Dr Jo Brett

PhD, MSc, MA, PGD, PGC, BSc

Reader

Oxford School of Nursing and Midwifery

Role

Jo joined Oxford Brookes University in April 2014 as a Senior Research Fellow.  Prior to this she worked as a Research Fellow at Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick from 2006 to 2014; as a Research Fellow for the NICE National Collaborating Centre, Oxford from 2004 to 2006; and as a Research Associate at the Department of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford from 1994 to 2004.

Her current research interests are patient-centred care, quality of life, patient experiences and supportive health care needs in cancer survivorship. She is also interested in cancer prevention, and improving health care for patients with chronic diseases. 

She works as a qualitative research advisor for the NIHR Research Design Service and is a lead for the Healthy Ageing & Care Network at Oxford Brookes University

She has a PhD in Health Sciences from Warwick Medical School, an MSc in Evidence-Based Health Care from the University of Oxford, and MA in Applied Social Research Skills with distinction from University of Warwick.

Areas of expertise

  • Qualitative Research Methods
  • Patient and Public Involvement
  • Intervention Development
  • Mixed Methods

Teaching and supervision

Courses

Modules taught

Jo teaches qualitative research methods and introduction to patient and public involvement on the Professional Doctorate in Nursing Programme and on the Doctoral Training Programme in Health and Life Sciences. She also teaches research methods to undergraduates and masters students in Midwifery.

Supervision

Jo also supervises Phd students, Professional Doctorate in Nursing students, and MSc students in Nursing and Midwifery.

She welcomes enquiries from people interested in doing a PhD in:

  • Supportive cancer care
  • Other long-term conditions
  • Healthy aging
  • Qualitative research methods

Research Students

Name Thesis title Completed
Sara Matthews The psychosocial experiences and needs of oropharyngeal (HPV+ve) cancer patients and their primary informal caregivers following radical (chemo)radiotherapy Active

Research

She is currently involved in a range of national cancer survivorship and cancer screening studies.  In her role as lead for the Healthy Ageing and Care Research Network she is involved in developing grants to support the Healthy Ageing agenda both nationally and internationally.  She is also involved in cross-disciplinary research studies and collaborates with a wide range of external stakeholders.  She has a particular interest in qualitative research, particularly around nested qualitative research within trials.

Jo has a particular interest in Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in Health Research, having conducted a systematic review of the impact of PPI on Health Research (PIRICOM, UKCRC), and co-authored the development of the EQUATOR Guidelines for the Reporting of Patient and Public Involvement (GRIPP2). 

