Kate Flemming
Professor and Head of Department
Profile
Biography
Prof Kate Flemming is a highly experienced academic, internationally known for her leading research and service innovation in palliative care nursing. Kate is leading on the integration of research and teaching in our new nursing curriculum in the Department of Health Sciences, bringing together our world leading researchers with the best teachers in nurse education. Kate leads by example through her pioneering clinical leadership and research in Palliative Care within the Hospice and community settings.
Kate’s research programme focuses on complex interventions including patient and carer experience of palliative care across different service models, disease types and morbidities, including motor neurone disease. This work is closely integrated with her methodological expertise in qualitative evidence synthesis. Kate is internationally known for her quality approach to research and acts as co-convener of the Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group. Kate has recently worked with the WHO on the use of qualitative evidence synthesis to inform guideline development for complex interventions.
Kate also leads the integration of research into teaching.
Qualifications
- PhD
- MSc
- BSc (Hons)
- RN
Departmental roles
- Deputy-chair Departmental Research Committee (Research Integration and Career Support)
- Joint Departmental REF lead
Research
Overview
Kate's research interests are in the role of the synthesis of qualitative research for policy and practice; the management of pain in advanced cancer; educational and support needs of patients, health care professionals and carers at the end of life; and smoking in pregnancy.
Projects
- Promoting health and protecting the environment: a systematic review of qualitative research of behaviours with health and environmental benefits. Public Health Research Consortium (co-applicant)
- Improving the Management of Pain from Advanced Cancer in the Community (IMPACCT), NIHR Programme Grant for Applied Research (co-applicant, University of Leeds/University of York)
- Self-management of pain relief, nausea and constipation for patients approaching the end of life, NIHR HTA (co-applicant, University of Leeds/University of York)
- Barriers and facilitators to smoking cessation in pregnancy and following childbirth, NIHR HTA (co-applicant, University of Stirling/University of York)
- Do older carers of patients dying with non-cancer diagnoses have different experiences and needs for support? A qualitative study, British Medical Association Strutt and Harper Research Fund (co-applicant)
- Family carers’ perceptions on their educational needs when providing end of life care: a systematic review of qualitative research, Dimbleby Marie Curie Cancer Care Research Fund (principle investigator)
- Using qualitative research to inform interventions to reduce smoking in pregnancy in England: a systematic review of qualitative studies, Department of Health, Public Health Research Consortium, (co-applicant)
- The palliative care needs of people with motor neurone disease (MND) and their informal caregivers. Marie Curie/Motor Neurone Disease Association, (PI Dr Kate Flemming, University of York) 2017-2018
- The effectiveness and the expectations and experiences of patients and their families in palliative care settings of reflexology, massage and aromatherapy: a systematic review. Marie Curie, (PI Dr Bridget Candy, University College London) 2017-2018
Research group(s)
Supervision
Kate would be interested in supervising PhDs in the following areas: palliative and end of life care, qualitative research in smoking in pregnancy, methods for the synthesis of qualitative research and mixed methods research.
Teaching
Undergraduate
SSPRD modules:
- Palliative and End of Life Care, Level 5 and Level 6
Postgraduate
- Qualitative Health Research
- Evidence Synthesis
- Masters and PhD student supervision
External activities
Editorial duties
- Co-convenor of Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group (2002-2012)
- Trustee, St Leonard’s Hospice, York (2017-date)
