My research focuses on organisational and clinical pathways for those with chronic diseases, or at the end of life; producing models of good practice for the implementation of complex interventions. My health services research projects include an evaluation of the Liverpool Care Pathway for the dying patient; an all-Ireland evaluation of transition to adult services for young people with life-limiting conditions; and a feasibility study for a randomised controlled trial of advance care planning with older patients who have renal failure. Methodologically, I have published a number of realist evaluations and realist reviews drawn from mixed methods studies, as well as randomised controlled trials of complex interventions, and Cochrane reviews.

I am a member of the School's Research Ethics Committee

Current post-graduate supervision

Helen Kerr (PhD, thesis only)

Briege King (Doctorate in Nursing Practice)

Currently funded research projects for which I am principal investigator

Advance care planning with older patients who have end-stage kidney disease: Feasibility of a deferred entry randomised controlled trial incorporating a mixed methods process evaluation.

Dunhill Medical Trust (2016-2018)

CIs: 1. Professor Kevin Brazil; 2. Professor Mike Clarke; 3. Dr Helen Noble; 4. Dr Chris Cardwell; 5. Dr Fliss Murtagh; 6. Dr Rachael Morton; 7. Dr Damian Fogarty; 8. Joan Brown RN; 9. Dr Joanne Shields 

1-4. Queen’s University Belfast 5. King’s College London 6. The University of Sydney 7-9. Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

Acceptability and usefulness of ‘My Healthcare Passport’ to young people with life-limiting conditions

Marie Curie Research Funding (2016-2018)

CIs: 1. Dr Dorry McLaughlin; 2. Dr Bronagh Byrne; 3. Miss Michaela Hollywood 4. Dr Jayne Price; 5. Dr Aine Abbott; 6. Professor Max Watson

1-2. Queen’s University Belfast; 3. Trailblazers, Muscular Dystrophy UK; 4. Kingston University, London; 5. Royal College of GPs NI; 6. University of Ulster

Transition to adult services by young people with life-limiting conditions
HSC R&D Office/All Ireland Institute for Hospice and Palliative Care (2013- 2016)

CIs: 1. Dr Jayne Price; 2. Dr Honor Nichol
1. Kingston University, London; 2. Trinity College Dublin

Completed funded research projects

Lohan M, O’Halloran P, Henderson M (2013) How to reduce teenage pregnancy in Northern Ireland?
A movie-based educational approach.
ESRC follow-on grant

McConnell T, O’Halloran P, Donnelly M, Porter S (2012) Realistic evaluation of the Liverpool Care Pathway for the dying patient
Department of Education and Learning studentship

Higgins A, O’Halloran P, Porter S (2012) Realistic evaluation of the management of long-term sickness absence in three Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland. £129,807
HPSS R&D Office Doctoral Fellowship

O’Halloran P, Murray M, Chisakuta A, Cardwell CR, Blackwood B.(2011) Protocolized versus non-protocolized weaning for reducing the duration of mechanical ventilation in critically ill paediatric patients
HPSS R&D Office Cochrane Fellowship

Lohan M, O’Halloran P, Alderdice F, Hyde A (2010) Ready to reproduce? Teenage men’s attitudes and decision-making in relation to an unplanned pregnancy
Crisis Pregnancy Agency, Dublin

Leadership

Director, Doctorate in Nursing Practice

Module coordinator: Health care evaluation (Doctorate in Nursing Practice); Applied research methods and statistics (Masters); Principles of cardiac surgery intensive care nursing (post registration); Multisystem issues in cardiac surgery intensive care (post registration)

Other teaching: Evidence based nursing (undergraduate)