Dr Gillian Hewitt
Research Associate, DECIPher
Overview
I am a research associate in the DECIPHer research centre, where I am a member of the School Health Research Network team. My role involves delivery of a biennial Student Health and Wellbeing Survey and a School Environment Questionnaire in secondary schools across Wales and reporting findings from these surveys to a range of stakeholders.
Biography
I joined DECIPHer in the School of Social Sciences in November 2012 having previously worked in the joint Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences at St George's, University of London and Kingston University. There I worked on a 3-year observational study that explored interprofessional teamwork in acute and community stroke care from the perspectives of patients, family carers and clinical staff.
I originally trained in nutrition and completed a PhD in 2005 entitled, 'Improving the health, nutrition and quality of life of elderly Guyanese living in residential homes'. This research explored the use of participatory approaches with older people living in residential homes in a developing country context
Professional memberships
Member of the Nutrition Society
Publications
2021
- Murphy, S.et al. 2021. A Transdisciplinary Complex Adaptive Systems (T-CAS) approach to developing a national school-based culture of prevention for health improvement: the School Health Research Network (SHRN) in Wales. Prevention Science 22, pp. 50-61. (10.1007/s11121-018-0969-3)
2020
- Moore, G. F.et al. 2020. Socioeconomic status, mental wellbeing and transition to secondary school: analysis of the School Health Research Network/Health Behaviour in School-aged Children survey in Wales. British Educational Research Journal 46(5), pp. 1111-1130. (10.1002/berj.3616)
- Page, N.et al. 2020. Change over time in adolescent smoking, cannabis use and their association: findings from the School Health Research Network in Wales. Journal of Public Health (10.1093/pubmed/fdaa174)
- Morgan, K.et al. 2020. Sources of potential bias when combining routine data linkage and a national survey of secondary school-aged children: a record linkage study. BMC Medical Research Methodology 20, article number: 178. (10.1186/s12874-020-01064-1)
- Melendez-Torres, G.et al. 2020. Prevalence of gambling behaviours and their associations with socioemotional harm among 11 to 16 year olds in Wales: findings from the School Health Research Network survey. European Journal of Public Health 30(3), pp. 432-438. (10.1093/eurpub/ckz176)
- Long, S.et al. 2020. Testing the ‘zero-sum game’ hypothesis: An examination of school health policies and practices and inequalities in educational outcomes. Journal of School Health 90(5), pp. 415-424., article number: 10.1111/josh.12889. (10.1111/josh.12889)
2019
- Evans, R.et al. 2019. Adolescent self-harm prevention and intervention in secondary schools: A survey of staff in England and Wales. Child and Adolescent Mental Health 24(3), pp. 230-238. (10.1111/camh.12308)
- Young, H.et al. 2019. Dating and relationship violence victimization and perpetration among 11–16 year olds in Wales: a cross-sectional analysis of the School Health Research Network (SHRN) survey. Journal of Public Health (10.1093/pubmed/fdz084)
- Morgan, K.et al. 2019. Socio-economic inequalities in adolescent summer holiday experiences, and mental wellbeing on return to school: analysis of the School Health Research Network/Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey in Wales. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16(7), article number: 1107. (10.3390/ijerph16071107)
- Hewitt, G.et al. 2019. Student health and wellbeing in Wales: Report of the 2017/18 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Survey and School Health Research Network Student Health and Wellbeing Survey. Project Report. [Online]. Cardiff: Cardiff University. Available at: http://www.shrn.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/SHRN-HBSC-NR_31.05.2019.pdf
- Melendez-Torres, G.et al. 2019. Measurement invariance properties and external construct validity of the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale in a large national sample of secondary school students in Wales. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 17, article number: 139. (10.1186/s12955-019-1204-z)
2018
- Littlecott, H. J.et al. 2018. Health improvement and educational attainment in secondary schools: complementary or competing priorities? Exploratory analyses from the School Health Research Network in Wales. Health Education and Behavior 45(4), pp. 635-644. (10.1177/1090198117747659)
- Midgley, L. S.et al. 2018. Multilevel population-based cross-sectional study examining school substance-misuse policy and the use of cannabis, mephedrone and novel psychoactive substances among students aged 11-16 years in schools in Wales. BMJ Open 8(6), article number: e020737. (10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020737)
- Roberts, L.et al. 2018. Sexual health outcomes for young people in state care: Cross-sectional analysis of a national survey and views of social care professionals in Wales. Children and Youth Services Review 89, pp. 281-288. (10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.04.044)
- Young, H.et al. 2018. School practices important for students' sexual health: analysis of the school health research network survey in Wales. European Journal of Public Health 28(2), pp. 309-314. (10.1093/eurpub/ckx203)
- Hewitt, G.et al. 2018. Improving young people’s health and wellbeing through a school health research network: reflections on school-researcher engagement at the national level. Research for All 2(1), pp. 16-33. (10.18546/RFA.02.1.03)
2017
- Long, S. J.et al. 2017. Testing the 'zero-sum game' hypothesis: An examination of school health policy and practice and inequalities in educational outcomes. The Lancet 390(Supp 3), pp. S60. (10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32995-1)
- Moore, G. F.et al. 2017. School composition, school culture and socioeconomic inequalities in young people's health: multi-level analysis of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey in Wales. British Educational Research Journal 43(2), pp. 310-329. (10.1002/berj.3265)
- Demmler, J.et al. 2017. Educational attainment at age 10–11 years predicts health risk behaviors and injury risk during adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Health (10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.02.003)
- Long, S. J.et al. 2017. Comparison of substance use, subjective well-being and interpersonal relationships among young people in foster care and private households: a cross sectional analysis of the School Health Research Network survey in Wales. BMJ Open 7(2), article number: e014198. (10.1136/bmjopen-2016-014198)
- De Lacy, E.et al. 2017. Cross-sectional study examining the prevalence, correlates and sequencing of electronic cigarette and tobacco use among 11–16-year olds in schools in Wales. BMJ Open 6, article number: e012784. (10.1136/bmjopen-2016-012784)
2016
- Segrott, J.et al. 2016. Exploratory trial of a school-based alcohol prevention intervention with a family component. Health Education 116(4), pp. 410-431. (10.1108/HE-01-2015-0005)
- Moore, G.et al. 2016. Variations in schools’ commitment to health and implementation of health improvement activities: a cross-sectional study of secondary schools in Wales. BMC Public Health 16, article number: 138. (10.1186/s12889-016-2763-0)
- Hewitt, G.et al. 2016. The School Health Research Network: increasing impact by co-producing and utilising health improvement research evidence in the secondary school setting. Presented at: FUSE Knowledge Exchange in Public Health Conference, Newcastle, UK, 27-28 April 2016.
