Professor Fiona Cowdell

Professor of Nursing and Health Research

School of Nursing and Midwifery

Email:: fiona.cowdell@bcu.ac.uk
Phone:: 0121 300 4345

Fiona Cowdell joined Birmingham City University in October 2016 as a Professor of Nursing and Health Research. Fiona is a National Institute of Health Research Knowledge Mobilisation Research Fellow (June 2016 – May 2020). She is a graduate of Oxford Brookes University with a doctorate from Bournemouth University. As a registered nurse she worked for many years in the National Health Service at senior levels both operational and strategic whilst developing close links with academia including posts as a Lecturer Practitioner and later as a Practice Development Consultant.

Fiona’s research interests focus on skin health with particular reference to knowledge mobilisation, health behaviour change, older people and humanisation. The work she undertakes is clinically relevant and directly applicable to practice. Alongside other work Fiona is committed to developing new female clinicians and researchers. She is actively engaged in Athena Swan activity and is co-lead of the Programme for Women Achieving Excellence in Research.

Fiona serves on the editorial boards of BMC Nursing and Dermatological Nursing and is a member of the scientific committee of the British Dermatological Group and nurse representative on the United Kingdom Dermatology Clinical Trials Network. Fiona is an active member of the Royal College of Nursing and of the British Geriatric Society. She has been a member of several NHS Research Ethics Committees.

Qualifications

Memberships

Research

Postgraduate Supervision

Publications

Cowdell F, Dyson J, Sykes M, Dam R, Pendleton R (2020) How and how well have older people been engaged in health care intervention design, development or delivery using co-methodologies: a scoping review with narrative summary. Health and Social Care in the Community (in press)

Cowdell F, Appleby B, Booth A (2020) Knowledge mobilisation in bridging patient-practitioner-researcher boundaries: a systematic integrative review. Journal of Advanced Nursing (in press)

Surr C, Griffiths A, Kelley R, Ashley L, Cowdell F, Henry A, Inman H, Collinson M, Mason E, Farrin A. (2020) Navigating cancer treatment and care when living with comorbid dementia: an ethnographic study. Supportive Care in Cancer (in press)

Cowdell F,Ahmed T, Layfield C. (2020) Knowledge mobilisation: a UK co-creation study to devise strategies to amend lay and practitioner atopic eczema mindlines to improve consultation experiences and self-management practices in primary care. BMJ Open. (in press)

Galvin K.T, Pound C, Cowdell F, Ellis-Hill C, Sloan C, Brooks S, Ersser S, (2020) A lifeworld theory-led action research process for humanising services: Improving ‘what matters’ to older people to enhance humanly sensitive care. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. (In Press)

Ashley L, Kelley R, Griffiths A, Cowdell F, Henry A, Inman H, Hennell J, Ogden M, Walsh M, Jones L, Mason E, Collinson M, Farrin A, Surr C. (2020) Understanding and identifying ways to improve hospital-based cancer care and treatment for people with dementia: an ethnographic study. Age and Ageing (in press)

Griffiths A, Ashley L, Kelley R, Cowdell F, Collinson M, Mason E, Farrin A, Henry A, Inman H, Surr C. Decision-making in cancer care for people living with dementia. Psycho-oncology (in press)

Cowdell F (2020) Helping families with self-management of eczema. Exchange: National Eczema Society June 28-32

Glover L, Dyson J, Cowdell F, Kinsey D (2020) Healthy ageing in a deprived northern UK city: A co-creation study. Health and Social Care in the Community. Health and Social Care in the Community. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/hsc.13036

Surr C, Kelley R, Griffiths A.W, Ashley L, Cowdell F, Henry A, Collinson M, Mason E and Farrin A. Enabling people with dementia to access and receive cancer treatment and care: The crucial role of supportive networks. Journal of Geriatric Oncology https://www.geriatriconcology.net/article/S1879-4068(20)30010-2/pdf

Jenkins C, Smythe A, Webster N, Cowdell F (2020) 'What is the nature of Mental Capacity Act training and how do health and social care practitioners change their practice post-training? A narrative review. Journal of Clinical Nursing. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32223040/

Cowdell F, Dyson J. How is the theoretical domains framework applied to developing health behaviour interventions? A systematic search and narrative synthesis. BMC public health. 2019 Dec 1;19(1):1180.

