Professor Jill Francis

Professor Jill Francis The University of Aberdeen School of Medicine & Dentistry Personal Chair work +44 (0)1224 438145 work fax +44 (0)1224 438165 pref j.francis@abdn.ac.uk pref Level 3 Health Sciences Building Foresterhill Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD Scotland, UK

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Biography

After completing a PhD in psychology at the University of Melbourne (Australia), Jill was a lecturer at La Trobe University for 6 years before relocating to the UK in 2002. She is currently Head of the Aberdeen Health Psychology Group and an Associate Editor for the British Journal of Health Psychology. Within the Health Services Research Unit, she is the lead for Health Psychology generally, lead for the Health Professional Behaviour Change theme and instigator of the Behaviour in Trials theme in collaboration with the Centre for Healthcare Randomised Trials (CHaRT). Jill collaborates with teams in Scotland, England, Canada and Australia. With these teams she has published research based on behavioural approaches to translating evidence into practice, to improve health and health care.

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Research Interests

Jill's current research involves the development and application of theories and methods of health psychology to two areas of health services research: 

(1) The translation of evidence into behaviour, to improve health. Includes investigations of the way individual healthcare professionals and clinical teams change and regulate their behaviour in order to provide high quality care; the development of behaviour change interventions to improve practice in a range of clinical areas; the development of taxonomies of behaviour change techniques which are the building blocks of interventions to change health-related behaviour. 

(2) Behavioural components of trials. This emerging field concerns methodological aspects in the conduct of evaluations of complex clinical interventions; ‘process evaluation’ studies which facilitate the interpretation of trial findings through investigating the mechanisms underlying behaviour change; and the use of the body of knowledge from health psychology to inform the development and delivery of behaviour change interventions. 

Research activities in the service of these two areas of investigation include (3) operationalising and applying theories of behaviour; (4) developing and evaluating interventions to change behaviour; and (5) measuring process and outcome variables based on theory; and (6) interpreting the data generated from these activities in order to inform and refine theories of behaviour.  

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Current Research

• Selective Decontamination of the Digestive tract in critically ill patients treated in Intensive Care Units (The SuDDICU study)
•  A web-based platform to support the development, delivery, modelling and evaluation of complex interventions using Intervention Modelling Experiments.
• Methods for strengthening evaluation and implementation: specifying components of behaviour change interventions.
• Research into the prevalence and causes of prescribing errors made by junior doctors (funded by Chief Scientist Office)
• What health care experiences matter to patients and how can we assign value to them for policy making purposes. (funded by MRC)
• Translating Research into practice: Guidance based Implementation of Dental Evidence ('TRIADS').
• Developing the intervention and outcomes components of a proposed RCT of screening for open angle glaucoma. (funded by MRC)
• Canada 'PRIME': Process Modelling in Implementation Research (funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; CIHR)
• Looking inside the black box: A theory based process evaluation alongside a RCT of printed educational materials (The Ontario Printed Educational Message (OPEM) trial) (CIHR)
• KT ICEBeRG (Knowledge Translation Interdisciplinary Capacity Enhancement: Behavioural Research Group) (funded by CIHR)
• GaP: Acceptability of genetic testing for Paget's disease (funded by UK MRC)
• Evidence-based care of people with dementia: Investigating Research Implementation Strategies ('IRIS'). (funded by Australian NH&MRC)
• Using psychological theory to explore patients’ behavioural choices in the context of urological cancer (funded by UCAN, Aberdeen)
• IES platform: Developing the intervention & outcome components of a proposed RCT of screening for open angle glaucoma (funded by UK MRC)
• Randomised controlled trial comparing foam sclerotherapy, alone or in combination with endovenous laser therapy, with conventional surgery as a treatment for varicose veins (funded by UK HTA).
• Improving the delivery of care for patients with diabetes through understanding optimised team work and organisation in primary care. (funded by Diabetes UK)
• Improving the care of people with acute low back pain by allied health professionals: a cluster randomized controlled trial (funded by Australian NH&MRC)
• A web-based tool to support the development, delivery, modelling and evaluation of complex interventions: Intervention Modelling Experiments (IMEs) (funded by Chief Scientist Office)
• Interventions to optimise the practice of transfusion (‘INTOPT’) – Understanding transfusion prescribing behaviour in two clinical areas (funded by England Department of Health)
• Improving the health outcomes of people following traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury through a program to increase the use of research evidence in practice (funded by Victorian Neurotrauma Initiative, Australia)
• Improving the care of people with acute low back pain by allied health professionals: a cluster randomized controlled trial (funded by Australian NH&MRC)