Research grants and awards

  • Cho Y, Keivani R, Brett J, Jin C, Zimpel-Leal K, Harper S.  UK-South Korea Ageing in Place Research Network.  ESRC, £50,000 Feb 22- Aug 23
  • Watson E/Sharp L, Wells M, Horne R, Dunn J, Todd A, Brett J, Cahir C, Wolstenholme J, Fenlon D, Rose J, Turner L. Supporting women with adherence to Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy after breast cancer.  NIHR Programme Grant for Applied Research, 2020 - 2025.  £2.6 million
  • Mehanna H/Nankivell P, Gaunt P, Moore D, Brett J, Jepson M, Ozakinci G, Gray A, Gkoutos G, Wells M, Calvert M, Thomas S, Winter S, Wong W, Kiely P, PET-CT guided, symptom-based, patient-driven surveillance versus clinical follow-up in advanced head neck cancer (PET NECK 2) NIHR Programme Grant for Applied Research, 2020 - 2025.  £ 2,471,211
  • Malone M, Rafferty AM, Bradbury Jones C, Kelly D, Ramluggen P,  Appleton J, Henshaw C, Watson E, Brett J, Davey Z, Merriman C.  Investigating how nurse education prior to and during Covid prepares nurses for thepandemic : an analysis of what works. UK RI (ESRC), 2020-2022.  £571,765
  • Brett J, Radley A, Stoner N, Watson E, Foxcroft D, Matley F, Jakes S.  Community and Hospital Pharmacists and E-cigarettes Cancer Research UK, 2019-21: £49,733  (Oxford Brookes, OUH, Univ of Stirling &  Public Health, NHS Tayside, NNA)
  • Brett J, Watson E, Aveyard P, Wells M, Nicholson B, Foxcroft D, Sinclair L, Davies E, De Silva Minor S, Jakes S. Knowledge, attitudes and current practice of health professionals regarding the use of e-cigarettes and other smoking cessation interventions in cancer survivors.  Cancer Research UK, 2016-19: £44,582    (Oxford Brookes, Univ of Oxford, Univ of Edinburgh, OUH, NNA).
  • Watson E, Brett J, Henshall C, Collins C, Aspinall A, Mitchel-Floyd T, Ehlers A. Emotional and psychological support for people diagnosed with blood cancer. Blood Cancer UK, 2020-2021 £49,778
  • Davies E, Brett J, Watson E.  Development and evaluation of messaging strategies that communicate the link between alcohol and breast cancer in women aged 40-65. Healthy Ageing & Care Network, 2020 £6391
  • Cho Y, Brett J, Carpenter J. Integration of fast track home modification services in health and social care services. Healthy Ageing & Care Network, 2020 £6960
  • Carpenter J, Moreira De Souza T, Spencer B, Brett J, Cho Y. Exploring lessons from COVID for the role of the voluntary sector in Integrated Care Systems, Healthy Ageing & Care Network, 2020 £6995
  • Watson E,  Davies E, Brett J, Matheson L, McGeagh L. Alcohol consumption following breast cancer diagnosis  Research Excellence Award, Aug 2021-Jul 2022 £19,994.62
  • Cunningham C, Watson E, Brett J, Jones H, Jacobs C, Witjes C, Russell A, Rich E. Understanding patient choice in the multimodality treatment of rectal cancer. The Octopus Foundation, 2020-2021  £8142
  • Brett J, Butcher H, Watson E, Glaser A, Gavin A. Value added from patient and public involvement in Life After Prostate Cacner Diagnosis (LAPCD) study. Prostate Cancer UK/Movember 2018-2020 £10,000  (as part of LAPCD study)
  • Smith L, Henshall C, Brett J, Watson E, Saini P.  Development of a community-based intervention to increase bowel screening uptake in South Asians living in a diverse area of Oxford City (OX4): a mixed methods study.  Bowel Cancer UK, 2018-20. £29, 991
  • Watson E, Brett J, Tallet A. The supportive care needs of people affected by pancreatic cancer: a proposal for the design and implementation of a patient survey.  Pancreatic Cancer UK, 2016-2019  £36,552
  • Boulton M, Brett J. NIHR Research Design Service, 2018-2023
  • Sara Matthews.  2020-2023. The psychosocial experiences and needs of oropharyngeal (HPV+ve) cancer patients and their primary informal caregivers following radical chemoradiotherapy.  Internal funding competition Jo Brett. Other supervisors: Eila Watson & Pras Ramluggun
  • To be recruited. 2021-2024 Integration between housing, health and social care for the ageing population. Internal funding competition.  Other supervisors: Youngha Cho & Sue Brownill (both co-director of studies), Supervisory: Jo Brett
  • To be recruited. 2021-2024 Optimising Head and Neck cancer follow-up care – enhancing patients’ self-efficacy for symptom monitoring and self-examination: a mixed-methods study. Supervisors Lauren Matheson, Jo Brett, Paul Carding

Research projects

  • Supporting women with adherence to Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy after breast cancer NIHR PGAR
  • PET-CT guided, symptom-based, patient-driven surveillance versus clinical follow-up in advanced head neck cancer (PET NECK 2) NIHR PGAR
  • Investigating how nurse education prior to and during Covid prepares nurses for thepandemic : an analysis of what works  UKRI (ESRC)
  • Community and Hospital Pharmacists and E-cigarettes  CR-UK
  • Knowledge, attitudes and current practice of health professionals regarding the use of e-cigarettes and other smoking cessation interventions in cancer survivors CR-UK
  • Emotional and psychological support for people diagnosed with blood cancer. Blood Cancer UK
  • Development and evaluation of messaging strategies that communicate the link between alcohol and breast cancer in women aged 40-65
  • Integration of fast track home modification services in health and social care services
  • Exploring lessons from COVID for the role of the voluntary sector in Integrated Care Systems
  • Alcohol consumption following breast cancer diagnosis
  • Understanding patient choice in the multimodality treatment of rectal cancer. The Octopus Foundation
  • Value added from patient and public involvement in Life After Prostate Cacner Diagnosis (LAPCD) study. Prostate Cancer UK/Movember
  • Development of a community-based intervention to increase bowel screening uptake in South Asians living in a diverse area of Oxford City (OX4): a mixed methods study.  Bowel Cancer UK
  • The supportive care needs of people affected by pancreatic cancer: a proposal for the design and implementation of a patient survey.  Pancreatic Cancer UK

