Dr Dawn Swancutt
Profiles

Dr Dawn Swancutt

Senior Research Fellow

Peninsula Medical School (Faculty of Health)

Biography

Biography

Dawn Swancutt is an applied health services researcher with an interest in patient experience of their care. She has been in the Community and Primary Care research group at the University of Plymouth University since 2014, following 10 years in research at the University of Birmingham. Her main role is as co-applicant and manager for the NIHR funded PROGROUP research programme, 'Improving group treatment for people with severe obesity'. She works across multi-disciplinary teams to lead delivery of practical research that is valued by patients and NHS service delivery staff. Her recent work includes evaluation of a learning technique for GPs on multimorbidity consultations, attitudes towards recovering from a fall, and studying patient pathways to avoid hospital admissions.
Dawn is also a member of the Evidence Based Medicine PenARC teaching team, the Research Staff representative on the Researcher Forum and the University Research Excellence Framework steering group.

Qualifications

  • PhD Primary Care, University of Birmingham, 2009
  • Masters in Public Health (MPH), University of Birmingham, 2005
  • BSc. (Hons). Environmental Science, University of Birmingham, 1998

Professional membership

Association for the Study of Obesity 
European Pathways Association
Obesity Empowerment Network
Society for Academic Primary Care 

Roles on external bodies

  • Network Lead for the Association for the Study of Obesity 
  • Ambassador Society for Academic Primary Care

Key publications

Swancutt DR, Jack E, Neve HA, Tredinnick-Rowe J, Axford N & Byng R (2021) 'GP trainee responses to using SHERPA for multimorbidity consultations' Education for Primary Care 1-8 , DOI Open access
Swancutt D, Tarrant M, Ingram W, Baldrey S, Burns L, Byng R, Calitri R, Creanor S, Dean S & Evans L (2022) 'A group-based behavioural intervention for weight management (PROGROUP) versus usual care in adults with severe obesity: a feasibility randomised controlled trial protocol' Pilot and Feasibility Studies 8, (1) , DOI Open access
Milne-Ives M, Swancutt D, Burns L, Pinkney J, Tarrant M, Calitri R, Chatterjee A & Meinert E (2021) 'The effectiveness and usability of online, group-based interventions for people with severe obesity: Systematic review protocol' JMIR Research Protocols , DOI Open access
Swancutt DR, Hope SV, Kent BP, Robinson M & Goodwin VA (2020) 'Knowledge, skills and attitudes of older people and staff about getting up from the floor following a fall: a qualitative investigation' BMC Geriatrics 20, (1) , DOI Open access
Swancutt D, Tarrant M & Pinkney J (2019) 'How Group-Based Interventions Can Improve Services for People with Severe Obesity' Current Obesity Reports 8, (3) 333-339 , DOI Open access
Swancutt D, Joel-Edgar S, Allen M, Thomas D, Brant H, Benger J, Byng R & Pinkney J (2017) 'Not all waits are equal: an exploratory investigation of emergency care patient pathways' BMC Health Services Research 17, (1) 0-0 , DOI Open access
View all publications
Teaching

Teaching

Research

Research

Research interests

  • Mixed-methods research
  • Health services research
  • Research into patient experience of their care
  • Format and delivery of weight-management services
  • Patient care pathways
  • Attitudes to teaching and learning techniques to get up following a fall
  • Methods to consult with patients who have multi morbidity

Grants & contracts

2020 £17,000 Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. (coapplicant) PROGROUP Online development
2020 £33,000 Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust. (coapplicant) PROGROUP Intervention mapping
2020 £2,500,000 National Institute for Health Research. (coapplicant) 
. How are treatment outcomes for people with severe obesity ImProved by GROUP-based behavioural treatment? (PROGROUP) 
2018 £10,000 South West Ambulance Service NHS Trust. (coapplicant) Getting up following a fall
2005 £61,000 Economic and Social Research Council and Medical Research Council. (principal applicant and award holder) 
. Interdisciplinary Fellowship: Understanding the experience of colposcopy 
Publications

