Dr. Sharon O'Donnell
Associate Professor, School of Nursing & Midwifery

Projects

• Title
  • Preventing CARdiovascular Risks in Women & MENopause Linked Hypertension
• Summary
  • This study aims to develop a device-based digital health therapeutics helping women to navigate through menopause and providing personalised preventative actions to improve women's health.
• Funding Agency
  • Horizon 2020
• Date From
  • 2021
• Date To
  • 2025

• Title
  • CardiCare
• Summary
  • CardiCare is a digital health solution that provides the heart attack patient (+/- carers) with an instant network of local community support from the moment he/she is deemed ready for hospital discharge.The 'back-end' of the solution has been co-created by the EIT partners involved in this project. Patient representative (+/- carers) and healthcare professionals will design the front-end. CardiCare is delivered via a Smart Phone device and individualised to patient preference, risk & profile, to include personalised journey mapping, a behavioural change programme and symptom management. It is considered a complement to traditional CR programs for improvement of secondary prevention/clinical outcomes in patients following a heart attack. By enhancing patient adherence to lifestyle advice and medication, it is hoped that CardiCare will result in better risk factor control and prognosis as well as improved self-rated health.
• Funding Agency
  • EIT Health
• Date From
  • 2021
• Date To
  • 2024

• Title
  • WeCare
• Summary
  • The main goal of WeCare is to define and deploy a large scale citizen-centred model and an associated digital solution dealing with health and social integrated-care for supporting elderly people in their home.
• Funding Agency
  • Horizon 2020
• Date From
  • 2020

• Title
  • MetaCare
• Summary
  • MetaCare will develop, apply, and evaluate tailored implementation study to scale up and transfer the CONNECARE integrated people-centred care solution to prevent risk factors determining the MetS and empower citizens. Identifying critical and success factors for the adoption, our assessment contributes to the unmet need to compare patient outcomes and to expand the evidence necessary to show the safety, effectiveness, sustainability, equitability, security, and data privacy of a digital health solution.
• Funding Agency
  • Horizon 2020
• Date From
  • 2020
• Date To
  • 2023

• Title
  • Report on the Baseline Survey of Research Activity in Irish Nursing and Midwifery
• Summary
  • In January 2003, the Department of Health and Children published the Research Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery in Ireland. This five-year framework consisted of twenty-one recommendations at national, institutional and professional commitment levels. The Baseline Survey of Research Activity in Irish Nursing and Midwifery was commenced at the outset of the launch of the Research Strategy in what was a time of dynamic change for both nursing and midwifery and the Irish health service itself. The aim was to provide a baseline picture of research activity in Irish nursing and midwifery which could assist in evaluating the implementation of the Strategy's recommendations . The strands of the survey were conducted over a two-year time frame (December 2002-October 2004) to gain 4 different perspectives on activity and information needs stemming from the recommendations of the Strategy. The survey shows that nursing and midwifery activity has occurred, as can be seen in the list of research project titles published as an appendix to the final report and which part fulfills recommendation two of the Strategy. The findings, however, show that such activity has been un-coordinated and under-reported.
• Funding Agency
  • National Council for the Development of Professional Development of Nursing and Midwiferyery
• Date From
  • 2003
• Date To
  • 2005

• Title
  • Gender & Myocardial Infarction: An analysis of Care-Pathway Delays
• Summary
  • In 2001-2004, I was awarded a Clinical Nursing Research Fellowship (HRB) with which I completed my doctorate 'Myocardial Infarction Care Pathways - are delays gender specific'. In this study I identified gender differences in MI illness behaviour and treatment. This was the first Irish contribution to an International debate on gendered MI care which had previously ensued for 20 years. The findings of my study placed gender at the forefront of clinical decision making pertaining to MI and as a result changed clinical practice in Ireland. My findings informed the work of the Women's Heart Council (Irish Heart Foundation) and the report 'Emergency Department Assessment of Women with MI - a collaboration between the Women's Health Council and the Emergency Medicine Association collaboration. The study findings were disseminated in academic and public press and so had the potential to inform and educate the general public.In July 2005, I completed my PhD entitled' Gender and myocardial infarction: an analysis of care-pathway delays. My PhD examined gender differences in treatment for women and men with Myocardial infarction with results showing that women waited longer to seek help and having eventually sought medical assistance, received slower and delayed treatment. The study was based in 6 hospitals in Dublin and included 890 patients. This was the first study carried out in Ireland on this subject area, despite its receiving increasing international attention over the last 20 years. As such, this study was long over-due in Ireland, and I would hope that with its publication, the cardiovascular health of women will improve.
• Funding Agency
  • Health Research Board
• Date From
  • 2000
• Date To
  • 2004

