I am a behavioural scientist and lead the Institute of Clinical and Applied Health Research (ICAHR) Methods Hub and collaborate closely with the Hull Health Trials Unit.
I have expertise in a range of qualitative and quantitative research approaches (co-design, surveys, observational studies, clinical trials, process evaluations, interviews, and focus groups). Much of my current work involves undertaking process evaluations linked to clinical trials, and conducting embedded qualitative studies aimed at understanding the experience of patients and staff involved, and developing interventions to improve trial recruitment. I chair the Faculty Research Ethics Committee and sit on the University Ethics Committee.
I obtained my BSc in Psychology (2003), MSc in Psychology Applied to Health (2004), and PhD (2008) at the University of Leeds.
My ESRC/MRC funded doctorate was a mixed methods study investigating how couples negotiated the impact of stroke on their lives and the role of illness beliefs in affecting mood and recovery. My academic career started at the University of Leeds, Institute of Health Sciences and focused on applying mixed method approaches to a range of research studies.
I moved to Hull York Medical School in 2017 and from working across a wide range of clinical trials for over a decade I have developed an interest in how we can improve trial recruitment and retention through the use of enhanced Patient Information, Clinician training, and the use of qualitative methods to understand acceptability of trial processes and interventions. I am currently supervising Laura Hermann, an NIHR funded doctoral fellow to examine the barriers to the inclusion of females in clinical trials.
As a methodologist, my work crosses traditional clinical boundaries and covers areas as diverse as surgical trials, evaluation of local authority prevention services, and most recently cancer and exercise trials. Working across this breadth of clinical areas allows me to bring fresh eyes to a problem.
In the past few years my research has broadened to include working with local authorities and third sector organisations. A recent collaboration with Professor Joe Cook (University of Hull) and Dr Jon Burchell (University of Sheffield) led to the development of a new model to understand the impact of prevention services. I am also collaborating with HEY Smile to evaluate green prescribing, and developing local authority capacity to conduct and use research through the NIHR Health Determinants Research Collaboration North Yorkshire.
I undertake mixed methods evaluations of new health and social care interventions, using qualitative methods within clinical trials (RCTs) and other study designs, to understand patient and clinician acceptability. I am also interested in how we can best support trial recruitment and retention to ensure clinical trials recruitment reflects the population of interest.
I have a well-established track record of work within the area of patient and public involvement in research. I am committed to active and meaningful involvement in research studies and ensuring that this is appropriately embedded into the project.
See my worktribe for publications.
View Maureen's publications on Worktribe.
- Gurusamy K, Corrigan N, Croft J, Twiddy M, Morris S, Woodward N, Bandula S, Hochhauser D, Napp V, Pullan A, Jakowiw N, Prasad R, Olde Damink S, Van Laarhoven CJHM, de Wilt JHW, Brown B, Davidson BR (2018) Liver resection surgery versus thermal ablation for colorectal LiVer MetAstases (LAVA): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 19:105 doi.org/10.1186/s13063-018-2499-5
- Twiddy, M., C. J. Czoski Murray, S. J. Mason, D. Meads, J. M. Wright, E. D. Mitchell and J. Minton (2018). "A qualitative study of patients’ feedback about Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) services in Northern England: implications for service improvement." BMJ Open 8(1).
- Vargas-Palacios A, Meads DM, Twiddy M, Czoski Murray C, Hulme C, Mitchell ED, Gregson A, Stanley P, Minton J. Cost-effectiveness of outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy: A simulation modelling approach. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2017; 72 (8):2392-2400.
- Oughton JB, Poad H, Twiddy M, Collinson M, Hiley V, Gordon K, Johnson M, Jain S, Noon AP, Chahal R, Simms M, Dooldeniya M, Koenig P, Goodwin L, Brown JM, Catto JWF. Radical cystectomy (bladder removal) against intravesical BCG immunotherapy for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (BRAVO): A protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility study. BMJ Open. 2017; 7 (8):-.
- Edmondson AJ, Birtwistle J, Catto JWF, Twiddy M. The patients' experience of bladder cancer diagnosis: a systematic review of the qualitative evidence. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. 2017; 11 (4):453-461.
- Mitchell ED, Czoski Murray C, Meads D, Minton J, Wright J, Twiddy M. Clinical and cost-effectiveness, safety and acceptability of community intravenous antibiotic service models: CIVAS systematic review. BMJ Open. 2017; 7 (4):-.