Publications

Key publications

Swancutt DR, Jack E, Neve HA, Tredinnick-Rowe J, Axford N & Byng R (2021) 'GP trainee responses to using SHERPA for multimorbidity consultations' Education for Primary Care 1-8 , DOI Open access
Swancutt D, Tarrant M, Ingram W, Baldrey S, Burns L, Byng R, Calitri R, Creanor S, Dean S & Evans L (2022) 'A group-based behavioural intervention for weight management (PROGROUP) versus usual care in adults with severe obesity: a feasibility randomised controlled trial protocol' Pilot and Feasibility Studies 8, (1) , DOI Open access
Milne-Ives M, Swancutt D, Burns L, Pinkney J, Tarrant M, Calitri R, Chatterjee A & Meinert E (2021) 'The effectiveness and usability of online, group-based interventions for people with severe obesity: Systematic review protocol' JMIR Research Protocols , DOI Open access
Swancutt DR, Hope SV, Kent BP, Robinson M & Goodwin VA (2020) 'Knowledge, skills and attitudes of older people and staff about getting up from the floor following a fall: a qualitative investigation' BMC Geriatrics 20, (1) , DOI Open access
Swancutt D, Tarrant M & Pinkney J (2019) 'How Group-Based Interventions Can Improve Services for People with Severe Obesity' Current Obesity Reports 8, (3) 333-339 , DOI Open access
Swancutt D, Joel-Edgar S, Allen M, Thomas D, Brant H, Benger J, Byng R & Pinkney J (2017) 'Not all waits are equal: an exploratory investigation of emergency care patient pathways' BMC Health Services Research 17, (1) 0-0 , DOI Open access

Key publications are highlighted

Journals
Articles
Watkins R, Swancutt D, Alexander M, Moghadam S, Perry S, Dean S, Sheaff R, Pinkney J, Tarrant M & Lloyd J (2023) 'A Qualitative Exploration of Patient and Staff Experiences of the Receipt and Delivery of Specialist Weight Management Services in the UK' The Patient - Patient-Centered Outcomes Research , DOI Open access
Swancutt D, Tarrant M, Ingram W, Baldrey S, Burns L, Byng R, Calitri R, Creanor S, Dean S & Evans L (2022) 'A group-based behavioural intervention for weight management (PROGROUP) versus usual care in adults with severe obesity: a feasibility randomised controlled trial protocol' Pilot and Feasibility Studies 8, (1) , DOI Open access
Swancutt DR, Jack E, Neve HA, Tredinnick-Rowe J, Axford N & Byng R (2021) 'GP trainee responses to using SHERPA for multimorbidity consultations' Education for Primary Care 1-8 , DOI Open access
Milne-Ives M, Swancutt D, Burns L, Pinkney J, Tarrant M, Calitri R, Chatterjee A & Meinert E (2021) 'The effectiveness and usability of online, group-based interventions for people with severe obesity: Systematic review protocol' JMIR Research Protocols , DOI Open access
Swancutt DR, Hope SV, Kent BP, Robinson M & Goodwin VA (2020) 'Knowledge, skills and attitudes of older people and staff about getting up from the floor following a fall: a qualitative investigation' BMC Geriatrics 20, (1) , DOI Open access
Swancutt D, Tarrant M & Pinkney J (2019) 'How Group-Based Interventions Can Improve Services for People with Severe Obesity' Current Obesity Reports 8, (3) 333-339 , DOI Open access
Swancutt D, Joel-Edgar S, Allen M, Thomas D, Brant H, Benger J, Byng R & Pinkney J (2017) 'Not all waits are equal: an exploratory investigation of emergency care patient pathways' BMC Health Services Research 17, (1) 0-0 , DOI Open access
Pinkney J, Rance S, Benger J, Brant H, Joel-Edgar S, Swancutt D, Westlake D, Pearson M, Thomas D & Holme I (2016) 'How can frontline expertise and new models of care best contribute to safely reducing avoidable acute admissions? A mixed-methods study of four acute hospitals' Health Services Delivery Research 4, (3) 1-1 Publisher Site , DOI Open access
Apenteng PN, McCahon D, Murray ET, Jowett S, Murray KA, Swancutt D & Fitzmaurice DA (2015) ''The best thing since sliced bread’: patients’ perceptions of self-management of oral anticoagulation' Thrombus 2, (19) 45-47
Croker JE, Swancutt DR, Roberts MJ, Abel GA, Roland M & Campbell JL (2013) 'Factors affecting patients' trust and confidence in GPs: evidence from the English national GP patient survey' BMJ Open 3, (5) Author Site , DOI Open access
Coast J, Al-Janabi H, Sutton EJ, Horrocks SA, Vosper AJ, Swancutt DR & Flynn TN (2012) 'Using qualitative methods for attribute development for discrete choice experiments: issues and recommendations' Health Economics 21, (6) 730-741 , DOI
Swancutt DR, Greenfield SM, Luesley DM & Wilson S (2011) 'Women's experience of colposcopy: a qualitative investigation' BMC WOMENS HEALTH 11, , DOI Open access
Swancutt DR, Luesley DM, Eastaugh JL & Wilson S (2008) 'Anesthetic Choice in the Colposcopy Clinic: A Retrospective Analysis of Routinely Collected Data' Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey 63, (8) 504-505 , DOI
Swancutt DR, Greenfield SM & Wilson S (2008) 'Women's colposcopy experience and preferences: a mixed methods study' BMC Womens Health 8, Author Site , DOI Open access
Swancutt DR, Luesley DM, Eastaugh JL & Wilson S (2008) 'Anaesthetic choice in the colposcopy clinic: a retrospective analysis of routinely collected data' BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY 115, (5) 646-652 , DOI
Swancutt DR, Hobbs R, Fitzmaurice D, Mant J, Murray E, Jowett S, Raftery J, Bryan S, Davies M & Lip G (2004) 'A randomised controlled trial and cost effectiveness study of systematic screening (targeted and total population screening) versus routine practice for the detection of atrial fibrillation in the over 65s: (SAFE) [ISRCTN19633732]' BMC Cardiovascular Disorders 4, , DOI Open access
Letters
Swancutt DR, Luesley DM, Eastaugh JL & Wilson S (2008) 'Anaesthetic choice in the colposcopy clinic: a retrospective analysis of routinely collected data - Reply' BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY 115, (9) 1190-1190 , DOI
Conference Papers


