Staff Profile

Summary

I am an allied health population scientist leading research into childhood health behaviours and their impact on health and well-being. I am particularly interested in innovations that support health behaviours to promote life-course health. My primary focus is on movement and physical activity behaviours in under5s, and I also collaborate on research to enable self-care behaviours in children with long-term conditions.

Much of my day-to-day work is through the CHILD Research Group that I lead. Our group seeks to push the boundaries of current knowledge and thinking around child health, and to inform practice, policy and commissioning. Our research focuses on non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs), and involves a range of methods and paradigms.

I also lead the Reproduction, Development and Child Health Theme for the Newcastle University Faculty of Medical Sciences. This is an exciting collaboration of around 40 academics across the Faculty, from biosciences to clinical and translational medicine to population health. Our mission is to maximise life-course health and wellbeing for all through research into early-life events and related interventions. Our Theme is also a founding member in the international KERNEL collaborative that seeks to advance better childhoods and better lives.

As an Academy of Medical Sciences FLIER, I am passionate about advancing cross-sector research and working across traditional disciplinary boundaries. I strongly believe that we are at our best when truly collaborating with others, and that diversity of views and expertise is core to our collective success.

Qualifications

• PhD Health Services Research, University of Aberdeen 2009
• PgDip Occupational Therapy, Queen Margaret University 2007
• MSc Health Services Research, University of Aberdeen 2006
• Toimintaterapeutti (AMK), Helsinki Polytechnic 2002
  

Selected Esteem Indicators

• NIHR Academic Training Advocate, 2015-2021
• Member of the NIHR Children and Women's Health research prioritisation panel, 2015-2020
• Member of the British Academy of Childhood Disability Strategic Research Group, 2012-16
• Merit Award recipient, awarded by the UK College of Occupational Therapists in 2015
• Winner of the Council for Allied Health Professions Research award for Public Health Research in 2015
• UK Society of Behavioural Medicine, Chair of the Local Organising Committee of the Annual Scientific Meeting UK Society for Behavioural Medicine 2015

My research

My overarching interest is on developing, evaluating and implementing early life innovations to improve health and well-being. Within this, my research focuses specifically on everyday behaviours and the personal, social and health-related determinants of these. I also have a long-standing interest in complex intervention research methods, with reference to the MRC framework.

I focus my research on improving outcomes for people and populations that currently experience worse outcomes than their peers. This often includes people with childhood onset long-term conditions, however I do not automatically focus on specific diagnostic groups.

With training in population health, health services research, behaviour change, implementation science, and occupational therapy, I integrate a wide range of perspectives to my research and collaborate with colleagues across disciplines.

To date, I have been awarded around £3.3 million of research funding by major UK funders, most of it as the lead investigator or as a supervisor for junior investigators. I have a rounded clinical academic portfolio, with active NHS involvement, and I supervise and mentor a range of next generation clinical academic leaders.

Current Projects

• National Institute for Health Research, ICA Senior Clinical Lecturer Fellowship. £487,670 Promoting health and functioning in children with physical limitations through participation in physical activities: the ActiveCHILD study. Kolehmainen N (PI). Funding period: 06/2016 – 01/2022

Selected Completed Projects

• Medical Research Council, UKRI-NIHR Strategic Priorities Fund: Tackling multimorbidity at scale. £98.468. Understanding early-life determinants and pathways to life-course multimorbidity. Kolehmainen N (PI). Funding period: 05/2020 – 10/2020

• National Institute for Health Research, HTA Evidence Synthesis. £251,448. EMPoWER: Cost-effectiveness of earlier provision of powered wheelchair interventions for children with mobility limitations. Kolehmainen N (Co-i). Funding period 04/2018 – 10/2019 Ref: 17/70/01 Open access final HTA report

• British Academy of Childhood Disability and Castang Foundation. £59,762. Promoting social participation to prevent mental health problems in children and young people with neurodisability: an interventions development study. Kolehmainen N (Co-I). PI: Brooks R. Funding period: 09/2017 – 08/2018 Main publication

• National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), CAT Doctoral Research Training Fellowship. £277,700. Improving health in children with disabilities: an intervention-development study to support participation in leisure in 8-12-year-olds with communication and mobility limitations. Primary supervisor (PI: McAnuff J.). 2015-2018

• National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Health Technology Assessment. £245,174 Standing frames as part of postural management for children with spasticity. What is the acceptability of a trial to determine efficacy of standing frames? Co-investigator. (PI: Kisler J.), 2015-2017 Open access final HTA report 

• Medical Research Council (MRC), Population Health Scientist Fellowship. £283,837. Participation in physical leisure pursuits and play in children with motor impairments: developing a theory- and evidence-based intervention. PI: Kolehmainen N. 2010-2014 Open access protocol

• Good Goals project (2006-2010), funded by the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office (CSO). PI: Kolehmainen N. See Open access publication evaluating the final intervention, or full Publications list for all the related papers. A related book chapter, and a later paper on a MAPi method to support implementation of participation-focused practice in NHS context.