- Minton J, Czoski Murray C, Meads D, Hess S, Mitchell E, Wright J, Hulme C, Raynor DK, Gregson A, Stanley P, McLintock K, Vincent R, Twiddy M. The Community IntraVenous Antibiotic Study (CIVAS): a mixed methods evaluation of patient preferences for and cost effectiveness of different service models for delivering outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy. 2017; ():-.
- Acharya S, Bryant L, Twiddy M. Altruism or obligation? The motivations and experience of women who donate oocytes to known recipients in assisted conception treatment: an interpretative phenomenological analysis study. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2017; 38 (1):4-11.
- Baluwala A, Ghosh D, Dwarakanath A, Twiddy M, Daxter P, Jamson SL, Elliott M. OSAS and driving – BTS return survey to assess consistency of advice given to patients at diagnosis and after treatment– a repeat of the 2013 survey to evaluate the impact of a BTS statement and new DVLA regulations. THORAX. 2016; 71 ():A120-A121.
- Allsop MJ, Twiddy M, Grant H, Czoski Murray C, Mon-Williams M, Mushtaq F, Phillips N, Zakrzewska J, Pavitt S. Diagnosis, medication and surgical management for patients with trigeminal neuralgia: a qualitative study. Acta Neurochirurgica. 2015; 157 (11):1925-1933.
Czoski Murray C, Twiddy M, Meads D, Hess S, Wright J, Mitchell ED, Hulme C, Dodd S, Gent H, Gregson A, McLintock K, Raynor DK, Reynard K, Stanley P, Vincent R, Minton J. Community IntraVenous Antibiotic Study (CIVAS): protocol for an evaluation of patient preferences for and cost-effectiveness of community intravenous antibiotic services. BMJ Open. 2015; 5 (8):-.
- Hill KM, Twiddy M, Hewison J, House AO. Measuring patient-perceived continuity of care for patients with long-term conditions in primary care. BMC Family Practice. 2014; 15 (1):-.
- Dwarakanath A, Twiddy M, Ghosh D, Jamson SL, Baxter PD, Elliott MW. Variability in clinicians' opinions regarding fitness to drive in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). Thorax. 2014; ():-.
- Craigs CL, Twiddy M, Parker SG, West RM. Understanding causal associations between self-rated health and personal relationships in older adults: A review of evidence from longitudinal studies. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. 2014; 59 (2):211-226.
- Boote J, Twiddy M, Baird W, Birks Y, Clarke C, Beever D. Supporting public involvement in research design and grant development: a case study of a public involvement grant award scheme managed by a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Research Design Service. Health Expectations. 2013; ():-.
- Twiddy M, House A, Jones F. The association between discrepancy in Illness Representations on distress in stroke patients and carers. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 2012; ():-.
- Twiddy M, Wilson I, Bryant M, Rudolf M. Lessons learned from a family-focussed weight management intervention for obese and overweight children. Public Health Nutrition. 2011; ():-.
Dr Brian Davidson, Royal Free Hospital and Dr Kurinchi Gurusamy - LAVA trial (liver ablation vs surgery trial)
Prof Pete Sagar (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust) and Dr Deena Harji, (Newcastle) NIHR RfPB funded LaCeS trial (open vs laparoscopic colorectal surgery in the emergency setting)
Prof Jim Catto, University of Sheffield, and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust - BRAVO trial: High risk bladder cancer: a randomised controlled feasibility study of radical cystectomy against intra-vesical immunotherapy.
Dr Janine Bestall and Professor Jenny Hewison, University of Leeds, Patient understanding of biomarker test information.
Prof Julia Brown, Leeds Clinical Trials Unit – LAVA, LaCeS, BRAVO trials
Dr Rebecca Walwyn, Leeds Clinical Trials Unit – TIGA CUB (trial for conduct disorder in children)
Ms Carolyn Murray and Dr David Meads, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds – CIVAS – cost effectiveness and patient preferences for OPAT (outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy
Prof Robbie Foy, University of Leeds and Prof Anne MacFarlane, University of Limerick, co-supervision of Dr Jess Drinkwater (Participatory research to strengthen the role of patient and public involvement in general practice service improvement)
Chair Faculty of Health Sciences Ethics Committee