• Title
  • The Effectiveness of a Structured Educational Intervention on the length of pre-hospital delay in patients at risk of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS): ACS RESPONSE TIME -INTERVENTION TRIAL
• Summary
  • In 2007, I was co-applicant on a research team who were successful at securing HRB funding (Research Project Grant-General) for an educational intervention study. In this study we collaborated with clinical experts from University of Kentucky and continue to have strong research links with this group. This multi-site RCT tested the effectiveness of a structured educational intervention on the length of pre-hospital delay in patients at risk of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). Relative to other comparative interventions, it is the only international study that was successful in reducing ACS pre-hospital delay times. The secondary objectives included: to determine factors that influence pre-hospital delay; to determine the impact of the educational intervention on knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about heart disease and ACS symptoms; to compare GTN and ambulance use following an educational intervention; to elucidate the determinants of physical activity in the ACS population and how it changes post cardiac event; to determine intention to attend cardiac rehabilitation, subsequent attendance and the factors that influence this. Secondary analysis 2013-2016 a) : Longitudinal changes in physical activity in ACS patients. Ongoing b) Is there a difference in ACS symptom presentation in the aged compared to younger cohorts. Ongoing
• Funding Agency
  • HRB
• Date From
  • 2007
• Date To
  • 2010

• Title
  • Gender presentation in Acute Coronary Syndrome
• Summary
  • How do men and women with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) describe, interpret and act upon symptom presentation before and during their cardiac event? Objectives: . To examine, using rich patient narratives, how men and women describe, interpret and act upon their presenting symptoms . To inform a subsequent quantitative examination of the incidence and description of symptoms. Research Question 2: Do gender-specific differences exist in the symptom presentation of men and women with suspected ACS? Objectives: . To examine if gender-specific differences occur in the incidence and description of prodromal and acute symptom presentation in men and women with suspected ACS If gender-specific differences exist in the presentation of ACS, to formulate a new gender-sensitive clinical tool for the assessment of patients with ACS. The results of this study demonstrated the existence of two type of MI presentation: Slow onset MI and fast onset MI.
• Funding Agency
  • HRB
• Date From
  • 2009
• Date To
  • 2012

• Title
  • Developing technological based educational, motivational and health promoting material to support self management in patients with chronic illnesses
• Summary
  • This project was developed in line with the current health service change in emphasis from hospital to community care. In the first phase the project aims are to explore the care needs sources of support & experiences of patients & carers living at home with chronic illness, in the first instance COPD. This information will be supported by behaviour change principles and will be then used to develop technological based educational, motivational and health promoting material to support self management in patients with chronic illnesses, COPD in the first instance
• Funding Agency
  • Intel
• Date From
  • 2011
• Date To
  • 2012

• Title
  • Supporting Recovery in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease
• Summary
  • 1. Using the CCM and Behavioural Change models as frameworks and implementation science as an approach, this COST Action will: a) Identify successful components in programmes of cardiac care (in research and in practice), across the hospital-community continuum. b) Identify the current facilitators, barriers & deficits to implementing and maintaining person centeredness and integration in programmes of care for cardiac patients. 2. From the above information, develop an implementation strategy that optimises the care of the multi-morbid cardiac patient, in an integrated and person centred way. The results of this COST Action can act as a basis against which future transformation of chronic illness management can be developed, implemented, tested and benchmarked.
• Funding Agency
  • COST 2016
• Date From
  • 2017

• Title
  • Meeting the needs of patients with cardiovascular illness: a capacity building programme of research supporting seamless patient centred initiatives.
• Summary
  • Care of cardiovascular patients has long been guided by evidenced-based international guidelines. In the acute setting, the implementation of these guidelines has seen major improvements in the short-term clinical outcomes and recovery of patients. However, supporting recovery and secondary prevention following hospital discharge has received less attention from researchers and heretofore has lacked a structured approach. Many things contribute to this including poor communication across care providers and minimal support for the maintenance of behavioural changes. Using the principals of the Chronic Care Model, the Behavioural Change Wheel and Make Every Contact Count Framework, this programme aims to develop, test and evaluate a patient-centred algorithm of care across the care continuum for cardiac patients, to support recovery and address long term risk factor control
• Funding Agency
  • HRB 2017
• Date From
  • 2018

