Dr Lesley McGregor

Senior Lecturer in Psychology

Psychology Room 3A113 Senior Lecturer Division of Psychology Faculty of Natural Sciences University of Stirling FK9 4LA, UK

Dr Lesley McGregor

Contact details

About me

I am a Senior Lecturer within the Division of Psychology and Co-Director of the Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology at the University of Stirling.

Professional Doctorate in Health Psychology: I welcome emails from those interested in finding out more about this. Recruitment for our 2026 intake is now open. Applications should be in for 13th October 2025 by 12pm/noon (UK time); interviews will then take place end of October/early November. See our website for more details: https://www.stir.ac.uk/courses/pg-taught/professional-doctorate-health-psychology/

About me: After completing my PhD at Stirling University in 2010, on the psychological impact of living organ donation, I began my Research Associate post at the Department of Behavioural Science and Health (Health Behaviour Research Centre until 2017) within University College London (UCL). There I transferred and further developed my skills, knowledge and interest in health communication and decision making to the area of colorectal cancer screening. My research initially focused on developing strategies, including a narrative-based leaflet, to increase uptake of the guaiac Faecal Occult Blood Test (gFOBt) within the English Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. My focus then moved to Bowel Scope (Flexible Sigmoidoscopy) Screening (BSS), which was introduced to the English programme in 2013. I have previously worked on studies to assess the psychosocial and sociocognitive predictors of BSS uptake and at the potential impact of GP practice based primer and reminder interventions on BSS attendance. Improving cancer screening uptake and improving bowel health more generally remain two areas of interest to me and I continue to develop research projects on these topics. I am also reengaging with the topic of liver health, disease management and transplant. Using insights from my knowledge and experience in bowel cancer research, I am building a research programme to support prevention and early detection of liver disease and liver cancer, enhance health and well-being pre and post-transplant and reduce health inequalities in these areas.

I am a HCPC registered Health Psychologist and Associate Fellow of The British Psychological Society. During my time at UCL, I co-led the UCL Qualitative Health Research Network (@UCL_QHRN), set up to help to bring together, encourage and support qualitative researchers in health care and I continue to support this initiative from the University of Stirling: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/qualitative-health-research-network/qualitative-health-research-network-0

My Key Papers:

  • Wardle J and von Wagner C, et al. (2016). Effects of evidence-based strategies to reduce the socioeconomic gradient of uptake in the English NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (ASCEND): four cluster-randomised controlled trials. The Lancet 387(10020), P751-759. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/30018
  • Kerrison R, et al. (2018). Use of Two Self-referral Reminders and a Theory-Based Leaflet to Increase the Uptake of Flexible Sigmoidoscopy in the English Bowel Scope Screening Program: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial in London. Annals of Behavioural Medicine, 52(11), 941-951. http://hdl.handle.net/1893/30118

Contact me for possible PhD supervision relating to liver disease, cancer screening, health inequalities, health communication, bowel health, blood donation and organ donation.

Colorectal Cancer Screening Organ donation Health decision making Narrative health communication Qualitative methods

Research projects (1)

Outputs (55)

Research Report

Has The Pandemic Changed Older People's Worries About Health

McGregor L, Brown T & Douglas E (2022) Has The Pandemic Changed Older People's Worries About Health [HAGIS COVID-19 AND YOU: IMPACT AND RECOVERY STUDY]. UKRI. Stirling. https://www.hagis.scot/_files/ugd/5d9fd0_36c3c9483a6349ac941dec1f83871222.pdf

Research Report

Health Service Engagement In Scotland During And After The Pandemic

McGregor L, Brown T & Douglas E (2022) Health Service Engagement In Scotland During And After The Pandemic [HAGIS COVID-19 AND YOU: IMPACT AND RECOVERY STUDY]. UKRI. Stirling. https://www.hagis.scot/_files/ugd/5d9fd0_381d4f906fca4e92bf51ffe314087269.pdf

Research Report

HAGIS COVID Impact & Recovery Executive Summary Report

Douglas E, Bell D, Dawson A, Brown T, Pemble C, Houston J, Comerford D, Olivarius O, Duggan A, McCabe L, Douglas C, McGregor L & Coutts-Murray K (2022) HAGIS COVID Impact & Recovery Executive Summary Report. UKRI. Stirling. https://www.hagis.scot/reports

Article

Ethnic inequalities in older adults bowel cancer awareness: findings from a community survey conducted in an ethnically diverse region in England

