Dr. Veronika Williams

Veronika Williams profile image
Professor / Faculty of Education and Professional Studies - School of Nursing
Position
Full-time Faculty
Graduate Program Faculty
Extension
4126
Website
About
Dr Williams is originally from Germany, but has lived in England, UK for 20 years, where she completed her BSc in Nursing and PhD focusing on COPD patient experiences of breathlessness and activity. Her clinical background is in respiratory and general medical nursing. She has worked in several UK Universities since completing her PhD in 2007, including post-doctoral research fellow posts on large research grants. She is currently a Senior Associate Tutor at the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford, where she supervises several DPhil/ PhD students in Evidence Based Health Care program.
Education
PG Cert (Teaching and Learning), University of Reading, UK (2008)
PhD, University of Southampton, UK (2008)
BSc (Hons), Oxford Brookes University, UK (2001)
Research

Veronika’s research predominately focuses on health service delivery and specifically on three main areas: a) how we can improve patient care by learning from and integrating the lived experiences of people with long-term conditions; b) how can we better support people living with a long-term condition with a focus on young and rare onset dementia and c) advancing the practice of evidence-based health care and qualitative methods.

Veronika has specific expertise in qualitative research methods, and has experience in conducting qualitative studies embedded within clinical trials (process evaluations); qualitative and mixed method evidence syntheses and systematic reviews; and mixed methods research. She has experience as a Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on several grants and is a faculty collaborator on Rare Dementia Support (RDS) Canada. She was previously the Director of the School of Nursing from 2020- 2022.

She has successfully supervised several MSc and PhD students and currently supervises PhD students and MSc/ MA students. She is accepting students for research supervision in her areas of interest (both methods and topic area).

Awards/Grants:

2024 - 2027 A Realist Evaluation of Rare Dementia Support: Peoples, Spaces and Places. Sullivan, Williams, Crutch, Hoben, McGee, Tierney, Thornborrow and Webster (PA) CIHR $746,080

2023 - 2024 Building rare dementia support in Canada for sustainable delivery: A participatory evaluation of practice. Sullivan and Williams (Co-I) Ontario Brain Institute $59,600 

2023 Young Onset Dementia – A Pilot Study Exploring Multi- and Intergenerational Support. Sullivan, Williams, Thornborrow, Gorden (Co-I) SSHRC-SIG (internal) $7000 

2022 Living with Sickle Cell Disease across the life span– navigating everyday life and negotiating care in the context of living with a racialised condition. Williams (PI) and Anyinam SSHRC- SIG (internal) $7,000 

2021 Digital Health Narratives OER. Williams and Anyinam (co-PI) eCampus Ontario $39,900 

2021 Interdependence and Pathways to (Dis) Concordant Experiences of Social Isolation and Loneliness in Dementia Care. Sullivan, Williams and Victor (Co-I) RTOERO $24,950 

2020 - Internal Research Grant; Nipissing University COVID 19 grant: COVID 19’s impact on final year nursing students’ clinical preparedness and educational experience. Williams, Peachey, McParland, Goldsworthy, Warbrick CAN$ 4170

2019 - Africa-Oxford Initiative, University of Oxford; Travel Award Oyetunde and Williams £4763

2018-2019 - University of Oxford Global Health Challenge Research Fund (Co-I): CRICK Study (Cardiovascular RIsk sCores in Kenya) - A qualitative study exploring the facilitators and barriers to the use of cardiovascular risk scores in Kenyan primary care settings; (DPhil fieldwork support for Tonny Muthee) £12,577

2018-2019 - NIHR SPCR (PI) Williams et al: Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of an expanded NHS primary care workforce (Phase 1): stakeholder inquiry, conceptual framework development and design of a mixed methods evidence synthesis protocol and external funding application. £12,500

2017-2022 - NIHR Programme Grant for Applied Research: (Co-I) Farmer et al: Supporting people with type 2 diabetes in effective use of their medicine through use of a system comprising mobile health technology integrated with clinical care. £ 2.5 million

2016-2017 - NSPCR: (Co-I) Nunan et al: The Evidence of Effects Page: Refinement of a tool for optimising evidence-based informed treatment decisions In Clinical practice (The EEPIC-1 study). £35,689

