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Staff Profile

Dr Kate Swainston

Director of Research (Psychology)

  • Telephone: 0191 2087562
  • Address: School of Psychology
    Â鶹´«Ã½
    4th Floor, Dame Margaret Barbour Building
    Wallace Street
    Â鶹´«Ã½-upon-Tyne
    NE2 4DR
Background

Dr Kate Swainston is a Chartered Psychologist, HCPC registered Practitioner Health Psychologist, and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS). Kate is an Applied Psychology Practice Supervisor (RAPPS accredited) for the BPS Qualification in Health Psychology and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She is a Reader in Applied Health Psychology within the School of Psychology, a member of the Population Health Sciences Institute (PHSI), and a Fellow of the Faculty of Medical Sciences Graduate Research School.


Kate is the Director of Research for the School of Psychology and represents Health Psychologists on the Psychological Professions Network North East and Yorkshire Workforce Council and the Regional NMAHP Group. Kate maintains a clinical case load specialising in medically complex cases, chronic pain, psycho-oncology, and palliative care and has expertise in third wave and resource based therapies. 


Research

Kate is the Director of Research for the School of Psychology and conducts research, enterprise and business engagement projects within applied health psychology and behavioural medicine. Her collaborations are cross-disciplinary and she has received funding from a range of sources including the NIHR, universities, and third sector organisations. Kate sits on numerous steering committees and professional practice groups and her research focuses broadly on patient safety and experience, the development of psychological interventions, cancer survivorship and late effects, optimising surgical outcomes, and women's health. Kate has received awards for her work on menstrual dignity and period poverty. Kate has expertise as a methodologist and analyst of statistical data and creative qualitative approaches.


Kate is currently working on numerous projects including:

  • The psychological impact of hypermobility, the development of a psychometric tool and intervention pathway
  • Novel brief interventions for chronic pain
  • The impact of menstruation, dysmenorrhea and period poverty
  • Cancer screening, diagnosis, and patient experience: an international perspective
  • Enhancing pathways of care for patients with pleural disease
  • Virtual consultations in palliative care and the meaning of hope for those with advanced disease
  • Long-term monitoring and psychosocial impacts of childhood cancer
  • Implementation of guidelines and service improvement within healthcare
  • Analysis and optimisation of patient-reported outcomes following surgery


Kate is a peer reviewer for numerous journals, is a grant awards referee, and is the former editor of Health Psychology Update. She is an experienced supervisor with completions as Director of Studies of PhD's, clinical, health, and counselling psychology doctorates. Kate acts as external supervisor for clinical, health and coaching psychology PhD's and holds external examiner positions at several academic institutions. 

Teaching

Current Teaching and Supervision:

  • Research Skills for Psychological Research in Clinical Settings 
  • Applied Health Psychology
  • Introduction to Health Psychology
  • Dissertation - MSc Foundations in Clinical Psychology
  • UG Empirical Project
  • PhD/MD/MPhil/MRes
  • Doctorate in Clinical Psychology


Doctoral Supervision Examples:

  • Beddard, N. An exploration of the long-term psychosocial impacts of retinoblastoma. 
  • Bell, B. How does long term monitoring impact the lived experience of haematogenic stem cell transplant recipients in England? 
  • Crabtree, K. A social-cognitive approach to a coaching intervention and its multidimensional impacts on wellbeing.
  • Dismore, L. A triangulated double-blinded, prospective, cohort study on patients’ perceptions of pain following forefoot surgery. 
  • McGregor, F. Organisational barriers and facilitators to the implementation of best practice with forensic radiography practice.
  • Wetherell, B. Women's exeriences of long-term health conditions following pre-eclampsia.
  • Iliaki, E. The art of mindfulness: enhancing health and wellbeing and promoting social unity through museum experiences within the Middle East.
  • Huggin, A. Exploring patients’ experiences of hope in the final year of life.


Kate is the Chair of the Board of Examiners for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Low Intensity Psychological Therapy (LIPT) clinical programmes.