2015
- Segrott, J.et al. 2015. Preventing alcohol misuse in young people: an exploratory cluster randomised controlled trial of the Kids, Adults Together (KAT) programme. Public Health Research 3(15), pp. 1-188. (10.3310/phr03150)
- Hewitt, G.et al. 2015. Starting as we mean to go on: building knowledge translation and exchange into a School Health Research Network in Wales. Presented at: International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, Edinburgh, UK, 3-6 June 2015.
- Moore, G.et al. 2015. Electronic-cigarette use among young people in Wales: evidence from two cross-sectional surveys. BMJ Open 5(4), article number: e007072. (10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007072)
- Hewitt, G. 2015. The school health research network: progress, lessons and future plans. Presented at: Health Challenge Wales: Evidence for Policy Seminar Series. The School Health Research Network? achievements and future plans, Cardiff, 19 March 2015.
- Sims, S., Hewitt, G. and Harris, R. 2015. Evidence of collaboration, pooling of resources, learning and role blurring in interprofessional healthcare teams: a realist synthesis. Journal of Interprofessional Care 29(1), pp. 20-25. (10.3109/13561820.2014.939745)
- Hewitt, G., Sims, S. and Harris, R. 2015. Evidence of communication, influence and behavioural norms in interprofessional teams: a realist synthesis. Journal of Interprofessional Care 29(2), pp. 100-105. (10.3109/13561820.2014.941458)
- Hewitt, G.et al. 2015. Interprofessional teamwork in stroke care: is it visible or important to patients and carers?. Journal of Interprofessional Care 29(4), pp. 331-339. (10.3109/13561820.2014.950727)
- Sims, S., Hewitt, G. and Harris, R. 2015. Evidence of a shared purpose, critical reflection, innovation and leadership in interprofessional healthcare teams: a realist synthesis. Journal of Interprofessional Care 29(3), pp. 209-215. (10.3109/13561820.2014.941459)
2014
- Murphy, S. and Hewitt, G. 2014. Developing a school health research network in Wales: challenges and opportunities. Presented at: UKCRC Centres for Public Health Excellence Annual Conferen, Leeds, UK, 19 - 20 June 2014.
- Hewitt, G.et al. 2014. Building a school health research network for Wales: bringing policy, practice and research together. Presented at: UK Society for Behavioural Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting, Nottingham, 3 - 4 December 2014.
- Hewitt, G., Sims, S. and Harris, R. 2014. Using realist synthesis to understand the mechanisms of interprofessional teamwork in health and social care. Journal of Interprofessional Care 28(6), pp. 501-506. (10.3109/13561820.2014.939744)
2013
- Hewitt, G., Draper, A. K. and Ismail, S. 2013. Using participatory approaches with older people in a residential home in Guyana: Challenges and tensions. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology 28(1), pp. 1-25. (10.1007/s10823-012-9182-1)
- Sims, S.et al. 2013. How to develop a patient and carer advisory group in stroke care research. Nurse Researcher 20(3), pp. 6-11.
2012
- Hewitt, G., Sims, S. and Harris, R. G. 2012. The realist approach to evaluation research: An introduction. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 19(5), pp. 250-259.
2010
- Draper, A. K., Hewitt, G. and Rifkin, S. 2010. Chasing the dragon: Developing indicators for the assessment of community participation in health programmes. Social Science and Medicine 71(6), pp. 1102-1109. (10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.05.016)
2008
- Hall, A.et al. 2008. A review and meta-analysis of the impact of intestinal worms on child growth and nutrition. Maternal & Child Nutrition 4(s1), pp. 118-236. (10.1111/j.1740-8709.2007.00127.x)
2007
- Hewitt, G.et al. 2007. Improving food provision in a Guyanese home for the elderly: a participatory approach. Public Health Nutrition 10(6), pp. 552-558. (10.1017/S1368980007246804)
2006
- Hewitt, G.et al. 2006. The nutritional vulnerability of older Guyanese in residential homes. West Indian Medical Journal 55(5), pp. 334-339.
2005
- Brunner, E. J.et al. 2005. Dietary advice for reducing cardiovascular risk. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005(4) (10.1002/14651858.CD002128.pub2)
2001
- Brunner, E.et al. 2001. Making public health nutrition relevant to evidence-based action. Public Health Nutrition 4(6), pp. 1297-1299. (10.1079/PHN2001272)
Research Interests
- Evaluating complex interventions
- School-based health improvement
- Research networks
- Transdisciplinary action research
- Participatory research