2016 - Baily Thomas Charitable Fund: (Joint PI) Victor and Williams et al: Ageing and later life for people with a learning disability: exploring current evidence and setting priorities for future research, a scoping review £4965.33

2015-2018 - NIHR HS&DR: (Co-I): Powell et al: Improving NHS Quality Using Internet Ratings and Experiences (INQUIRE) £ 605,860

 

2009-2013 - The Dunhill Medical Trust, Project Grant: (Co-I) Victor, C.; Williams, V.; Martin, W., LeMay, A.; Richards, S. and Oliver D. Bridging the gap between policy and practice: dignity in care for older people£121,254

 

Publications

Selected Recent Publications

Ban, J.W., Perera, R. & Williams, V*. Influence of research evidence on the use of cardiovascular clinical prediction rules in primary care: an exploratory qualitative interview study. BMC Prim. Care 24, 194 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-023-02155-w 

Butler, K.; Bartlett, Y.K.; Newhouse, N.; Farmer, F.: French, D.; Kenning, C.; Locock, L.; Rea, R; Williams, V. & McSharry, J. 2023. Implementing a text message-based intervention to support type 2 diabetes medication adherence in primary care: A qualitative study with general practice staff. BMC Health Services Research. BMC Health Serv Res 23, 614 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09571-9

Wade, T., Roberts, N., Ban, J.W., Waweru-Siika, W., Winston, H., Williams, V., Heneghan, C.J. and Onakpoya, I.J., 2023. Utility of healthcare-worker-targeted antimicrobial stewardship interventions in hospitals of low-and lower-middle-income countries: a scoping review of systematic reviews. Journal of Hospital Infection, 131, pp.43-53. 

Sullivan, MP; Williams, V; Grillo, A; McKee-Jackson, R; Camic, P; Windle, G; Stott, J; Brotherhood, E and Crutch S. 2022. Peer support for people living with rare and young onset dementia: An integrative review. Dementia: the international journal of social research and practice. https://doi.org/10.1177/14713012221126368

Eaton, G., Wong, G., Tierney, S., Roberts, N., Williams, V. and Mahtani, K.R., 2021. Understanding the role of the paramedic in primary care: a realist review. BMC medicine, 19(1), pp.1-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-021-02019-z

Williams, V.; Boylan, A.; Newhouse, N. and Nunan, D. Appraising qualitative health research - towards a differentiated approach. BMJ Evidence Based Medicine. Published Online First: 23 September 2021. doi: 10.1136/bmjebm-2021-111772

Bartlett, YK; Kenning, C; Crosland, J; Newhouse, N; Miles, L.; Williams, V; McSharry, J; Locock, L; Farmer, A; French, D. 2021. Understanding acceptability in the context of text messages to encourage medication adherence in people with type 2 diabetes – a mixed methods study. BMC Health Services Research. 21, 608 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06663-2

Peachey, L; McParland, T. and Goldsworthy, S. Williams, V*.; 2021. P Stands for Pivot: Pivoting Face-to-Face Practicum to Virtual Simulation during the Pandemic. Clinical Simulation in Nursing. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2021.04.021

Wade, T., Heneghan, C., Roberts, N., Curtis, D., Williams, V. and Onakpoya, I., 2021. Healthcare-associated infections and the prescribing of antibiotics in hospitalized patients of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) States: a mixed-methods systematic review. Journal of Hospital Infection. 110, pp. 122-132, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2021.01.012

Muthee, T. B., Kimathi, D., Richards, G. C., Roberts, N., Williams, V., Nunan, D., & Heneghan, C. 2020. Factors influencing the implementation of cardiovascular risk scoring in primary care: a mixed-method systematic review. Implementation Sci 15, 57 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-020-01022-x

Muthee, T.B., Kimathi, D., Richards, G.C., Roberts, N., Williams, V., Nunan, D. and Heneghan, C., 2019. 6 Factors affecting the implementation of cardiovascular risk scoring in primary care; a mixed-method systematic review. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine24(Suppl 1), p.A45.

Eaton, G., Wong, G., Williams, V., Roberts, N. and Mahtani, K.R., 2020. Contribution of paramedics in primary and urgent care: a systematic review. British Journal of General Practice70(695), pp.e421-e426.