• Title
  • Recipients Knowledge, Perceptions and Experiences of Living and Dying with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
• Summary
  • This qualitative study explored patients' experiences of living with an ICD and how they feel about having the device disabled at the end of their life
• Funding Agency
  • Adelaide Society
• Date From
  • 2015
• Date To
  • 2016

• Title
  • A technological intervention to reduce patient delay in ACS
• Summary
  • Background: Early reperfusion treatment for symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) can save lives. Data from reperfusion trials suggest that delayed treatment was associated with larger ischaemic area, greater infarct size, and increased mortality and morbidity. Yet, most individuals who experience ACS symptoms delay considerably before seeking treatment. We propose to test a technologically enhanced intervention to reduce these pre-hospital delays in patients with ACS symptoms Methods: A four-group randomized clinical trial using (1) an intense intervention based on an integration of the Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM), in which fear-based appeals are incorporated, and Cognitive Theory (CT), in which reframing for positive action is added, and (2) a mobile phone based application with personal sensors to detect ECG data. Sample: We will randomize 2000 hospitalized ACS patients to one of four conditions: 1) usual care; 2) intensive in-hospital and post-discharge intervention plus mobile phone based application with sensors (I-EXP + APP); 3) mobile phone based application with sensors (APP) only; or 4) intensive in-hospital and post-discharge intervention (I-EXP) . Outcomes: Patients will be followed for 1 year to determine delay time in the event of a recurrent ACS. Data will be analysed to determine differences in pre-hospital delay time in the event of recurrent ACS among participants randomized to the four conditions, controlling for baseline pre-hospital delay time; Clinical Impact: An intervention that reduces patient delay could decrease substantially the personal and public health burden of ACS by markedly decreasing morbidity and mortality Properly executed fear-based appeals are effective in improving help-seeking behaviours for medical emergencies, such as ACS. In addition, the development of personal sensors coupled with mobile phone based applications that collect and interpret electrocardiographic (ECG) data offers a novel approach to addressing the prolonged decision making that patients encounter when trying to decide whether to seek treatment. Because of the specific technology proposed for our intervention, this proposal falls into the Priority Area C - Digital Platforms, Content and Applications. Our population is ageing and with old age is an accom¬panied increase in the prevalence of chronic illnesses. The personal burden of heart disease is huge, so too is the concomitant rise in the demands placed on over-stretched health care resources. In such an environment, technology innovations such as self-care devices and technologically enhanced interventions can improve the quality of people's lives whilst increasing the efficiency of health care systems, predominantly through the connection of people. The technologically enhanced intervention that we propose has the potential to (1) reduce help-seeking delays in patients with ACS symptoms (2) reduce the personal burden of ACS by reducing patient mortality and morbidity and in so-doing (3) reduce the public burden and healthcare expenditure associated with these events.
• Funding Agency
  • SFI, HRB, NIH
• Date From
  • 2015

• Title
  • ICD-recipients' experiences, attitudes and knowledge about ICD-treatment at life's end in Ireland
• Summary
  • The aim of this study was to find out how patients with an Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator (ICD) felt about having their device replaced in the future and whether or not they have given thought to having it switched off towards the end of their life
• Funding Agency
  • Adelaide Society
• Date From
  • 2016
• Date To
  • 2017

• Title
  • Satisfaction with Varicose Vein Surgery
• Summary
  • A patient satisfaction study evaluating patient experiences of outpatient varicose Vein surgery in the Veins unit of St. James's Hospital
• Date From
  • 2016
• Date To
  • 2018

