University of Stirling

School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health

Stirling

FK9 4LA
Scotland

UK

Director of Centre for Public Health and Population Health Research

Lead for The Physical Activity, Diet and Health Research Programme

My research focus is primarily on physical activity, nutrition and health include the specific research areas of:

• Physical activity and the outdoor environment
• Physical activity and ethnic minority groups
• Physical activity for people with dementia
• Cranberry juice for urinary tract infections
• Interventions to reduce alcohol misuse
  

Other research areas of interest include:

• Patient involvement, choice and participation in healthcare decisions, particularly around cancer and cancer screening
• Risk and risk perceptions of environmental hazards
• Management of asthma
  

I have expertise in the following methods:

• A range of systematic review methods
• Evaluation methods
• Qualitative methods

• Hughes A, Gilinsky A, McInnes R, Jepson R. A qualitative study to explore the experiences of postnatal women participating in a physical activity intervention: Process evaluation of the More Active MuMs in Stirling (MAMMiS) study. Funder: CSO. (current 2011)
• Jepson RG, Thackeray F. Investigating the health effects of therapeutic gardening. Funder: University of Stirling (PhD studentship)(current, 2010-2013).

• Ring N, Wilson C, Jepson R, Hoskins G, Pinnock H, Sheikh A, Wyke S. Assessing the appropriateness and accountability of a new multi-level taxonomy of asthma care plans. Funder: QIS £25,000 (current)

• Smith A, Jepson RG, Shepherd A. Evaluation of the impact of sight and hearing support services in Western Isles. Funder: Sight Action £10,000 (current)

• Harris F, Jepson R, Meehan L. A qualitative evaluation of the late effects clinic at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre. Funder: McMillan Cancer Care, £7,900 (current)

• Shepherd A, Jepson RG, Watterson A. A Community Survey of Environmental Hazard and Human Reproduction – data collected as part of the Queensland Social Survey. Funding: Dept. of Nursing and Queensland Population Laboratory. £8,000 (April-Sept 2010).
• Watterson A, Doi L, Gray C, Jepson R, Tyler A, Mackison D, Wakeford T, Young J. International Literature Review to Support the Development of a Health and Environmental Sustainability Framework for Scotland. Funder: Scottish Government. 25,000 (2010-11)
• Smith A, Jepson R, Atherton I. An evaluation of an online education module. Funded by Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service. March-Sept 2010
• Shepherd A,Jepson RG, McInnes R. Evaluation of a midwife led walking intervention for pregnant women. Funded by Paths to Health & University of Stirling. March-Sept 2010
• Bowes A, Jepson R, McCabe L. Physical activity for people with dementia (a realist synthesis). Funded by CSO. 2010
• Morton G, Shepherd A, Cheyne H, Ekevall K, Jepson R, Watterson A. Knowledge and perceptions of midwives and expectant mothers about environmental hazards and their effects on health outcomes in pregnancy and childhood: A pilot study Funded by NHS West of Scotland R&D. (2009-2010)
• Jepson RG, Doi L, Robertson, R, Audit of Exercise referral schemes (Dec 2009-March 2010) Funded by Scottish Government and NHS Health Scotland.
• Jepson RG, Robertson, R, Cameron H. Green prescription schemes: mapping and current practice (November 2009-March 2010) Funded by NHS Health Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage.
• Stead M, Angus K, Jepson RG, Oram C, Hughes A. Community, School and Workplace Initiatives to Encourage Individuals to Use the Outdoor Environment for Physical Activity. Funded by NHS Health Scotland. (Oct-March 2010).
• Parkes T, MacAskill S, Eadie D, Jepson R, Atherton I, McGhee S, Brooks O, Doi L. Prison health needs assessment for alcohol problems (Sept– March 2010) Funded by NHS Health Scotland
• Wyke S, Hunt K, Ziebland S,Jepson R, Entwistle V, Thompson A Information for choice: what people need, prefer and use. Funded by NHS Service, Delivery and Organisation Research Programme 2007-2010
• R Robertson, R Jepson, M Maxwell, H Cameron, M Grandison, A Adams. Exploring the feasibility of led health walks from a health centre: is it possible; do health practitioners and sedentary patients utilise the service; can the model be improved and is there any evidence of benefits to patients with mental or physical health problems? Funding from East Lothian Council and Paths to Health (May 2009 – April 2010)
• Jepson R, Robertson R, Menzies S, Lake S, MacLean J, Smith A, Fairhurst F. A review of the prevalence of physical activity in health professional undergraduate, postgraduate, pre qualification courses and Continuous Professional Development activities Funded by NHS Health Scotland. (Sept– Dec 09)
• Ring N, Hoskins G, Jepson R, Pinnock H, Wyke S, Sheikh, A. Promoting the use of personal action plans in asthma self-management: synthesis of the qualitative evidence and integration of qualitative findings with trial based evidence. Funded by CSO. (Apr-Oct 2009)
• Jepson R, Gray C. Exploring potential approaches to measuring personal and interpersonal progress with young people referred to Includem. Funded by Glasgow Centre for Population Health Jan-Feb 2009.
• Harris F, Jepson R, Robertson R. Review of Physical Activity Strategy. Funded by NHS Health Scotland 2008.
• Jepson R, Bowes A, Avan G, Harris F, Robertson R, Sheikh A. Physical activity and black and minority ethnic groups: qualitative study. Funded by NHS Health Scotland. 2008.
• Jepson R, and Watterson A. Scoping the potential evaluation options for the West Of Scotland Welfare Benefits Pilot Project (Macmillan Cancer Support). Nov 2007-Feb 2008.
• McLean J, Maxwell M, Harris F, Jepson R, Platt S. Risk and protective factors for suicide and suicidal behaviour: a literature review. Funded by Scottish Executive (2008)
• Jepson R, Harris F, MacGillivray S, Rowa Dewar N, Kearney N A review of the effectiveness of mass media interventions which both encourage quit attempts and reinforce current and recent attempts to quit smoking. Funded by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence May-Sept. 2006
• Jepson R, MacGillivray S, Rowa Dewar N, Kearney N. A review of the effectiveness of interventions, approaches and models at individual, community and population level that are aimed at changing health outcomes through changing knowledge attitudes and behaviour. Funded by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Jan-May 2006
• Weller D, Campbell C, Moss S, Melia J, Jepson R, Kendall M. A complex intervention to improve informed choice in PSA testing in Scottish Primary Care: Pilot study Funded by CSO 2006-2008.
• Jepson R et al. Developing a measure of informed choice (CSO fellowship). 2001-2003