Kottner J, Ludwig O, Bode T, Cowdell F, Ersser S, Blume-Peytavi U, Lahmann N. Person-Centred Dermatology Self-care Index: a translation and validation study. Journal of Wound Care. 2019 Sep 2;28(9):566-75.

Cowdell F. Knowledge mobilisation: an exploratory qualitative interview study to confirm and envision modification of lay and practitioner eczema mindlines to improve consultation experiences and self-management in primary care in the UK. BMJ open. 2019 Jun 1;9(6):e028225.

Cowdell, F (2019) Knowledge mobilisation: an ethnographic study of the influence of practitioner mindlines on atopic eczema self-management in primary care in the UK . BMJ Open

Aleo G, Bagnasco A, Watson R, Dyson J, Cowdell F, Catania G, Zanini M, Cozzani E, Parodi A, Sasso L. 2019 , Comparing questionnaires across cultures: using Mokken scaling to compare the Italian and English versions of the MOLES Index. Nursing Open (in press)

Cowdell F Amending mindlines to improve eczema self-management and consultation experiences. MIMS Dermatology

Cowdell F, Jadotte Y, Ersser S, Danby S, Lawton S, Roberts A, Dyson J Hygiene and emollient interventions for maintaining skin integrity in older people in hospital and residential care settings. Cochrane review (accepted with minor revisions)

Howells L, Thomas KS, Sears AV, Nasr I, Wollenberg A, Schuttelaar M, Romeijn G, Paller A, Mueller K, Doytcheva K, Kataoka Y, Daguze J, Barbarot S, Beate von Kobyletzki L, Beckman L, Ratib S, Cowdell F, Santer M, Chalmers JR, on behalf of the long-term control of eczema working group for the HOME initiative.

Defining and measuring “eczema control”: An international qualitative study to explore the views of those living with and treating atopic eczema. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jdv.15475

Lewis Z, George DN, Cowdell F, Holle H. Effects of short-term temperature change in the innocuous range on histaminergic and non-histaminergic acute itch. Acta dermato-venereologica.

Jenkins C, Cowdell F, Smythe A. How do registered health and social care practitioners who have attended Mental Capacity Act Training change their practice post-training? A narrative review. PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018094478 Available from: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?ID=CRD42018094478

Cowdell F. 2018 Knowledge mobilisation: an ethnographic study of the influence of lay mindlines on eczema self-management in primary care in the United Kingdom. BMJ Open 8 (8) e021498; DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-021498

Cowdell F, Galvin K 2018 A lifeworld phenomenological study of the experience of living within ageing skin. Nursing Inquiry.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nin.12251

Cowdell F, Dyson J, Long J, Macleod U. 2018 Self-reported skin concerns: An epidemiological study of community dwelling older-people. International Journal of Older People Nursing. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/opn.12195

Galvin K.T, Sloan C, Cowdell F, Ellis-Hill C, Pound C, Watson R, Ersser S. 2018 Facilitating a dedicated focus on the human dimensions of care in practice settings: Development of a new Humanised Care Assessment Tool (HCAT) Nursing Inquiry https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nin.12235

Cowdell F, Dyson J (2018) How is the Theoretical Domains Framework applied in health behaviour change? A systematic search and narrative synthesis. PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018086896 Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=86896

Dyson J, Cowdell F, Aspland J (2018) How is the Theoretical Domains Framework applied in designing interventions to support healthcare practitioner behaviour change? A systematic search and narrative synthesis Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=87233

Cowdell F. (2018) Knowledge mobilisation: an ethnographic study of the influence of lay mindlines on eczema self-management in primary care in the United Kingdom. BMJ Open 8 (8) e021498; DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-021498

Cowdell F, Galvin K. (2018) A lifeworld phenomenological study of the experience of living within ageing skin. Nursing Inquiry. p.e12251

Cowdell F, Dyson J, Long J, Macleod U. (2018) Self-reported skin concerns: An epidemiological study of community dwelling older-people. International Journal of Older People Nursing. p.e12195.

