Staff Profile
Dr Rachel Stocker
Lecturer-Exercise and Health Psychology
- Telephone: 0191 20 80576
- Address: School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences
Faculty of Medical Sciences
Office 5.20, 5th Floor
Dame Margaret Barbour Building
缅北禁地
Framlington Place
缅北禁地 upon Tyne
NE2 4DR
I am a Lecturer in Exercise and Health Psychology (teaching and research) and a Chartered Psychologist. I lead several modules within the Faculty of Medical Sciences, within both the School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences and the School of Psychology, in relation to health psychology, exercise psychology, behaviour change, and qualitative research methods. I also have roles as a research supervisor and personal tutor.
I have particular research interests in chronic and/or life-limiting conditions (particularly type 1 diabetes), ageing and the wellbeing of older adults especially in care homes, palliative and end of life care, the boundary of NHS and social care, and experiences/outcomes for patients, families, and staff.
I use a variety of methodologies, primarily qualitative, and have interest in mixed methodologies. I'm also experienced in trial co-ordination and systematic reviewing.
I have experience of involving patients and the public in research at all stages of the research cycle, including idea generation, design, analysis, and publication/dissemination. I have also published briefings on palliative and end of life care for Parliament, influencing Government and wider policy agendas.
I have been nominated for several Education Awards (TEAs - 缅北禁地 Student's Union), and won the Outstanding Contribution to Academic Support award in 2025.
I am happy to be approached about PhD supervision and examination requests.
Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy, Durham University
Masters in Health Psychology, Teesside University
Bachelor of Science (2:1), Psychology with Criminology, Leeds Beckett University
Professional memberships
Chartered Psychologist, British Psychological Society [665199]
Division of Health Psychology and Division of Sport and Exercise Psychology, British Psychological Society
British Psychological Society North East of England Branch member
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
FUSE Associate Member
Current supervision (PhD)
Dr Ayat Bashir: Improving diagnosis and holistic management of patients with diabetes secondary to chronic pancreatitis: a mixed methods study
Keaton Irvine: Facilitating improved health in individuals with type 2 diabetes from historically underrepresented groups in the North-East
Blossom Bell: The lived experience of long-term follow-up clinical care for haematopoietic stem cell recipients in England: a qualitative exploration and practice recommendations
Evridiki Iliaki: The Feasibility and Effectiveness of Museum-based Mindfulness on Well-being in the Middle East.
Elizabeth Hepper: The co-creation of a patient reported outcome measure for adults who are nil by mouth and require enteral feeding.
Lou Wilson: Using Normalisation Process Theory to enable insights on the factors contributing to strategic adoption of a shared care record in the North East and North Cumbria
Other internal and external roles
Theme Co-Deputy: 缅北禁地 Centre of Research Excellence (NUCoRE) in Behaviour
Teaching and Training Co-Lead: 缅北禁地 Qualitative Special Interest Group (QualSIG)
Member: 缅北禁地 Social Justice Advisory Group
Grant reviewer for Diabetes UK
Consultant for Darlington Football Club Foundation
EDI representative for Sport & Exercise Sciences, FMS, 缅北禁地
Stage 2 Sport & Exercise Sciences lead
Internal and External examiner for various PhD vivas
Previous positions
Research Associate, Population Health Sciences Institute, 缅北禁地
Health Research Methodologist, NIHR Research Design Service, Durham University
BPS/POST Fellow, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, Houses of Parliament, Westminster
Tutor (Qualitative and Quantitative Health Research Methods), Durham University
Module Leader (Promoting Health, Preventing Illness), Teesside University
Visiting Lecturer (Exercise Psychology I, II, Research Methods), Sunderland University
Research Assistant, University of Leeds
Honorary Assistant Psychologist / Research Assistant, Tees, Esk, and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust & South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
I am happy to be approached for PhD supervision requests, and external examination roles.