I am currently supervising 5 PhD students, and one Clinical Doctorate student:

Diana Blackmore (commenced October 2010).
Exploring the health effects of horticulture and gardening on general and vulnerable populations.
Supervisors: Dr Ruth Jepson, Ms Fiona Thackeray (Trellis)

Lawrence Doi (commenced October 2008)
Prenatal alcohol consumption - a qualitative study exploring pregnant women and midwives knowledge, perceptions and attitudes
Supervisors: Dr Ruth Jepson, Dr Helen Cheyne, Professor Sally Wyke

Margaret Edwards (commenced October 2008)
Confidence in breast feeding initiation
Supervisors: Dr Ruth Jepson, Dr Rhona McInnes, Professor Andrew Watterson

Roma Robertson (commenced March 2008)
Exploring the feasibility of led walks for people with depression
Supervisors: Dr Ruth Jepson, Professor Margaret Maxwell

Nicola Ring (commenced 2008)
A critical analysis of evidence based practice in nursing
Supervisors: Dr Ruth Jepson, Mr John Paley

Mhairi Simpson (Clin Doc)
Exploring the experiences of carers of people with lung cancer
Supervisors: Dr Ruth Jepson, Ms Sandra Menzies, Dr Carol Bugge

Last five years

• Robertson R, Robertson A, Jepson RG, Maxwell M. Walking as a treatment for people with depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2011 Mental health and Physical Activity (in press).
• Shepherd A, Jepson RG, Watterston A, Evans J. Risk perceptions of Environmental Hazards and Human Reproduction: A Community Based Survey. vol. 2012, Article ID 748080, 9 pages, 2012. doi:10.5402/2012/748080.
• Robertson R, Jepson R, Shepherd A, McInnes R. Recommendations by Queensland general practitioners to be more physically active: which patients, how many and are they receptive to the advice? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 2011 [Epub ahead of print] DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2011.00779.x
• Entwistle VA, France EF, Wyke S, Jepson R, Hunt K, Ziebland S, Thompson A. How information about other people’s personal experiences can help with healthcare decision-making: a qualitative study. Patient Education and Counseling 2011 Jun 6. [Epub ahead of print]
• Ring N, Jepson R, Ritchie K. Methods of synthesising qualitative research studies for Health Technology Assessment. International Journal of Health Technology Assessment. 2011 Oct;27(4):384-90.
• Ring N, Jepson R, Hoskins G, Wilson C, Pinnock H, Sheikh A, Wyke S. Asthma plans: Understanding what we mean. Linguistic analysis of terminology as used in published texts. Primary Care Respiratory Journal 2011 http://www.thepcrj.org/journ/aop/pcrj-2010-01-0006-R2.pdf
• Ring N, Jepson R, Hoskins G, Wilson C, Pinnock H, Sheikh A, Wyke S. Understanding what helps or hinders asthma action plan use: a systematic review and synthesis of the qualitative literature. Patient Education and Counseling. 2011 doi:10.1016/j.pec.2011.01.025
• Everett T, Bryant A, Griffin MF, Martin-Hirsch PPL, Forbes CA, Jepson RG. Interventions targeted at women to encourage the uptake of cervical screening. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 5. Art. No.: CD002834. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD002834.pub2.
• Jepson, R., Harris, F., Platt, S., & Tannahill, C. 2010, The effectiveness of interventions to change six health behaviours: a review of reviews, BMC Public Health, vol. 10, no. 1, p. 538
• Jepson RG, Doi L, Robertson, R, Audit of Exercise referral schemes 2010. Edinburgh, Scottish Government and NHS Health Scotland (report not yet available).
• Jepson RG, Robertson, R, Cameron H. Green prescription schemes: mapping and current practice NHS Health Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage (report not yet available).
• Stead M, Angus K, Jepson RG, Oram C, Hughes A. Community, School and Workplace Initiatives to Encourage Individuals to Use the Outdoor Environment for Physical Activity. NHS Health Scotland. (report not yet available).
