Projects per year
Personal profile
Research Interests
I am a registered Specialist Nurse in oncology with the Nursing and Midwifery Council with previous clinical experience in oncology and palliative care. My health services research involves interventions to improve services for young adults with life-limiting conditions. Previous realistic evaluation research identified the factors associated with a successful transition from childrens to adult services. I was awarded the International Journal of Palliative Nursing Researcher of the Year award in 2017 and runner up in the Royal College of Nursing, Northern Ireland Nurse Researcher of the Year in 2016. My educational research focuses on introducing and evaluating innovative pedagogical digital approaches such as virtual reality methodology and mobile spaced learning into the nursing curriculum.
Research Focus
Current research
- Principal Investigator: 'Evaluation of Virtual Reality educational methodology in increasing registered nurses’ self-efficacy in advocating for patients through effective engagement in multidisciplinary teams: a mixed methods study.'
- Principal Investigator: ‘Registered nurses’ perspectives of the impact of completing the Specialist Practice in Oncology qualification on patient care and clinical practice: a qualitative study.' Funder: Burdett Trust for Nursing.
- Co-Investigator: 'A mixed methods evaluation of a co-designed evidence-based practice module underpinned by a VAK pedagogy'
- Co-Investigator: 'A grounded theory on first year undergraduate nursing students' experience and application of asynchronous learning activities.'
- Co-investigator: 'Co-design of a digital serious game to promote public awareness of pancreatic cancer.' Funder: Northern Ireland Pancreatic Cancer
Completed research
- ‘Feasibility study to explore the use of mobile spaced learning as a digital learning platform when teaching symptom management to undergraduate nursing student. SPLENdidS study.’ Funder: Martha McMenamin Scholarship Fund.
- ‘Factors associated with an effective transition from children’s to adult services by young adults with life-limiting conditions in Ireland.’ Funder: Public Health Agency and All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care.
- ‘The usefulness and acceptability of a personal-health record to children and young people living with a complex health condition.’ Funder: Marie Curie Hospice.
- ‘An exploration of the impact on registered nurses of working in ward-based oncology care.’
- ‘An evaluation of the development of audio-visual aids when teaching communication skills to undergraduate nursing students.’ Funder: Centre for Educational Development, QUB.
- ‘Students journey through a BSc(Hons) Psychological Trauma Studies programme in the context of a post conflict society in Northern Ireland.’
Teaching
- Pathway Lead for the BSc(Hons) and Postgraduate Diploma in Specialist Practice in Oncology programme.
- Module coordinator for five modules.
- Teach 'Uni Simulation' and 'Interprofessional education' (IPE) simulation with medical colleagues.
Achievements
- Shortlisted: QUB Staff Excellence Awards-'Leading by Example' category (2023)
- Student Nursing Times Award: Team Finalist (Teaching Innovation of the Year) 2022
- STAR Team Performance Award: 2021
- STAR Recognition Award: 2020
- Senior Fellow: Higher Education Academy: 2020
- Winner: International Journal of Palliative Nursing 'Researcher of the Year' award: 2017.
- Runner up: Royal College of Nursing Northern Ireland Nurse Researcher of the Year: 2016
- Researcher Plus award at the PhD graduation ceremony at Queen's University Belfast: 2016.
Other
Leadership
- Internal Coach on QUB Register
- QGI mentor: 2021-2022
- Lead: Specialist Practice in Oncology pathway
- Chair: Staff Development Committee (1998-2023)
- Assessor: Queen's Merit Award Higher Education Fellowship Scheme
- School representative: Faculty Research Ethics Committee
- Module coordinator: Five undergraduate and postgraduate modules
- Member: School Research Committee
- Member: School Education Committee
- Mentor: School Mentoring Scheme
- Mentor: Staff on probation
- Personal Development Reviewer
- Supervisor to International Research Associate (2021-2022)
- Supervisor to Research Intern (2021-2022)
Particulars
Grants/funding secured
2022: HEA Shared island North South Research Programme
2022: Northern Ireland Pancreatic Cancer
2020: Public Health Agency Conference Fund
2019: Burdett Trust for Nursing
2018: Martha McMenamin Scholarship (Team Application led by Dr Clare McVeigh)
2016: Florence Nightingale Travel Scholarship
2014: Marcia Mackie Award
2013: Palliative Care Congress Bursary Award
2013: Public Health Agency and All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care
Other
Membership of external organisations
Member: All Ireland Cancer Research Institute (AICRI) Living with and Beyond Cancer organising committee
Executive member (NI representative): International Family Nursing Association-UK-Ireland chapter
Secretary: Palliative Care Research Forum Northern Ireland
Member: All Ireland Palliative Care Research Network
Member: Northern Ireland Cancer Network (NICaN) Systematic Anti-Cancer Therapies (SACT)
Member: Department of Health Northern Ireland Cancer Strategy
External Examiner: University College Cork
Member: Expert Steering Group-Pathfinders Neuromuscular Alliance Transition Study
