School of Medicine

Education & Qualifications

July 1980 - Final MB BCh UWCM Cardiff

May 1984 - DRCOG

July 1985 - MRCGP

Oct 1996 – MD Thesis ‘A Risk Scoring System for the Prediction of Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia’ UWCM

Selected Recent Publications

Dowrick C, Lehtinen V, Dalgard O.S., Casey P, Wilkinson C, Lasa L, Page H, Dunn G, Wilkinson G.  Depressive disorders in Europe: prevalence figures from the ODIN study. The British Journal of Psychiatry 2001: 179; 308-316.

Holloway R, Wilkinson C, Peters T.J., Russell I, Cohen D, Hale J, Rogers C, Lewis H. Cluster-randomised trial of risk communication to enhance informed uptake of cervical screening. British Journal of General Practice 2003; 53 493 620-625.

Dunn G, Maracy M, Dowrick C, Ayoso Mateos J.L, Dalgard O.S, Lehtinen V, Casey P, Wilkinson C, Vazquez-Barquero J.L. Estimating psychological treatment effects from a randomised controlled trial with both non-compliance and loss to follow-up. The British Journal of Psychiatry 2003; 183 323-331.

Griffith G.L, Edwards R.T, Gray J, Wilkinson C, Turner J, France B, Bennett P. Estimating the survival benefits gained from providing national cancer genetic services to women with a family history of breast cancer. British Journal of Cancer 2004; 90 1912-1919.

Selected Projects

Project Name: FOLATED – Folate augmentation of treatment – evaluation for depression.
Funder: Health Technology Assessment Programme
Duration: 33 months
Value: 1.4 M multicentre trial ;  144,463 CU North Wales – CW is PI for CU.
Background/Introduction: Depression is common, debilitating and treatable; one in four people experience it during their lives.  The majority are treated in primary care and only half respond well to active treatment.  Evidence suggests that folate may be a useful adjunct to antidepressant treatment but this has not been the subject of a randomised trial to date.
Aims: To establish the effect of folate augmentation in new or continuing treatment of depression in primary, intermediate or secondary care.  Secondary objectives are to evaluate cost-effectiveness of folate augmentation, how response to antidepressant treatment.
Keywords: Depression, folic acid, effectiveness, randomised controlled trial.

Project Name: What is the optimal role of primary care in the follow up of patients with prostate cancer?.
Funder: Cancer Research UK
Duration: 2006-08
Value: £250,000
Background/Introduction: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosis in men in the UK with over 30,000 incident cases annually.  Men require many years of follow-up following initial diagnosis and treatment; primary care is potentially well placed to deliver this.  A joint report from professional bodies in primary and radiologists suggests up to 70% of prostate cancer patients could receive follow-up in primary care without detriment to either recurrence detection or psychosocial support.  However, evidence about how this might be achieved is limited.
Aims: The aims of this study are to examine the evidence informing follow-up practice and how this is incorporated into current guidance and protocols; to comprehensively describe current practice of prostate cancer follow-up in both primary and secondary care in the UK; and to identify patients’ views on follow-up and their information and support needs.
Keywords: Prostate cancer, primary care, patient preferences

Project Name: Evaluation of National Exercise Referral Scheme
Funder: Wales Assembly Government
Duration: 2006-2009
Value: £333,021
Background/Introduction:
Physical activity confers many health benefits, reducing risk from coronary heart disease and is effective as part of treatment for depression.  Exercise referral schemes have become increasingly popular and available, however, there is no review level evidence that such schemes are effective and cost-effective.
Aims: The aim of the project is to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Wales’ national exercise referral scheme.  This will be done by conducting a pragmatic randomised controlled trial with nested process and economic evaluations. 
Keywords: Exercise referral schemes, depression, randomised controlled trial

Project Name: DAMASK - a pragmatic randomised trial to evaluate whether GPs should have direct access to MRI for patients with suspected internal derangement of the knee
Funder: Medical Research Council
Duration: 2002-06
Value: £553,122
Background/Introduction: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an accurate diagnostic test for internal derangement of the knee which usually presents in primary care.  However,there is uncertainty about when it should enter the diagnostic pathway for patients with knee problems, and practice varies across the UK.
Aims: The MRC funded DAMASK trial evaluates whether general practitioner (GP) direct access to MRI affects subsequent diagnosis and management decisions, improves patient outcomes, and reduces costs.
Keywords: Knee pain, primary care, open access, radiology