Galvin K.T, Sloan C, Cowdell F, Ellis-Hill C, Pound C, Watson R, Ersser S. (2018) Facilitating a dedicated focus on the human dimensions of care in practice settings: Development of a new Humanised Care Assessment Tool (HCAT) Nursing Inquiry p.e12235

Cowdell F, Dyson J. (2018) How is the Theoretical Domains Framework applied in health behaviour change? A systematic search and narrative synthesis. PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018086896 Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=86896

Dyson J, Cowdell F, Aspland J. (2018) How is the Theoretical Domains Framework applied in designing interventions to support healthcare practitioner behaviour change? A systematic search and narrative synthesis

Cowdell F, Kelly F, Board M, Kilgore C, Lyndon H, Stanmore E. (2017) What is the contribution of nurses and allied health professionals to the care of the frail older person. PROSPERO 2017 CRD42017069534 Available from: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?ID=CRD42017069534

Cowdell F (2017) Adjuncts to eczema care: different methodological approaches. Dermatological Nursing 16(4) 41-43

O'Connor, CA, Dyson J, Cowdell F, Watson, R. (2017) Do universal School‐based Mental Health Promotion programmes improve the Mental Health and Emotional Well‐being of young people? A Literature Review. Journal of Clinical Nursing DOI: 10.1111/jocn.14078

Howells L, Chalmers J.R, Cowdell F, Ratib S, Santer M, Thomas K.S. (2017). When it goes back to my normal I suppose’: a qualitative study using online focus groups to explore perceptions of ‘control’ among people with eczema and parents of children with eczema in the UK. BMJ Open ISSN 2044-6055

Wake E.V, Batchelor J, Lawton S, Thomas K.S, Harrison E.F, Cowdell F. (2017) The experiences of children and young people of using silk garments for the treatment of eczema: a nested qualitative study within the CLOTHES randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Dermatology DOI: 10.1111/bjd.15909

Cowdell F. (2017) Health-seeking behaviour in people with psoriasis British Journal of Dermatology DOI:10.1111/bjd.15733

Cowdell F, Booth A, Appleby B. (2017) Knowledge mobilisation in bridging patient-practitioner-researcher boundaries: a systematic review protocol. Journal of Advanced Nursing 10.1111/jan.13378

Cowdell F, Taylor E, Sykes M, Dyson J (2017) Effective and meaningful engagement of older people in health care interventions using co-methodologies: an integrative literature review. CRD42017059867

Brooks J, Cowdell F, Ersser S, Matts P (2017) Skin cleansing and emolliating for older people: A quasi-experimental pilot study International Journal of Older People Nursing DOI: 10.1111/opn.12145

Cowdell F. (2017) Health-seeking behaviour in people with psoriasis British Journal of Dermatology. DOI:10.1111/bjd.15733

Cowdell F, Booth A, Appleby B. (2017) Knowledge mobilisation in bridging patient-practitioner-researcher boundaries: a systematic review protocol. Journal of Advanced Nursing

Cowdell F, Taylor E, Sykes M, Dyson J. (2017) Effective and meaningful engagement of older people in health care interventions using co-methodologies: an integrative literature review. CRD42017059867 https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.asp?ID=CRD42017059867

Brooks J, Cowdell F, Ersser S, Matts P. (2017) Skin cleansing and emolliating for older people: A quasi-experimental pilot study International Journal of Older People Nursing DOI: 10.1111/opn.12145

Brooks J, Ersser S, Cowdell F, Gardiner E, Mengistu A, Matts P (2017) A Randomised Controlled Trial to evaluate the effect of a new skin care regimen on skin barrier function in those with podoconiosis in Ethiopia. British Journal of Dermatology DOI: 10.1111/bjd.15543