Swancutt D, Watkins R, Alexander M, Lloyd J, Burns L, Tarrant M, Pinkney J. Patient experiences of accessing specialist weight management services – Are there lessons to be learnt on how best to standardise services and optimise outcomes? UK Congress on Obesity, Lancaster, Sept 2022.

Watkins, R, Alexander M, Swancutt D, Lloyd J, Sheaff R, Burns L, Pinkney, J, Tarrant M. The weighting game: what online forums reveal about the patient experience of accessing weight management services. SW SAPC Mar 2022.

Hollands L, Oftadeh Moghadam S, Calitri R, Watkins R, Lloyd J, Dean S G, Burns L, Swancutt D, Pinkney J, Tarrant M, on behalf of the PROGROUP study team. ImPROving GROUP Treatment for People with Severe Obesity (PROGROUP): development of a group-based behaviour change intervention. UK Society of Behavioural Medicine. Mar 2022.

Alexander M, Swancutt D, Watkins, R, Sheaff R, Lloyd J, Burns L, Pinkney, J, Tarrant M. “Having jumped through all the hoops with the odd back flip thrown in”, the online portrayal of lived experiences of specialist weight management programmes. British Sociological Society SW. Feb 2022.

D Swancutt, E Jack, H Neve, J Tredinnick-Rowe, N Axford, R Byng. Approaching the mutlimorbidity consultation: Evaluation of a training package for newly qualified GPs. Society for Academic Primary Care South West. Online Mar 2021

D Swancutt, SV Hope, B Kent, M Robinson, V Goodwin. The importance of attitudes towards learning techniques for patients to get up from the floor following a fall. Society for Academic Primary Care South West. Online Mar 2021

D Swancutt, SV Hope, B Kent, M Robinson, V Goodwin. “I’m on the floor and can’t get up and it’s really annoying”: A qualitative investigation of patient and staff perceptions of options for getting up from the floor following a fall. British Geriatric Society (BGS), Nov 2020.

