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Dr Iain Williamson

Job: Senior Lecturer/ Programme Leader MSc Health Psychology

Faculty: Health and Life Sciences

School/department: School of Applied Social Sciences

Research group(s): Psychology

Address: De Montfort, University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH.

T: +44 (0)116 207 8393

E: iwilliamson@dmu.ac.uk

W: /hls

 

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Personal profile

Dr Iain Williamson is a critical health psychologist who is registered  with the Health Professions Council and chartered with the British Psychological Society. Dr Williamson uses qualitative methods in his research and has a particular interest in issues around diversity and health inequalities in marginalised communities.

Publications and outputs


  • dc.title: The psychological impact of living with peritoneal mesothelioma: An interpretative phenomenological analysis dc.contributor.author: Lond, Benjamin J.; Apps, Lindsay; Quincey, Kerry; Williamson, I. R. dc.description.abstract: Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare life-limiting cancer that is likely to have an extremely negative impact on mental health; however, no studies to date have explored the impact and needs of those living with the condition. Ten individuals diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma (eight women, two men) participated in interviews and could share and discuss photographs to convey their illness experiences. Data analysis was informed by 鈥業nterpretative Phenomenological Analysis鈥�. Two themes are presented: 鈥楨xperiences of Care鈥� and 鈥楶sychological Distress鈥�. Individuals experienced a lengthy diagnostic journey with little follow-up support. Women also reported negative impacts on body image due to abdominal swelling and scaring, diminished sexual ability and loss of fertility. Individuals recalled vivid feelings of anxiety and post-traumatic stress, and tried to cope by compartmentalising their fears and modifying diets. These findings demonstrate the need to further signpost services, help individuals manage gendered issues, and alleviate feelings of anxiety. dc.description: open access article

  • dc.title: A systematic review of the barriers and facilitators impacting patient enrolment in clinical trials for lung cancer dc.contributor.author: Lond, Benjamin; Dodd, Christopher; Davey, Zoe; Darlison, Liz; McPhelim, John; Rawlinson, Janette; Williamson, I. R.; Merriman, Clair; Waddington, Francesca; Bagnallainslie, Dominic; Rajendran, Balaji; Usman, Jesse; Henshall, Catherine dc.description.abstract: Purpose Clinical research trials are needed to enhance the medical care and treatment for lung cancer, which remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. While clinical trials allow for the development of novel therapies to treat cancer, the recruitment of lung cancer patients to trials is low. This review aimed to identify and synthesise the available literature concerning barriers and facilitators affecting lung cancer patients鈥� decisions to enrol in clinical trials to guide future cancer research efforts. Methods Four databases were systematically searched: Academic Search Complete, CINHAL, PubMed, and PsycINFO in August 2023. A supplemental grey literature search was also conducted alongside this. Articles were quality appraised using CASP and JMI checklists, and results were narratively synthesised. Results Eighteen articles of varied design met the inclusion criteria, and results were mapped onto the Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation Behaviour (COM-B) Model to help structure and conceptualise review findings. Evidence suggests that the decision to enrol in a trial is multifaceted and informed by: when and how study information is presented, travel and trial eligibility, and altruistic hopes and fears. Conclusions There is need to address the many different concerns that lung cancer patients have about participating in a clinical trial through the supply of accessible and timely trial information, and via the reduction of travel, expansion of study eligibility criteria, and recognition of a person's altruistic wishes, hopes, fears, and family-oriented concerns. Future research should aim to work alongside lung cancer patients, clinicians, and other stakeholders to increase research accessibility. dc.description: open access article

  • dc.title: Transitioning services for eating disorder treatment, the relative importance of factors from patient, carer and clinician perspectives: a Q-methodology study dc.contributor.author: Wales, Jackie; Brewin, Nicola; Williamson, I. R.; 艩tick媒, Jakub; Lawrence, Rachael; Eivors, Alison dc.description.abstract: Purpose Effective transitions from child and adolescent to adult services are important for continuity of care for patients with eating disorders. This study aims to examine the relative importance of a series of statements about the transition process, elicited from an earlier service evaluation, from the perspectives of patients, parents/carers and clinicians. Design/methodology/approach Twenty-eight participants completed a Q-sort task ranking 40 statements, developed from an earlier study, using a normal distribution pattern on a scale, which ranged from strongly agree to strongly disagree, to identify their priorities for transition. Analysis resulted in the extraction of four factors explaining 52% of the variance. Findings Four distinct factors were elicited: 鈥減arents and carers need including too鈥�, 鈥渇acilitating effective transfer between services鈥�, 鈥渟upporting the patient through transition鈥� and providing 鈥渢imely, patient-centred care鈥�. The study enabled similarities and differences in priorities to be observed for the three respondent groups. Practical implications These rankings, noting the differences between the respondent groups, can be used to inform the development of effective transition protocols. This study suggests these protocols should ensure a person-centred approach; timely planning; include parents/carers; provide continuous care and have good transfer of information and sensible timing of transitions. Differences in priorities/opinions can be addressed through open communication channels. Originality/value To the best of the authors鈥� knowledge, this is the first UK-wide study examining priorities for transition from the perspectives of patients, parents/carers and clinicians.

