Dr Sarah Barnes

BA(hons), PgDip, PhD

School of Medicine and Population Health

Senior University Teacher

Sarah Barnes
Profile picture of Sarah Barnes
s.barnes@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 0727

Full contact details

Dr Sarah Barnes
School of Medicine and Population Health
Room 2037
Regent Court (ScHARR)
30 Regent Street
Sheffield
S1 4DA
Profile

I joined the University of Sheffield in 2000 as a Research Associate in Sheffield Institute for Studies in Ageing (SISA). Here I worked on the multi-disciplinary EPSRC-funded project Design in Caring Environments (DICE), a study of quality of life and building design in residential and nursing care homes for older people. Following on from this I successfully managed a three year, multi-method, longitudinal study identifying the need for end of life care among older people with heart failure and their families, funded by the Department of Health.

I am currently working as a Senior University Teacher in Public Health where I have retained my commitment to interdisciplinary/cross departmental research collaboration.

Research interests

My primary research interest is in 'improving the quality of life of older people'. Key research areas arising from this are:-

  • The impact of the physical environment on the quality of life of older people
  • Evaluating the housing needs of older people
  • Improving hospital environments for the end of life care of older people
  • Assessing the palliative care needs of older people with life-limiting illnesses
  • Improving communication between patients with life-limiting conditions and their health care professionals

Research projects

  • Roche Products Limited: Patient perspectives in geographic atrophy (GA), Carlton J, Barnes S, Haywood A.  £38,500. May to December 2017.
  • Sheffield Wildlife Trust: Evaluation of Wild at Heart, Barnes S and Jordan H, £14,000, May 2015 -December 2016.
  • EPSRC; ESRC; AHRC:  Design for Well-being programme. How better design can facilitate mobility, connectivity and well-being for older people.  A participatory approach to design research.  Wigglesworth S, Barnes S, Tait M, Crookes L.  £642,082.  October 2013 to October 2016.
  • NIHR Physical Environment Research Programme. Built environment in acute care for older people. Parker S G (PI), Barnes S, Nolan M, Booth A, Deardon A. £274,440. February 2011 - March 2013.
  • BUPA Foundation: Phillip Poole-Wilson Seed Corn fund. Pre-protocol work to develop a Randomised Control Trial to enhance patient-professional communication about end of life issues in life limiting conditions other than cancer. Barnes S (PI), Gott M, Payne S, Gardiner C, Small N, Seamark D, Halpin D. £19923. February 2010 - February 2011.
  • Supportive and Primary Care Oncology Research Group (SPORG). Improving hospital environments for the end of life care of older people dying of malignant disease. Gardiner C (PI), Barnes S, Ingleton C, Gott M. £3960. January 2010 - December 2010.
  • Dunhill Medical Trust. A pilot study to explore the palliative care needs of older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Gott M (PI), Barnes S, Payne S, Small N, Seamark D, Halpin D, Ruse C. £56890. January 2008 - January 2009.
  • Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Design evaluation of older people's extra care housing: development and testing of as assessment tool (EVOLVE). Torrington J (PI), McKee K, Barnes S, Netten A, Darton R. £658000. October 2007 - October 2010
Publications

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All publications

Journal articles

Book chapters

Conference proceedings

  • Arblaster G, Davis H, Buckley D & Barnes S (2019) What changes do patients report after strabismus surgery for planned psychosocial benefit?. Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Vol. 60(9). Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, 28 April 2019 - 28 April 2019. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Barnes S & Jordan H (2016) P40 Wild at Heart: A mixed method evaluation of a wildlife-related intervention for older people. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, Vol. 70(Suppl 1) (pp A71-A71). York, UK, 14 September 2016 - 14 September 2016. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Halpin D, Gardiner C, Gott M, Barnes S, Payne S, Ruse C, Small N & Seamark D (2009) Discussing Prognosis in COPD: Findings from a Qualitative Study with Clinicians in the UK. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE, Vol. 179 RIS download Bibtex download

Posters

  • Arblaster G, Davis H, Buckley D & Barnes S (2019) What changes do patients report after strabismus surgery for planned psychosocial benefit?. RIS download Bibtex download

Preprints

Research group

Current PhD Students

  • Sarah Alasamri: Bridging the gap between a mother’s need to breastfeed and institutional policies: A mixed methods study exploring factors Influencing breastfeeding (started May 2019)
  • Rami Cosulich, Wellcome Trust: Unmet needs among the older people in England: determinants and effects (started October 2020)
  • Sin Rou Fu: The role of smell in the natural world: Exploring the impact of natural smells on wellbeing among older people (started October 2020)
  • Neslihan Tunc: Dietary pattern, social support and health related quality of life (started October 2022)
  • Emine Akbayrak: How the experience of the environment (rural, urban place or nursing home) affects older adults current cognitive functions (started October 2022)

Previous PhD students

  • Gemma Arblaster: Investigating the outcomes of adult strabismus surgery undertaken for psychosocial reasons (completed December 2021)
  • Bruce Moore: Preferences, positions and priorities of residents of extra care and retirement housing (completed March 2021)
  • Eiman Alkhezi: Perceptions of physical activity among Kuwaiti older people (completed March 2019)
  • Katharine Whittingham: The effect of a Carer Support Plan on reducing burden in carers of heart failure patients (completed July 2018)
  • Ameerah Qattan: The Effect of Work-Related Stress and Burnout on Nursing Performance and Job Satisfaction: A Study of Saudi Arabia Hospitals (completed April 2018)
  • Noura Abouammoh: Understanding the role of expatriate health care providers in caring for type 2 diabetes patients in Saudi Arabia (completed April 2015)
Teaching interests

I gained my Certificate in Learning and Teaching (CiLT) in 2009.  I am a Module Leader for Dissertations and since working as a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Public Health I have also led modules in Research Methods, Health Needs Assessment and International Health Policy.

I also contribute to the public health components of the Undergraduate Medical Degree (MBChB) and supervise several MPH dissertations each year.

I am interested in supervising PhD Students using qualitative and mixed methods approaches and am particularly interested in aspects of environmental gerontology and palliative care.

Professional activities and memberships
  • School Dissertation Co-ordinator (2017-)
  • Lead for ScHARR's Health and Environment research theme (2013-)
  • ScHARR Postgraduate Admissions Officer (2012-2015)
  • Member of the Research for Patient Benefits (RfPB) Advisory Committee (2015-)
  • Member of the British Society of Gerontoloty (2012-)
  • Academic reviewer for a wide range of journals and funding bodies