Staff Profile

Christina joined Newcastle University in 2017, prior to which she was a Research Associate at Durham University. She is a social scientist / applied health services research with expertise  in qualitative research methodology. Her research interests focus on cancer diagnostic pathways, patient experience and decision-making, and cancer inequalities, particularly the inequalities faced by rural populations.

Christina's research focuses on cancer diagnostic pathways and early diagnosis, with a particular interest in colorectal cancer and symptomatic experiences. She has been involved in a range of studies which explore cancer diagnosis and experience for a range of cancer sites (including colorectal, lung, head and neck and pancreatic cancers), utilising qualitative research methodologies, as well as collaborative approaches to co-design and stakeholder engagement work. She is the Research Programme Manager for the Colo-Speed programme of research (https://colospeed.uk/), which is building the world’s largest platform for research in prevention and early diagnosis of bowel cancer.

Some of Christina's current research includes:

PI: COLO-FC: Barriers to Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) Completion amongst patients with symptoms of possible colorectal cancer. Bowel Cancer UK, 2023-2024

Co-I: ERCP Quality Improvement Project. British Society of Gastroenterology, 2022-2023

Co-I: ‘Come and work here!’ Exploring the role of local community-led initiatives to improve recruitment and retention of healthcare staff in remote and rural areas. NIHR Health Services & Delivery Research Programme, £225,235, 2021-2023

Co-I: Exploring the role of health literacy in the diagnosis of head and neck cancer. NIHR Research for Patient Benefit, 2021-2023

PI: The ICE (Impact of Covid-19 on Endoscopy) Study. Newcastle University COVID-19 Research Fund, 2021-2022

PI: The Two ‘Big C’s’: Colorectal cancer diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic. The British Academy Special Grants Scheme: COVID-19, 2020-2022

PI: RURALLY: Recognition, Understanding and Responses to colorectal symptoms Among people Living in rural Localities of Yorkshire. Yorkshire Cancer Research, 2019-2022

• Dobson C, Deane J, Macdonald S, Murchie P, Ellwood C, Angell L, Rubin G. Barriers to Early Presentation amongst Rural Residents Experiencing Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer: A Qualitative Interview Study. Cancers 2023, 15(1), 274.
• Dobson C, Brown S, Russell A, Rubin G. Risk and the importance of absent symptoms in constructions of the ‘cancer candidate’. Health, Risk and Society 2022, 24(5-6), 225-240.
• Hampton J, Koo S, Dobson C, Stewart C, Neilson L, Montague K, Mitra S, Whelpton J, Addison C, Kelly P, Rushton S, Hull M, Sharp L, Rees C. The COLO-COHORT (Colorectal Cancer Cohort) study: Protocol for a multi-centre, observational research study and development of a consent-for-contact research platform. Colorectal Disease 2022, 24(10), 1216-1226.
• Dobson CM, Russell AJ, Brown SR, Rubin GP. Public and private accounts of help-seeking: the implications of research methods on the presentation of narratives.. International Journal of Social Research Methodology 2021, 25(2), 1-12.
• Kerrison R, Travis E, Dobson C, Whitaker K, Rees C, Duffy S, von Wagner C. Barriers and facilitators to colonoscopy following faecal immunochemical test screening for colorectal cancer: a key informant interview study. Patient Education and Counselling 2022, 105(6), 1652-1662.
• Dobson C, Rubin G, Murchie P, Macdonald S, Sharp L. Reconceptualising rural cancer inequalities: Time for a new research agenda. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17(4), 1455.
• Dobson C, Russell A, Brown S, Rubin G. The role of social context in symptom appraisal and help‐seeking among people with lung or colorectal symptoms: A qualitative interview study. European Journal of Cancer Care 2018, 27(2), e12815.
• Walter FM, Emery JD, Mendonca S, Hall N, Morris HC, Mills K, Dobson C, Bankhead C, Johnson M, Abel GA, Rutter MD, Hamilton W, Rubin GP. Symptoms and patient factors associated with longer time to diagnosis for colorectal cancer: Results from a prospective cohort study. British Journal of Cancer 2016, 115(5), 533-541.
• Hall NJ, Rubin GP, Dobson C, Weller D, Wardle J, Ritchie M, Rees CJ. Attitudes and beliefs of non-participants in a population-based screening programme for colorectal cancer. Health Expectations 2015, 18(5), 1645-1657.
• Walter FM, Rubin G, Bankhead C, Morris HC, Hall N, Mills K, Dobson C, Rintoul RC, Hamilton W, Emery J. Symptoms and other factors associated with time to diagnosis and stage of lung cancer: a prospective cohort study. British Journal of Cancer 2015, 112, S6-S13.
• Dobson CM, Russell AJ, Rubin GP. Patient delay in cancer diagnosis: what do we really mean and can we be more specific?. BMC Health Services Research 2014, 14, 1-6.