Dr Amy O’Donnell is a Senior Research Associate and Medical Faculty Fellow, based in the Population Health Sciences Institute. Previously, she held a NIHR School for Primary Care Research Fellowship and a Visiting Fellowship in Implementation Science at Linkoping University, Sweden.

She currently leads two interdisciplinary, multi-partner international research studies: the Horizon 2020 SCALA (Scale-up of Prevention and Management of Alcohol Use Disorders and Comorbid Depression in Latin America - UK PI) and the NIHR Policy Research Programme/European Research Area Network on Illicit Drugs) ATTUNE Study (Understanding Pathways to Stimulant Use: a mixed-methods examination of the individual, social and cultural factors shaping illicit stimulant use across Europe - Co-PI).

Amy's methodological expertise includes: evidence synthesis; qualitative methods; evaluation techniques; and the design, conduct and analysis of mixed methods research.

Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Amy_ODonnell | Twitter: @AmyJaneODonnell

Research Funding

• Kaner E, O’Donnell A, Riding H & Martin H. Perceived barriers to Shared Medical Appointments in Primary Care. (2018-2019) North East Commission Service Research Capability Funding. £33,062
• Broadbridge A, Ramsey S, O’Donnell A, McGeechan G, Giles E, McGovern R, Cooper L, Ells L, Howlett H, Stevens R. Multiple and complex needs: understanding high mortality rates and identifying opportunities to intervene. (2018-2019) Involving ‘experts by experience’ in public health research. Public Health England. £2,500
• O’Donnell A, Kaner E, Rowlands G & Anderson P. SCALA: Scale-up of Prevention and Management of Alcohol Use Disorders and Comorbid Depression in Latin America (2017-2021) Horizon 2020 (Call: H2020-SC1-2016-2017, Personalised Medicine). £240,086
• Rowlands G, Kaner EFS & O’Donnell A. Evidence synthesis of national and regional health literacy policies in Europe. World Health Organisation Europe. £10,000
• Brown J, Michie S, Beard E, Shahab L, West R, Hickman M, de Vocht F, Kaner E, O’Donnell A, McGovern R, Holmes J, Angus C, Buykx P, Gillespie D, Brennan A, Meier P, Beynon C, Greaves F, Walmsley M. Extending The Alcohol Toolkit Study: Understanding the population context of alcohol use. (2017-18) NIHR SPHR2 Early Phase Project 2. £91,907
• O’Donnell A, Nilsen P & Carlfjord S. Assessing the implementation of alcohol and smoking interventions in health care from the patient perspective: a population survey in the UK & Sweden. (2017-19) Linkoping University. £80,000
• Kaner E, O’Donnell A, Gilvarry E & McGovern R. ATTUNE (Understanding Pathways to Stimulant Use: a mixed-methods examination of the individual, social and cultural factors shaping illicit stimulant use across Europe) (2016-19) ERANID (European Research Area Network on Illicit Drugs) / UK Department of Health £268,311
• Angus C, O’Donnell A, Sadler S, Gillespie D, Meier P & Brennan A. Screening and Brief Intervention (SBI) programmes: do they improve or worsen health inequalities? (2016-17) Alcohol Research UK. £59,269
• Newbury-Birch D, Giles E, O’Donnell A, Shorter G, Holloway A & Heather N. Alcohol Research UK. Measuring change from alcohol brief interventions: Development of a consensus core outcome set. (2016-17) Alcohol Research UK  £59,977