Publications

  • Articles

    • MacGregor,F,Breckons,M,Swainston,K. . Radiography 2025. In Press.
    • Clark NL, Johnson M, Adamson J, Rangan A, Kottam L, Swainston K. . Rheumatology International 2026, 46, 29.
    • MacGregor F, Boyes J, Swainston K. . Radiography 2026, 32(2), 103317.
    • Dismore L, Frew K, Wakefield D, Bryan C, Swainston K. . Palliative Care and Social Practice 2025, 19, 1-9.
    • Guirguis J, Elamin-Ahmed H, Venkatachalam S, Swainston K, Vushemasimba M, Murty A. . Injury 2025, 56(12), 112815.
    • Dismore L, Thursby S, Dovey-Pearce G, Goff I, Ferguson D, Tomson D, Swainston K. . Psychology International 2025, 7, 24.
    • Swainston K, Robinson C, Pinder M, Wetherell B, Joyes E, Reay A, Pankhurst G, Johnson D. . Journal of Substance Use 2024, 30(4), 554-560.
    • Dismore L, Taylor L, Aujayeb A, Hurst C, Swainston K. . Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 2024, 37(3), 717-725.
    • Taylor L, Swainston K, Hurst C, Aujayeb A, Dismore L. . Cancer Nursing Practice 2024, epub ahead of print.
    • Crabtree K, Swainston K. . The Coaching Psychologist 2024, 20(1), 62-82.
    • Dismore L, Taylor L, Hurst C, Aujayeb A, Poulter H, Swainston K. . Journal of Respiration 2024, 4(4), 188-197.
    • Clark,N,Johnson,M,Rangan,A,Kottam,L,Hogarth,A,Scott,S,Swainston,K. . Clinical Rheumatology 2024.
    • Thursby S, Dismore L, Swainston K. . BMC Medical Education 2024, 24, 328.
    • Reay A, Dismore L, Aujayeb A, Dotchin C, Tullo E, Steer J, Swainston K. . Journal of Clinical Nursing 2024, 33(9), 3634-3641.
    • Crabtree K, Papworth J, Pennington W, Swainston K. . International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring 2024, 22(1), 84-108.
    • Bell B, Thursby S, Limbrick H, Swainston K. . Journal of Patient Experience 2024, 11, 1-9.
    • Joseph N, Robertson F, Lucocq J, Pande R, Powell-Brett S, Swainston K, Sharp L, Exley C, Roberts K, Pandanaboyana S. . HPB 2024, 26(5), 648-655.
    • Crabtree K, Clark G, Donachie T, Swainston K. . International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring 2024, S18, 134-149.
    • Powlesland C, Swainston K, MacGregor F. . Radiography 2023, 29(1), 70-75.
    • Swainston K, Thursby S, Bell B, Poulter H, Dismore L, Copping L. . British Journal of Health Psychology 2023, 28(1), 80-97.
    • Bell B, Swainston K. . Journal of Cancer Survivorship 2023, 18, 1590-1599.
    • Clark NL, Johnson M, Rangan A, Kottam L, Swainston K. . Rheumatology International 2023, 43, 985-1014.
    • Clark NL, Kainth GS, Johnson M, Rangan A, Kottam L, Swainston K. . Rheumatology International 2023, 44, 41-55.
    • MacGregor F, Breckons M, Swainston K. . Radiography 2023, 30(1), 43-51.
    • MacSween A, Coverdale D, Swainston K, Ryan C, Martin D. . Pain and Rehabilitation 2023, 53(1), 40-47.
    • Terry J, Ross RM, Nagy T, Salgado M, Garrido-Vásquez P, Sarfo JO, Cooper S, Buttner AC, Lima TJS, Öztürk I, Akay N, Santos FH, Artemenko C, Copping LT, Elsherif MM, Milovanovic I, Cribbie RA, Drushlyak MG, Swainston K, Shou Y, Leongómez JD, Palena N, Abidin FA, Reyes-Rodríguez MF, He Y, Abraham J, Vatakis A, Jankowsky K, Schmidt KSNL, Grimm E, González D, Schmid P, Ferreira RA, Rozgonjuk D, Özhan N, O'Connor PA, Zsido AN, Stiglic G, Rhodes D, Rodríguez C, Ropovik I, Enea V, Nurwanti R, Estudillo AJ, Beribisky N, Himawan KK, Geven LM, van Hoogmoed AH, Bret A, Chapman JE, Alter U, Flack ZM, Hanna D, Soltanlou M, Banik G, Adamkovic M, van der Ven SHG, Mosbacher JA, Sen HH, Anderson JR, Batashvili M, de Groot K, Parker MO, Helmy M, Ostroha MM, Gilligan-Lee KA, Egara FO, Barwood MJ, Thomas