Professor Ashley Shepherd

Professor

Health Sciences Stirling Stirling,

Professor Ashley Shepherd

Contact details

About me

Follow @ashepherdqi // // ]]> Research My research areas are largely around the topics of continence care (specifically urinary catheters). I am also interested in nursing innovation and quality improvement.

I am Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport. I take a lead in contributing to the Faculty's strategic direction and to the achievement of its strategic objectives. I lead and oversee processes associated with workload planning and ensuring the effective use of resources.

Recently Funded Key Research Studies

"CAELUS 2.Evaluating The Use Of Drones Within Medical Logistics: A Patient-focused Qualitative Evaluation". Co-applicant. Jan 2024 - July 2024 NHS Grampian £50,000.

"Multicentre trial of the clinical and cost effectiveness of a novel urinary catheter design in reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infection compared with the traditional Foley design for adults requiring long-term catheterisation (CADET)." Co-applicant . Jun 2021 - Jun 2024 NIHR (£1.3M)   "Feasibility and acceptability study for a randomised controlled trial of urinary catheter washout solutions to prevent blockage in long-term catheter users".  Principal Investigator. Jan 17 - Jun 17.  CSO (£19,000). 

"Champions in Scotland: How role models can accrue employability benefits through role modelling", Co-applicant Mar 16 - Feb 17 Collaborative bid with School of Sport [£6,000]. Winning Scotland Foundation Research Grant.

 "The Well!Bingo programme: A feasibility study of a physical activity intervention delivered to older women in a Bingo club setting", Co-Applicant Jan 15 - Jan 16 A follow-up study from the 2012/13 CSO funded project to recruit and run physical activity classes in the bingo setting [£109,524]. 

"Evaluation of University of Stirling Quality Improvement Practicum", Co-Applicant Apr 14 - Nov 14 Stirling Enhancement of Learning Fund part funded this evaluative study of the Quality improvement practicum [£1,000]. 

"Raising awareness of sensory impairment with nurses working in the community", Co-Applicant May 13 - May 14. This QNIS study follows from previous evaluative work of the Western Isles Sensory centre and is a collaboration with community nurses.

 "Community-based health improvement for disadvantaged women: could a physical activity / healthy eating intervention be delivered in Bingo clubs in Scotland?", Co-Applicant Sept 12 - Dec 13. This CSO funded project comprises a scoping review/evidence synthesis to identify potentially effective interventions for socially-disadvantaged women

"Leading Better Care' in the Community", Co-applicant, Jan 12 - Jan 13. This study aims to explore how Community Senior Charge Nurses implement the objectives of ‘Leading Better Care' 

"Evaluation of the impact of sight and hearing support services in the Western Isles", Co-applicant Feb 11 - May 12. This study aims to evaluate the sight and hearing services offered to patients in the Western Isles. 

"Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia (VAP) in the Intensive Care Unit: A Case Note Comparison", Joint Principal Investigator Jan 11 - Mar 11. A case control study to explore possible reasons for recent VAP cases in a Scottish Hospital. This study was conducted in collaboration with clinical staff and has recently been published. 

"The Experience of Senior Charge Nurses and Midwives in relation to the implementation of Leading Better Care", Co-applicant Nov 10 - Apr 11 This study investigated the experiences of senior charge nurses and midwives in relation to the implementation of leading better care and evaluated their views about impacts on patient care, themselves and colleagues. I presented the findings of this study to the RCN International Research Conference, April 2012. 

"A Community Survey of Environmental Hazards and Human Reproduction", Principal InvestigatorJun 10- Dec 10. This large survey was conducted in Queensland Australia to examine the associations between knowledge of environmental hazards on human reproduction with gender, socio-economic status and age.

"Health Professionals Exercise Recommendations", Co-applicant May 10-Nov 10. This study examined the impact of health professional's advice to patients to undertake physical exercise. 

"An Exercise Intervention in Pregnancy", Principal Investigator Mar 10- Sep 10. Paths to Health Charity. I set up a midwifery-led walking group for pregnant women living in an economically deprived area. The key aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of led-walking groups as a means to health improvement for this group. Further funding was awarded by the Research and Enterprise Support Fund to employ a Research Fellow to evaluate the walking groups. 