Kerrison RS, Prentice A, Marshall S, Choglay S, Levitan M, Alter M, Ghanouni A, McGregor L & von Wagner C (2021) Ethnic inequalities in older adults bowel cancer awareness: findings from a community survey conducted in an ethnically diverse region in England. BMC Public Health, 21, Art. No.: 513. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10536-y

Conference Paper (published)

The Impact of COVID-19 Fear: Evidence To Inform Social, Health And Economic Recovery - A Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) Study

Douglas E, Bell DNF, Comerford D, McCabe L, Pemble C, McGregor L & Brown T (2021) The Impact of COVID-19 Fear: Evidence To Inform Social, Health And Economic Recovery - A Healthy Ageing In Scotland (HAGIS) Study. In: Ageing Past, Present and Future: Innovation and Change. British Society of Gerontology 50th Annual Conference, Online, 07.07.2021-09.07.2021. Hampshire: British Society of Gerontology, p. 165. https://www.britishgerontology.org/public/31949/BSG_Conference_Book_2021_Online_v2.pdf

Other

A rapid review of the development and validation of instruments specifically designed to assess or measure 'COVID-19 fear'

Dawson A, Pemble C, Brown T, Comerford D, Olivarius O, McGregor L, Bell D & Douglas E (2021) A rapid review of the development and validation of instruments specifically designed to assess or measure 'COVID-19 fear'. National Institute for Health Research. PROSPERO 2021, CRD42021250233. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021250233

Article

Using specialist screening practitioners (SSPs) to increase uptake of bowel scope (flexible sigmoidoscopy) screening: results of a feasibility single-stage phase II randomised trial

McGregor LM, Skrobanski H, Ritchie M, Berkman L, Miller H, Freeman M, Patel N, Morris S, Rees C & von Wagner C (2019) Using specialist screening practitioners (SSPs) to increase uptake of bowel scope (flexible sigmoidoscopy) screening: results of a feasibility single-stage phase II randomised trial. BMJ open, 9, Art. No.: e023801. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023801

Article

Use of Two Self-referral Reminders and a Theory-Based Leaflet to Increase the Uptake of Flexible Sigmoidoscopy in the English Bowel Scope Screening Program: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial in London

Kerrison RS, McGregor LM, Counsell N, Marshall S, Prentice A, Isitt J, Rees CJ & von Wagner C (2018) Use of Two Self-referral Reminders and a Theory-Based Leaflet to Increase the Uptake of Flexible Sigmoidoscopy in the English Bowel Scope Screening Program: Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial in London. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 52 (11), pp. 941-951. https://doi.org/10.1093/abm/kax068

Article

Using primary care-based paper and telephone interventions to increase uptake of bowel scope screening in Yorkshire: a protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

McGregor LM, Kerrison RS, Green T, Macleod U, Hughes M, Gibbins M, Morris S, Rees C & von Wagner C (2018) Using primary care-based paper and telephone interventions to increase uptake of bowel scope screening in Yorkshire: a protocol of a randomised controlled trial.. BMJ Open, 8, Art. No.: e024616. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024616

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Is Patient Navigation a Feasible Intervention to Help Increase Uptake of Bowel Scope Screening within North East England?

McGregor LM, Skrobanski H, Berkman L, Miller H, Rees CJ, Morris S & von Wagner C (2017) Is Patient Navigation a Feasible Intervention to Help Increase Uptake of Bowel Scope Screening within North East England?. 2017 Early Diagnosis Research Conference, London, 23.02.2017-24.02.2017. http://doi.org/10.13140/rg.2.2.34822.37449; https://doi.org/10.13140/rg.2.2.34822.37449

Article

Reducing the socioeconomic gradient in uptake of the NHS bowel cancer screening Programme using a simplified supplementary information leaflet: a cluster-randomised trial

Smith SG, Wardle J, Atkin W, Raine R, McGregor LM, Vart G, Morris S, Duffy SW, Moss S, Hackshaw A, Halloran S, Kralj-Hans I, Howe R, Snowball J & Handley G (2017) Reducing the socioeconomic gradient in uptake of the NHS bowel cancer screening Programme using a simplified supplementary information leaflet: a cluster-randomised trial. BMC Cancer, 17, Art. No.: 543. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-017-3512-1

Poster

Predictors of Bowel Scope (Flexible Sigmoidoscopy) Screening Knowledge: Findings From a Retrospective Survey

McGregor LM, Bonello B, Kerrison RS & Wagner CV (2016) Predictors of Bowel Scope (Flexible Sigmoidoscopy) Screening Knowledge: Findings From a Retrospective Survey. Joint conference of European Health Psychology Society and British Psychological Society, Division of Health Psychology, University College London. http://doi.org/10.13140/rg.2.2.21041.17767; https://doi.org/10.13140/rg.2.2.21041.17767