K, McMahon G, Griffin SM, Nuerk HC, Counsell A, Lindemann O, Van Rooy D, Wege TE, Lewis JE, Aczel B, Monaghan C, Al-Hoorie AH, Huber JF, Yapan S, Garrido Vásquez ME, Callea A, Ergiyen T, Clay JM, Mertens G, Topçu F, Täht MG, Taht K, Mikkor K, Caso L, Karner A, Storm MMC, Daroczy G, Zein RA, Greco A, Buchanan EM, Schmid K, Hunt TE, De keersmaecker J, Branney PE, Randell J, Clark OJ, Steltenpohl CN, Malu B, Tekes B, Ramis T, Agrigoroaei S, Badcock NA, McAloney-Kocaman K, Semenikhina OV, Graf EW, Lea C, Ogba KTU, Guppy FM, Warhurst AC, Lindsay S, Al Khateeb A, Scharnowski F, de Kwaadsteniet L, Francis KB, Lecompte M, Webster LAD, Morsanyi K, Forwood SE, Walters ER, Tip LK, Wagge JR, Lai HY, Crossland DS, Darda KM, Flack TR, Leviston Z, Brolly M, Hills SP, Collins E, Roberts AJ, Cheung WY, Leonard S, Verschuere B, Stanley SK, Xenidou Dervou I, Ghasemi O, Liew T, Ansari D, Guilaran J, Penny SG, Bahnmueller J, Hand CJ, Rahajeng UW, Peterburg D, Takacs ZK, Platow MJ, Field AP. . Journal of Open Psychology Data 2023, 11(8).
    • Clark N, Copping L, Swainston K, McGeechan G. . Progress in Transplantation 2023, 33(3), 208-215.
    • Crabtree K, Swainston K. . International Coaching Psychology Review 2023, 18(1), 21-33.
    • Camilleri S, Swainston K, MacGregor F. . Radiography 2023, 29(1), 84-89.
    • Kirkham A, Swainston K. . Western Journal of Nursing Research 2022, 44(2), 125-132.
    • McLeod E, Mason C, Swainston K. . British Journal of Health Psychology 2022, 27(3), 777-788.
    • Epton T, Ghio D, Ballard L, Allen S, Kassianos A, Hewitt R, Swainston K, Fynn WI, Rowland V, Westbrook J, Jenkinson E, Morrow A, McGeechan GJ, Stanescu S, Yousuf AA, Sharma N, Begum S, Karasouli E, Scanlan D, Shorter GW, Arden MA, Armitage CJ, O'Connor DB, Kamal A, McBride E, Swanson V, Hart J, Byrne-Davis L, Chater A, Drury J. . Social Science & Medicine 2022, 303, 114946.
    • Taylor L, Swainston K, Hurst C, Aujayeb A, Poulter H, Dismore L. . Journal of Respiration 2022, 2(3), 129-138.
    • McGeechan G, Byrnes K, Campbell M, Carthy N, Eberhardt J, Paton W, Swainston K, Giles E. . Psychology and Health 2022, 37(3), 350-374.
    • Dismore L, Van Wersch A, Murty AN, Swainston K. . British Journal of Pain 2022, 16(1), 14-22.
    • Dismore L, van Wersch A, Murty A, Swainston K. . British Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2022, 16(1), 14-22.
    • Dismore L, van Wersch A, Critchley R, Murty A, Swainston K. . British Journal of Pain 2022, 16(3), 317-325.
    • Reay A, Swainston K. . British Psychological Society North of England Bulletin 2021.
    • Healey R, Taylor J, Swainston K. . Health Psychology Update 2021, 30(2), 40-52.
    • Dismore L, van Wersch A, Critchley R, Murty A, Swainston K. . Journal of Pain and Rehabilitation 2021, 51, 15-28.
    • Reay A, Aujayeb A, Dotchin C, Tullo E, Steer J, Swainston K, Dismore L. . Journal of Respiration 2021, 1(3), 216-222.
    • McGeechan G, Swainston K, O'Neill C. . British Psychological Society North of England Bulletin 2020, (3), 21-34.
    • Farrington A, Wilson G, Limbrick H, Swainston K. . Psychology of Men and Masculinities 2020, 21(3), 369-379.
    • Dismore L, van Wersch A, Critchley R, Aradhyula AM, Swainston K. . Journal of Pain Management 2020, 13(2), 105-113.
    • Beddard N, McGeechan G, Taylor J, Swainston K. . European Journal of Cancer Care 2020, 29(2), e13209.
    • Erdem H, Wilson G, Limbrick H, Swainston K. . British Psychological Society North of England Bulletin 2020, (1).
    • Rayment G, Swainston K, Wilson G. . British Journal of Health Psychology 2019, 24(1), 102-122.

