We are expert in conducting and developing new methods in systematic reviews.

Innovative approaches include crowd-resourced rapid review techniques. We led on the rapid review for the British Psychological Society’s response to COVID-19 pandemic.

Our members created a search strategy tool, SPIDER.

We develop and investigate complex interventions.

We lead on methods to understand the impact of taking part in research, for example on effects of measurement on behavioural and affective outcomes

We have developed multiple tools and measures to investigate psychological phenomenon such as quality of life and to assess the impact of interventions.

This project is an in-service evaluation of the inclusion of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) into the newborn screening panel. It is a collaboration between The University of Manchester, King’s College London, the University of Sheffield, Coventry University and City St George’s, University of London.

The study represents the longest follow-up of families who experience receiving a positive screening result, with parents followed until their child reaches five years of age. We have recruited parents and health professionals primarily from the sites where this new form of screening is being trialled (Manchester, Sheffield, Newcastle, Birmingham, South-East and South-West Thames, and Great Ormond Street), as well as additional sites where clinicians will be involved in the care of these babies and comparator groups.

SuMMiT-D is a recently completed NIHR programme grant, focused on developing and evaluating text messages to promote medication adherence in people with type 2 diabetes.

We carried out extensive development of this intervention, creating messages based on individual Behaviour Change Techniques (BCTs). This process involved a comprehensive literature review, alongside extensive user input and fidelity checking.

A definitive trial of over 1000 people with type 2 diabetes found effects on determinants of behaviour (such as intention), but not on behaviour. Importantly, the messages were acceptable, and recipients reporting that they helped them feel cared for.

We are now exploring how these messages can be integrated into digital diabetes services that are routinely delivered to people with type 2 diabetes.

Visit the SuMMiT-D website.

DIPLOMA is a recently completed NIHR programme grant, evaluating the national NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP) in England. The NHS DPP is a nine-month behaviour change intervention for people at high risk of type 2 diabetes, delivered by multiple providers. It was introduced in 2016, with a digital version added in 2019.

DIPLOMA conducted a comprehensive long-term evaluation of the programme’s implementation, uptake and effectiveness. We also carried out an extensive fidelity assessment, examining programme, staff, delivery of behaviour change techniques, and receipt (whether patients used the techniques).

Our findings directly influenced NHS policy and service delivery. We contributed behavioural science expertise to the national re-commissioning process and worked with NHS England to strengthen behaviour change content.

Visit the DIPLOMA website.

HED-LINE is a recently completed NIHR programme grant, evaluating the early roll-out of the NHS ‘Healthy Living programme for people with type 2 diabetes’ in England. Healthy Living is a free web-based self-management programme supporting lifestyle changes such as increased physical activity and healthier eating.

Based on the evidence-based ‘HeLP-Diabetes’ trial, HED-LINE assessed whether the programme remained effective when delivered nationally in real-world settings.

We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of uptake, implementation, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, alongside a fidelity assessment of the behaviour change content. Findings were regularly shared with NHS England and the service provider, informing ongoing improvements to the programme’s design and delivery.

Visit the HED-LINE website.

MyWay Diabetes is a digital diabetes self-management platform, available via website and mobile app, offering education and support for people with diabetes. Implemented in Scotland since 2008, it is now being rolled out across Greater Manchester, Somerset and North West London.

An NIHR-funded (i4i) evaluation of its implementation in England is underway. As part of this mixed-methods evaluation, we are conducting qualitative research with healthcare professionals, existing users, and people with diabetes who have not used the service across the three regions.

This work will explore the acceptability, usability and implementation of MyWay across diverse groups, and identify how the service can be improved.

Funded by the ESRC, RARE aims to stimulate and capture public conversation related to one of the biggest changes in how we think about health: what does it mean to have a rare condition and how may we all become ‘RARE’ when genomics becomes part of mainstream healthcare?

We are focusing on the psychological, ethical and economic debates, and in turn how social science is helping to shape future healthcare.

The main thread of RARE is a series of publicly accessible conversations (initially a podcast), which explores the concept of RARE, its current impact, and how we can alter that impact.

To learn more and listen to the podcasts, please visit the RARE/D website.

The Breast-Cancer Predict study (BC-Predict) assessed of introducing risk-stratified screening into the NHS Breast Screening Programme.  Currently, most women aged 50–71 are offered screening every three years, despite wide variation in individual breast cancer risk.

An NIHR programme grant developed the BC-Predict programme, enabling women’s risk to be calculated as part of routine screening practice. A large study involving 18,000 women in North West England found no evidence of major harms (e.g. increased anxiety or workload) and enabled more frequent screening for those at higher risk.

A national stakeholder meeting concluded that risk-stratified screening is likely to be implemented.  Follow-up work is now supporting this transition, with findings disseminated widely, including at the House of Lords.

Visit the BC-Predict website.

The Breast CANcer Risk Assessment in Younger women study (BCAN-RAY) evaluated the feasibility and acceptability of a comprehensive breast cancer risk assessment in a diverse population of women aged 30–39 years without a strong family history of breast cancer.

A total of 750 women participated, with no evidence of major psychological harms (e.g. anxiety, cancer worry, or decisional regret). Risk assessment and feedback were well accepted, and engagement with screening and preventive strategies was high among those at increased risk.

However, overall uptake was low with, particularly among women in the most deprived areas and those among ethnic minority groups. Follow-up work is exploring alternative delivery models to improve reach and equity of access.

Funding was provided by the International Alliance for Cancer Early Detection, The Christie Charity, The Shine Bright Foundation and Tony Thornley.

The breast density community project aimed to assess the acceptability to 30–49-year-old women receiving and healthcare professionals delivering a new breast density device (Mi~Scan®) in primary care and community settings. Overall acceptability of the device and appointment process was good across delivery settings and different ethnic groups. There was strong uptake of Black women (35.6% compared to 1% in BCAN-RAY) suggesting that delivering risk assessments in community settings will support greater inclusion of underserved communities. We are now exploring whether the device can be used in a trial as part of a more comprehensive breast cancer risk assessment based in primary care.

Funding for this study was provided by: Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance, The Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal Fund and NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre.

The Proactive Risk Evaluation for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer in younger women study (PREVENT-Breast) evaluates introducing a breast cancer risk assessment service into the NHS via primary care for women aged 30–49, with a focus on underserved and minoritised communities.

Early engagement work in Manchester involved groups facing social, cultural, and systemic barriers to screening, including South Asian and Roma women, those with long-term anxiety and/or depression, learning disabilities and/or autism, and women from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Participants supported the approach, but highlighted key priorities: accessible locations, female healthcare professionals, clear data privacy, simple processes, tailored communication, and community-based awareness.

These insights informed co-design with Black and South Asian women. Tailored materials are now being tested in primary care to assess their impact on uptake.

The study is a collaboration between The University of Manchester and the University of Cambridge, funded by Cancer Research UK (ACED), NIHR Manchester BRC, and MAHSC.

This award winning project introduces Year 6 pupils to psychology and life at The University of Manchester. It is run by Dr Debbie Smith and Dr Elizabeth McManus

This project is a collaboration of health psychology professionals who aim to understand, drive and evaluate behaviour change within health partnerships between high and middle or low-income countries.

It is run by Professor Lucie Byrne-Davis, Professor Jo Hart and Dr Eleanor Bull.