Collaborators

I have substantial, on-going collaborations with, for example:

• Fiona Beyer, Newcastle University, UK
• Dr Heather Brown, Newcastle University, UK
• Prof Dawn Craig, NIHRIO and Newcastle University, UK
• Dr Nora Fayed, Queens University, Canada
• Victoria Harbottle, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust, UK
• Professor Cheryl Missiuna, McMaster University, Canada
• Professor Kia Nazarpour, Edinburgh University, UK
• Professor Mark Pearce, Newcastle University, UK
• Dr Lindsay Pennington, Newcastle University, UK
• Prof Tim Rapley, Northumbria University, UK
• Dr Ian Robson, Northumbria University, UK
• Dr Esther van Sluijs, University of Cambridge, UK
• Prof Mike Taggart, Newcastle University, UK
  
• Prof Sampsa Vanhatalo, University of Helsinki, Finland
• Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle, UK
• Sheffield Children's Trust, Sheffield, UK

I am always delighted to hear from anyone who would like to explore opportunities to do further learning with me. 

For research supervision, training, and examining, I am happy to be approached for expertise in everyday health behaviours of children (both population and clinical groups), especially movement and self-care behaviours. I am also very interested in collaborations that involve evidence synthesis or complex intervention research methods in the context of early life.

Postgraduate teaching and supervision

I have teaching experience in health services research and public health, health psychology, and applied research methods. I have designed new postgraduate teaching and training (e.g. in mixed methods, complex interventions), and delivered teaching and training to a range of audiences in a variety of settings. I have experience of examining across post-graduate degrees, including as an external PhD examiner.

Current PhD fellows/students and their topics:

• Sam Armitage, Self-care interventions and family support in childhood neurodisability. Newcastle University, UK
  
• Lelanie Brewer, Self-care development in under5s with neurodisability. Newcastle University, UK
• Fiona Beyer, Complex behaviour change interventions. Newcastle University, UK (part-time)
• Claire Marcroft, Routine surveillance of infants after neonatal care. Newcastle University, UK
  
• Ananya Namdeo, Mixed methods in systematic evidence syntheses. Newcastle University, UK

PhDs supervised to completion, and their topics:

• Michael Sykes, Audit and feedback implementation intervention. NIHR DRF. Newcastle University, UK (2020)
• Jennifer McAnuff, Leisure participation in young people with disability. NIHR CRDF. Newcastle University, UK (2019)
• Benita Powrie, Leisure participation in young people with disability. Queensland University, AUS (2018)

PhD/Mphil Viva examining: University of Groningen (2015), Glasgow Caledonian University (2013)

Masters research projects supervised to completion: MClinRes, Newcastle University (2015, 2019); MSc in Health Services and Public Health Research, University of Aberdeen (2013); and MSc in Professional Health and Social Care Studies, York St John’s University (2011).

Lecturing: MSc in Health Psychology, Northumbria University (in 2015); MSc in Health Service and Public Health Research, University of Aberdeen (2007-12) and Newcastle University (2016); and MSc in International Health and Management, University of Aberdeen (2009-12)

Health professional training

I have a long-standing commitment and a track record in growing clinical research capacity for a purpose of achieving better care and health outcomes. As an NIHR Academic Training Advocate (2015-2021), I have supported allied health, nursing and midwifery clinical academic capacity building nationally, and have extensive experience of supervising and mentoring health professionals across levels, from internships to pre-doctoral to doctoral and post-doctoral, and including a range of nurses and allied health professionals 

As part of our wider engagement work, I have also designed and delivered training to various health and care professionals, including internationally.