  • dc.title: Researching Local Public Health Priorities in The Locked Down City Using Online Community Focus Groups: Reflections and Recommendations dc.contributor.author: Williamson, I. R.; Lond, Benjamin J.; Hart, Tania; Clifton, Andrew; Ochieng, B. dc.description.abstract: In this commentary paper we reflect on our experiences of conducting two qualitative public health projects in Leicester UK around health inequalities and marginalised groups during the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. To contextualise the commentary, we first provide information about Leicester and how and why it was disproportionately affected by the pandemic, as well as describing the origins, aims, and methodologies of the two projects. In the second half, we describe and evaluate some of the adaptations we made to our studies and conclude with suggestions for future qualitative community health research as we adapt to the post-pandemic research landscape. dc.description: Open access article

  • dc.title: Understanding the lived-experience and support-needs of people living with antimicrobial resistance in the UK through interpretative phenomenological analysis dc.contributor.author: Hamilton, Ryan A.; Lond, Benjamin; Wilde, Lucina; Williamson, I. R. dc.description.abstract: In the UK nearly 54,000 infections were caused by serious resistant bacteria in 2022 but there is a lack of evidence regarding the long-term impact on patients鈥� lives nor what support they need. This research aimed to answer the question: 鈥淲hat are the key elements of experience and support needs of people living with AMR in the UK?鈥�. In-depth semi-structured interviews were undertaken with nine people who had been living with resistant infections or colonisation for 12-months or longer. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was used to study the accounts and illustrate individuals鈥� experiences and support-needs. Participants experienced marginalisation and isolation but also empowerment; described across three major themes: (1) I live in fear and stigma: The long-term impact of AMR; (2) I am battling on my own: A journey toward self-advocacy; and (3) I like to share my story: The role of AMR communities. All participants perceived a lack of knowledge, information, and support from clinicians; difficulties accessing reliable and understandable information; and lack of understanding from family and friends. Charities and online groups provided support with coping with their situation and improving mental health and wellbeing. Understandable and relatable information regarding the science of AMR, transmission, prevention, and living with AMR needs to be provided by clinicians and healthcare services around the time of diagnosis to readily available after diagnosis. dc.description: open access article

  • dc.title: How multiple threats to safety affects quality of life for picky eating adults; a new explanatory model dc.contributor.author: Fox, Gemma; Coulthard, Helen; Williamson, I. R.; Aldridge, V. K. dc.description.abstract: Picky eating describes a pattern of eating characterised by a narrow dietary range with rejection of both novel and familiar foods. Research has suggested that picky eating in adulthood is associated with several negative psychosocial outcomes including impaired quality of life. This research aimed to build and test a model explaining the relationship between picky eating and quality of life. 230 participants were recruited via online support forums for picky eating, and an undergraduate research participation scheme. Participants completed self-report measures of picky eating, sensory sensitivity, disgust, anxiety, fear of negative evaluation and eating related quality of life. Regression analysis indicated that picky eating, disgust sensitivity, anxiety, and fear of negative evaluation were all associated with impaired eating-related quality of life. A theoretical model was then devised which aimed to explain the interactions between these factors, and Path Analysis indicated that this model was a good fit for the data. This Safety in Picky Eating and Quality of life (SPEQ) model suggests that threat perception and the drive for safety underlies the relationship between picky eating and impaired quality of life. The SPEQ model provides a preliminary basis for understanding how picky eating impacts quality of life in adulthood. dc.description: open access article

  • dc.title: A mixed-methods evaluation of 鈥楾he Quest鈥�, a health and well-being intervention for British-based Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic gay and bisexual men dc.contributor.author: Williamson, I. R.; Papaloukas, Periklis; Jaspal, Rusi dc.description.abstract: This article provides an evaluation of a health and well-being workshop based intervention, 鈥楾he Quest鈥� for gay and bisexual men from British Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. A quantitative component assessed reported and intended sexual risk, drugs and alcohol use alongside measures of psychological well-being with pre and post programme data collected from 26 men. Fourteen men participated in focus groups which discussed experiences of the intervention. Significant improvements were found on measures of internalised homophobia, self-esteem and self-efficacy but not for health behaviours including safer sex or substance use. Qualitative feedback was generally positive especially around enhanced psychological well-being, identity integration, and enhanced self-awareness. There were some concerns over group size and whether non-BAME gay men were appropriate as facilitators. Theoretically-informed, culturally competent interventions can demonstrate significant potential in enhancing the well-being of BAME gay and bisexual men but follow-up data are needed to show longer-term benefits. dc.description: Data from evaluation project led by Public Health England The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.