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Publications

Contributions to Journals

Articles

• Garner, MWJ., Francis, JJ. & Ning, Z. (2011). 'A framework for the evaluation of patient information leaflets'. Health Expectations, vol in press.
• Kolehmainen, N., Francis, JJ., McKee, L. & Duncan, EA. (2011). '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.
  [Online] DOI: DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01220.x
• Michie, S., Abraham, C., Eccles, M., Francis, JJ., Hardeman, W. & Johnston, M. (2011). 'Strengthening evaluation and implementation by specifying components of behaviour change interventions: a study protocol Implementation Science: a study protocol'. Implementation Science, vol 6, no. 1, pp. 1-8.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-6-10
  [Online] AURA: Michie_2011.pdf
• Treweek, S., Ricketts, IW., Francis, J., Eccles, M., Bonetti, D., Pitts, NB., Maclennan, G., Sullivan, F., Jones, C., Weal, M. & Barnett, K. (2011). 'Developing and evaluating interventions to reduce inappropriate prescribing by general practitioners of antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections: a randomised controlled trial to compare paper-based and web-based modelling experiments'. Implementation Science, vol 6, no. 1, pp. 16.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-6-16
  [Online] AURA: Treweek_2011.pdf
• Presseau, J., Francis, JJ., Campbell, NC. & Sniehotta, FF. (2011). 'Goal conflict, goal facilitation, and health professionals' provision of physical activity advice in primary care: An exploratory prospective study'. Implementation Science, vol 6, pp. 73.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-6-73
  [Online] AURA: Presseau_2011.pdf
• Eccles, MP., Hrisos, S., Francis, JJ., Stamp, E., Johnston, M., Hawthorne, G., Steen, N., Grimshaw, JM., Elovainio, M., Presseau, J. & Hunter, M. (2011). 'Instrument development, data collection, and characteristics of practices, staff, and measures in the Improving Quality of Care in Diabetes (iQuaD) Study'. Implementation Science, vol 6, pp. 61.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-6-61
  [Online] AURA: Eccles_2011.pdf
• Burr, JM., Campbell, MK., Campbell, SE., Francis, JJ., Greene, A., Hernández, R., Hopkins, D., McCann, SK., Vale, LD. & Glaucoma screening Platform Study group (2011). 'Developing the clinical components of a complex intervention for a glaucoma screening trial: a mixed methods study'. BMC Medical Research Methodology, vol 11, pp. 54.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1471-2288-11-54
  [Online] AURA: Glaucoma_Platform_Screening_2011.pdf
• Prior, ME., Che Hamzah, J., Francis, JJ., Ramsay, CR., Castillo, MM., Campbell, SE., Azuara-Blanco, A. & Burr, JM. (2011). 'Pre-validation methods for developing a patient reported outcome instrument'. BMC Medical Research Methodology, vol 11, no. 1, pp. 112.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1471-2288-11-112
  [Online] AURA: Prior_2011.pdf
• Kolehmainen, N., Francis, JJ., Ramsay, CR., Owen, C., McKee, L., Ketelaar, M. & Rosenbaum, P. (2011). 'Participation in physical play and leisure: developing a theory- and evidence-based intervention for children with motor impairments'. BMC Pediatrics, vol 11, pp. 100.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-11-100
  [Online] AURA: Kolehmainen_2011.pdf
• Dickinson, HO., Hrisos, S., Eccles, MP., Francis, J. & Johnston, M. (2010). 'Statistical considerations in a systematic review of proxy measures of clinical behaviour'. Implementation Science, vol 5, pp. 20.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-5-20
  [Online] AURA: Dickinson 2010.pdf
• Kolehmainen, N., Duncan, EA., McKee, L. & Francis, JJ. (2010). 'Mothers' perceptions of their children's occupational therapy processes: a qualitative interview study'. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, vol 73, no. 5, pp. 192-199.
• Porteous, T., Francis, J., Bond, C. & Hannaford, P. (2010). 'Temporal stability of beliefs about medicines: implications for optimising adherence'. Patient Education and Counseling, vol 79, no. 2, pp. 225-230.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2009.07.037
  [Online] AURA: Porteous 2010.pdf