• O'Donnell A, Hanratty B and Kaner E (2015) SPCR fellowship - Mixed-methods assessment of the impact of financial and organisational change on screening and brief alcohol intervention delivery in English primary care. National Institute for Health Research  (NIHR). £135,000
• O’Donnell A. and Kaner E. (2014) Evidencing the impact of the UK screening and brief intervention for alcohol research programme on English primary health care. Newcastle University Strategic Development Fund, £5,000
• Stobbart L., O’Donnell A., Craig, D., Vale L., Kaner E., Rushmer R., Scott J. and Brown H (in collaboration with NHS North of England Commissioning Unit) (2014) NHS 111 Service Evaluation. Department of Health, £298,434
• Stobbart L., O’Donnell A., Craig D., Vale L., Kaner E., Rushmer R., Scott J. and Brown H. (2014) Evaluation Partner for the NHS 111 Learning and Development Pilot Programme. NHS North of England CSU, £9,999
• O’Donnell A., Newbury-Birch D., and Kaner E. (2014) How effective are brief interventions in reducing alcohol consumption: does place, practitioner group and content matter? London School of Hygiene, £10,000
• Kaner E., Parkinson K., Vale L., Graybill E., McGovern R., O'Donnell A., and Stamp E. (2014) Sunderland Liaison Psychiatry Service Evaluation. Sunderland NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, £101,757
• Kaner E, Anderson P, Newbury-Birch & O'Donnell A. (2012) BISTAIRS Good Practice on Brief Interventions to Address Alcohol Use Disorders in Primary Health Care, Workplace Health Services - Commission of the European Communities - £26,285
  
• Kaner E. and O'Donnell A. (2011) Expert Testimony: Social Marketing and Alcohol Interventions, National Social Marketing Centre, £5,000
• O'Donnell A. and Biddle P. (2011) Joint Strategic Needs Assessment research report on Autistic Spectrum Disorder and Learning Disability. Newcastle City Council, £5,000
• O'Donnell A. and Welamedage L. (2008) Closing the Employment Gap for BME groups. One NorthEast, £17,780
• O'Donnell A. and Moore C. (2007) Differences in political participation between ethnic groups in Scotland. Commission for Racial Equality Scotland, £14,990
• O'Donnell A.  (2007) Healthy prisons research (in partnership with the University of Central Lancashire). Higher Education Funding Council for England, £14,882
• O'Donnell A. and Welamedage L. (2007) Equality in the North East Evidence Base Review. One NorthEast, £18,480
• Dobbs L., Cunningham R., and O'Donnell A. (2006) Enhancing vocational training opportunities for women in Northumberland. Learning and Skills Council / European Social Fund, £49,576
• O'Donnell A, Biddle P. and Smith L. (2006) Evaluation of the Women into Work: Moving On Programme (Action 2). SOVA (Supporting Others through Volunteer Action), £64,426
• O'Donnell A, Biddle P. and Smith L. (2006) Evaluation of the Women into Work: Building Futures Programme (Action 2). SOVA, £34,993
• O'Donnell A, Dodgson M. and Smith L. (2006) Evaluation of the Equality Assurance Process Pilot Project. SOVA, £7,808
• O'Donnell A, Biddle P. and Smith L. (2006) Evaluation of the Women into Work: Building Futures Programme (Action 3). SOVA, £8,350
• O'Donnell A, Biddle P. and Smith L. (2006) Evaluation of the Women into Work: Moving On Programme (Action 3). SOVA, £17,625
• Dobbs L., Cunningham R., and O'Donnell A. (2004) The use of evidence to tackle gender discrimination in employment. European Social Fund, £288,328

Experience of undergraduate /masters level dissertation and doctoral supervision; internal and external PhD assessor; external PhD examiner.

Undergraduate Teaching

• Health promotion and disease prevention (MBBS Year 1)

• Medicine in the Community (social science) stages 1 and 2

• Essential junior rotation in Public Health (alcohol project) 

Postgraduate Teaching 

• MSc. Public Health and Health Services Research: Evaluative methods in health research

• MSc. Public Health and Health Services Research: Public health intervention

• MSc. Public Health and Health Services Research: Introduction to systematic reviewing and critical appraisal

