Lecturer/Deputy Programme Manager (Health and Social Care)
Teaching and supervision
Research interests for potential research students
My research interests are: breast health/cancer, females’ health and well-being, public health, health education, health promotion, intervention design and evaluation, survey development, reliability and validity assessment, mixed methods
Research
I hold a PhD in Health and Applied Social Sciences from St Mary's University, Twickenham, London. I conduct research in the areas of health and social care and public health. I have extensive research experience in the areas of breast health/cancer and breast health education for adolescent girls. My PhD research focused on evaluating the impact of a comprehensive breast health education intervention on adolescent girls’ breast health knowledge, attitudes to breasts and engagement with positive breast habits, (e.g. checking breasts for signs of breast cancer, wearing a sports bra), within school settings.
Publications
Article
Omrani, Atefeh, Wakefield-Scurr, Joanna, Smith, Jenny, Wadey, Ross and Brown, Nicola (2020) Breast Education Improves Adolescent Girls' Breast Knowledge, Attitudes to Breasts and Engagement With Positive Breast Habits. Frontiers in Public Health, 8. ISSN 2296-2565
Brown, Nicola, Campbell, Christine, Owen, Craig and Omrani, Atefeh (2020) How do girls’ magazines talk about breasts? Feminism & Psychology, 30 (2). pp. 206-226. ISSN 0959-3535
Omrani, Atefeh, Wakefield-Scurr, Joanna, Smith, Jenny and Brown, Nicola (2019) The Development and Psychometric Properties of A Survey to Assess Breast Knowledge and Attitudes of Adolescent Girls. American Journal of Health Education, 50 (6). pp. 374-389. ISSN 1932-5037
Omrani, Atefeh, Wakefield-Scurr, Joanna, Smith, Jenny and Brown, Nicola (2018) Survey Development for Adolescents Aged 11–16 Years: A Developmental Science Based Guide. Adolescent Research Review, 4 (4). pp. 329-340. ISSN 2363-8346
Brown, Nicola, Smith, Jenny, Brasher, Amanda, Omrani, Atefeh and Wakefield-Scurr, Joanna (2017) Breast cancer education for schoolgirls: an exploratory study. European Journal of Cancer Prevention, 27 (5). pp. 443-448. ISSN 0959-8278
Etemadifar, Shahram, Hosseiny, Razie Sadat, Ziraki, Akram, Omrani, Atefeh and Alijanpoor, Masoome (2016) The Relationship Between Spiritual Well-Being and Life Satisfaction in Females With Infertility. Women's Health Bulletin, 3 (4). ISSN 2345-5136
I have 9+ years of research experience in multidisciplinary teams including public health, healthcare, midwifery, and health education. I have experience of different methodologies including survey design and development as well as implementation and evaluation of interventions, utilising both quantitative and qualitative methods (e.g. surveys, interviews and focus groups), and published papers in these areas.
My research interests are: breast health/cancer, females’ health and well-being, public health, health education, health promotion, intervention design and evaluation, survey development, reliability and validity assessment, mixed methods
I welcome enquiries on potential PhD research projects on the above and related research areas.
I became a Fellow of Advance HE (formerly the Higher Education Academy) in August 2022.
In addition to a PhD, I hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Education "PGCE", an MSc in Midwifery Studies (leadership and management) from Middlesex University, London and a BSc in Midwifery from Iran University of Medical Sciences. I worked as a lead midwife in primary care settings for four years; as part of my role, I was in charge of organising teaching sessions with the aim of increasing the health and well-being of females.
I have 13+ years of combined experience in healthcare, research, HE and FE teaching and course management.