Leah Avery

I joined the School of Health & Life Sciences in October 2018 as a Reader in Applied Health Psychology. Prior to this I was a senior researcher for almost ten years in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University. 

I am a Chartered Practitioner Health Psychologist and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. I lead a programme of research that involves the development and evaluation of complex interventions targeting a range of health/lifestyle behaviours. These include diet, physical activity, exercise and alcohol in the context of type 2 diabetes management, remission and prevention; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); and surgical procedures (prehabilitation), to list a few. The aim of my work is to develop and evaluate interventions that meet the needs of patient groups, that are suitable for integration in to clinical care pathways, and that are effective for improving patient outcomes and the efficient running of care systems. I have developed a number of behaviour change interventions that are delivered both face to face and digitally. A selection of these interventions have been commissioned and currently in use by patients throughout the UK for diabetes prevention and management. These interventions have been nominated for and received several awards including the Quality in Care Award 2019 (winner) for prevention and early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes; Diabetes Professional Care Awards 2018 (shortlisted patient education campaign of the year); Leading Healthcare Awards (Highly commended, Case study of the year); and Bright Ideas in Health Awards (Awarded second place, service improvement category).  

My research also involves identifying ways to successfully implement behaviour change interventions. This involves collaboration with clinicians and patient groups to better understand the barriers and facilitators to uptake and adherance, what works for whom, under which circumstances and why, and to maximise the faithful delivery of interventions. To achieve this I also develop training programmes and resources for healthcare professionals to help optimise consultation behaviour and maximise the effectiveness of interventions.

Memberships and Professional Activities

Academic member of the School of Health & Life Sciences Research Ethics Committee

Member (Reader Representative) of the School of Health & Life Sciences Research & Innovation sub-committee. 

Public Engagement Champion, Centre for Rehabilitation 

Associate Member of Fuse, The Centre for Translational Research in Public Health (Behaviour Change Theme)

Associate Fellow of the Division of Health Psychology, British Psychological Society 

Member of the European Health Psychology Society

Peer reviewer for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) RfPB, NIHR PgfAR, Medical Research Council and Diabetes UK

Qualifications

PhD Health Psychology, Newcastle University
Stage 2 Qualification in Health Psychology, British Psychological Society
PgCert Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, Teesside University
MSc Health Psychology, Teesside University
BSc (Hons) Psychology, University of Liverpool

Professional Registration

Chartered Psychologist (C.Psychol), British Psychological Society
Practitioner Health Psychologist, Health & Care Professions Council

Research Funding

Flynn D, Avery L, Birrell K, Gordon I, Ansari I, Andrews L, Morgan P. REAL general practice toolkit for Shared Decision Making (REAL SDM): Developing a skills development programme to prepare patients with multi-morbidity to engage in person-centred discussions with clinicians to identify their priorities and options for living well. NIHR ARC NENC (Jan 2021 to 31st Dec 2021); £56,869.

Bowden-Davies K, Taylor R, Avery L. A behavioural intervention targeting physical activity: Sustaining weight loss and type 2 diabetes remission following a very low calorie diet. Novo Nordisk Research Foundation (2020-2021), £12,000. 

Hallsworth, K., Jakovljevic D., Cassidy, S., Charman, S., Houghton, D., Avery, L., Okwose, N., Taylor, R. An open non-randomised pilot study to assess acceptability and feasibility of an internet / mobile phone enhanced service pathway for the management of prediabetes. Changing Health Ltd (2018-19), £36,000.

Snowden CP, Avery L, Gerrand C, Prentis J, Haighton CA, Howell D, McColl E, Kaner E. Preoperative Behavioural Intervention for Risky Drinkers before elective orthopaedic Surgery (PreopBIRDS). NIHR-HTA (2016-19) £607,095.80.

Jakovljevic J, MacGowan G, Avery L, Skinner J, Bailey K, O'Brien N. Personalised home-based physical activity intervention in older adults with heart failure: advancing towards an effective clinical therapy (2015-16). NIHR-BRC £39,551.

Trenell MI, Avery L, Taylor L. Pharmacy enhanced services for people with Type 2 diabetes (2015). Medical Research Council, £28,000.

Kaner E, Avery L, Presseau J, Sniehotta F, Thomson R, Vale L. PhD awards for improvement science (2014-17). Health Foundation, £280,000.

Newbury-Birch D, Gilvarry E, McArdle P, Ramesh V, Stewart S, Walker J, Avery L, Beyer F, Brown, N, Jackson K, Lock C, McGovern R, Kaner E. The impact of alcohol consumption on young people: A review of reviews (2009). Department for Children, Schools and Families £50,977.

Kaner E, Avery L, Brown N, Jackson K, Mason H, Newbury-Birch D. A rapid review of evidence on liver disease epidemiology, treatment and services (2007). NIHR-CCF £28,327

PhD Supervision: Current

Jadine Scragg, 2017 – 2020, Exercise and liver disease. Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) Doctoral Award, Newcastle University.

Oliver Bell, 2018-2023, Exercise to target mental health and physical health in hard to reach men. NUFC Foundation Doctoral Award, Newcastle University.

Kirsten Ashley, 2019-2023, Development of a theory-based intervention targeting consultation behaviour of clinicians and physical activity/exercise behaviour of adults with chronic heart failure, Teesside University. 

Cara Jordan, 2019-2023, Evaluation of a theory-based intervention targeting physical activity/exercise behaviour of adults with chronic heart failure. Teesside University.

Matthew Cooper, 2019-2023, Development and evaulation of a social presribing model for mental health. Teesside University.

Jeanette Morris, 2019/2024, The delivery and evaluation of COPD-specific pain education in pulmonary rehabilitation, Teesside University. 

PhD Supervision: Completed

Dr Sebastian Potthoff, 'Making good quality care habitual: An exploration of the concept of habit in relation to healthcare professional behaviour' Health Foundation Doctoral Fellowship 2014-2017, Health Psychology - Primary supervisor, Newcastle University.

Dr Rebecca Brown, 'The effect of vitamin D and physical activity on knee osteoarthritis symptoms in older obese adults: A mixed methods study' MRC Doctoral Fellowship 2014-2017, Human Nutrition - Co-supervisor, Newcastle University.

Dr Nduka Okwose, A novel, home-based physical activity intervention for chronic heart failure; exploring safety, feasibility, effectiveness and patients experiences' 2015-2018, Exercise and heart failure - Co-supervisor, Newcastle University.

Stage 2 Qualification in Health Psychology (Doctoral) trainees

Current:

Kirsten Ashley, 2018-2021.

Jeanette Morris, 2019-2022.

Completed:

Dr Sebastian Potthoff, Northumbria University. Healthcare Professional Behaviour Change in the context of Type 2 Diabetes management and Alcohol consumption in primary and secondary care, 2015-2018.