• MSc. Public Health and Health Services Research: Fundamentals of research

• Addison M, Kaner E, Spencer L, McGovern W, McGovern R, Gilvarry E, O'Donnell A. Exploring pathways into and out of amphetamine type stimulant use at critical turning points: a qualitative interview study. Health Sociology Review 2021, 30(2), 111-126.
• O'Donnell A, Angus C, Hanratty B, Hamilton F, Petersen I, Kaner E. Impact of the introduction and withdrawal of financial incentives on the delivery of alcohol screening and brief advice in English primary health care: an interrupted time-series analysis . Addiction 2020, 115(1), 49-60.
• Jané-Llopis E, Anderson P, Piazza M, O'Donnell A, Gual A, Schulte B, Pérez Gómez A, de Vries H, Natera Rey G, Kokole D, Bustamante IV, Braddick F, Trujillo JM, Solovei A, Pérez De León A, Kaner EFS, Matrai S, Manthey J, Mercken L, López-Pelayo H, Rowlands G, Schmidt C, Rehm J. Implementing primary healthcare-based measurement, advice and treatment for heavy drinking and comorbid depression at the municipal level in three Latin American countries: final protocol for a quasiexperimental study (SCALA study). BMJ Open 2020, 10, e038226.
• Carvallaro F, Lugg-Widger F, Cannings-John R, Harron K, McNally R, Pollock AM, Blakey K, Sharp L, O’Donnell A, Hayes L, Pearce M, Harbron R, Slack E. Open letter to the ICO, CMOs and UK data providers: Reducing barriers to data access for research in the public interest - lessons from covid-19. British Medical Journal 2020, 1-13.
• Martens M, Zurhold H, Rosenkranz M, ODonnell A, Addison M, Spencer L, McGovern W, Gabrhelík R, Petruzelka B, Rowicka M, Liebregts N, Degkwitz P, Kaner E, Verthein U. Using life course charts to assess and compare trajectories of amphetamine type stimulant consumption in different user groups – a cross-sectional study. Harm Reduction Journal 2020, 17, 8.
• Karlsson N, O'Donnell A, Abidi L, Skagerstrom J, Nilsen P. Addressing alcohol in routine healthcare in Sweden - population-based surveys in 2010 and 2017. European Journal of Public Health 2019, 29(4), 748-753.
• O'Donnell A, Anderson P, Jané-Llopis E, Manthey J, Kaner E, Rehm J. Immediate impact of minimum unit pricing on alcohol purchases in Scotland: controlled interrupted time series analysis for 2015-18. British Medical Journal 2019, 366, l5274.
• Shorter GW, Heather N, Bray JW, Berman AH, Giles EL, ODonnell AJ, Barbosa C, Clarke M, Holloway A, Newbury-Birch DA. Prioritization of outcomes in efficacy and effectiveness alcohol brief intervention trials: International Multi-stakeholder e-Delphi Consensus Study to inform a core outcome set. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 2019, 80(3), 299-309.
• Schulte B, Kaner EFS, Beyer F, Schmidt CS, O'Donnell A. Study protocol for a systematic review of evidence for digital interventions for comorbid excessive drinking and depression in community-dwelling populations. BMJ Open 2019, 9(10), e031503.
• Shorter G, Bray J, Giles E, ODonnell A, Berman A, Holloway A, Heather N, Barbosa C, Stockdale K, Scott S, Clarke M, Newbury-Birch D. The variability of outcomes used in efficacy and effectiveness trials of alcohol brief interventions: A systematic review. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs 2019, 80(3), 286-298.
• O'Donnell A, Addison M, Spencer L, Zurhold H, Rosenkranz M, McGovern R, Gilvarry E, Martens M, Verthein U, Kaner E. Which individual, social and environmental influences shape different pathways of amphetamine type stimulant use over the life course? A systematic review and thematic synthesis of the qualitative literature. Addiction 2019, 114(1), 24-47.
• Haighton C, Kidd J, O'Donnell A, Wilson G, McCabe K, Ling J. ‘I take my tablets with the whiskey’: A qualitative study of alcohol and medication use in mid to later life. PLoS ONE 2018, 13(10), e0205956.
• ODonnell A, Addison M, Spencer L, Zurhold H, Rosenkranz M, McGovern R, Gilvarry E, Martens M, Verthein U, Kaner E. A systematic review of qualitative research on the factors shaping amphetamine type stimulant use over the life course (abstract). The Lancet 2018, 390(S64).