Research impact

                                       All                          Since 2017

Citations                         5017                      3179

h-index                           27                          20

i10-index                         31                        28

Centres and institutes

Groups

Projects

  • Community and Hospital Pharmacists and E-cigarettes
  • Knowledge, attitudes and current practice of health professionals regarding the use of e-cigarettes
  • Integration of fast track home modification services in health and social care services
  • Increasing bowel cancer screening in South Asian men and women in Oxford
  • PETNECK2
  • Smoking cessation and the use of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid

Projects as Principal Investigator, or Lead Academic if project is led by another Institution

  • NIHR Research Design Service (South Central) 2023-2028 (led by University of Southampton) (01/10/2023 - 30/09/2028), funded by: National Institute for Health Research, funding amount received by Brookes: £430,024
  • UK-South Korea Ageing in Place Research Network (led by TDE) (01/02/2022 - 29/02/2024), funded by: Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC)
  • PET NECK 2 (led by University of Birmingham) (01/12/2020 - 30/11/2026), funded by: National Institute for Health Research, funding amount received by Brookes: £88,781

Projects as Co-investigator

  • Understanding patient choice in the multimodality treatment of rectal cancer (led by Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust)(01/07/2021 - 31/12/2022), funded by: Occtopus Oxford Colon Cancer Trust, funding amount received by Brookes: £6,443, funded by: Occtopus Oxford Colon Cancer Trust
  • Evaluation of Macmillan Generic CNS role at Great Western Hospital(01/06/2021 - 31/10/2023), funded by: Macmillan Cancer Support, funding amount received by Brookes: £19,986, funded by: Macmillan Cancer Support
  • Improving outcomeS for Women diagnosed with early breast cancer through adhErence to adjuvant Endocrine Therapy (SWEET) - led by Newcastle University(18/05/2020 - 17/05/2026), funded by: National Institute for Health Research, funding amount received by Brookes: £559,683, funded by: National Institute for Health Research

Publications

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Professional information

Conferences

Selected Oral Presentations:

  • Finding consensus on guidance for the reporting and Patient and Public Involvement: GRIPP 2 – A Delphi Study. Royal College of Nursing International Research Conference. Glasgow 2014
  • Patient reported experiences following hip fracture. International Society of Quality of Life (ISOQOL). Miami October 2013
  • Patient Engagement with Development of Patient Reported outcomes: A world café. International Society of Quality of Life (ISOQOL). Miami October 2013
  • Slipping into the pantaloon phase: Patient experiences of hip fracture. Royal College of Nursing International Research conference. Belfast, March 2013
  • Impact of Patient and Public Involvement on health care service users, researchers and communities. Royal College of Nursing International Research conference. London, April 2012
  • Introduction to Patient Reported Outcome Measures in hip fracture (Pro-Hip) National Osteoporosis Society Support Group Meeting, Coventry, February 2011
  • Impact of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in Health and Social Care Research - Round table discussion at NIHR Research and Design Service for West Midlands, 25th March 2011
  • Impact of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in Health and Social Care Research R&D seminar 7th April 2011
  • Parents of Premature Infant: Your Support Needs. University of Warwick Health Research poster event 5th April 2011
  • Impact of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in Health and Social Care Research - RCN International Research Conference, 16th May 2011
  • Strengthening the evidence base of involvement: Guidance for reporting the impact of patient and public involvement (Staniszewska S, Brett J). Royal College of Nursing International Research Society Conference, Harrogate 2011
  • Parents of Premature Infant: Your Support Needs. Research & Development Seminar. University of Warwick, November 2010
  • Impact of Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in Health and Social Care Research - Poster presentation – Involve Conference 16th November 2010
  • POPPY: A Qualitative study of information needs and support needs of parents of premature infants.  Royal College of Nursing International Research Conference. Liverpool April 2008
  • Systematic review of information needs and support needs of parents of premature infants. Royal College of Nursing International Research Conference. Dundee May 2007
  • Systematic review evidence for the treatment and management of osteoporosis. XIII Cochrane Colloquium. Melbourne 2005

Further details

Press, publicity and reviews

National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) conference in Glasgow 2018 on the use of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid for cancer patients was picked up by the press and had 21 media articles across Europe written about it including the Telegraph (UK), all the major Scottish media, and German media. It also created a twitter storm.