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Network
Projects
- 2 Active
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Barriers and facilitators to implementing children’s rights in healthcare settings: a systematic literature review
Alshammari, S., Linden, M. & Kerr, H., 14 Feb 2023.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
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Challenges and solutions for individuals with lower limb mobility impairments in accessing cervical cancer screening services
Verso, K. & Kerr, H., 30 May 2023, (Accepted) In: Cancer Nursing Practice.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Place of end-of-life care for children, young people and their families: an integrative literature review
Kerr, H. & Lambert, V., 01 Mar 2023, (Accepted).Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
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Using a six-step co-design model to rapidly respond to cancer carers support and information needs during a global pandemic
Santin, O., Liu, M., Kerr, H., Ho Thi, H., Mc Manus, M. & Prue, G., 03 Apr 2023, (Early online date) In: Psycho-oncology. 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Downloads (Pure) -
Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Game: www.whatispancreaticcancer.co.uk
Mitchell, G., Kerr, H., Rogers, K., Graham-Wisener, L., Brown Wilson, C., Stark, P., Caughers, G. & Prue, G., 11 Nov 2022Research output: Non-textual form › Digital or Visual Products
Prizes
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Awarded Researcher Plus award at the Queen's University Belfast Graduation ceremony in December 2016.
Kerr , Helen (Recipient), 08 Dec 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Florence Nightingale Travel Scholarship Award grant-awarded competively
Kerr , Helen (Recipient), Oct 2016
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
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Health and Social Care, Public Health Agency and All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care Doctoral Fellowship awarded
Kerr , Helen (Recipient), Nicholl, Honor (Recipient), Price, Jayne (Recipient) & O'Halloran, Peter (Recipient), 01 Jan 2013
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
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Internal QUB Coaching Team (member) and Thrive Coaching and Development, shortlisted in the Best Learning & Development Collaboration category of the IITD National Training Awards for the Queen's coach development programmes (member of Internal Coaching Team).
Kerr , Helen (Recipient), 28 Feb 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Marcia Mackie award-small grant awarded competitively by the School of Nursing and MIdwifery, QUB
Kerr , Helen (Recipient), 2014
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Pancreatic Cancer is More Than a Game
Gary Mitchell (Organiser), Helen Kerr (Organiser), Katherine Rogers (Organiser), Lisa Graham-Wisener (Organiser), Christine Brown Wilson (Organiser), Patrick Stark (Organiser), Gemma Caughers (Organiser) & Gillian Prue (Organiser)
14 Nov 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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Invited key note speaker: Transition from children's to adult services for young adults with life-limiting conditions
Helen Kerr (Keynote speaker)
24 Sep 2022Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited or keynote talk at national or international conference
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International Psycho-oncology Society IPOS
Helen Kerr (Presenter), Monica Donovan (Participant), Joanne Cullen (Participant), Fiona Reddick (Participant) & Oonagh McSorley (Participant)
29 Aug 2022 → 01 Sep 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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World Congress-Internaional Psychooncology Society (IPOS)
Helen Kerr (Presenter), Monica Donovan (Contributor), Joanne Davenport (Contributor), Fiona Reddick (Contributor) & Oonagh McSorley (Contributor)
29 Aug 2022 → 02 Sep 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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Queen's Gender Initiative (QGI) mentor: 2021-2022
Helen Kerr (Supervisor)
11 Oct 2021 → 2022Activity: Other activity types › Other
Press/Media
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Serious Game Launched by NIPANC and QUB
Gary Mitchell, Helen Kerr , Katherine Rogers, Lisa Graham-Wisener, Christine Brown Wilson, Patrick Stark, Gemma Caughers & Gillian Prue
14/11/2022
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Serious Game launched by NIPANC and QUB to promote public awareness of pancreatic cancer
Gary Mitchell, Helen Kerr , Katherine Rogers, Lisa Graham-Wisener, Patrick Stark, Christine Brown Wilson, Gemma Caughers & Gillian Prue
14/11/2022
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Program Designed to Raise Awareness of Pancreatic Cancer Symptoms
Gary Mitchell, Helen Kerr , Katherine Rogers, Lisa Graham-Wisener, Christine Brown Wilson, Patrick Stark, Gemma Caughers & Gillian Prue
13/11/2022
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Foundations of Nursing Podcast Episode 1: Cancer Nursing
Clare McVeigh, Nuala Devlin, Helen Kerr , Joanne Reid & Barry Quinn
03/05/2021
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Other
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