Layton A, Whitehouse H, Eady E.A, Cowdell F, Warburton K, Fenton M. (2017) Prioritising treatment outcomes: how people with acne vulgaris decide if their treatment is working. Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine DOI: 10.1111/jebm.12249

Thomas K, Bradshaw L, Batchelor J, Lawton S, Harrison E, Ahmed A, Haines R, Dean T, Burrows N, Pollock I, Buckley H, Williams HC, Mitchell E, Cowdell F, Brown SJ, Sach T, Montgomery A (2016) Preliminary results of a randomized controlled trial of silk therapeutic clothing for the management of eczema in children (CLOTHES). British Journal of Dermatology 175 (suppl. S1) 11-12

Smith I , Brown S, Nixon J, Cowdell F, Ersser S, Fernandez C, Goodﬁeld M, Green C, Hampton P, Lear J, Smith C, Sunderland L, Tubeuf S and Wittmann M (2016) Treatment of severe, chronic hand eczema: results from a UK-wide survey Clinical and Experimental dermatology (in press)

Thomas K.S, Bradshaw L.E, Sach T.H, Cowdell F, Batchelor J.M, Lawton S, Harrison E.F, Haines R.H, Ahmed A, Dean T, Burrows N.P, Pollock I, Buckley H.K, Williams H.C, Llewellyn J, Crang C, Grundy J.D, Guiness J, Gribbin A, Wake E, Mitchell E.J, Brown S.J, Montgomery A.A on behalf of the UK Dermatology Clinical Trials Network’s CLOTHES Trial team (2016) Randomised controlled trial of silk therapeutic garments for the management of atopic eczema in children: results of the CLOTHES Trial. HTA Report

Cowdell F, Eady E.A, Layton A.M, Levell N.J, Jones C. Ridd M.J. (2016) Effective consultations for acne: what is important to patients? British Journal of DermatologyDOI: 10.1111/bjd.14689[Epub ahead of print]

Galvin KT, Cowdell F, Sloan C, Pound C, Ellis-Hill C, Ersser S, Watson R, Brooks S (2016) Humanising Services: A new transferable leadership strategy for improving ‘what matters to older people’ to enhance dignity in care.

Cowdell F, Galvin K.T. (2016) Practice question (Humanisation) Nursing Older People 28, 14-15

Cowdell F, Ersser S (2016) Psychosocial Effects of and Nursing Interventions for Dermatological Disease and Psychodermatoses in: ed Nicol N Dermatology Nursing Essentials: A Core Curriculum 3^rdeditionPhiladelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Swithenbank S, Cowdell F, Holle H (2015) The Role of Auditory Itch Contagion in Psoriasis. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology doi: 10.2340/00015555-2320. [Epub ahead of print]

Cowdell F (2015) Research Corner: Older People and Skin Health Dermatological Nursing 14(3)46-7

Ersser S, Farasat H, Jackson K, Gardiner E , Sheppard Z, Cowdell F (2015) Parental self-efficacy and the management of childhood atopic eczema: development and testing of a new clinical outcome measure. British Journal of Dermatology 173 (6): 1479–1485

Harrison E, Haines R, Cowdell F, Sach T, Dean T, Pollock I, Burrows N, Buckley H, Batchelor J, Williams H, Lawton S, Brown S, Bradshaw L, Ahmed A, Montgomery A, Mitchell E, Thomas K (2015) A multi-centre, parallel group superiority trial of silk therapeutic clothing compared to standard care for the management of eczema in children (CLOTHES Trial): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials 16(1) 390 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-015-0921-9

Layton A, Eady A, Peat M, Whitehouse H, Levell N, Ridd M, Cowdell F, Patel M, Andrews S, Oxnard C, Fenton M, Firkins L 2015 Identifying acne treatment uncertainties via a James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership. BMJ Open 2015;5:e008085. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008085

Cowdell F 2015 PPI: Patient and Public Involvement. What does it mean both in theory and in practice? Dermatological Nursing 14(2) 50-53

Cowdell F, 2015 Developing the evidence base for hygiene and emollient practices to maintain and enhance skin integrity in older people. Nursing Older People 27(4) 16-20

Cowdell F, Garrett D 2015 Older people and skin: challenging perceptions of the ageing process. Journal of Aesthetic Nursing 3(10) 436-441

Cowdell F 2015 Invited commentary on The epidemiology of skin care provided by nurses at home: a multicentre prevalence study Journal of Advanced Nursing 71(3) 570-580.

