Staff Profile

I am a Senior NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) Fellow and applied health researcher.

My background is in medicine, public health and applied health research. I am a medical doctor by background but am now fully an applied health researcher. I work across the NENC ARC and AHSN leading projects prioritised by regional stakeholders and evaluating initiatives implemented across different settings and pathways of care. I also serve as a link to the NHS Beneficial Changes Network to evaluate responses to the pandemic. 

I am an experienced mixed-methods researcher who is strongly committed to applied health research that has the potential to impact policy and practice. I have led projects related to respiratory, obstetrics and gynaecology, incontinence and musculoskeletal conditions. My research interests can be described under two themes: 1) development and evaluation of health interventions; 2) management of chronic conditions in primary and palliative care.

My methodological expertise includes systematic review, mixed methods methodology, qualitative research, conduct and analysis of RCTs, and implementation evaluation. I also have experience using a co-production model with stakeholders to develop health interventions and dissemination/implementation strategies.

I am an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. I actively contribute to teaching and supervision activities for both under and postgraduate students. I also supervise PhD candidates.

I am a PI and CoI on a number of externally funded projects.

• Establishing evidence to inform culturally competent mental health services (EVOLVE), PI, 2022-2024, NIHR
• Evaluating the impact of an evidence informed, digitally deployed, GP remote consultation video intervention that aims to reduce opioid prescribing in primary care, CoI, 2022-2023, NIHR
• North East Palliative and End of Life Care Collaborative, CoI, 2022-2023, NIHR
• Meeting Social Welfare Legal Needs in End of Life Care: Co-creation of a System-wide Research Partnership, CoI, 2022-2023, NIHR
• Understanding the mental health impact of transitioning to clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic for newly qualified doctors, nurses and paramedics, PI, 2022-2023, NIHR NENC ARC
• Shared medical appointments (SMA) in primary care for improving self-management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) amongst underserved groups: feasibility randomised control trial in North East and North Cumbria (NENC), 2022-2025, NIHR
• Excluded from Mental Health Services: Characteristics and Barriers, CoI, 2022-2024, NIHR
• The Effect of Deprivation on Post-Stroke Outcomes in the North East and North Cumbria, CoI, 2022-2023, NIHR

• Fu Y, Price C, Haining S, Gaffney B, Julien D, Whitty P, Newton JL. Cardiovascular-related conditions and risk factors in primary care for deprived communities before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: an observational study in Northern England. BMJ Open 2022, 12(11), e066868.
• Fu Y, Chapman EJ, Boland AC, Bennett MI. Evidence-based management approaches for patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A practice review. Palliative Medicine 2022, 36(5), 770-782.
• Yu G, Craig D, Fu Y. Mental health services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in high-income countries: protocol for a rapid review. BMJ Open 2022, 12(6), e062078.
• Llop-Medina L, Fu Y, Garcés-Ferrer J, Doñate-Martínez A. Palliative Care in Older People with Multimorbidities: A Scoping Review on the Palliative Care Needs of Patients, Carers, and Health Professionals. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2022, 19(6), 3195.
• Fu Y, Tang EY, Sowden S, Newton JL, Whitty P. Tailoring lipid management interventions to reduce inequalities in cardiovascular disease risk management in primary care for deprived communities in Northern England: a mixed-methods intervention development protocol. BMJ Open 2022, 12(7), e058951.
• Akeju D, Ziegler F, Dandadzi A, Nabirye E, Namisango E, Namukwaya E, Adejoh S, Okunade K, Fu Y, Ebenso B, Nkhoma K, Allsop M. The use and needs for data and information by health professionals supporting the delivery of palliative cancer care services in sub-Saharan Africa: A qualitative study. Health Informatics Journal 2022, 28(4).
• Fu Y, Mason A, Boland AC, Linklater G, Dimitrova V, Doñate-Martínez A, Bennett MI. Palliative Care Needs and Integration of Palliative Care Support in COPD: A Qualitative Study. CHEST 2021, 159(6), 2222-2232.
• Fu Y, Nelson EA, McGowan L. An evidence-based self-management package for urinary incontinence in older women: a mixed methods feasibility study. BMC Urology 2020, 20, 43.
• Allsop M, Ziegler L, Fu Y, Rudd S, Bennett MI. Is oxygen an effective treatment option to alleviate the symptoms of breathlessness for patients dying with COVID-19 and what are the potential harms?. Oxford COVID-19 Evidence Service: The Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine; University of Oxford, 2020.
• Fu Y, Nelson EA, McGowan L. Multifaceted self-management interventions for older women with urinary incontinence: a systematic review and narrative synthesis. BMJ Open 2019, 9(8), e028626.
• Aggarwal VR, Fu Y, Main CJ, Wu J. The effectiveness of self-management interventions in adults with chronic orofacial pain: A systematic review, Meta-analysis and Meta-regression. European Journal of Pain 2019, 23(5), 849-865.
• Fu Y, Yu G, McNichol E, Marczewski K, Closs SJ. The association between patient-professional partnerships and self-management of chronic back pain: a mixed methods study. European Journal of Pain 2018, 22(7), 1229-1244.
• Fu Y, McNichol E, Marczewski K, Closs JS. The Management of Chronic Back Pain in Primary Care Settings: Exploring Perceived Facilitators and Barriers to the Development of Patient–Professional Partnerships. Qualitative Health Research 2018, 28(9), 1462-1473.
• Fu Y, McNichol E, Marczewski K, Closs SJ. Exploring the Influence of Patient-Professional Partnerships on the Self-Management of Chronic Back Pain: A Qualitative Study. Pain Management Nursing 2016, 17(5), 339-349.
• Fu Y, Persson MSM, Bhattacharya A, Goh S-L, Stocks J, Van Middelkoop M, Bierma-Zeinstra SMA, Walsh D, Doherty M, Zhang W. Identifying placebo responders and predictors of response in osteoarthritis: a protocol for individual patient data meta-analysis. Systematic Reviews 2016, 5(183).
• Fu Y, McNichol E, Marczewski K, Closs SJ. Patient-professional partnerships and chronic back pain self-management: a qualitative systematic review and synthesis. Health & Social Care in the Community 2016, 24(3), 247-259.
• Persson M, Fu Y, Bhattacharya A, Goh SL, Middelkoop M, Bierma-Zeinstra SMA, Walsh D, Doherty M, Zhang WY. Relative efficacy of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and topical capsaicin in osteoarthritis: protocol for an individual patient data meta-analysis. Systematic Reviews 2016, 5(165).
• Fu Y, Yu G, McNichol E, Marczewski K, Closs SJ. The effects of patient-professional partnerships on the self-management and health outcomes for patients with chronic back pain: a quasi-experimental study. International Journal of Nursing Studies 2016, 59, 197-207.
• Yu G, Fu Y, Sessions JG, Wall M. A Multilevel Cross-Lagged Structural Equation Analysis for Reciprocal Relationship between Social Capital and Health. Social Science & Medicine 2015, 142, 1-8.