• O'Donnell A, Abidi L, Brown J, Karlsson N, Nilsen P, Roback K, Skagerstrom J, Thomas K. Beliefs and attitudes about addressing alcohol consumption in health care: A population survey in England. BMC Public Health 2018, 18(1), 391.
• O'Donnell A, Kaner E, Shaw C, Haighton C. Primary care physicians' attitudes to the adoption of electronic medical records: a systematic review and evidence synthesis using the clinical adoption framework. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making 2018, 18, 101.
• Rowlands GP, Russell S, O'Donnell A, Kaner E, Trezona A, Rademakers J, Nutbeam D. What is the evidence on existing policies and linked activities and their effectiveness for improving health literacy at national, regional and organizational levels in the WHO European Region?. Copenhagen, Denmark: World Health Organisation (Europe), 2018. Health Evidence Network (HEN) synthesis reports.
• Anderson P, O'Donnell A, Kaner E. Managing Alcohol Use Disorder in Primary Health Care. Current Psychiatry Reports 2017, 19, 79.
• Kaner EFS, Beyer FR, Garnett C, Crane D, Brown J, Muirhead C, Redmore J, O'Donnell A, Newham JJ, de Vocht F, Hickman M, Brown H, Maniatopoulos G, Michie S. Personalised digital interventions for reducing hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption in community-dwelling populations. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017, (9), CD011479.
• Shorter GW, Heather N, Bray JW, Giles EL, Holloway A, Barbosa C, Berman AH, O'Donnell AJ, Clarke M, Stockdale KJ, Newbury-Birch D. The 'Outcome Reporting in Brief Intervention Trials: Alcohol' (ORBITAL) framework: Protocol to determine a core outcome set for efficacy and effectiveness trials of alcohol screening and brief intervention. Trials 2017, 18, 611.
• O'Donnell A, Haighton C, Chappel D, Shevills C, Kaner E. Impact of financial incentives on alcohol intervention delivery in primary care: a mixed methods study. BMC Family Practice 2016, 17, 165.
• O'Donnell A, Haighton C, Chappel D, Shevills C, Hanratty B, Kaner E. Impact of financial incentives on the implementation of screening and brief alcohol interventions by primary healthcare professionals. In: International Congress of Behavioral Medicine. 2016, Melbourne, Australia: Springer.
• Schmidt C, Schulte B, Seo H, Kuhn S, O'Donnell A, Kriston L, Verthein U, Reimer J. Meta-analysis on the effectiveness of alcohol screening with brief interventions for patients in emergency care settings. Addiction 2016, 111(5), 783-794.
• McParlin C, O'Donnell A, Robson SC, Beyer F, Moloney E, Bryant A, Bradley J, Muirhead CR, Nelson-Piercy C, Newbury-Birch D, Norman J, Shaw C, Simpson E, Swallow B, Yates L, Vale L. Treatments for Hyperemesis Gravidarum and Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy: A Systematic Review. Journal of the American Medical Association 2016, 316(13), 1392-1401.
• O'Donnell A, McParlin C, Robson SC, Beyer F, Moloney E, Bryant A, Bradley J, Muirhead C, Nelson-Piercy C, Newbury-Birch D, Norman J, Simpson E, Swallow B, Yates L, Vale L. Treatments for hyperemesis gravidarum and nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: a systematic review and economic assessment. London: NIHR Journals Library, 2016. Health Technology Assessment.
• Haighton C, Kidd J, O'Donnell A. A qualitative interview study of concurrent alcohol and medication use among older adults in the UK. In: GSA 68th Annual Scientific Meeting. 2015, Orlando, Florida: Oxford University Press.
• McParlin C, O'Donnell A, Robson S, Beyer F, Moloney E, Bryant A, Bradley J, Muirhead C, Nelson-Peircey C, Newbury-Birch D, Norman J, Simpson E, Swallow B, Yates L, Vale L. A systematic review of the clinical-effectiveness of interventions for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. In: British Maternal & Fetal Medicine Society (BMFMS) 17th Annual Conference 2015. 2015, London, UK: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