Conference Presentations  British Congress of Optometry & Vision Sciences, 1995; Bradford, UK Association for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology, 1996; Fort Lauderdale, USA Child Vision Research Society, 1997; Pisa, Italy Scottish Society for Experimental Medicine, 1998; Glasgow, UK Early Origins of Health and Disease, 1998; Glasgow, UK British Society of Gastroenterology, 1999; Glasgow, UK The Society for Applied Microbiology, 2000, Glasgow, UK Scottish NHS Research Day, 2000, Stirling, UK International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision, 2001, Montreal Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, 2001, Fort Lauderdale, USA Transforming Health Care through Research, 2003, Dublin European Meeting of the International Society for Neonatal Screening, 2005, Paris - Invited Speaker Scottish Newborn Screening Conference, 2005, Edinburgh - Invited Speaker London & Home Counties Newborn Blood Spot Screening Conference, 2007, London - Invited Speaker Midwifery Conference, 2009, Stirling Royal Infirmary, UK - Invited Speaker Normal Birth Conference, 2010, Vancouver, Canada - Presented by 2nd author Royal College of Nursing International Research Conference, 2010, Newcastle, UK Alliance for Self Care, 2011, Dundee, UK - PhD student presentation Scottish Patient Safety Fellows Conference, 2011, Dunblane, UK - Invited Speaker Integrating Person Centeredness, Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness into the Curriculum, 2011, Glasgow, UK - Invited Speaker Motivating, Enabling and Prompting Behaviour Change for Health, 2011, Stirling, UK Royal College of Nursing International Research Conference, 2012, London, UK Quality and Care, 2012, University of West of Scotland, UK Enter Conference, 2012, University of Stirling, UK

Research projects (8)

A feasibility and acceptability study for a randomised controlled trial of urinary catheter washout solutions to prevent blockage in long-term catheter users
PI: Professor Ashley Shepherd
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
–

How Role Models can accrue Employability Benefits through Role Modelling
PI:
Funded by: Winning Scotland Foundation
–

The Well!Bingo programme: A feasibility study of a physical activity intervention delivered to older women in a Bingo club setting
PI:
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
–

Raising Awareness of sensory impairment with nurses working in the Community
PI: Dr Annetta Smith
Funded by: The Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland
–

Community based health improvement for disadvantaged women: could a physical activity/healthy eating intervention be delivered in Bingo clubs in Scotland?
PI:
Funded by: Chief Scientist Office
–

Leading Better Care in the Community
PI: Dr Kathleen Stoddart
Funded by: Forth Valley NHS Board
–

Knowledge and Perceptions of Midwives and Expectant Mothers About Environmental Hazards
PI: Professor Ashley Shepherd
Funded by: Forth Valley NHS Board
–

Evaluation of Senior Charge Nurse/Midwife Development SCN/M) in NHS Forth Valley The experience of SCN/M in relation to the implementation of
PI: Dr Kathleen Stoddart
Funded by: Forth Valley NHS Board
–

Outputs (83)

Article

Glucose Variability and Postprandial Hyperglycaemia After Breakfast in Children and Young People With Type 1 Diabetes

Johnson J, Franklin VL, Shepherd A, Chau G, Keen K, Lennon S, Leveridge M, Maclean K, Nicol J, Phillipson V, Roach S, Swart A & Galloway SDR (2025) Glucose Variability and Postprandial Hyperglycaemia After Breakfast in Children and Young People With Type 1 Diabetes. Scaramuzza A (Editor) Pediatric Diabetes, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1155/pedi/5545726

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Understanding the influence of context on final year student nurses' experiences of improvement science education in practice: an eight-week ethnographic multiple-case study of thirty adult field pre-registration nurses across nine clinical settings in Scotland

Armstrong L, Harris F & Ashley S (2022) Understanding the influence of context on final year student nurses' experiences of improvement science education in practice: an eight-week ethnographic multiple-case study of thirty adult field pre-registration nurses across nine clinical settings in Scotland. 8th International Nurse Education Conference, Sitges, Spain, 19.10.2022-22.10.2022.

Research Report

Agents of Change: the story of the Nursing Now campaign

Holloway A, Thomson A, Stilwell B, Finch H, Irwin K, Crisp N, Watkins M & Beasley C (2021) Agents of Change: the story of the Nursing Now campaign. Cuthill F (Research Group), Stenhouse R (Research Group), Shepherd A (Research Group) & Bayliss-Pratt L (Research Group) Nursing Now/Burdett Trusting for Nursing. https://www.nursingnow.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Nursing-Now-Final-Report.pdf

Article

Living with an indwelling urethral catheter in a community setting: exploring triggers for unscheduled community nurse "out of hours" visits

Mackay WG, MacIntosh T, Kydd A, Fleming A, O'Kane K, Shepherd A, Hagen S, Williams C, Rodgers F, MacLachlan M, Galbraith R, Rankin J & McIver V (2018) Living with an indwelling urethral catheter in a community setting: exploring triggers for unscheduled community nurse "out of hours" visits. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27 (3-4), pp. 866-875. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14117

Article

Health-Related Quality of Life in patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving Sofosbuvir-Based Treatment, with and without Interferon: a prospective observational study in Egypt

