The two major research foci within the E◊CASP are:
1.Cancer awareness within the broader spectrum of health promotion
2.Support of patients and significant others on the cancer survivorship journey, with a particular focus on understanding the needs of individuals on the cancer journey and the development and testing of targeted interventions for individuals with cancer and their family/loved ones.
Current Research Projects
1. Scaling up the Family Carer Decision Support Intervention: A transnational effectiveness-implementation evaluation (Co-Applicant) Aim: To develop implementation guidelines for the FCDS intervention by identifying the facilitators, barriers and resources needed to integrate the FCDS intervention into routine care home practice
2. Professional Competence in Nursing (PROCOMPNurse) (Co-Investigator)
Aim: To produce new knowledge about the competence of graduate nursing students across five European countries (Finland, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania and Spain).
4. Randomised Control Trial measuring the impact of the advance care planning in six long –term care sites in the South of Ireland (Collaborator)
Aim: To measuring the impact of the advance care planning in six long –term care sites in the South of Ireland. Major focus on Dementia Palliative Care
5. Audit and diagnostic coding of dementia in General Practice: A rapid knowledge synthesis (Collaborator)
Aim: To rapidly synthesise international knowledge regarding audit and diagnostic coding of dementia in General Practice to inform the development of a research and evaluation stream specific to audit and coding of dementia in General Practice in Ireland.
6. Evaluation of the Diabetes Nurse Specialist Service in General Practice (Collaborator)
Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the DNS service of patient outcomes and patient experience using a mixed methodology study design.
Biography
Dr. Serena FitzGerald currently works as a lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork. Serena is 1st year coordinator for the BSc Nursing and Midwifery programmes. In 2018, Serena was appointed as a CIRTL (Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning) Fellow. As part of this role she supports staff and postgraduate students who teach in higher education.
She currently teaches on undergraduate modules in the areas of evidence based research, chronic diseases, medication management, fundamental knowledge and skills for nursing practice, and nursing management of challenging acute nursing episodes.
Serena is module coordinator at postgraduate level for both Evidence Based Cervical Screening and Research Methods, and she also facilitates e-learning modules focusing on personal and professional development. She led in the development of the Postgraduate Diploma in Practice Nursing. She currently supervises at both Masters and PhD level.
She currently teaches on undergraduate modules in the areas of evidence based research, chronic diseases, medication management, fundamental knowledge and skills for nursing practice, and nursing management of challenging acute nursing episodes.
Serena is module coordinator at postgraduate level for both Evidence Based Cervical Screening and Research Methods, and she also facilitates e-learning modules focusing on personal and professional development. She led in the development of the Postgraduate Diploma in Practice Nursing. She currently supervises at both Masters and PhD level.
Serena holds a PhD in the area of HPV cancer prevention and a Masters in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, UCC. She is a Registered General Nurse (RGN) with a clinical background in practice nursing, and in the areas of older adults, cardiology and stroke rehabilitation.
Research Interests
Serena is a member of the Cancer Research Group E◊CASP (Enhancing Cancer Awareness and Survivorship Programmes)The two major research foci within the E◊CASP are:
1.Cancer awareness within the broader spectrum of health promotion
2.Support of patients and significant others on the cancer survivorship journey, with a particular focus on understanding the needs of individuals on the cancer journey and the development and testing of targeted interventions for individuals with cancer and their family/loved ones.
The twitter page for the E◊CASP is: https://twitter.com/e_casp
Key Research Interests:
Cancer Prevention, Palliative Care, Health Behaviours, The Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Sexual Health, Men's Health, Education, Primary/Long Term Care.
In March 2015, Serena successfully defended her PhD thesis titled: "The Human Papillomavirus and Cancer: A Multiphase Study Investigating Preventative Behaviours in Young Males". In 2017, Serena was awarded a honours Masters Degree for her dissertation in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.
Key Research Interests:
Cancer Prevention, Palliative Care, Health Behaviours, The Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Sexual Health, Men's Health, Education, Primary/Long Term Care.
In March 2015, Serena successfully defended her PhD thesis titled: "The Human Papillomavirus and Cancer: A Multiphase Study Investigating Preventative Behaviours in Young Males". In 2017, Serena was awarded a honours Masters Degree for her dissertation in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.