• Armitage S, McColl E, Kolehmainen N, Rapley T. Describing pre-appointment written materials as an intervention in the context of children’s NHS therapy services: a national survey. Health Expectations 2021, 24(2), 386-398.
• Sykes M, Thomson R, Kolehmainen N, Allan L, Finch T. Opportunities to enhance ward audit: a multi-site qualitative study. BMC Health Services Research 2021, 21, 226.
• Brooks R, Lambert C, Coulthard L, Pennington L, Kolehmainen N. Social participation to support good mental health in neurodisability. Child: Care, Health and Development 2021, 47(5), 675-684.
• Duff C, Kolehmainen N, McAnuff J. Specifying current physical therapy practice for paediatric trials: A survey of UK physical therapists. Child: Care, Health & Development 2021, 47(6), 794-804.
• Sykes M, Thomson R, Kolehmainen N, Allan L, Finch T. Impetus to change: A multi-site qualitative exploration of the national audit of dementia. Implementation Science 2020, 15, 45.
• Kolehmainen N, Marshall J, Hislop J, Kay D, Ternent L, Pennington L. Implementing participation-focused services: a study to develop the Method for using Audit and Feedback in Participation Implementation (MAPi). Child: Care, Health and Development 2020, 46(1), 37-45.
• Bray N, Kolehmainen N, McAnuff J, Tanner L, Tuersley L, Beyer F, Grayston A, Wilson D, Edwards RT, Noyes J, Craig D. Powered mobility interventions for very young children with mobility limitations to aid participation and positive development: the EMPoWER evidence synthesis. Health Technology Assessment 2020, 24(50), 1-194.
• Powrie B, Copley J, Turpin M, Ziviani J, Kolehmainen N. The meaning of leisure to children and young people with significant physical disabilities: Implications for optimising participation. British Journal of Occupational Therapy 2020, 83(2), 67-77.
• Goodwin J, Lecouturier J, Basu A, Colver A, Crombie S, Smith J, Howel D, McColl E, Parr JR, Kolehmainen N, Roberts A, Miller K, Cadwgan J. Standing frames for children with cerebral palsy: a mixed-methods feasibility study. Health Technology Assessment 2018, 22(50).
• Goodwin J, Lecouturier J, Crombie S, Smith J, Basu A, Colver A, Kolehmainen N, Parr JR, Howel D, McColl E, Roberts A, Miller K, Cadwgan J. Understanding frames: A qualitative study of young people's experiences of using standing frames as part of postural management for cerebral palsy. Child Care, Health and Development 2018, 44(2), 203-211.
• Goodwin J, Colver A, Basu A, Crombie S, Howel D, Parr JR, McColl E, Kolehmainen N, Roberts A, Lecouturier J, Smith J, Miller K, Cadwgan J. Understanding frames: A UK survey of parents and professionals regarding the use of standing frames for children with cerebral palsy. Child: Care, Health & Development 2018, 44(2), 195-202.
• McAnuff J, Brooks R, Duff C, Quinn M, Marshall J, Kolehmainen N. Improving participation outcomes and interventions in neurodisability: co-designing future research. Child: Care, Health and Development 2017, 43(2), 298-306.
• Armitage S, Swallow V, Kolehmainen N. Ingredients and change processes in occupational therapy for children: a grounded theory study. Scandinavia Journal of Occupational Therapy 2017, 24(3), 208-213.
• Colquhoun H, Squires J, Kolehmainen N, Fraser C, Grimshaw J. Methods for designing interventions to change healthcare professionals’ behaviour: a systematic review. Implementation Science 2017, 12, 30.
• Kolehmainen N, McCafferty S, Maniatopoulos G, Le-Couteur A, Vale L, Colver A. What constitutes successful commissioning of transition from children’s to adults’ services for young people with long-term conditions and what are the challenges? An interview study. BMJ Paediatrics Open 2017, 1, e000085.
• Sykes MJ, McAnuff J, Kolehmainen N. When is audit and feedback effective in dementia care? A systematic review. International Journal of Nursing Studies 2017, 79, 27-35.
• Hall A, Finch T, Kolehmainen N, James D. Implementing a video-based intervention to empower staff members in an autism care organization: a qualitative study. BMC Health Services Research 2016, 16, 608.
• Armitage S, McAnuff J, Featherstone J, Kolehmainen N. Implementing better healthcare: using audit and feedback to change therapists' practice. Association of Paediatric Physiotherapists Journal 2016, 7(1), 72-77.
• Russell D, Novak I, McCauley D, Shikako-Thomas K, Kolehmainen N, D'Costa R, Gorter JW. Developing a Knowledge Translation (KT) Strategy for a Centre of Childhood Disability Research: description of the Process. Scholarly and Research Communication 2015, 7(1), 0105237.
