Teaching
I teach behavioural medicine, communication skills and research skills to medical undergraduates, and students on the ScotGEM programme. I developed and led on taught postgraduate modules, taught and supervised research on the MSc Health Psychology programme [2009-2022]. I supervise MSc and Phd students.
My School Roles:
- MD4002 strand lead for Population and Behavioural Science
- Ethics Committee member; vice-convenor (population, people, education)
- Personal Tutor (BSc Hons, ScotGEM)
- Medical Assessment team member
- PGR Committee member - Population and Behavioural Sciences rep
- Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Committee member
Research areas
I am a behavioural scientist with research interests that include:
- eating behaviour, obesity
- healthcare communication
- wellbeing and health behaviours
My research aligns directly with interest in health behaviour interventions and the interface of the healthcare practitioner and patient, and follows an interdisciplinary approach, straddling psychological, behavioural and physiological domains. I conduct empirical research (lab, community-based, primary care) in human populations across the age span. I look at factors that create so-called obesogenic environments as well as individual characteristics. I combine my obesity expertise with interests in clinical communication, where I have developed a research program investigating healthcare communication within the context of patient overweight and obesity in primary care. I am interested in how health behaviours (e.g. consumption behaviour, sleep) contribute to stress and wellbeing.
I utilise a mixed methods research methodology and have expertise in quantitative and qualitative techniques including behavioural observation, measurement of appetite and ingestive behaviour, anthropometry, coding of clinical communication behaviour using behavioural coding software, textual analysis, development of semi-structures interviews and surveys.
Selected publications
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Open access
'You just eyeball it’: parent and nursery staff perceptions and influences on child portion size: a reflexive thematic analysis
Quirke-McFarlane, S., Carstairs, S. A. & Cecil, J. E., 16 Apr 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Nutrition and Health. OnlineFirst, 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
The power of animation: encouraging doctors to access support for psychological wellbeing
Tooman, T. R., Wakeling, J., Cunningham, K. B., Smith, K. G., Walker, K. A., Cecil, J. E. & Laidlaw, A., 1 Jun 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: BMC Psychology. 12, 12 p., 320.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
The relationship between multiple sleep dimensions and obesity in adolescents: a systematic review
Gale, E. L., Williams, A. J. & Cecil, J. E., Feb 2024, In: Sleep Medicine Reviews. 73, 11 p., 101875.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
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Open access
A qualitative study of young peoples’ thoughts and attitudes to follow a more plant-based diet
McInnes, C., Carstairs, S. A. & Cecil, J. E., 31 Aug 2023, In: Frontiers in Psychology. 14, 12 p., 1196142.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
A social norms and identity approach to increasing fruit and vegetable intake of undergraduate students in the United Kingdom
Fischera, W., van Beusekom, M., Higgs, S. & Cecil, J., 17 May 2022, In: Frontiers in Psychology. 13, 13 p., 838394.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Heard, valued, supported? Doctors' wellbeing during transitions triggered by COVID-19
Gordon, L., Scanlan, G. M., Tooman, T. R., Walker, K. A., Cairns, P., Ferguson, J., Aitken, G., Cecil, J., Cunningham, K. B., Gibson Smith, K., Johnston, P. W., Laidlaw, A., Pope, L. M. & Wakeling, J., 10 Apr 2022, In: Medical Education. 56, 5, 11 p., 14698.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Predictors of weight discussion in primary care consultations: a multilevel modelling approach
McHale, C. T., Laidlaw, A. H. & Cecil, J. E., Mar 2022, In: Patient Education and Counseling. 105, 3, p. 502-511Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Rest and relaxation spaces: accessibility and availability for wellbeing of doctors
Walker, K., Aitken, G., Cunningham, K. B., Gibson Smith, K., Scanlan, G., Cecil, J. E. & Gordon, L., 28 Oct 2022, In: Medical Education. 19, S2, p. 55 e13542.Research output: Contribution to journal › Abstract › peer-review
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Open access
Risk factors for overweight and obesity within the home environment of preschool children in Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
Kwansa, A. L., Akparibo, R., Cecil, J. E., Infield Solar, G. & Caton, S. J., 20 Apr 2022, In: Nutrients. 14, 9, 24 p., 1706.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
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Open access
Supporting doctors’ well-being and resilience during COVID-19: a framework for rapid and rigorous intervention development
Gibson Smith, K., Cunningham, K. B., Cecil, J. E., Laidlaw, A., Cairns, P., Scanlan, G., Tooman, T. R., Aitken, G., Ferguson, J., Gordon, L., Johnston, P., Pope, L., Wakeling, J. & Walker, K., 7 Feb 2022, In: Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being. 14, 1, p. 236-251 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review