Dr Paul Newton BA (Hons), PG Cert HE, MSc, PhD

Associate Professor of Sociology Applied to Health and Illness and PhD Programme Leader – Health Sciences

Key details

Paul Newton

Dr Paul Newton

Associate Professor of Sociology Applied to Health and Illness and PhD Programme Leader – Health Sciences


Dr Paul Newton is Associate Professor of Sociology Applied to Health and Illness in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Greenwich And Programme Leader for the PhD in Health Sciences.  Paul has over 18 years' experience as a social and public health researcher, and his research relates mainly to the management of chronic conditions; experiences of health and illness; and the healthcare workforce.

He completed his MSc at the London School of Economics and attained his PhD in Sociology Applied to Healthcare from King's College London. His current teaching relates mainly to public health, the sociology of health and illness and research methods - he also currently supervises a number of PhD students mainly on the topic of experiences of health and illness.

Previously held positions:

  • 2016/2019, Research Lead, University of Greenwich
  • 2011/16, Research Fellow, University of Greenwich
  • 2006/10, Research Associate, Kings College London
  • 2004/06, Lecturer/Researcher, City University

Responsibilities within the university

Paul is Associate Professor of Sociology Applied to Health and Illness in the School of Health Sciences. He is Programme Leader for the PhD in Health Sciences; and Module Leader for the research modules on the MSc Advanced Practice. He is a member of the Faculty Research Degrees Committee, the Faculty Research Ethics Committee and the School Research Ethics Panel. He is also an active member of the Centre for Ageing and Chronic Illness and the Centre for Inequalities.

Recognition

Paul is a member of several national and international groups such as Health Education England's Dementia Friendly Dentistry Group (in recognition of his work in oral pain and dementia), the International Network of Academic Institutions in Romani Studies and The Roma Health Network (in recognition of his work on the health of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities).  Paul also a peer reviewer for numerous health and social science journals as well as for the National Institute of Health Research. Paul's recent research on oral pain in people living with dementia has recently received. Recent awards include:

  • Recognition of Excellence Award, Institute of Integrated Care: Research into identifying and managing oral pain and discomfort in people living with dementia
  • British Dental Association's Annual Community Dental Services Conference: Research into identifying and managing oral pain and discomfort in people living with dementia
  • Paul has twice been voted 'Supervisor of the Year' in the Student Led Teaching Awards.

Research / Scholarly interests

Paul's areas of expertise are experiences of health and illness - in particular the management of chronic conditions; the perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals, as well as health and social care workforce research. He is particularly interested in: the self-management of chronic illness; patients' experiences living with illness; as well as information and help-seeking behaviour.

Other research areas he has published in include applying social theory to chronic and disabling conditions; pain, dementia; oral health; patient-centred care as well as patient empowerment in Type 2 Diabetes and other long term conditions.

Paul has a strong track record in health and social care workforce research including medical, dental, nursing, paramedicine; social work; auxiliary workforce issues, as well as interprofessional working.

More recently Paul has undertaken research looking at health and illness experiences in minority ethnic groups including Gypsy, Roma and Traveller groups as well as London's Bangladeshi and wider Muslim community.

Although primarily a qualitative researcher, Paul also specialises in mixed-methods studies and the evaluation of health interventions and consultations. Paul is skilled in developing high quality project proposals for submission to external funding streams; setting up, managing and delivering projects and disseminating research through a number of channels, such as peer reviewed journal papers, reports, books and presentations at national and international workshops, seminars and conferences.

Key funded projects

Bowel & Cancer Research – 2019 - Exploring Experiences of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) amongst Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Patients: A Mixed-Method Scoping Study

South London Hospices Education Collaborative – 2017 - Evaluation of 'Rotational Post: End of Life Care, Cancer and Care of the Elderly' Project

Greenwich Research and Enterprise Investment Grant – 2017 - Altered pain perception in chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Health Education England – 2017 - Developing and delivering a health and wellbeing programme for pre-registration, non-medical healthcare students at the University of Greenwich: A mixed-method PhD study

Greenwich Research and Enterprise Investment Grant – 2017 - An exploratory study of paramedics' perceptions and experiences of recognising, assessing and managing pelvic injuries in pre-hospital situations

Nursing and Midwifery Council - 2016 - The progress and outcomes of black and minority ethnic nurses through the NMC Fitness to Practise Process

Greenwich Research and Enterprise Grant – 2016 - A qualitative study of information seeking and use amongst women who have self-identified as problematic drinkers

Health Education North, Central and East London -2015 - An evaluation of the Mental Health Worker Programme

