Dr Sharon McCann

Biography

I am a qualitative health services researcher, with an interest in the design and delivery of person-centred trials.  I rejoined ACE (formerly HSRU)  in May 2021 following a career break, having previously spent 15 years in the Unit working across a broad range of qualitative and mixed-methods projects linked to trials. 

I currently lead mixed-methods process evaluations in many of our trials to improve the experience for potential participants and inform aspects of trial delivery. Work in this area is ongoing across the portfolio of CHaRT trials. 

Prizes and Awards

Chief Scientist Office (Scottish Government) Training Fellowship (2003-2006)

Research Overview

Research interests focus on women's health, clinical trials and embedding qualitative and mixed-methods process evaluations within trials to improve participant experiences and trial delivery. I also have an interest in qualitative evidence synthesis and environmental sustainability of healthcare and healthcare research.

Current Research

• Robot-assisted surgical services in the NHS: A service evaluation (NIHR HS&DR).
• Greener Trials: Building the evidence base to improve the environmental sustainability of healthcare and healthcare research (Wellcome Trust)
• The PARTIAL study: A randomised trial of the clinical and cost effectiveness of complex PARTIAL vs radical nephrectomy for clinically localised renal cell carcinoma (NIHR HTA). 
• Retention in RCTs - A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis from the participant perspective
• Recruitment to mental health RCTs - a rapid Qualitative Evidence Synthesis from the trial staff perspective. 

Past Research

• Multimorbidity and Pregnancy: Determinants, Clusters, Consequences & Trajectories (Mum-PrediCT. MRC)
• Learning from healthcare professionals' experiences of using remote consulting for 'Care and Support' Planning during COVID-19 (CASPER project).
• Health Care Improvement study:  To explore the systems, organisational and patient barriers and facilitators to quality improvement in primary dental care ( Chief Scientist Office)
• An ethnographic study of group decision-making and member roles to understand and improve how Trial Steering Committees and Trial Management Groups contribute to trial conduct (MRC Network of Hubs FOR Trials Methodology Research).
• Understanding the Dynamics of Organisational Culture Change in the NHS: Creating Safe Places For Patients and Staff (NHS  Service Delivery and Organisation R&D programme).
• MRC platform study aimed at developing the intervention and outcome components of a proposed randomised controlled trial of a national screening programme for open angle glaucoma (MRC)
• CSO Training Fellowship:  Patients’ perspectives on participation in randomised controlled trials (PhD)
• Issues in data monitoring and interim analysis of trials: the DAMOCLES project (HTA R&D)
• The REFLUX trial -Randomised trial evaluating laparoscopic surgery in adults with gastro- oesophageal reflux disease (HTA)
• Support groups for men who have prostate cancer, their families and friends: identifying best practice models (Prostate Cancer UK)

Collaborations

NHS Year of Care Partnership