• Jepson R , Robertson R, Menzies S, Lake S, Smith A, Fairhurst K. A review of the prevalence of physical activity in health professional undergraduate, postgraduate, pre qualification courses and Continuous Professional Development activities. 2009. Edinburgh, NHS Health Scotland.
• Jepson R. Government Perspective, Informed Policy Choice. In: Kattan. MW, editor. Dictionary of Medical Decision Making. Thousand Oaks: SAGE; 2009. 535-538.
• Harris F, Jepson R, Robertson R, Kielmann T. Review Of Physical Activity Strategy: National Level Strand. 2008. Edinburgh, NHS Health Scotland.
• Jepson R, Avan G, Bowes A, Harris F, Robertson R, Sheikh A. Physical activity and black and minority ethnic groups: a qualitative study of South Asian people in Scotland. 2008. Edinburgh, NHS Health Scotland.
• Jepson RG, Craig JC. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (1), 2008 Article Number: CD001321 Date of Publication: 2008 2008;(1).
• Johnstone L, Lardner C, Jepson R. A short review of evidence to contribute to the debate on, and inform the development of, the policy on shifting the balance of care. Scottish Government, editor. 2008. Edinburgh.
• Maclean J, Maxwell M, Platt S, Harris F, Jepson R. Risk and protective factors for suicide and suicidal behaviour: a literature review. 2008. Scottish Executive.
• Thomson H, Jepson R, Hurley F, Douglas M. Assessing the unintended health impacts of road transport policies and interventions: translating research evidence for use in policy and practice. BMC Public Health 2008; 8:339.
• Aung PP, Maxwell HG, Jepson RG, Price JF, Leng GC. Lipid-lowering for peripheral arterial disease of the lower limb. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (4), 2007 Article Number: CD000123 Date of Publication: 2007 2007;(4).
• Douglas M, Thomson H, Jepson R, Hurley F, Higgins M, Muirie J. Health Impact Assessment of transport inititatives: a guide. 2007. Edinburgh, NHS Health Scotland.
• Jepson R, Ziebland S, Fairhurst K, Sheikh A. Access to emergency contraception: a systematic review of the quantitative and qualitative evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to increase use and research on facilitators and barriers. Final report for CSO. University of Edinburgh, editor. 2007. Edinburgh.
• Jepson RG, Craig JC. A systematic review of the evidence for cranberries and blueberries in UTI prevention. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research 2007; 51(6):738-745.
• Jepson RG, Hewison J, Thompson A, Weller D. Patient perspectives on information and choice in cancer screening: a qualitative study in the UK. Social Science & Medicine 2007; 65(5):890-899.
• Jepson R, Harris F, Kearney N, McGillivray S, Rowa-Dewar N. A review of the effectiveness of mass media interventions which both encourage quit attempts and reinforce current and recent attempts to quit smoking. 2006. London, NICE.
• Jepson R. Informed refusal. Virtual Mentor Available online at: http://www ama-assn org/ama/pub/category/15803 html 2006; 8:24-29.
• Jepson R, Kearney N, McGillivray S, Rowa-Dewar N. A review of the effectiveness of interventions, approaches and models at individual, community and population level that are aimed at changing health outcomes through changing knowledge attitudes and behaviour. 2006. London, NICE.
• Jepson R. Forests, Trees and Human Health and Wellbeing (UK research, evidence, policy and practice) - a contribution to the EU COST action E39. 2005.
• Jepson R, Weller D, Alexander F, Walker J. Impact of UK colorectal cancer screening pilot on primary care. British Journal of General Practice 2005; 55(510):20-25.
• Jepson RG, Hewison J, Thompson AG, Weller D. How should we measure informed choice? The case of cancer screening. Journal of Medical Ethics 2005; 31(4):192-196