Conference Paper (unpublished)

A feasibility study of Patient Navigation within the Bowel Scope Screening Programme: reflections of Specialist Screening Practitioners

Berkman L, Mcgregor LM, von Wagner C, Miller H, Rees CJ, Morris S & Skrobansk H (2016) A feasibility study of Patient Navigation within the Bowel Scope Screening Programme: reflections of Specialist Screening Practitioners. 2016 12th UK Society for Behavioural Medicine (UKSBM) Annual Scientific Meeting, Cardiff, 01.12.2016-01.12.2016. http://doi.org/10.13140/rg.2.2.16214.04161; https://doi.org/10.13140/rg.2.2.16214.04161

Article

Reducing the Social Gradient in Uptake of the NHS Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme Using a Narrative-Based Information Leaflet: A Cluster-Randomised Trial

McGregor LM, von Wagner C, Atkin W, Kralj-Hans I, Halloran SP, Handley G, Logan RF, Rainbow S, Smith S, Snowball J, Thomas MC, Smith SG, Vart G, Howe R & Counsell N (2016) Reducing the Social Gradient in Uptake of the NHS Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme Using a Narrative-Based Information Leaflet: A Cluster-Randomised Trial. Gastroenterology Research and Practice, 2016, Art. No.: 3670150. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/3670150

Poster

A randomised controlled trial of a reminder intervention to promote Bowel Scope Screening uptake

Kerrison RS, McGregor LM, Marshall S, Isitt J, Counsell N, Wardle J & von Wagner C (2016) A randomised controlled trial of a reminder intervention to promote Bowel Scope Screening uptake. 30th European Health Psychology Society and British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Conference 2016, Aberdeen, Scotland, 23.08.2016-27.08.2016. http://doi.org/10.13140/rg.2.2.14330.29121; https://doi.org/10.13140/rg.2.2.14330.29121

Article

A national cluster-randomised controlled trial to examine the effect of enhanced reminders on the socioeconomic gradient in uptake in bowel cancer screening

Raine R, Moss SM, von Wagner C, Atkin W, Kralj Hans I, Howe R, Solmi F, Morris S, Counsell N, Hackshaw A, Halloran S, Handley G, Logan RF, Rainbow S & McGregor LM (2016) A national cluster-randomised controlled trial to examine the effect of enhanced reminders on the socioeconomic gradient in uptake in bowel cancer screening. British Journal of Cancer, 115, pp. 1479-1486. https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.2016.365

Commentary

Effects of evidence-based strategies to reduce the socioeconomic gradient of uptake in the English NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (ASCEND): four cluster-randomised controlled trials

Wardle J, von Wagner C, Kralj-Hans I, Halloran SP, Smith SG, McGregor LM, Vart G, Howe R, Snowball J, Handley G, Logan RF, Rainbow S, Smith S, Thomas MC & Counsell N (2016) Effects of evidence-based strategies to reduce the socioeconomic gradient of uptake in the English NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (ASCEND): four cluster-randomised controlled trials. Commentary on: Marie-Louise Essink-Bot, Evelien Dekker Equal access to colorectal cancer screening The Lancet, Volume 387, Issue 10020, 20–26 February 2016, Pages 724-726. Lancet, 387 (10020), pp. 751-759. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736%2815%2901154-X

Article

Understanding low colorectal cancer screening uptake in South Asian faith communities in England - A qualitative study Health behavior, health promotion and society

Palmer CK, Thomas MC, McGregor LM, von Wagner C & Raine R (2015) Understanding low colorectal cancer screening uptake in South Asian faith communities in England - A qualitative study Health behavior, health promotion and society. BMC Public Health, 15, Art. No.: 998. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2334-9

Conference Abstract

Functional and psychosocial outcome in living kidney donors and recipients

McGregor LM, Swanson V, Hayes PC, Lumsdaine JA & O'Carroll R (2008) Functional and psychosocial outcome in living kidney donors and recipients. European Health Psychology Society and British Psychological Society's Division of Health Psychology conference 2008, Bath, 09/09/2008 - 12/09/2008. Psychology and Health, 23 (Supplement 1), p. S182. https://doi.org/10.1080/08870440802299543

Article

Living donor liver transplants

McGregor LM & O'Carroll R (2006) Living donor liver transplants. Psychologist, 19 (3), pp. 138-139. http://www.thepsychologist.org.uk/archive/archive_home.cfm?volumeID=19&editionID=133&ArticleID=994

Research programmes

Research themes