• Clarkson, JE., Ramsay, CR., Eccles, MP., Eldridge, S., Grimshaw, JM., Johnston, M., Michie, S., Treweek, S., Walker, A., Young, L., Black, I., Bonetti, D., Cassie, H., Francis, J., Mackenzie, G., Macpherson, L., McKee, L., Pitts, N., Rennie, J., Stirling, D., Tilley, C., Torgerson, C. & Vale, L. (2010). 'The translation research in a dental setting (TRiaDS) programme protocol'. Implementation Science, vol 5, no. 1, pp. 57.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-5-57
  [Online] AURA: Clarkson 2010.pdf
• Kolehmainen, N., Francis, JJ., Duncan, EA. & Fraser, C. (2010). 'Community professionals' management of client care: a mixed-methods systematic review'. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, vol 15, no. 1, pp. 47-55.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1258/jhsrp.2009.008157
  [Online] AURA: Kolehmainen2010.pdf
• Kolehmainen, N., MacLennan, G., Francis, JJ. & Duncan, EAS. (2010). '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, vol 10, no. 249.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-10-249
  [Online] AURA: Kolehmainen 2010.pdf
• Presseau, J., Sniehotta, FF., Francis, JJ. & Gebhardt, WA. (2010). 'With a little help from my goals: Integrating intergoal facilitation with the theory of planned behaviour to predict physical activity'. British Journal of Health Psychology, vol 15, no. 4, pp. 905-919.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1348/135910710X494105
  [Online] AURA: Presseau2010.pdf
• Francis, JJ., Johnston, M., Robertson, C., Glidewell, L., Entwistle, V., Eccles, MP. & Grimshaw, JM. (2010). 'What is an adequate sample size?: Operationalising data saturation for theory-based interview studies'. Psychology & Health, vol 25, no. 10, pp. 1229-1245.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1080/08870440903194015
  [Online] AURA: Francis 2009.pdf
• Ivers, NM., Tu, K., Francis, J., Barnsley, J., Shah, B., Upshur, R., Kiss, A., Grimshaw, JM. & Zwarenstein, M. (2010). 'Feedback GAP: study protocol for a cluster-randomized trial of goal setting and action plans to increase the effectiveness of audit and feedback interventions in primary care'. Implementation Science, vol 5, pp. 98.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-5-98
  [Online] AURA: Francis 2010.pdf
• Cuthbertson, BH., Francis, J., Campbell, MK., MacIntyre, L., Seppelt, I., Grimshaw, J. & SuDDICU study groups (2010). 'A study of the perceived risks, benefits and barriers to the use of SDD in adult critical care units (the SuDDICU study)'. Trials, vol 11, pp. 117.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1745-6215-11-117
  [Online] AURA: Cuthbertson 2010.pdf
• McKenzie, JE., O'Connor, DA., Page, MJ., Mortimer, DS., French, SD., Walker, BF., Keating, JL., Grimshaw, JM., Michie, S., Francis, JJ. & Green, SE. (2010). 'Improving the care for people with acute low-back pain by allied health professionals (the ALIGN trial): A cluster randomised trial protocol'. Implementation Science, vol 5, pp. -.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-5-86
  [Online] AURA: McKenzie 2010.pdf
• Eccles, MP., Francis, J., Foy, R., Johnston, M., Bamford, C., Grimshaw, JM., Hughes, J., Lecouturier, J., Steen, N. & Whitty, PM. (2009). 'Improving professional practice in the disclosure of a diagnosis of dementia: a modeling experiment to evaluate a theory-based intervention'. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, vol 16, no. 4, pp. 377-387.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1007/s12529-008-9023-3
  [Online] AURA: Eccles 2009.pdf
• Francis, J., Wileman, SM., Bekker, H., Barton, GR., Ramsay, CR. & REFLUX Trial Group (2009). 'Beliefs about surgery: Development and validation of an instrument to assess cognitive representations about surgery, in the context of a chronic illness'. Psychology & Health, vol 24, no. 10, pp. 1125-1137.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1080/08870440802071157
  [Online] AURA: Francis 2009b.pdf
• Boldero, JM., Robins, GL., Williams, BJ., Francis, J., Hampton, A. & Fourie, AJ. (2009). 'Relational discrepancies and emotion: The moderating roles of relationship type and relational discrepancy valence'. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, vol 12, no. 4, pp. 259-273.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-839X.2009.01290.x