1. Scaling up the Family Carer Decision Support Intervention: A transnational effectiveness-implementation evaluation (Co-Applicant) Aim: To develop implementation guidelines for the FCDS intervention by identifying the facilitators, barriers and resources needed to integrate the FCDS intervention into routine care home practice
2. Professional Competence in Nursing (PROCOMPNurse) (Co-Investigator)
Aim: To produce new knowledge about the competence of graduate nursing students across five European countries (Finland, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania and Spain).
4. Randomised Control Trial measuring the impact of the advance care planning in six long –term care sites in the South of Ireland (Collaborator)
Aim: To measuring the impact of the advance care planning in six long –term care sites in the South of Ireland. Major focus on Dementia Palliative Care
5. Audit and diagnostic coding of dementia in General Practice: A rapid knowledge synthesis (Collaborator)
Aim: To rapidly synthesise international knowledge regarding audit and diagnostic coding of dementia in General Practice to inform the development of a research and evaluation stream specific to audit and coding of dementia in General Practice in Ireland.
6. Evaluation of the Diabetes Nurse Specialist Service in General Practice (Collaborator)
Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of the DNS service of patient outcomes and patient experience using a mixed methodology study design.
Research Grants
| Project | Funding Body | Start Date | End Date | Award | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evaluation of the Irish Hospice Foundation Design & Dignity Programme | Irish Hospice Foundation | 31-OCT-17 | 30-SEP-18 | €14,797.00 | |
| Scoping and Mapping of the Cancer Survivorship Services in the Irish Context. A study conducted on behalf of the National Control Programme (NCCP) | Health Service Executive | 01-OCT-17 | €20,000.00 | ||
| An Examination of the Effectiveness of a Proficiency Based Progression Tracheostomy Training Programme on Health Care Professionals’ Clinical Performance in a Simulated Context | Other: Not Listed | 01-SEP-16 | €15,000.00 | ||
| An Evidence Review on Current Models of Registered Nursing and Midwifery Practice in the Community to Inform Policy Development. Department of Health | Other: Not Listed | 01-OCT-15 | 20-DEC-15 | €49,064.00 | |
| Irish Cancer Society’s Night Nursing Service: Quality Evaluation & Clinical Review | Irish Cancer Society | 18-DEC-15 | 01-MAY-16 | €13,382.00 | |
| Clinical Systematic Literature Review to Support the Development of Best Practices in Nursing Documentation across Hospitals in the South/South West Hospital Group. | Health Service Executive | 29-FEB-16 | €15,000.00 | ||
| A systematic literature review to support a framework for the development of standards for clinical practice guidance | Health Service Executive | 01-SEP-14 | 01-JAN-15 | €20,712.00 |
Publications
Book Chapters
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2016) | 'A Concept Analysis: Medication Habit' FitzGerald, S. and Lehane, E. (2016) 'A Concept Analysis: Medication Habit' In: Concept Analysis: Key Concepts Relevant to Nursing Research and Professional Practice. New York: Springer. [Details] |
Peer Reviewed Journals
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2017) | 'Stress in fathers in the perinatal period: a systematic review' Philpott, L.; Leahy-Warren, P.; Fitzgerald, S.; Savage, E. (2017) 'Stress in fathers in the perinatal period: a systematic review'. Midwifery, 55 :113-127 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2017) | 'Men's Perspectives on Cancer Prevention Behaviours associated with HPV' Fitzgerald, S., Cornally, N., Hegarty, J. (2017) 'Men's Perspectives on Cancer Prevention Behaviours associated with HPV'. Psycho-Oncology, [Details] | |
| (2017) | 'Conceptualising a model to guide nursing and midwifery in the community guided by an evidence review' Leahy-Warren, P., Mulcahy, H., Benefield, L., Bradley, C., Coffey, A., Donohoe, A., Fitzgerald, S., Frawley, T., Healy, E., Healy, M. and Kelly, M. (2017) 'Conceptualising a model to guide nursing and midwifery in the community guided by an evidence review'. Bmj-British Medical Journal, 16 (1) [Details] | |