Tierney, S., Wong, G., Roberts, N., Boylan, A.M., Park, S., Abrams, R., Reeve, J., Williams, V. and Mahtani, K.R., 2020. Supporting social prescribing in primary care by linking people to local assets: a realist review. BMC medicine18(1), pp.1-15.

Boylan, A.M., Williams, V. and Powell, J., 2020. Online patient feedback: a scoping review and stakeholder consultation to guide health policy. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy25(2), pp.122-129.

Powell J, Williams V, Atherton H, Bennett K, Yang Y, Davoudianfar M, Hellsing A, Martin A, Mollison J, Shanyinde M, Yu L, Griffiths KM. 2019. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a self-guided internet intervention for social anxiety symptoms in a general population sample: randomized controlled trial. J Med Internet Res doi: 10.2196/16804

Hirst, J.; Farmer, A. and Williams, V. 2019 How point-of-care HbA1c testing changes the behaviour of people with diabetes and clinicians – a qualitative study. Diabetic Medicine.

Powell J, Atherton H, Williams V, Mazanderani F, Dudhwala F, Woolgar S, et al. Using online patient feedback to improve NHS services: the INQUIRE multimethod study. Health Serv Deliv Res 2019;7(38)

Atherton, H.; Fleming,J.; Williams, V. and Powell, J. 2019 Online patient feedback: a cross sectional survey of the attitudes and experiences of UK healthcare professionals. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy https://doi.org/10.1177/1355819619844540

Williams, V.; Boylan, AM; Nunan, D. 2019. Critical appraisal of qualitative research - necessity, partialities and the issue of bias. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine

Williams, V.; Boylan, AM; Nunan, D. 2019 Qualitative research as evidence – expanding the paradigm for Evidence-Based Health Care. BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjebm-2018-111131

Robinson, H.; Williams, V.; Curtis, F.; Bridle, C and Jones, AW.: 2018. Facilitators and barriers to physical activity following pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD: a systematic review of qualitative studies. Npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine28 (1), p.19 doi:10.1038/s41533-018-0085-7

Williams, V. and Ryan, S. 'I just know' exploring self-knowledge in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Palgrave communications. 3, Article number: 17089 (2017) doi:10.1057/palcomms.2017.89

Farmer, A., Williams. V; Velardo, C. et al 2017. Self-Management Support Using a Digital Health System Compared With Usual Care for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res 19 (5):e155 doi:10.2196/jmir.7116

Williams, V.; Kinnear, D. and Victor, C. 2016 “It’s the little things that count” health care professionals’ views on delivering dignified care: a qualitative study. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 72 (4): 782-790. DOI: 10.1111/jan.12878

Kinnear, D. Victor, C. and Williams, V. What facilitates the delivery of dignified care to older people? A survey of health care professionals. BMC Research Notes. Dec 28;8(1):826. doi: 10.1186/s13104-015-1801-9

Hardinge, M.; Rutter, H.; Velardo, C.; Shah, S.; Williams, V.; Tarassenko, L. and Farmer, A. 2015. Using a mobile health application to support self- management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a six-month cohort study. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making. 15:46.  doi:10.1186/s12911-015-0171-5

Kinnear, D.; Williams, V. and Victor, C. 2014.The meaning of dignified care: an exploration of health and social care professionals' perspectives. BMC Research Notes. 7:854. doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-7-854.

Williams, V.; Hardinge, M.; Ryan, S. and Farmer, A. 2014. Patients’ experience of identifying and managing exacerbations in COPD: a qualitative study. npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine. 24:14062; doi:10.1038/npjpcrm.2014.62

Williams, V; Price, J; Hardinge, M, Tarassenko, L and Farmer A. 2014. Using a mobile health application to support self-management in COPD - a qualitative study. British Journal of General Practice. July 2014 64:e392-e400; doi:10.3399/bjgp14X680473

Williams, V., Victor, C. and McCrindle, R. 2013. ‘It’s always on your mind: Experiences and perceptions of falling of older people and their carers, and the potential of a mobile falls detection device.’ Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research. vol. 2013, Article ID 295073, 7 pages, 2013. doi:10.1155/2013/295073

Cairns, D., Williams, V., Victor, C., Richards, S., Le May, A., Martin, W. & Oliver, D. 2013. ‘The meaning and importance of dignified care: findings from a survey of health and social care professionals’. BMC Geriatrics. 13 (28)