  • Book Chapters

    • Dismore L, van Wersch A, Critchley R, Murty A, Swainston K. . In: Merrick J; Morad M, ed. Pain Management: Recent International Research. New York: Nova Science, 2022.
    • Swainston K, van Wersch A. . In: Paludi M.A, ed. Praeger Handbook on Women's Cancers: Personal and Psychosocial Insights. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger, 2014, pp.245-262.

  • Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

    • Bell B, Swainston K. . In: European Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EMBT). 2024, Glasgow, UK.
    • Taylor L, Swainston K, Hurst C, Aujayeb A, Dismore L. . In: Annual British Thoracic Oncology Group Conference 2024. 2024, Belfast.
    • Beddard N, Skinner R, McGeechan G, Nassar M, Swainston K. . In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology 2023 Annual Conference. 2023, Sheffield, UK.
    • Swainston K, Bloomfield L, Atalianis T, Rawson A. . In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology 2023 Annual Conference. 2023, Sheffield, UK.
    • Thursby S, Hirst F, Hamilton L, Dovey-Pearce G, Goff I, Ferguson D, Tomson D, Dismore L, Swainston K. . In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology 2023 Annual Conference. 2023, Sheffield, UK.
    • MacGregor F, Swainston K. . In: Achieving Excellence in Radiography Education and Research. 2023, University of Suffolk, UK.
    • Dismore L, Taylor L, Aujayeb A, Swainston K. . In: British Thoracic Society. 2023, London, UK: BMJ Group.
    • MacGregor F, Breckons M, Swainston K. . In: The Society of Radiographers of South Africa (SORSA) Congress (SORSA 2023). 2023, Cape Town, South Africa: SORSA.
    • Taylor L, Swainston K, Aujayeb A, Dismore L. . In: 16th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group. 2023, Lille, France.
    • Low W, Zhu X, Swainston K, Taylor J. . In: 2023 AMA Winter Academic Conference. 2023, Nashville, Tenessee: American Marketing Association.
    • Snelling L, Swainston K, VanWersch A. . In: Research Council for Complementary Medicine (RCCM) Conference. 2023, London, UK.
    • Swainston K, O'Malley C, Brown V. . In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference. 2022, Bristol, UK.
    • Brown V, Swainston K. . In: Academic Libraries North Conference 2022. The time is now: active approaches to inclusivity. 2022, Virtual: Academic Libraries North.
    • Critchley R, Dismore L, Swainston K, Townshend D, Coorsh J, Kakwani R, Murty A. . In: British Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (BOFAS). 2022, Bournemouth.
    • Swainston K, Dismore L, Bonnema J, van Wersch A. . In: European Health Psychology Conference 2021. 2021, Virtual.
    • Swainston K, Dismore L, Bonnema J, van Wersch A. . In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference. 2021, Virtual.