| (2017) | 'Transitional care interventions: Relevance for nursing in the community' Coffey,A., Mulcahy, H., Savage, E., Fitzgerald, S., Bradley, C., Benefield, L., Leahy-Warren, P. (2017) 'Transitional care interventions: Relevance for nursing in the community'. Public health nursing (Boston, Mass.), :1-7 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2016) | 'Factors that influence nursing andmidwifery students' intentions to study abroad: A qualitative study using the theory of planned behaviour' Kelleher, S., FitzGerald, S., Hegarty, J. (2016) 'Factors that influence nursing andmidwifery students' intentions to study abroad: A qualitative study using the theory of planned behaviour'. Nurse Education Today, 44 :157-164 [DOI] [Details] | |
| (2014) | 'The Human Papillomavirus: Men's Attitudes and Beliefs Toward the HPV Vaccination and Condom Use in Cancer Prevention' FitzGerald, SM;Savage, EB;Hegarty, JM (2014) 'The Human Papillomavirus: Men's Attitudes and Beliefs Toward the HPV Vaccination and Condom Use in Cancer Prevention'. Journal Of Mens Health, 11 :121-129 [DOI] [Details] |
Other Journals
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2017) | 'Preventative HPV Behaviours: What Do Males Think? (Abstract)' FitzGerald, S., Cornally, N., Hegarty, J. (2017) 'Preventative HPV Behaviours: What Do Males Think? (Abstract)' The journal of sexual medicine, . [Details] |
Conference Publications
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2016) | A New Chapter: Healthy Ireland - Men, Men's Health Symposium, Dublin FitzGerald, S., Cornally, N., Hegarty, J. (2016) The Human Papillomavirus: An Online Survey Investigating Preventative Behaviours in Young Males A New Chapter: Healthy Ireland - Men, Men's Health Symposium, Dublin [Details] | |
| (2016) | 16th Annual Research Conference, School of Nursing & Midwifery, UCC Hegarty, J, Savage, E, Cornally, N, Byrne, S, Henn, P, Flynn, M, McLoughlin, K, & Fitzgerald, S (2016) Using a systematic literature review to provide clarity on the various types and formats of clinical guidance and their utility in practice 16th Annual Research Conference, School of Nursing & Midwifery, UCC [Details] | |
| (2016) | 16th Annual School of Nursing & Midwifery Research Conference Hegarty, J, Cornally, N, Fitzgerald, S, Landers, L, McCarthy, G, McAuliffe, A, Moran, J, Noonan, B, O’ Mahony, A, O’ Mahony, M, Power, S, O' Regan, P, Sweeney, C, Weathers, E, Drennan, J, Drummond, F (2016) The Irish Cancer Society’s Night Nursing Service: An outline of the findings of a quality evaluation & clinical review 16th Annual School of Nursing & Midwifery Research Conference [Details] | |
| (2015) | 15th Annual School of Nursing & Midwifery Research Conference FitzGerald, S., Cornally, N., Hegarty, J. (2015) HPV & Cancer: Investigating Preventative Behaviours in Young Males 15th Annual School of Nursing & Midwifery Research Conference [Details] | |
| (2013) | EUROGIN International Multidisciplinary Conference, Florence, Italy FitzGerald, S., Savage, E., Hegarty, J. (2013) The Human Papillomavirus: attitudes and behaviours toward the HPV vaccination & condom use, in relation to cancer prevention in males [Poster Presentation] EUROGIN International Multidisciplinary Conference, Florence, Italy [Details] | |
| (2013) | Nursing and Midwifery Research Conference, UCC FitzGerald, S., Savage, E., Hegarty, J. (2013) Attitudes and behaviours toward the HPV vaccination & condom use, in relation to cancer prevention in males [Poster Presentation] Nursing and Midwifery Research Conference, UCC [Details] |
Published Reports
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2015) | A systematic literature review to support a framework for the development of standards for clinical practice guidance. Hegarty J, Savage E, Cornally N., Byrne S., Henn P., Flynn M., McLoughlin K., Fitzgerald S. (2015) A systematic literature review to support a framework for the development of standards for clinical practice guidance. Department of Health, Dublin, Ireland. [Details] |
