques for the Public Health Intervention module of the MSc Public Health and Health Services Research.  

I supervise PhD, MSc and MRes students and Stage 2 Qualification in Health Psychology candidates.

Publications

• McDonald S, Vieira RV, Godfrey A, O'Brien N, White M, Sniehotta F. Changes in physical activity during the retirement transition: a series of novel n-of-1 natural experiments. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2017, (14), 167.
• Hanson H, O'Brien N, Whybrow P, Isaacs JD, Rapley T. Drug breakthrough offers hope to arthritis sufferers: qualitative analysis of medical research in UK newspapers. Health Expectations 2017, 20(2), 309-320.
• Moffatt S, Steer M, Lawson S, Penn L, O'Brien N. Link Worker social prescribing to improve health and well-being for people with long-term conditions: qualitative study of service user perceptions. BMJ Open 2017, 7(7), e015203.
• McDonald S, Quinn F, Vieira R, O'Brien N, White M, Johnston DW, Sniehotta FF. The state of the art and future opportunities for using longitudinal n-of-1 methods in health behaviour research: a systematic literature overview. Health Psychology Review 2017, 11(4), 307-323.
• Hanson H, Isaacs JD, Kay LJ, Lendrem DW, O'Brien N, Pratt AG, Rapley T. Experiences of staff and patients in relation to clinical research recruitment and involvement: a qualitative study. In: Rheumatology. 2016, Glasgow: Oxford University Press.
• O'Brien N, Heaven B, Teal G, Evans EH, Cleland C, Moffatt S, Sniehotta FF, White M, Mathers JC, Moynihan P. Integrating Evidence From Systematic Reviews, Qualitative Research, and Expert Knowledge Using Co-Design Techniques to Develop a Web-Based Intervention for People in the Retirement Transition. Journal of Medical Internet Research 2016, 18(8), e210.
• Heaven B, Hobbs N, Evans EH, White M, Meyer T, Mathers JC, Moffatt S. Mobilising Resources for Well-being: Implications for Developing Interventions in the Retirement Transition. The Gerontologist 2016, 56(4), 615-629.
• Lara J, O'Brien N, Godfrey A, Heaven B, Evans EH, Lloyd S, Moffatt S, Moynihan PJ, Meyer TD, Rochester L, Sniehotta FF, White M, Mathers JC. Pilot randomised controlled trial of a web-based intervention to promote healthy eating, physical activity and meaningful social connections compared with usual care control in people of retirement age recruited from workplaces. PLOS One 2016, 11(7), e0159703.
• Killen A, Flynn D, De Brún A, O'Brien N, O'Brien J, Thomas AJ, McKeith I, Taylor JP. Support and information needs following a diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies. International Psychogeriatrics 2016, 28(3), 495-501.
• O'Brien N, Philpott-Morgan S, Dixon D. Using impairment and cognitions to predict walking in osteoarthritis: A series of n-of-1 studies with an individually tailored, data-driven intervention. British Journal of Health Psychology 2016, 21(1), 52-70.
• McDonald S, O'Brien N, White M, Sniehotta FF. Changes in physical activity during the retirement transition: a theory-based, qualitative interview study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2015, 12, 25.
• Adams J, Goffe L, Adamson AJ, Halligan J, O'Brien N, Purves R, Stead M, Stocken D, White M. Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of cooking skills in UK adults: cross-sectional analysis of data from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2015, 12(99).
• O'Brien N, McDonald S, Araújo-Soares V, Lara J, Errington L, Godfrey A, Mathers JC, Meyer TD, Rochester L, White M, Sniehotta FF. The features of interventions associated with long-term effectiveness of physical activity interventions in adults aged 55 to 70 years: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Psychology Review 2015, 9(4), 417-433.
• Rodrigues A, O'Brien N, French DP, Glidewell L, Sniehotta FF. The Question–Behavior Effect: Genuine Effect or Spurious Phenomenon? A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials With Meta-Analyses. Health Psychology 2015, 34(1), 61-78.
• Lara J, Evans EH, O'Brien N, Moynihan PJ, Meyer TD, Adamson AJ, Errington L, Sniehotta FFS, White M, Mathers JC. Association of behaviour change techniques with effectiveness of dietary interventions among adults of retirement age: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMC Medicine 2014, 12(10), 177.
• Hobbs N, Godfrey A, Lara J, Errington L, Meyer TD, Rochester L, White M, Mathers JC, Sniehotta FF. Are behavioral interventions effective in increasing physical activity at 12 to 36 months in adults aged 55 to 70 years? A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Medicine 2013, 11, 75.
• Hobbs N, Dixon D, Johnston M, Howie K. Can the theory of planned behaviour predict the physical activity behaviour of individuals?. Psychology and Health 2013, 28(3), 234-249.
• Sniehotta FF, Presseau J, Hobbs N, Araújo-Soares V. Testing self-regulation interventions to increase walking using factorial randomized N-of-1 trials. Health Psychology 2012, 31(6), 733-737.
• Hobbs N, Sniehotta FF. Two-year findings of an implementation intention intervention for teenage women show reduced consultations for emergency contraception or pregnancy testing and a trend towards reduced pregnancy rates. Evidence-Based Nursing 2012, 15(2), 44-45.
• Hobbs N, Dixon D, Rasmussen S, Judge A, Dreinhöfer K, Günther K-P, Dieppe P. Patient pre-operative expectations of total hip replacement in European orthopedic centers. Arthritis Care & Research 2011, 63(11), 1521-1527.
• Judge A, Cooper C, Arden NK, Williams S, Hobbs N, Dixon D, Gunther K-P, Dreinhofer K, Dieppe P. Pre-operative expectation predicts 12-month post-operative outcome among patients undergoing primary total hip replacement in European orthopaedic centres. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 2011, 19(6), 659-667.
• Hobbs N. An interview with... Professor Joop van der Pligt. Health Psychology Update 2008, 17(4), 3-4.
• Hobbs N. The role of the biopsychosocial paradigm in a personal experience of health psychology in a developing country. Health Psychology Update 2007, 16(1-2), 48-51.