Health Education Kent Surrey and Sussex – 2015 -The identification and management of oral pain and discomfort in people living with dementia: A mixed-method sequential-explanatory study

Health Education England – 2014 - Educators' and trainees' experiences of postgraduate medical in two regions

Greenwich Research and Enterprise Grant – 2014 - Barriers and facilitators to the uptake of childhood immunisation in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities

South East London Health Innovation and Education Cluster – 2013 - Improving the knowledge, skills and attitudes of organisations that provide assessment and intervention to people who have a diagnosis of dementia

NHS London – 2012 - Newly-qualified nurses' readiness for work

NHS Kent and Medway – 2013 - Analysis of a Consultation on Acute Mental Health Crisis Care in Kent

East and Coastal Kent Foundation Trust – 2012 - East Kent Maternity Services Review

Recent publications

Article

Essex, Ryan , Aked, Hil, Daniels, Rebecca, Newton, Paul , Weldon, Sharon M. (2023), Justifying non-violent resistance: the perspectives of healthcare workers. Sage. In: , , , . Sage, Clinical Ethics ISSN: 1477-7509 (Print), 1758-101X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/14777509231156050).

Essex, Ryan , Aked, Hil, Daniels, Rebecca, Newton, Paul , Weldon, Sharon Marie (2022), Exploring the concept of non-violent resistance amongst healthcare workers. SAGE. In: , , , . SAGE, Nursing Ethics, 30 (1) . pp. 7-19 ISSN: 0969-7330 (Print), 1477-0989 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/09697330221122904).

Prasad, Ria , Edwards, Julie, Newton, Paul, Gerbasi-Rodrigues, Taianny , Curl, Charlotte (2022), The impact of a geriatric assessment and optimisation-based preoperative clinic on the management of older patients receiving dental treatment under general anaesthetic or conscious sedation: a service evaluation. Wiley. In: , , , . Wiley, Gerodontology, 40 (2) . pp. 192-199 ISSN: 0734-0664 (Print), 1741-2358 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/ger.12632).

Cane, Tam Chipawe , Newton, Paul, Foster, John (2022), Understanding women’s help-seeking for problematic and unhealthy alcohol use through the lens of complexity theory. Emerald. In: , , , . Emerald, Advances in Dual Diagnosis, 15 (2) . pp. 119-139 ISSN: 1757-0972 (Print), 2042-8324 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/ADD-12-2021-0019).

Essex, Ryan , Bruce, Gemma, Dibley, Molly, Newton, Paul , Thompson, Trevor , Swaine, Ian , Dibley, Lesley (2022), A systematic scoping review and textual narrative synthesis of the qualitative evidence related to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing, 45: 100921 ISSN: 1878-1241 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijotn.2022.100921).

Ahmed, Salina , Newton, Paul D., Ojo, Omorogieva, Dibley, Lesley (2021), Experiences of ethnic minority patients who are living with a primary chronic bowel condition: a systematic scoping review with narrative synthesis. BMC. In: , , , . BMC, BMC Gastroenterology, 21: 322 1471-230X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-021-01857-8).

Robinson, Oliver , Sebah, Ilham, McNay, Ian, Field, Jenny , Wragg, Jane , Stevenson, Mandy , Newton, Paul (2021), Evaluating the REP-S brief resilience intervention for students in higher education: A multi-study mixed-methods programme of research. Taylor & Francis. In: , , , . Taylor & Francis, British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 49 (5) . pp. 672-688 ISSN: 0306-9885 (Print), 1469-3534 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2021.1888372).

Essex, Ryan , Bruce, Gemma, Dibley, Molly, Newton, Paul , Dibley, Lesley (2021), A systematic scoping review and textual narrative synthesis of long-term health-related quality of life outcomes for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing, 40: 100844 ISSN: 1878-1241 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijotn.2021.100844).

Smith, David , Newton, Paul, Berlin, Jenni, Barrett, Shirley (2019), A community approach to engaging gypsy and travellers’ in cancer services. Oxford University Press. In: , , , . Oxford University Press, Health Promotion International, 35 (5) . pp. 1094-1105 ISSN: 0957-4824 (Print), 1460-2245 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daz103).

Newton, P , Scambler, S, Asimakopoulou, K (2019), A qualitative exploration of experiences of diagnosis amongst people living with type 2 diabetes. Universal Access Publications. In: , , , . Universal Access Publications, Journal of Diabetes Reports, 1 (1) . pp. 1-11 (doi: https://uapublications.com/journal-of-diabetes-reports/pdf/JDR-v1-1001.pdf).