Cowdell F 2014 Invited commentary on A telephone based Motivational Interviewing intervention has positive effects on psoriasis severity and self-management – A randomised controlled trial British Journal of Dermatology 171(6) 1296-1297

Cowdell F, Jadotte YT, Ersser SJ, Danby S, Walton S, Lawton S, Roberts A, Gardiner E, Ware F, Cork M. Hygiene and emollient interventions for maintaining skin integrity in older people in hospital and residential care settings (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 12. Art. No.: CD011377. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011377.

Cowdell F, Dyson J 2014 A novel intervention for skin cancer prevention Dermatological Nursing 13(3) 45-49

Cowdell F, Radley K 2014Skin Hygiene Care for Patients with Bariatric Needs Nursing Times 110(24) 22-23

Cowdell F 2014 Phenomenology. In Glasper A (ed) Healthcare Research – at a glance. Oxford. Wiley

Cowdell F, Garrett D 2014 Older People and Skin: Challenging Perceptions British Journal of Nursing 23(12) S20-25

Cowdell F 2014 An inaugural lecture Dermatological Nursing 13(2) 58-59

Cowdell F, Ersser S 2014 Nursing interventions in psychodermatology in: eds Bewley A, Taylor R, Reichenberg J, Magid M Practical Psychodermatology, First Edition, West Sussex, John Wiley & Sons

Cowdell F 2014 Psychological and educational interventions for atopic eczema in children: Summary of a Cochrane Review Update Dermatological Nursing 13(2) 40-42

Dyson J, Cowdell F 2014 Development and psychometric testing of the ‘Motivation and Self-Efficacy in Early Detection of Skin Lesions’ Index Journal of Advanced Nursing 70(12) 2952-2963 doi: 10.1111/jan.12436

Ersser SJ, Cowdell F, Latter S, Gardiner E, Flohr C, Thompson AR, Jackson K, Farasat H, Ware F, Drury A. Psychological and educational interventions for atopic eczema in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD004054. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004054.pub3.

Eady A, Cowdell F 2014 Acne Research: Are We Answering the Right Questions? Journal of the Dermatological Nurses’ Association 6(2) 77-79

Cowdell F, Ersser SJ, Jackson K 2013 Parental Management of Eczema. British Journal of Nursing 22(22): 1288

Büscher TP, Dyson J, Cowdell F 2013 The effects of hoarding disorder on families: an integrative review. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Jul 21. doi: 10.1111/jpm.12098. [Epub ahead of print]

Cowdell F, Radley K 2013 What do we know about skin-hygiene care for patients with bariatric needs? Implications for nursing practice Journal of Advanced Nursing70(3) 543-552 DOI: 10.1111/jan.12208

Cowdell F, Steventon K 2013 Skin cleansing practices for older people: a systematic review International Journal of Older People Nursing. 10(1) 3-13 DOI: 10.1111/opn.12041.

Steventon K, Cowdell F 2013 Acne and diet: a review of the latest evidence. Dermatological Nursing 12(2) 28-34

Steventon K, Cowdell F 2013 Psychological impact of facial acne in adult women. Journal of the Dermatological Nurses’ Association 5(3):1-6

Cowdell F 2013 “That’s how we do it ... we treat them all the same” : an Exploration of the Experiences of Patients, Lay Carers and Health and Social Care staff of the Care Received by Older People with Dementia in Acute Hospital Settings. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Newcastle Upon Tyne. (nominated for British Medical Association award 2013)

Cowdell F, Ersser S 2013 The Person-Centred Dermatology Self-Care Index Dermatological Nursing 12(1): 45-47