D Swancutt, E Jack, H Neve, J Tredinnick-Rowe, N Axford, R Byng. Introducing the SHERPA model for managing multi-morbidity to trainee GPs: outcomes and relevance to elderly care. President’s round presentation. BGS, Nov 2020.

V Goodwin, D Swancutt, B Kent, M Robinson, SV Hope. “I can’t get up and it’s really annoying”: A qualitative investigation of getting up following a fall. National Physiotherapy Conference. Nov 2020.

D Swancutt, S Hope, B Kent, M Robinson, V Goodwin. Getting up from the floor following a fall: A qualitative investigation of patient and staff perceptions. South West British Geriatric Society. Oct 2019. Exeter.

Dawn Swancutt, Jonathan Pinkney & Mark Tarrant. The potential of group-based interventions: issues concerning how to engage people in group based sessions. (Workshop organizer) UK Congress on Obesity. Sept 2019. Leeds

Dawn Swancutt, Mark Tarrant & Jonathan Pinkney. Group dynamics and social identity in obesity healthcare settings. British Dietetic Association conference (BDA). Nov 2018. Birmingham.

Dawn Swancutt, Richard Byng & Jonathan Pinkney. Patient pathways in acute care in South West England. European Pathway Association. Sept 2018. Orta, Italy.

Dawn Swancutt, Mark Tarrant & Jonathan Pinkney. How are group-based interventions delivered for patients with severe obesity? A scoping investigation of current weight management practice. South West Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC). Mar 2018. Plymouth.

Dawn Swancutt, Mark Tarrant & Jonathan Pinkney. Group involvement and tier 3 service provision: Research development. South West Obesity Service Strategy and Review Conference (OSAR). Nov, 2017, Exeter.

Dawn Swancutt, Sammyh Khan, Claire Farrow, Katarina Kos, Mark Daly, Jonathan Pinkney, Mark Tarrant. Understanding social identity in the context of a group-based intervention for people with severe obesity. Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO) Conference Sept 2017. Cardiff.

Byng, R., Westlake, D., Rance S., Pearson, M., Swancutt, D., Pinkney, J. ‘Local workings of acute admission avoidance: a critical realist examination of resource deployment in four hospital emergency departments.’ Centre for Advancement in Realist Evaluation and Synthesis (CARES). London. Oct 2016.

Swancutt D, Tarrant M, Pinkney J. How group interventions are delivered in Tier 3 weight management programmes across the UK: A scoping review of current practice. Association for the Study of Obesity (ASO) Conference Sept 2016. Nottingham.

Swancutt D, Rance S, Benger J, Brant H, Joel-Edgar S, Westlake D, Pearson M, Thomas D, Holme I, Endacott R, Anderson R, Allen M, Purdy S, Campbell J, Sheaff R, Byng R, Pinkney J. How can hospitals safely reduce Avoidable Acute Admissions? The 3A study. Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust Conference Jun 2016. (Best in conference award)

J Pinkney, S Rance, J Benger, S Joel-Edgar, D Swancutt, D Westlake, M Pearson, D Thomas, I Holme, R Endacott, R Anderson, M Allen, S Purdy, J Campbell, R Sheaff, R Byng. How can hospitals safely reduce avoidable admissions of complex elderly patients? Association of Physicians. Apr 2016

D Swancutt, V Goodwin, S Hayes, L Wheeler, K Stein. Mapping rapid intervention services and their impact across the Southwest. South West Academic Health Science Network, New Models of care Conference, Jan 2016.

D Swancutt, S Joel-Edgar, M Allen, D Thomas, H Brant, J Benger, R Byng, J Pinkney. The ‘Lean’ approach of Value Stream Mapping in Emergency Care. Methodological Innovations Conference, Plymouth, Dec 2015.

D Westlake, D Swancutt, S Joel-Edgar, H Brant, D Thomas, S Rance, M Pearson, A Gibson, A Carter, J Smith, V Stacey, D Williamson, C Griffiths, R Endacott, R Byng, J Pinkney. ‘‘Real world interpretation’ of patient case studies: a clinical panel’s contribution to studying decision making in emergency medical admissions.’ Methodological Innovations Conference, Plymouth, Dec 2015.