Thompson, Trevor , Whiter, Fiona, Gallop, Katy, Veronese, Nicola , Solmi, Marco , Newton, Paul , Stubbs, Brendon (2019), NMDA receptor antagonists and pain relief: A meta-analysis of experimental trials. American Academy of Neurology (AAN). In: , , , . American Academy of Neurology (AAN), Neurology, 92 (14) ISSN: 0028-3878 (Print), 1526-632X (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000007238).

Newton, Paul , Berlin, Jenni, Ward, Richard, Jennings, Kath (2018), Paramedics' perceptions and experiences of pelvic injuries in prehospital situations. Mark Allen Healthcare. In: , , , . Mark Allen Healthcare, Journal of Paramedic Practice, 10 (11) ISSN: 2041-9457 (Print), (doi: https://doi.org/10.12968/jpar.2018.10.11.468).

Newton, Paul , Curl, Charlotte, Prasada, Ria, Pass, Patricia , Bowden, Julie (2018), A qualitative exploratory study of informal carers’ experiences of identifying and managing oral pain and discomfort in community-dwelling older people living with dementia. MDPI. In: , , , . MDPI, Geriatrics, 3: 32 (3) 2308-3417 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics3030032).

Berlin, Jenni , Smith, David, Newton, Paul, Paul Newton (2018), “It's because it's cancer, not because you're a Traveller”-exploring lay understanding of cancer in English Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller communities. Elsevier. In: , , , . Elsevier, European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 34 . pp. 49-54 ISSN: 1462-3889 (Print), 1532-2122 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2018.02.010).

Kashim, Rahima Muhammad , Newton, Paul, Ojo, Omorogieva, Omorogieva Ojo (2018), Diabetic retinopathy screening: A systematic review on patients’ non-attendance. MDPI AG (Basel, Switzerland). In: , , , . MDPI AG (Basel, Switzerland), International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15 (157) . pp. 1-12 ISSN: 1661-7827 (Print), 1660-4601 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010157).

Newton, P. and , Smith, D. M. (2017), Factors influencing uptake of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunization in site-dwelling Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (G&T) communities: a qualitative study of G&T parents' beliefs and experiences. Wiley. In: , , , . Wiley, Child: care, health and development, 43 (4) . pp. 504-510 ISSN: 0305-1862 (Print), 1365-2214 (Online) (doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12453).

Hart, Lindsay and , Newton, Paul (2017), Therapeutic hypothermia in cardiac arrest: a literature review. Mark Allen Healthcare. In: , , , . Mark Allen Healthcare, Journal of Paramedic Practice, 9 (3) . pp. 126-131 ISSN: 2041-9457 (Print), (doi: ).

Smith, David and , Newton, Paul (2016), Structural barriers to measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunisation uptake in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in the United Kingdom. Taylor and Francis Online. In: , , , . Taylor and Francis Online, Critical Public Health, 27 (2) . pp. 238-247 ISSN: 0958-1596 (Print), 1469-3682 (Online) (doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09581596.2016.1211254).

Al-Haboubi, Mustafa , Newton, Paul, Gallagher, Jennifer E. (2016), Meeting patient and professional needs: views of stakeholders on a training initiative for DwSIs in Endodontics in London. Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK). In: , , , . Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK), Primary Dental Journal, 5 (2) . pp. 54-63 ISSN: 2050-1684 (Print), (doi: ) NB Item availability restricted.

Monograph

Webb, Janet , Stevens, Jane, Newton, Paul (2023), Evaluation of clinical nurse tutor project at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (DGT): a report by School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Education, Health and Human Sciences. University of Greenwich - Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (DGT). In: , , , . University of Greenwich - Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (DGT), London (1st) (doi: ).

Dalton-O'Connor, Ann , Newton, Paul, Smith, David, Paul Newton (2018), Evaluation of the ‘Rotational Post - End of Life Care, Cancer Care and Care of the Elderly’ Project. Greenwich and Bexley Hospice. In: , , , . Greenwich and Bexley Hospice, (doi: ).

Newton, Paul , Al-Haboubi, Mustafa, Jeavons, Charlotte, Stock, Jennifer , Curl, Charlotte , Prasad, Ria , Charlotte Curl , Ria Prasad (2016), Healthcare professionals’ and carers’ (both formal and informal) experiences of identifying and managing oral pain and discomfort in older people living with dementia – A sequential exploratory study. Health Education Kent, Surrey and Sussex (HEKSS). In: , , , . Health Education Kent, Surrey and Sussex (HEKSS), (doi: ) NB Item availability restricted.