Youssef NFA, El Kassas M, Farag A & Shepherd A (2017) Health-Related Quality of Life in patients with chronic hepatitis C receiving Sofosbuvir-Based Treatment, with and without Interferon: a prospective observational study in Egypt. BMC Gastroenterology, 17 (1), Art. No.: 18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-017-0581-1

Article

Accessing and engaging women from socio-economically disadvantaged areas: A participatory approach to the design of a public health intervention for delivery in a Bingo club

Evans J, Ryde G, Jepson R, Gray C, Shepherd A, Mackison D, McMurdo MET, Ireland A & Williams B (2016) Accessing and engaging women from socio-economically disadvantaged areas: A participatory approach to the design of a public health intervention for delivery in a Bingo club. BMC Public Health, 16, Art. No.: 345. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3013-1

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Scaling up quality improvement learning for nursing practice.

James B, Beattie M, Armstrong L & Shepherd A (2016) Scaling up quality improvement learning for nursing practice.. International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare, The Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre, Gothenburg, 12.04.2016-15.04.2016.

Article

An evaluation of methods used to teach quality improvement to undergraduate healthcare students to inform curriculum development within preregistration nurse education: a protocol for systematic review and narrative synthesis

Armstrong L, Lauder W & Shepherd A (2015) An evaluation of methods used to teach quality improvement to undergraduate healthcare students to inform curriculum development within preregistration nurse education: a protocol for systematic review and narrative synthesis. Systematic Reviews, 4, Art. No.: 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-4-8

Conference Paper (unpublished)

An action research study of the implementation of 'Leading better care' in the community

Smith A, Shepherd A, Stoddart K & Bugge C (2013) An action research study of the implementation of 'Leading better care' in the community. RCN 2013 Annual International Nursing Research Conference: Advancements in clinical leadership: Leading Better Care Symposium, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 20.03.2013-22.03.2013. http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/511597/RCN_2013_research_-_Book_of_Abstracts.pdf

Presentation / Talk

PhD Student Presentation

Shepherd A (2011) PhD Student Presentation. Alliance for Self Care, 2011, Dundee, UK, 31.12.2011-31.12.2011.

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Presentation [Invited speaker]

Shepherd A (2011) Presentation [Invited speaker]. Scottish Patient Safety Fellows Conference, 2011, Dunblane, UK, 31.12.2011-31.12.2011.

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Presentation [Invited speaker]

Shepherd A (2011) Presentation [Invited speaker]. Integrating Person Centeredness, Patient Safety and Clinical Effectiveness into the Curriculum, 2011, Glasgow, UK, 31.12.2011-31.12.2011.

Poster

Presentation

Shepherd A (2011) Presentation. The UK Society of Behavioural Medicine 7th Annual Scientific Meeting: "Motivating, enabling and prompting behaviour change for health", University of Stirling, 13-14 December 2011, Stirling, UK, 13.12.2011-14.12.2011. http://www.uksbm.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Complete-final-programme-UKSBM-ASM-2011.pdf

Research Report

The experience of SCN/M in relation to the implementation of 'Leading Better Care' and their views about the impacts upon patient care, themselves and colleagues: Final Report to NHS Forth Valley: August 2011

Stoddart K, Bugge C, Shepherd A & Farquharson B (2011) The experience of SCN/M in relation to the implementation of 'Leading Better Care' and their views about the impacts upon patient care, themselves and colleagues: Final Report to NHS Forth Valley: August 2011.

Conference Paper (unpublished)

The bottom line: A measure of labour progress?

Shepherd A, Cheyne H, Kennedy S, Mc Intosh C, Styles M & Niven C (2010) The bottom line: A measure of labour progress?. RCN Annual International Nursing Research Conference 2010, Gateshead, UK, 11.05.2010-13.05.2010.

Article

Maternal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during pregnancy and visual evoked potential development in term infants: a double blind, prospective, randomised trial

Malcolm C, McCulloch DL, Montgomery C, Shepherd A & Weaver LT (2003) Maternal docosahexaenoic acid supplementation during pregnancy and visual evoked potential development in term infants: a double blind, prospective, randomised trial. Archives of Disease in Childhood Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 88 (5), pp. F383-F390. https://doi.org/10.1136/fn.88.5.F383

Article

Emmetropisation following preterm birth

Saunders KJ, McCulloch DL, Shepherd A & Wilkinson AG (2002) Emmetropisation following preterm birth. British Journal of Ophthalmology, 86 (9), pp. 1035-1040. http://bjo.bmj.com/content/86/9/1035.abstract; https://doi.org/10.1136/bjo.86.9.1035

Letter

H pylori DNA may not imply infection

Doherty CP, Mackay WG, Weaver LT, Shepherd A & Williams CL (2001) H pylori DNA may not imply infection. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 84 (6), pp. 525-527. https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.84.6.525g

Research programmes

Research themes