Presentation
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2014) | “A Sexually Transmitted Infection can cause Cancer?”. FitzGerald, S (2014) “A Sexually Transmitted Infection can cause Cancer?”. Doctoral Showcase, University College Cork: Presentation [Details] |
Unpublished Reports
| Year | Publication | |
|---|---|---|
| (2016) | An Evidence Review on Current Models of Registered Nursing and Midwifery Practice in the Community to Inform Policy Development. Department of Health. Leahy-Warren, P., Mulcahy, H., Kelly, M., Phelan, A., Savage, E., Benefield, L., Bradley, C., Coffey, A., Donohoe,, A., Fitzgerald, S., Frawley, T., Healy, M., Meagher, C., McCarthy, B., O’Connell, R., Paul,, G., Stokes, D., McLoughlin, K., O’Mahony, A., Walsh, J. and Healy, L. (2016) An Evidence Review on Current Models of Registered Nursing and Midwifery Practice in the Community to Inform Policy Development. Department of Health. Unpublished Reports [Details] | |
| (2016) | Clinical Systematic Literature Review to Support the Development of Best Practices in Nursing Documentation across Hospitals in the South/South West Hospital Group. Report prepared for South/South West Directors of Nursing Group. Savage, E., Harnett, G., Denieffe, S., Weathers, E., Hegarty, J., Mulligan, L., Condon, C., Fehin, P., FitzGerald, S., Marsh, L., McCarthy, B., Noonan, B., O Reilly, A., O’Shea, M., Wills, T., Clancy, M., Crosby, N., Herrity, L., Lyons, T., Sheehy, A., Thompson, E., Bergin, M., Finn, F., Madden, K., Wells, J. and Sheahan, L. (2016) Clinical Systematic Literature Review to Support the Development of Best Practices in Nursing Documentation across Hospitals in the South/South West Hospital Group. Report prepared for South/South West Directors of Nursing Group. Unpublished Reports [Details] | |
| (2015) | Irish Cancer Society’s Night Nursing Service: Quality Evaluation & Clinical Review. Irish Cancer Society, Page: 1-220. Hegarty, J., Drummond, F., Cornally, N., Fitzgerald, S., Landers, M., McCarthy, G., McAuliffe, A.,Moran, J., Noonan, B., O’ Mahony A., O'Mahony, M., Power, S., O'Regan, P., Sweeney, C., Weathers, E., Drennan, J. (2015) Irish Cancer Society’s Night Nursing Service: Quality Evaluation & Clinical Review. Irish Cancer Society, Page: 1-220. Unpublished Reports [Details] |
Professional Activities
Honours and Awards
| Year | Title | Awarding Body | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Erasmus+ Programme- Teaching Staff Visit | University College Cork | |
| 2017 | Health Promotion Bursary | Marie Keating Foundation | |
| 2013 | Studentship | School of Nursing and Midwifery, UCC | |
| 2013 | Conference Travel Bursary | School of Nursing and Midwifery, UCC | |
| 2012 | Studentship | School of Nursing and Midwifery, UCC |
Professional Associations
| Association | Function | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation | Member | 01-NOV-10 / |
Committees
| Committee | Function | From / To | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIIHPC Early Career Researchers Forum (ECRF) Executive Committee | Member | 2018 / | |
| External Communications & Relations Committee | Member | 2018 / | |
| Student Experience Committee | Member | 2018 / |
Teaching Activities
Recent Postgraduates
| Graduation Year | Student Name | Institution | Degree Type | Thesis Title | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Sean Kelleher | University College Cork | Doctor of Nursing | Determinants of Intention to Study Abroad among Nursing and Midwifery Students: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour | |
| 2017 | Evelyn Savage | University College Cork | Masters in Nursing | The evaluation of nurse’s knowledge, perceptions and current practice in the use of pain assessment tools for dementia residents. | |
| 2017 | Asha Sebastian | University College Cork | Masters in Nursing | Attitudes and Expectations of Nursing staff and Healthcare Assistants towards the Implementation of Music therapy for Older adults with Dementia. |
Contact details
- Serena Fitzgerald
University Lecturer - serena.fitzgerald@ucc.ie
- University College Cork