Blogs:

Expanding the NHS community workforce: what will this mean for the future of district nursing? https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2020/09/29/expanding-the-nhs-community-workforce-what-might-this-mean-for-the-future-of-district-nursing/

Numbers don’t count - methods do https://www.cebm.net/2019/03/numbers-dont-count-methods-do/

Advanced qualitative research methods in Evidence Based Healthcare https://www.cebm.net/2018/07/msc-in-ebhc-new-module/

Facilitators and barriers to physical activity following pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD https://www.cebm.net/2018/07/physical-activity-in-copd/

Selected Conference Presentations

Nordic Congress of Gerontology, 12th-14th June 2024, Stockholm, Sweden; Sullivan, MP; Williams, V. and Ryan, H. ‘Mobilizing Knowledge to Build a Rare Dementia Support Community in Canada’ (poster presentation)

British Society of Gerontology Annual Conference, 5th -7th July 2023, University of East Anglia, UK; Williams, Sullivan and Victor: ‘Social Connections and Transitions to Long Term Care for People Living with Dementia’ (poster presentation)

CASN Nursing Education Conference 29th-30th May 2023, St John’s, Newfoundland. Williams, Sullivan et al. ‘Challenging dementia discrimination: research informed teaching on people living with a rare or young onset dementia’ (oral presentation)

Canadian Association on Gerontology, 20-22nd October 2022, Regina, Saskatchewan. Sullivan et al: Rare Dementia Support: Mobilizing knowledge from the multi-centre Rare Dementia Support Impact Study. (oral presentation)

Evidence Live, 18th-20th July 2022, University of Oxford, UK. Williams, V.; Boylan, A-M; Newhouse, N. and Nunan, D. Critical appraisal tools for qualitative research – towards “fit for purpose”. Workshop symposium.

NOSMU Northern Health Conference, 24th June 2022, NOSMU, Sudbury, ON. Sullivan, MP; Williams, V; Gordon J.; et al ‘Rare and Young Onset Dementia: Translating learning from the multicentre Rare Dementia Impact Study to Rare Dementia Support Canada’ (oral presentation)

ISA World Congress of Sociology, July 15-21, 2018, Toronto, Canada: Victor, C, Williams, V and Kinnear, D. ‘Ageing with a Learning Disability: A Critical Literature Review’ (oral presentation)

The International Primary Care Respiratory Group IPCRG, annual world conference, 25th- 28th May 2016, Amsterdam, NL. Williams et al ‘Patient experiences of using a digital health intervention in COPD (EDGE) as part of everyday life: a qualitative study. (oral presentation)

Society of Academic Primary Care, annual conference, 8th-10th July 2015, Oxford, UK. Williams, V. et al ‘Patient experience of using a digital health application for self-management support in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. (oral presentation)

Society for Social Medicine, annual meeting 10th-12th September 2014; Oxford, UK. Williams, V. et al ‘Patients’ experience of identifying and managing exacerbations in COPD – a qualitative study’ (oral presentation)

American Thoracic Society, annual conference May 2014; San Diego, US. Hardinge, M; Rutter, H; Williams, V et al ‘Using A Mobile Health Application to Support Self- Management In COPD - A Cohort Feasibility Study’ (oral presentation)

British Society of Gerontology, Annual Conference 11th-13th September 2013; Oxford, UK: Williams, V. et al: ‘Managing chronic illness using tele-health: ‘“Too old to bother”?’ (oral presentation)

Gerontological Society of America, Annual Conference, 20th-24th November 2013; New Orleans, USA:  Victor, C, Williams V, Cairns D et al ‘Dignity in Care for Older People: Protecting the Vulnerable or Promoting Autonomy – the professionals’ perspectives’. Meeting abstract published in: Gerontologist, Vol 53  pg. 556-557, Supplement: 1, Nov 2013

The King’s Fund, Third Annual Congress on Telehealth and Telecare, 1st-3rd July 2013, London, UK: Williams, V. et al ‘Exploring patients’ perspectives of an mHealth application: a qualitative study as part of EDGE COPD’. (oral presentation) Abstract published in: Journal of Integrated Care, 2013; T&T Conf Suppl; URN:NBN:NL:UI:10-1-115700