  [Online] AURA: Boldero 2009.pdf
• Eccles, MP., Hrisos, S., Francis, JJ., Steen, N., Bosch, M. & Johnston, M. (2009). 'Can the collective intentions of individual professionals within healthcare teams predict the team's performance: developing methods and theory'. Implementation Science, vol 4, pp. 24.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-4-24
• Francis, J., Stockton, C., Eccles, MP., Johnston, M., Cuthbertson, B., Grimshaw, JM., Hyde, C., Tinmouth, A. & Stanworth, SJ. (2009). 'Evidence-based selection of theories for designing behaviour change interventions: using methods based on theoretical construct domains to understand clinicians' blood transfusion behaviour'. British Journal of Health Psychology, vol 14, no. 4, pp. 625-646.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1348/135910708X397025
  [Online] AURA: Francis2009a.pdf
• Francis, J., Tinmouth, A., Stanworth, SJ., Grimshaw, J., Johnston, M., Hyde, C., Stockton, C., Brehaut, JC., Fergusson, D. & Eccles, MP. (2009). 'Using theories of behaviour to understand transfusion prescribing in three clinical contexts in two countries: Development work for an implementation trial'. Implementation Science, vol 4, pp. 70.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-4-70
• Hrisos, S., Eccles, MP., Francis, J., Bosch, M., Dijkstra, R., Johnston, M., Grol, R., Kaner, EFS. & Steen, IN. (2009). 'Using psychological theory to understand the clinical management of type 2 diabetes in Primary Care: a comparison across two European countries'. BMC Health Services Research, vol 9, pp. 140.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-9-140
  [Online] AURA: Hrisos 2009.pdf
• Hrisos, S., Eccles, MP., Francis, J., Dickinson, HO., Kaner, EFS., Beyer, F. & Johnston, M. (2009). 'Are there valid proxy measures of clinical behaviour?: a systematic review'. Implementation Science, vol 4, pp. 37.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-4-37
• Eccles, MP., Hawthorne, G., Johnston, M., Hunter, M., Steen, N., Hrisos, S., Francis, J., Elovainio, M. & Grimshaw, J. (2009). 'Improving the delivery of care for patients with diabetes through understanding optimised team work and organisation in primary care'. Implementation Science, vol 4, pp. 22.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-4-22
• Presseau, J., Sniehotta, FF., Francis, JJ. & Campbell, NC. (2009). 'Multiple goals and time constraints: perceived impact on physicians' performance of evidence-based behaviours'. Implementation Science, vol 4, pp. 77.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-4-77
  [Online] AURA: Presseau 2009.pdf
• Entwistle, V., Prior, ME., Skea, ZC. & Francis, JJ. (2008). 'Involvement in treatment decision-making: its meaning to people with diabetes and implications for conceptualisation'. Social Science & Medicine, vol 66, no. 2, pp. 362-375.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.09.001
• Langston, AL., Johnston, M., Francis, J., Robertson, C., Campbell, MK., Entwistle, V., Marteau, T., MacLennan, G., Weinman, J., McCallum, M., Miedzybrodska, Z., Charnock, K. & Ralston, SH. (2008). 'Protocol for stage 2 of the GaP study (genetic testing acceptability for Paget's disease of bone): A questionnaire study to investigate whether relatives of people with Paget's disease would accept genetic testing and preventive treatment if they were available'. BMC Health Services Research, vol 8, no. 116.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-8-116
• Hrisos, S., Eccles, M., Johnston, M., Francis, JJ., Kaner, EFS., Steen, N. & Grimshaw, J. (2008). 'An intervention modelling experiment to change GPs’ intentions to implement evidence-based practice: Using theory-based interventions to promote GP management of upper respiratory tract infection without prescribing antibiotics #2'. BMC Health Services Research, vol 8, no. 10.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-8-10
• Francis, J., Eccles, MP., Johnston, M., Whitty, P., Grimshaw, JM., Kaner, EFS., Smith, L. & Walker, AE. (2008). 'Explaining the effects of an intervention designed to promote evidence-based diabetes care: a theory-based process evaluation of a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial'. Implementation Science, vol 3, no. 50.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-3-50