• Title
  • Patient-centred care for patients with cardiovascular conditions: do ESC guidelines incorporate patient-centred care?
• Summary
  • Patient-centred care is key for health professionals to promote high quality of care for patients with cardiovascular conditions. Practical guidelines navigate health professionals to provide patient care based on the best available current evidence. However, there is no clear understanding to what extent these guidelines incorporate patient-centred care recommendations. The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of patient centredness of a set of guidelines endorsed and published by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Methods and results: A total of nine ESC guidelines, published between 2015 and 2017 for various cardiovascular conditions, were reviewed using a list of patient-centred criteria developed by the Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions (CCNAP). Five aspects of patient-centred care including patient involvement, multidisciplinary involvement, holistic care, flexible to meet needs, and patient tools, were independently evaluated by CCNAP members. The level of congruence in item ratings by experts was then compared. The achievement of patient centredness in the respective five categories ranged from the lowest level (4%) in the patient tools category to the highest level (53%) in the multidisciplinary involvement category. Conclusions: The level of patient-centredness of nine ESC guidelines was found to be very low indicating that patient perspectives were rarely taken into account when developing, endorsing or formulating recommendations. Future development of cardiovascular guidelines should incorporate patients and patient organisations to ensure incorporation of their perspective on preferences, participation, equality and congruence in care.
• Funding Agency
  • None
• Date From
  • 2016
• Date To
  • 2018

• Title
  • Systemic and technological model for the identification, management and replication of knowledge in Best Health Practices and Gender Perspective
• Summary
  • Heart disease remains the number one cause of death globally. However, within this disease, existing studies reveal differences in mortality and morbidity between women and men. Further differences are evident in the clinical and demographic profiles of both genders and their inclusion in cardiovascular research. Gender differences have also been highlighted in the use of therapeutic resources, which may partly explain the differences in mortality and morbidity observed. Treating women and men similarly, without considering gender/sex differences, explains the reported difficulties in diagnosis which may occur in women with heart disease. This project has set itself the challenge of finding ' a solution to the complex problem of including gender/sex differences in the practice and research protocol of hospitals or health institutes, to facilitate the emergence of best practices in heart disease'. In this project, health professionals and health authorities from partner countries will address this issue by sharing and developing best gender-sensitive practices for caring for cardiovascular patients It will utilise the expertise from different stakeholders, analyse international literature and merge national findings. It will ascertain best gender-sensitive practices and will develop, test and evaluate technological innovations to efficiently support this endeavour. Through an efficient interchange of knowledge, this project has set itself the challenge of finding a methodological and innovative technological solution to the complex problem of including gender/sex differences in the practice and research protocol of health institutions, to facilitate the emergence of best practices in heart disease. In this project, health professionals, health authorities and technologists, from partner countries utilize their experience and merge national findings to address this issue by sharing and developing best gender practices for caring for cardiovascular patients. It will ascertain best gender practices and will develop, test and evaluate technological innovations to efficiently support this endeavour. This is a complex and holistic problem, so this project will be performed using Systems Thinking methodologies, guaranteeing the viability of the solution to be developed.
• Funding Agency
  • Submitted to GENDER-NET Plus Consortium
• Date From
  • 2018
• Date To
  • 2021

• Title
  • Secondary Analysis on National ACS Programme Data
• Summary
  • This project is being conducted under the auspices of the TCPHI and aims to conduct secondary analysis on a section of the National ACS programme database to ascertain the areas of delay to treatment for STEMI and NSTEMI patients.
• Date From
  • 2018

• Title
  • Community Chest Pain Assessment Clinic
• Summary
  • An evaluation of a Slaintecare chest pain assessment unit
• Funding Agency
  • Bursary from Tallaght Hospital
• Date From
  • 2020
• Date To
  • 2021

• Title
  • Carmen
• Summary
  • The main objective of CARMEN is to develop a new preventive and personalized strategy targeting menopausal women that is supported by app-based digital tools, advanced data capture paradigms and artificial intelligence technology
• Funding Agency
  • H2020

• Title
  • Supporting Critical Illness Survivorship
• Summary
  • The aim of this research programme is to create, test and evaluate a serious illness recovery programme with key people including patients, families and critical care hospital staff. It is hoped to improve recovery for patients (and their families) following time spent in intensive care. Intensive care can affect a person's body, thoughts, feelings, mind and interactions with friends or family
• Funding Agency
  • Health Research Board

• Title
  • Community Chest Pain Assessment Clinic
• Summary
  • Evaluation of a Slaintecare funded community chest pain assessment clinic
• Funding Agency
  • THE MARTHA McMENAMIN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
• Date From
  • 2021

• Title
  • CHIARA
• Summary
  • Control of hypertension in women supported by artificial intelligence models for risk assessment
• Funding Agency
  • Horizon Europe