Projects per year
Personal profile
Particulars
Having completed all higher-level education at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), I achieved my PhD in the field of Health Psychology in 2007. My PhD examined the psychological wellbeing of liver transplant recipients. I started working as a post doctoral researcher in SSESW, QUB in 2008. Currently, I am a Chartered Psychologist working as a Research Fellow in the Centre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life (CIHRQoL) in the School of Psychology (QUB), as part of the neurodevelopmental team involved with the All-Island paediatric Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Research Network.
Research Statement
My research areas include vulnerable populations, early childhood development, psychosocial interventions for transplant recipients and those with chronic health conditions.
I have experience in conducting both qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques and analyses with vulnerable populations including ‘at risk’ parents presenting with socially complex circumstances, looked-after young people, victims of domestic violence, complex illness-related mental health needs, those with addiction and substance use issues as well as the neurodevelopmental assessment of children from birth to 5 years. I have worked across a range of study designs, for example, RCTs, feasibility studies, mixed method pre-post test design with follow-ups, qualitative studies and service evaluations.
Research Focus
Examples of recent work include:
Co-investigator on a study funded by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission called Substance Use Disorders and Service Provision in Northern Ireland (2022) which aims to provide a comprehensive qualitative analysis of current drug and alcohol service provision in Northern Ireland.
Co-investigator on a BHSCT Charitable Trust Fund (CTF) project called the Evaluation of the Alcohol Related Brain Injury Specialist Residential Rehabilitation Service in Northern Ireland. This is an 18-month funded project (2021-2022) which aims to determine the effectiveness of an ARBI residential rehabilitation unit for those with alcohol related brain injury.
Researcher on an ESRC funded study (2021-2022) called Reducing Opioid Related Deaths for individuals who are at high risk of death from overdose: A co production study with people housed within prison and hostel accommodation. The aim of this study was to refine the design of a wearable device for opioid users to detect a potential overdose situation and to test the transferability of data from the device to a backend service on the cloud.
Co-investigator on the 'Evaluation of the Belfast Trust Alcohol Recovery Centre (ARC)' (2016-2018). The aim of this study was to explore the perceived impact of the working model of the Alcohol Recovery Centre on ARC staff, ED staff, paramedic staff, PSNI staff and patients of the ARC.
Principal Investigator on Cochrane Review, 'Psychosocial Interventions for Liver Transplant Patients’ (2014-present).
Research Interests
Addiction and substance use
Psychosocial interventions for those with chronic health conditions
Evaluation of complex interventions
Developmental assessments
Research Statement
Affiliations
- Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsS) 2022-current
- Chartered Psychologist (CPsychol) British Psychological Society (BPS) 2008 – Current
- Full Member Division of Health Psychology (BPS) 2022- Current
- Full Member Division of Teachers and Researchers in Psychology (BPS) 2008 – Current
- Full Member Qualitative Methods in Psychology Section (BPS) 2004 – Current
- Full Member of the European Health Psychology Society (EHPS) 2004 - Current
- Member of Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Collaborative (CNOC) 2022 -current
- Member of School Research Committee 2023 -
- Postdoc Representative, School of Psychology, QUB 2023 -
- Member of the Centre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life (CIHRQoL) School of Psychology, QUB 2022- current
- Full Member of Drug and Alcohol Research Network (DARN) QUB 2015 – Current
- Member of European Society of Organ Transplantation (ESOT) 2015-Current
External Roles
- Chair of RVH Liver Support Group (RVH LSG) 2017-2019
- Committee Member RVH Liver Support Group (RVH LSG) 2009- current
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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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Active
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An evaluation of lifestart, a universal home-based parenting programme in Ireland aimed at improving parent and child outcomes
Miller, S., Dunne, L., Millen, S., Early, E., Grant, L., Davison, J. & McGeady, C., 12 Mar 2023, (Early online date) In: Irish Educational Studies. 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile11 Downloads (Pure) -
Few interventions support the affected other on their own: a systematic review of individual level psychosocial interventions to support those harmed by others’ alcohol use
Shorter, G. W., Campbell, K. B. D., Miller, N. M., Epton, T., O'Hara, L., Millen, S., Ulfsdotter Gunnarsson, K., Berry, E. & Bendtsen, M., 22 May 2023, (Early online date) In: International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile13 Downloads (Pure) -
Psychosocial Evaluation of an Alcohol Related Brain Injury Residential Rehabilitation Unit in Northern Ireland: Final Report
Campbell, A., Millen, S., Watson, D., Ross, J. & McCorry, R., 08 Jun 2023, 87 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
File47 Downloads (Pure) -
Psychosocial interventions to support those harmed by other's alcohol drinking independent of the drinker: a systematic review
Shorter, G., Campbell, K., Miller, N., Epton, T., O'Hara, L., Millen, S., Ulfsdottr Gunnarsson, K. & Bendtsen, M., 04 Jul 2023.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper › peer-review
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Reducing opioid related deaths for individuals who are at high risk of death from overdose: a co-production study with people housed within prison and hostel accommodation during Covid-19
Campbell, A., Millen, S., Guo, L., Jordan, U., Taylor-Beswick, A., Rintoul, C. & Diamond, A., 15 Jun 2023, In: Frontiers in Public Health. 11, 9 p., 1080629.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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HSC R&D Division Cochrane Fellowship Award
Millen, Sharon (Recipient), 10 Jun 2014
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
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Studentship: Department of Employment and Learning (DEL)
Millen, Sharon (Recipient), 01 Sep 2003
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
Activities
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All-Island CHD Research Programme Symposium
Sharon Millen (Presenter)
23 Jun 2023Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation
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56th Annual Meeting of the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology
Sharon Millen (Participant)
26 Apr 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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11th Annual Scientific Sessions of the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcome Collaborative
Sharon Millen (Participant)
24 Oct 2022 → 27 Oct 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
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Official Launch Symposium – All-Island Congenital Heart Disease Network Research Programme
Sharon Millen (Participant)
20 Oct 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
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British Heart Foundation Parliamentary Reception
Sharon Millen (Participant)
21 Sep 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Press/Media
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A huge congratulations to the QUB Graduates and Staff that brought home medals from British Transplant Games 2022
03/08/2022
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Transplant Sport NI heading off to compete in British Transplant Leeds 2022
28/07/2022
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Transplant Games Athletes return home to Northern Ireland
01/08/2016 → 02/08/2016
3 Media contributions
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Transplant Sport NI head to British transplant Games in Liverpool
27/07/2016
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Organ Donation discussion at Stormont
09/12/2015
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
Thesis
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Psychological well-being in liver transplant patients
Author: Millen, S., Dec 2007Supervisor: Dempster, M. (Supervisor) & Muldoon, O. (External person) (Supervisor)
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › Doctor of Philosophy
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