  [Online] AURA: Francis 2008.pdf
• Presseau, J., Sniehotta, F., Francis, J. & Little, BR. (2008). 'Personal projects analysis: opportunities and implications for multiple goal assessment, theoretical integration, and behaviour change'. European Health Psychologist, vol 10, no. 2, pp. 32-36.
• Grant, AM., Wileman, SM., Ramsay, CR., Bojke, L., Epstein, D., Sculpher, M., Macran, S., Kilonzo, MM., Vale, LD., Francis, J., Mowat, AG., Krukowski, ZH., Heading, R., Thursz, M., Russell, I., Campbell, MK. & REFLUX Trial Group (2008). 'The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of minimal access surgery amongst people with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a UK collaborative study. The REFLUX trial'. Health Technology Assessment, vol 12, no. 31.
  [Online] DOI: 10.3310/hta12310
• Kolehmainen, N., Francis, J. & McKee, L. (2008). 'To provide or not to provide treatment: that is the question'. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, vol 71, no. 12, pp. 510-523.
• Francis, J., Zwarenstein, M., Eccles, M., Shiller, S., Godin, G., Johnston, M., O'Rourke, K., Presseau, J. & Tetroe, J. (2007). 'Testing a TheoRY-inspired MEssage ('TRY-ME'): a sub-trial within the Ontario Printed Educational Message (OPEM) trial'. Implementation Science, vol 2, no. 39, pp. 1-26.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-2-39
• Zwarenstein, M., Tetroe, J., Godin, G., Graham, I., Lemyre, L., Eccles, M., Johnston, M., Francis, J., Hux, J., Legare, F. & Presseau, J. (2007). 'Looking inside the black box: A theory based process evaluation alongside a randomised controlled trial of printed educational materials (The Ontario Printed Educational Message (OPEM)) Trial'. Implementation Science, vol 2, no. 38, pp. 1-8.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-2-38
  [Online] AURA: Grimshaw 2007.pdf
• Johnston, M., Bonetti, DL., Joice, SA., Pollard, BS., Morrison, V., Francis, J. & MacWalter, R. (2007). 'Recovery from disability after stroke as a target for a behavioural intervention: Results of a randomised controlled trial'. Disability & Rehabilitation, vol 29, no. 14, pp. 1117-1127.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1080/03323310600950411
• Eccles, MP., Johnston, M., Hrisos, S., Francis, J., Grimshaw, J., Steen, N. & Kaner, EF. (2007). 'Translating clinicians' beliefs into implementation interventions (TRACII): A protocol for an intervention modeling experiment to change clinicians' intentions to implement evidence-based practice'. Implementation Science, vol 2.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-2-27
• Foy, R., Bamford, C., Francis, J., Johnston, M., Lecouturier, J., Eccles, M., Steen, N. & Grimshaw, J. (2007). 'Which factors explain variation in intention to disclose a diagnosis of dementia?: A theory-based survey of mental health professionals'. Implementation Science, vol 2.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-2-31
• Francis, J. & Improved Clinical Effectiveness through Behavioural Research Group (ICEBeRG) (2006). 'Designing theoretically-informed implementation interventions'. Implementation Science, vol 1, no. 4.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-1-4
• Francis, JJ., Boldero, JM. & Sambell, NL. (2006). 'Self-lines: A new, psychometrically sound, 'user-friendly' idiographic technique for assessing self-discrepancies'. Cognitive Therapy and Research, vol 30, no. 1, pp. 69-84.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1007/s10608-006-9009-x
• Foy, R., Walker, AE., Ramsay, CR., Penney, G. & Francis, J. (2005). 'Theory-based identification of barriers to quality improvement: induced abortion care'. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, vol 17, no. 2, pp. 147-155.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1093/intqhc/mzi017
• Foy, RC., Foot, B., Francis, J., Chakravarthy, U. & Wormald, RPL. (2005). 'Trends in provision of photodynamic therapy and clinician attitudes: a tracker survey of a new health technology'. BMC Health Services Research, vol 5, pp. 34.
  [Online] DOI: 10.1186/1472-6963-5-34

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