  • dc.title: Living in the shadow of Lynch Syndrome: British women鈥檚 accounts dc.contributor.author: Heames, Lauren; Williamson, I. R.; Song, John; Lond, Benjamin dc.description.abstract: In this paper we explore accounts of eight British women living with Lynch Syndrome: a hereditary syndrome that increases the risk of developing bowel and gynecological cancers. We collected data via semi-structured interviews and analyzed them using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Two themes, 'It's Up to Us': The Lynch Patient Experience; and 'The Biggest Challenge': The Lynch Parent Experience, illustrate the experiential burden and emotional labor of living with Lynch Syndrome. We theorize our analysis through Corbin and Strauss's concept of 'Health Work', and Hochschild's concept of 'Emotion Work'. Recommendations for clinical care and familial support are discussed. dc.description: The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.

  • dc.title: 鈥淪tuck in a loop of fear鈥�: a phenomenological exploration of carers鈥� experiences supporting a spouse with acquired brain injury dc.contributor.author: Lond, Benjamin; Williamson, I. R. dc.description.abstract: Purpose: Family caregivers are important to facilitating the rehabilitation of individuals with brain injury. However, research shows spousal carers often reporting poorer health and well-being with psychosocial challenges including increased marital dissatisfaction. This study explores the accounts of participants caring for a spouse with brain injury. Materials and methods: This study used semi-structured interviewing and interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: One theme, 鈥淟iving in and beyond the loop of fear鈥�, with two subheadings is reported. Participants鈥� attempts to manage their fears prominently defined their early caregiving. Fears were aggravated by the vulnerability of their spouse鈥檚 health which partially owed to brain injury sometimes having no symptoms prior to its onset. Consequently, participants anxiously strove to prevent further harm to their spouse鈥檚 health due to what they perceived as the continued 鈥渉idden鈥� threat of brain injury. Therefore, participants became hypervigilant, leaving themselves vulnerable to burnout. Over time, some participants modified care practices and managed fears using beliefs accepting their limits to protect their spouses鈥� health. Conclusions: Findings suggest that beliefs conducive to acceptance helped carers to develop more sustainable, less over-protective, care. Interventions to help carers develop similar beliefs could be provided in therapeutic settings. Recommendations for future research are made.

  • dc.title: The lived experience of parenting a child with sensory sensitivity and picky eating dc.contributor.author: Cunliffe, Louise; Coulthard, Helen; Williamson, I. R. dc.description.abstract: 鈥楶icky eating鈥� is a common behaviour seen in childhood in both clinical and non-clinical populations. Sensory processing difficulties have been repeatedly associated with food refusal and picky eating behaviours. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of parents/caregivers who have a child displaying both sensory processing differences and picky eating behaviours utilising Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Participants were recruited from social media support groups for parents of picky eating children. Pre-selection criteria utilised an adapted short sensory profile questionnaire to ensure the children displayed probable/definite taste-smell, audio-visual and tactile sensory sensitivities. Twelve participants fulfilling the required criteria were interviewed face to face utilising a semi-structured interview schedule. Interviews were transcribed and analysed following IPA guidelines and three common themes are presented here: Battling for control of the sensory environment, Living with stigma and, disapproval, and Staying positive and moving forward. The findings show the very considerable day-to-day challenges of parenting a child with sensory issues with food, including a lack of support and criticism from others. It was apparent that the parents in our study gradually adopted a positive and accepting attitude to their child鈥檚 eating. This acceptance allowed them to have positive interactions around food with their child such as cooking and playing with food, suggesting that experiential activities serve an important purpose in this population. Further research should examine whether parental interventions based on acceptance of child eating behaviour, and commitment to gradual positive food interactions would be the best strategy to support parents and children. dc.description: open access article

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Research interests/expertise

  • Critical/qualitative health psychology
  • Breastfeeding and infant nutrition
  • Chronic Illness
  • Social and cultural diversity
  • Lesbian and gay health and well-being
  • Eating disorders 

Dr Williamson has methodolgical expertise in interpretative phenomenological analysis, interviewing and audio-diaries and Q-methodology.

Areas of teaching

  • Health psychology
  • Qualitative research methods
  • Health inequalities
  • Social and cultural perspectives on health and well-being.

Qualifications

  • BA (Lancaster)
  • Postgraduate Diploma (Open)
  • PGCE (Leicester)
  • MSc (Manchester)
  • PhD (Huddersfield)

Courses taught

  • MSc Health Psychology
  • MSc Psychological Well-Being
  • BSc Psychology with Health Studies
  • BSc Psychology 

Membership of external committees

  • Expert member of the NHS Leicester Research Ethics Committee since May 2008.
  • Member of the Division of Health Psychology Training Committee since September 2012.