• McAnuff J, Boyes C, Kolehmainen N. Family-clinician interactions in children's health services: a secondary analysis of occupational therapists' practice descriptions. Health Expectations 2015, 18(6), 2236-2251.
• Kolehmainen N. Implementing goal setting in practice. In: Poulsen, A; Ziviani, J; Cuskelly, M, ed. Goal setting and motivation in therapy : engaging with children and parents. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2015, pp.112-119.
• Kolehmainen N, Ramsay C, McKee L, Missiuna C, Owen C, Francis J. Participation in physical play and leisure in children with motor impairments: a mixed methods study to generate evidence for developing an intervention. Physical Therapy 2015, 95(10), 1374-1386.
• Powrie B, Kolehmainen N, Turpin M, Ziviani J, Copley J. The meaning of leisure for children and young people with physical disabilities: a systematic evidence synthesis. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 2015, 57(11), 993–1010.
• Kolehmainen N, McAnuff J. "I should have discharged him but I felt guilty": a qualitative investigation of clinicians’ emotions in the context of implementing occupational therapy. Implementation Science 2014, 9, 141.
• Hackett KL, Newton JL, Deane KHO, Rapley T, Deary V, Kolehmainen N, Lendrem DW, Ng W-F. Developing a service user informed intervention to improve participation and ability to perform daily activities in primary Sjӧgren’s syndrome: a mixed methods study protocol. BMJ Open 2014, 4(8), e006264.
• Kolehmainen N. Neurodevelopmental treatment. British Journal of Occupational Therapy 2014, 77(1), 23-23.
• Shikako-Thomas K, Kolehmainen N, Ketelaar M, Bult M, Law M. Promoting Leisure Participation as Part of Health and Well-Being in Children and Youth With Cerebral Palsy. Journal of Child Neurology 2014, 29(8), 1125-1133.
• Kolehmainen N, Duncan EAS, Francis J. Clinicians’ actions associated with the successful patient care process: a content analysis of interviews with paediatric occupational therapists. Disability and Rehabilitation 2013, 35(5), 388-396.
• Russell DJ, Rosenbaum PL, Wright M, Avery LM, Kolehmainen N. Development and validation of the GMFM-66. In: Russell, DJ; Rosenbaum, PL; Wright, M; Avery, LM, ed. Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66 & GMFM-88) User's Manual. London, UK: Mac Keith Press, 2013.
• Kolehmainen N, McKee L, Francis J, Duncan EAS. Beliefs about responsibilities, the aims of therapy, and the structure of the therapy process: a qualitative study of caseload management issues in child health occupational therapy. Child: Care, Health and Development 2012, 38(1), 108-116.
• Kolehmainen N, Rosenbaum P, Rosenblum L. Epidemiology: patterns and causes of CP. In: Rosenbaum P and Rosenblum L, ed. Cerebral Palsy: From Diagnosis to Adult Life. London: Mac Keith Press, 2012.
• Kolehmainen N, Francis JJ. Specifying content and mechanisms of change in interventions to change professionals' practice: an illustration from the Good Goals study in occupational therapy. Implementation Science 2012, 7, 100.
• Kolehmainen N, MacLennan G, Ternent L, Duncan EAS, Duncan EM, Ryan S, McKee L, Francis J. Using shared goal setting to improve access and equity: a mixed methods study of the Good Goals intervention in children’s occupational therapy. Implementation Science 2012, 7(1), 76.
• Kolehmainen N, Francis JJ, Ramsay CR, Owen C, McKee L, Ketelaar M, Rosenbaum P. Participation in physical play and leisure: developing a theory- and evidence-based intervention for children with motor impairments. BMC Pediatrics 2011, 11, 100.
• Kolehmainen N, MacLennan G, Francis J, Duncan EAS. Clinicians' caseload management behaviours as explanatory factors in patients' length of time on caseloads: a predictive multilevel study in paediatric community occupational therapy. BMC Health Services Research 2010, 10, 249.
• Kolehmainen N, Francis J, Duncan EAS, Fraser C. Community professionals' management of client care: a mixed-methods systematic review. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy 2010, 15(1), 47-55.
• Cook J, Kolehmainen N. Invited commentary on “Methodological issues arising from a pilot RCT investigating the effectiveness of joint protection”. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 2010, 17(12), 654-664.
• Kolehmainen N, Duncan EAS, McKee L, Francis J. Mothers’ perceptions of their children’s occupational therapy processes: a qualitative interview study. British Journal of Occupational Therapy 2010, 73(5), 192-199.
• Kolehmainen N, Francis J, McKee L. To provide or not to provide treatment: that is the question. British Journal of Occupational Therapy 2008, 71(12), 510-523.