D Thomas, D Swancutt, S Joel-Edgar, H Brant, R Byng, J Pinkney. Emergency or ambulatory? GP hospital referral routes for acute patients. Society for Academic Primary Care. Feb 2015, Birmingham.

S Rance, J Pinkney, H Brant, D Westlake, D Swancutt, I Holme, S Sharkey, R Byng. Time for care? Patients’ and emergency practitioners’ voices. Emergency Admissions Conference, Dec 2014, London.

S Rance, H Brant, D Westlake, D Swancutt, I Holme, S Sharkey, M Pearson, J Pinkney & R Byng. Embedding ethnography within critical realism: methodological challenges in hospital emergency care. International Conference on Realist Approaches to Evaluation and Synthesis (CARES) Oct 2014, Liverpool.

S Rance, J Benger, H Brant, D Swancutt, D Westlake, D Thomas, I Holme, S Sharkey, A Gibson, J Pinkney, R Byng. Emergency department practitioners’ voices on workplace pressures. Dilemmas for Human Services. 17th annual international research conference. Sept 2014, London.

DR Swancutt, T Flynn, S Greenfield, J Coast, D Luesley & Sue Wilson. The practicalities of using a best-worst scaling Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) with patients. Poster at: South West Society for Academic Primary Care, Mar 2012, Torquay.

A Davey, DR Swancutt & JL Campbell. Using the EQ5D-5L in a healthy young adult population. Poster at: South West Society for Academic Primary Care, Mar 2012, Torquay.

F Warren, DR Swancutt, M Roberts & JL Campbell. The dark side of primary care: out-of-hours care in the General Practice Patient Survey. South West Society for Academic Primary Care, 2012, Torquay.

JE Croker, DR Swancutt, M Roberts & JL Campbell. Factors affecting patients’ trust and confidence in GPs – analysis of survey data. Academic Clinical Fellow Conference, Jan 2012, Southampton.

DR Swancutt, S Greenfield, S Wilson, T Flynn, J Coast, & D Luesley. Patient preferences for colposcopy appointments. Poster at: National Cancer Research Institute, Oct 2009, Birmingham.

DR Swancutt, T Flynn, J Coast, S Greenfield, D Luesley & S Wilson. Staff attitudes make a difference: patient preferences for colposcopy. UK Society of Behavioural Medicine, Jan 2009, Exeter.

DR Swancutt, T Flynn, J Coast, S Greenfield, D Luesley & S Wilson. A ‘best-worst’ discrete choice experiment to identify women’s colposcopy preferences. European Health Economics Conference, Rome, July 2008.

DR Swancutt, DM Luesley, JL Eastaugh & S Wilson. Anaesthetic choice in the colposcopy clinic. Poster at: British Society for Colposcopy & Cervical Pathology, April 2008. Birmingham. (Best in conference award)

DR Swancutt, S Greenfield & S Wilson. From mass screening to individual experience: Women’s experience of colposcopy. Poster at: UK Society of Behavioural Medicine, Dec 2007. Warwick.

DR Swancutt, S Wilson, D Luesley, J Eastaugh. What happens to your patients once they’re referred for colposcopy following an abnormal smear? UK Federation of Primary Care Research Organisations, Liverpool, Nov 2006.

DR Swancutt, S Wilson, D Luesley, J Eastaugh. Anaesthetic choice in the management of CIN. Society of Academic Primary Care, Birmingham, Mar 2006.

Reports
D Swancutt, V Goodwin, S Hayes, L Wheeler, K Stein. Mapping Rapid Intervention Community Services in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care for the South West Peninsula (PenCLAHRC) Project report 2016.

Personal

Personal

Reports & invited lectures

  • UK Congress on Obesity. Member led Conference Symposium - The challenges of maximising patient attendance and adherence in Tier 3 weight management services. Leeds 2019 
  • European Pathway Association Masterclass & Round Table 10 year anniversary event. Patient pathways in acute care in South West England. Italy, 2018.
  • British Dietetic Association. Group Involvement and Tier 3 Service Provision. Birmingham 2018

Conferences organised

Society for Academic Primary Care. Plymouth 2018 

Other academic activities