• Stobbart L, O'Donnell A, Akor W, Albani V, Brown H, Craig D, Fattakhova G, Harrison S, Kaner E, Kirkman S, Lally J, Little M, Mott D, Rice S, Robinson T, Scott J, Shaw C, Spencer L, Tandogdu Z, Vaittinen A, Watson N, Whalley E, Vale L. Phase Two of the NHS 111 Learning and Development Pilot Programme: Final Report. NHS England, 2015.
• Newbury-Birch D, Scott S, O'Donnell A, Coulton S, Howel D, McColl E, Stamp E, Graybill E, Gilvarry E, Laing K, McGovern R, Deluca P, Drummond C, Harle C, McArdle P, Tate L, Kaner E. A pilot feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial of screening and brief alcohol intervention to prevent hazardous drinking in young people aged 14-15 in a high school setting (SIPS JR-HIGH). Public Heath Research 2014, 2(6), 1-207.
• Newbury-Birch D, O'Neil S, O'Donnell A, Coulton S, Howel D, McColl E, Stamp E, Graybill E, Gilvarry E, Laing K, McGovern R, Deluca P, Drummond C, Harle C, McArdle P, Tate L, Kaner E. A pilot feasiblity c-RCT of screening and brief alcohol intervention in young people aged 14–15 in a high school setting: sips jr-high. In: 37th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research-Society-on-Alcoholism (RSA) / 17th Congress of the International-Society-for-Biomedical-Research-on-Alcoholism (ISBRA). 2014, Bellevue, WA: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
• Schulte B, O'Donnell A, Kastner Sinja, Schmidt C, Schäfer I, Reimer J. Alcohol screening and brief intervention in workplace settings and social services: A comparison of literature. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2014, 5(131).
• Schmidt C, McGovern R, Schulte B, O'Donnell A, Lehmann K, Kuhn S, Schafer I, Newbury-Birch D, Anderson P, Kaner E, Reimer J. Brief Alcohol Interventions in Social Service and Criminal Justice Settings: A Critical Commentary. British Journal of Social Work 2014, 9.
• O'Donnell A, Wallace P, Kaner E. From efficacy to effectiveness and beyond: what next for brief interventions in primary care?. Frontiers in Psychiatry 2014, 5, 00113.
• O'Donnell A, Anderson P, Newbury-Birch D, Schulte B, Schmidt C, Reimer J, Kaner E. The Impact of Brief Alcohol Interventions in Primary Healthcare: A Systematic Review of Reviews. Alcohol and Alcoholism 2014, 49(1), 66-78.
• Newbury-Birch D, O'Neil S, Gilvarry E, Howel D, Stamp E, Laing K, McColl E, McGovern R, Harle C, O'Donnell A, Tate L, Coulton S, Deluca P, Drummond C, McArdle P, Kaner E. A feasibility trial of alcohol screening and brief interventions for risky drinking in young people in a high school setting in the UK: SIPS JR-HIGH. In: 36th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism. 2013, Orlando, Florida, USA: Wiley-Blackwell.
• Kaner E, O'Donnell A. Brief intervention: does it work?. In: Boyle, P., Boffetta, P., Lowenfels, A.B., Burns, H., Brawley, O., Zatonski, W., Rehm, J, ed. Alcohol: Science, Policy and Public Health. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013, pp.325-331.
• O'Donnell A, Haighton K, Chappel D, Shevills C, Kaner E. Can routine data help evaluate the implementation of brief alcohol intervention in primary health care? A mixed-methods investigation of the use of routinely collected information to evaluate the delivery of screening and brief interventions (sbis) for alcohol. In: 36th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism. 2013, Orlando, Florida: Research Society on Alcoholism.
• O'Donnell A, Kaner E. Screening of high-risk drinkers. In: Boyle, P., Boffetta, P., Lowenfels, A.B., Burns, H., Brawley, O., Zatonski, W., Rehm, J, ed. Alcohol: Science, Policy and Public Health. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013, pp.317-324.
• Casebourne J, Gloster R, Purvis A, Culshaw S, O'Donnell A, Mavra L. Evaluation of Lone Parent Obligations. London: Department for Work and Pensions, 2009.
• O'Donnell A. Gendered choices: Young women's perspectives on non-traditional training and careers in Northumberland. Education + Training 2008, 50(6), pp 474 – 488.
• O'Donnell A, Dobbs L, Moore C, Biddle P. What works in the workplace? Using evidence to tackle gender discrimination in employment. Newcastle upon Tyne: Northumbria University, 2004.