Current research studies:
Public and third-sector research priorities to address the integration of health and social care in County Durham - funded by the EPSRC Northern Health Futures (NortHFutures) Research Funding Call
Completed research studies:
Does resistance training exercise help prevent frailty and loss of independence for older people with insulin treated diabetes? The EXPLODE Trial - funded by the Wellcome Trust ISSF
A qualitative exploration of patient experience, issues and unmet needs within the NHS specialist CAR-T service with associated PROM validation – funded by Innovate UK via the Northern Alliance Advanced Therapies Treatment Centre (NA-ATTC) (co-applicant)
Influences on physical activity and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic for those with type 1 diabetes: A mixed-methods study – funded by 缅北禁地 Covid-19 Research Fund (co-applicant)
Using early warning systems in care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed-method study [qualitative component] – funded by NIHR Research for Patient Benefit (co-applicant)
Evaluating the Health Call app in care homes in County Durham and Darlington in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative interview study – funded by Health Data Research UK & NIHR/DHSC/UKRI COVID-19 Rapid Response Initiative
Uncovering ways in which carers of very old people with multiple conditions can be supported to maintain their own physical and psychological wellbeing: a qualitative interview study – funded by NIHR School for Primary Care Research (co-applicant)
Acute home visiting in primary care – what is the role of ambulance service practitioners? A qualitative exploratory study – funded by NIHR School for Primary Care Research
Organising general practice for care homes: A multi-method study – funded by NIHR Health Services & Delivery Research
Engaging professionals in new ways of working: Evaluating the Gateshead Care Home Vanguard clinical engagement workstream – funded by 缅北禁地 Gateshead CCG (co-applicant)
Innovation to enhance health in care homes and evaluation of tools for measuring outcomes of care: rapid evidence synthesis – funded by NIHR Health Services & Delivery Research
Module leader:
SES2001 Applied Sport & Exercise Psychology
DTC2001 Health Psychology & Behaviour Change
PSY2028 Introduction to Health Psychology
Lecturer on the following modules:
SES1005 Introduction to Sport & Exercise Psychology
SES2003 Research Methods for Sport and Exercise Science
NUT2006 Measurement and Assessment of Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status
MMB8044 Exercise in Health and Disease
DTC4003 Masters Research Project
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Articles
- Barnes L, Stenson C, Vidrine J, Stocker R. . BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care 2026, Epub ahead of print.
- Russell S, Stocker R, Cockshott Z, Mason S, Knight J, Hanratty B, Preston N. . BMC Geriatrics 2025, 875(25).
- Preston N, Cockshott Z, Russell S, Stocker R, Knight J, Mason S, Hanratty B. . BMC Geriatrics 2025, 25, 126.
- Sim YJ, Townsend RF, Mills S, Stocker R, Stevenson E, McEvoy C, Fairley AM. . Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 2024, 37(4), 899-908.
- Warner J, Stocker R, Brandt K, Crabtree DR, Ormond L, Stevenson E, Holliday A. . Appetite 2024, 200, 107509.
- Stocker R, Gupta A, Taylor GS, Shaw JA, West DJ. . Journal of Pediatric Nursing 2024, 77, e242-e250.
- Cockshott Z, Russell S, Stocker R, Knight J, Mason S, Hanratty B, Preston N. . BMC Geriatrics 2024, 24, 286.
- Bond Z, Malik S, Bashir A, Stocker R, Buckingham J, Speight J, Shaw JAM. . Transplant International 2023, 36, 11659.
- Stenson CL, Vidrine J, Dewhurst F, Osborne W, Menne T, Stocker R. . Palliative Medicine 2023, 37(2), 215-220.
- Anderson A, Stocker R, Russell S, Robinson L, Hanratty B, Robinson L, Adamson J. . PLOS One 2022, 17(12), e0279098.
- Wylie TAF, Morris A, Robertson E, Middleton A, Newbert C, Anderson B, Maltese G, Stocker R, Sinclair A, Weightman A, Bain S. . Diabetic Medicine 2022, 39(7), e14795.
- Stocker R, Brittain K, Spilsbury K, Hanratty B. . Health Expectations 2021, 24(4), 1349-1356.
- Barker RO, Stocker R, Russell S, Hanratty B. . European Journal of General Practice 2021, 27(1), 68-76.
- Stocker R, Russell S, Liddle J, Barker RO, Remmer A, Gray J, Hanratty B, Adamson J. . BMJ Open 2021, 11, e045469.
- Stocker R, Shaw JA, Taylor GS, Witham MD, West DJ. . BMJ Open 2021, 11, e048932.
- Russell S, Stocker R, Barker R, Liddle J, Adamson J, Hanratty B. . British Journal of General Practice 2020, 70(700), e793-e800.
- Barker R, Stocker R, Russell S, Roberts A, Kingston A, Adamson J, Hanratty B. . Age and Ageing 2020, 49(1), 141-145.
- Stocker R, Bamford C, Brittain K, Duncan R, Moffatt S, Robinson L, Hanratty B. . BMJ Open 2018, 8, e017419.
- Stocker R, Close H, Hancock H, Hungin APS. . BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care 2017, 7(4), 464-469.
- Fenton G, Hill K, Stocker R, House A. . Ageing and Society 2015, 35(10), 2141-2155.
- Stocker R, Close H. . BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care 2013, 3(4), 399-404.
- Stocker R, Close H. . The Qualitative Report 2013, 18(1), 1-4.
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Book Chapter
- Stocker R, Close H, Hungin APS. End of life care in heart failure: Is it time to reinvent the wheel?. In: Richards,R;Creek,J, ed. Chronicity, Care, and Complexity. Oxford, UK: Inter-Disciplinary Press, 2013.
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Reports
- Russell S, Barker R, Stocker R, Liddle J, Adamson J, Hanratty B. Evaluation of the Sunderland Connected Care Homes programme: Stakeholder views of the Telehealth Care Home Digital Tablet. 2018. Submitted.
- Stocker R, Hobbs A. . London, UK: Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, 2014. 481.