Membership of professional associations and societies

  • Chartered with the British Psychological Society and Member of the Society's Division of Health Psychology and Qualitative Methods Section.
  • Member of the International Society for Critical Health Psychology and the Midlands Health Psychology Network.
  • Member of the Islamic Studies Network.

Professional licences and certificates

Registered as a practitioner psychologist (speciality: health) with the Health Professions Council in July 2009 until June 2013.

Conference attendance

Williamson, I. & Sacranie, S. M. (2008, September).  Nourishment for body and soul: Exploring British Muslim mothers' accounts of breastfeeding (oral presentation).  British Psychological Society Qualitative Methods Section Inaugural Conference, Leeds, UK.

Williamson, I., Lyttle, S., Johnson, S. & Leeming, D. (2008, September). The benefits and drawbacks of using audio-diaries to capture lived experience: Participants' and researchers' views (Poster presentation). British Psychological Society Qualitative Methods Section Inaugural Conference, Leeds, UK.

Williamson, I. (2009, June).  Exploring accounts of breastfeeding experience among British Asian and white women. Association of Breastfeeding Mothers Annual Conference (Invited address) Leicester, UK.

Leeming, D., Williamson, I., Johnson, S. & Lyttle, S. (2009, September). ‘This is a natural thing, why can I not do this?’ :  The impact of early breastfeeding difficulties on first-time mothers.(Poster presentation). Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology Annual Conference, Newcastle, UK.

Johnson, S., Leeming, D., Lyttle,S.  &  Williamson, I. (2010, March).   Empowerment or regulation?  Exploring the implications of women’s perspectives on pumping and expressing milk. Breastfeeding and Feminism Symposium 2010: Informing Public Health Approaches Greensborough, North Carolina, US.

Johnson, S., Leeming, D., Lyttle, S. & Williamson, I. (2011, April). Being a good mother: Expressing breast milk as a way of negotiating the moral imperative that breast is best (oral presentation). Paper presented at the 7th Biennial Conference of the International Society of Critical Health Psychology, Adelaide, Australia, April.

Leeming, D., Williamson, I., Johnson, S. & Lyttle, S. (2011, June).  Becoming a breastfeeding mother :  An interactionist perspective (oral presentation).  Nutrition and Nurture in Infancy and Childhood: Bio-Cultural Perspectives. Grange-Over-Sands, UK.

Williamson, I., Song, J. & Lyttle, S. (2011, June). Developing undergraduate students’ skills in qualitative data analysis through the exploration of on-line Hajj diaries (oral presentation). Higher Education Academy Centre for Sociology, Anthropology and Politics Teaching Islam in the Social Sciences. Birmingham, UK.

Williamson, I., Quincey, K., Hodges, K., Mitchell, H., Fox, G., Ogbonna, M. & Wood, N. (2011, September). Exploring the experiences of informal primary carers for individuals with Parkinson's Disease in the UK [poster presentation].  British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference, Southampton UK.

Fox, G. & Williamson, I. (2012, February). Living with an eating disorder: An exploration of the effects on a co-habiting relationship from both partners’ perspectives (oral presentation). Midlands Health Psychology Network Annual Conference, Coventry UK

Fox, G. & Williamson, I. (2012, August). “Always the two of us and then Anorexia”. Co-habiting couples’ accounts of living with eating disturbance (poster presentation). European Health Psychology Society Annual Conference, Prague, Czech Republic.

Williamson, I., Ogbonna, M. & Mitchell, H. (2012, August). “It was never an option not to breastfeed.” Exploring breastfeeding accounts of middle class Nigerian women (poster presentation). European Health Psychology Society Annual Conference, Prague, Czech Republic.

Consultancy work

Dr Williamson is currently working with Dr Scott Yates (私房俱乐部) and, Dr Rachel Westacott and Professor John Feehally (University Hospitals Leicester) on a mixed methods project looking at self-efficacy and self-management of young people with Chronic Kidney Disease, funded by NHS Kidney Care.

Current research students

Dr Williamson is supervising a PhD student on a project relating to lesbian and gay sexual health and well-being with Dr Julie Fish.

Externally funded research grants information

2012 NHS Kidney Care with Dr Rachel Westacott and Professor John Feehally (UHL) and Dr Scott Yates (私房俱乐部)

Professional esteem indicators

Dr Williamson has reviewed for several funding organisations including the Economic and Social Research Council, British Academy and National Institute of Health Research.

Dr Williamson has reviewed for publishing houses such as Sage and Open University Press. He has reviewed articles for numerous journals including International Journal of Men’s Health, Sex Roles, International Journal of Social Research Methodologies, European Eating Disorders Review and Critical Public Health.