Biography
Dr Elaine Toomey is a Lecturer in the School of Allied Health in the University of Limerick. She is also a Cochrane Ireland Research Associate and a member of both the Health Research Institute (University of Limerick) and the Health Behaviour Change Research Group (National University of Ireland Galway). Elaine is a Chartered Physiotherapist and obtained her PhD from University College Dublin (2016) and her MSc and BSc from the University of Limerick (2012, 2010). Until April 2020, Elaine was Associate Director of Cochrane Ireland within Evidence Synthesis Ireland and led the implementation of the Evidence Synthesis Ireland Fellowship Scheme. Previously, Elaine was a Health Research Board (HRB) Interdisciplinary Capacity Enhancement Post-doctoral Research Fellow (2016-2019), where she co-led the development of a complex behaviour change childhood obesity prevention intervention, with a specific focus on process and implementation outcomes. Elaine was a Visiting Researcher at Hunter New England Population Health Service/Newcastle University (Newcastle, Australia) in 2018, the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine in Western University (Ontario, Canada) in 2018, and the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (Ontario, Canada) in 2017 and 2018.
Elaine's research primarily focuses on methods used in the development, evaluation and implementation of behaviour change interventions into policy and practice, particularly in relation to chronic disease prevention and management. She has specific expertise in evidence synthesis, implementation science/knowledge translation, process evaluation and fidelity/adaptation of behaviour change interventions. In 2016 Elaine was awarded a Leamer-Rosenthal Prize for Open Social Science for Emerging Researchers from the University of California Berkeley for her work in fidelity and transparency of behaviour change interventions. She is also a Catalyst for the Berkeley Initiative for Transparency in the Social Sciences (BITSS), a member of the Health Research Board Open Research National Steering Committee and a keen advocate for open science. She is a recipient of the Irish Canadian University Foundation James M. Flaherty Early Career Scholarship (2017), the UK Society for Behavioural Medicine Early Career Award (2020), the European Health Psychology Stan Maes Early Career Award (2020) and a Euroscience European Young Researcher Award (EYRA) finalist (2020). She has published over 50 peer-reviewed journal publications as well as numerous blogposts and alternative research outputs and has secured over 650,000 in national and international research funding as Principal Investigator or co-applicant/collaborator.
Research Interests
Health behaviour change for chronic disease prevention and management.
Implementation science/knowledge translation and informed decision-making in health policy and practice.
Health research methods, e.g. evidence synthesis, fidelity and adaptation of complex behavioural interventions, process evaluations, and behavioural intervention development and evaluation.
Open science and health research transparency, stakeholder involvement and citizen science.
Teaching Interests
Evidence-based practice
Health behaviour change
Chronic disease prevention and management
Knowledge translation and communication in healthcare
Professional Activities
Award
- 2020 - UK Society for Behavioural Medicine Early Career Award
- 2020 - Applying Research into Policy and Practice Fellowship (249,518.92)
- 2020 - European Health Psychology Society Stan Maes Early Career Award
- 2020 - European Young Researcher Award (finalist)
- 2017 - James M. Flaherty Early Career Research Award (7200)
- 2016 - Leamer-Rosenthal Emerging Researcher Prize for Open Social Science ($10,000)
- 2015 - Early Career Researcher Travel Award
- 2014 - Early Career Researcher Travel Award
- 2013 - Early Career Researcher Travel Award
- 2009 - HRB Summer Student Scholarship
Association
- Member, Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists
- Co-Chair, European Health Psychology Society Open Science Special Interest Group
Publications
Conference Publication
Psychology, Health and Medicine
Toomey, E, Kearney, P, Matvienko-Sikar, K, Queally, M, Hayes, C, Doherty, E, Harrington, J, McHugh, S, Kelly, C, McSharry, J, Delaney, L, Heary, C, Byrne, M.
Psychology, Health and Medicine
The Society for Back Pain Research Conference
Toomey, E, Matthews, J, Hurley, D.A.
The Society for Back Pain Research Conference
OARSI World Congress on Osteoarthritis
Hurley, D.A., Currie-Murphy, L., Hayes, D., Hall, A.M., Toomey, E., McDonough, S.M., Lonsdale, C., Walsh, N.E., Guerin, S. and Matthews, J.
OARSI World Congress on Osteoarthritis
The Society for Back Pain Research Conference
Toomey, E, Matthews, J, Currie-Murphy, L, Hurley, D.A.
The Society for Back Pain Research Conference
29th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, 18th Annual Conference of Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS)
Toomey, E, Coote, S
29th Congress of the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, 18th Annual Conference of Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS)
17th Annual Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis (RIMS) Conference,
Toomey, E, Coote, S
17th Annual Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis (RIMS) Conference,
Peer Reviewed Journal
A core outcome set for trials of infant-feeding interventions to prevent childhood obesity
Matvienko-Sikar, K,Griffin, C,Kelly, C,Heary, C,Pedersen, MLP,McGrath, N,Toomey, E,Harrington, J,Hennessy, M,Queally, M,Hayes, C,McSharry, J,Devane, D,Byrne, M,Kearney, PM
International Journal Of Obesity
DOI: 10.1038/s41366-020-0538-2
Classification of aerosol-generating procedures: a rapid systematic review.
Jackson T;Deibert D;Wyatt G;Durand-Moreau Q;Adisesh A;Khunti K;Khunti S;Smith S;Chan XHS;Ross L;Roberts N;Toomey E;Greenhalgh T;Arora I;Black SM;Drake J;Syam N;Temple R;Straube S;
Bmj Open Respiratory Research
DOI: 10.1136/bmjresp-2020-000730
Limited engagement with transparent and open science standards in the policies of pain journals: a cross-sectional evaluation.
Cashin AG,Bagg MK,Richards GC,Toomey E,McAuley JH,Lee H,
Bmj Evidence-Based Medicine
DOI: 10.1136/bmjebm-2019-111296
Personal protective equipment for preventing highly infectious diseases due to exposure to contaminated body fluids in healthcare staff.
Verbeek JH;Rajamaki B;Ijaz S;Sauni R;Toomey E;Blackwood B;Tikka C;Ruotsalainen JH;Kilinc Balci FS;
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD011621.pub4
A collaborative approach to developing sustainable behaviour change interventions for childhood obesity prevention: Development of the Choosing Healthy Eating for Infant Health (CHErIsH) intervention and implementation strategy
Toomey, E,Matvienko-Sikar, K,Doherty, E,Harrington, J,Hayes, CB,Heary, C,Hennessy, M,Kelly, C,McHugh, S,McSharry, J,O'Halloran, J,Queally, M,Heffernan, T,Kearney, PM,Byrne, M
British journal of health psychology
DOI: 10.1111/bjhp.12407
The efficacy of PPE for COVID-19-type respiratory illnesses in primary and community care staff
Khunti K.;Adisesh A.;Burton C.;Chan X.H.S.;Coles B.;Durand-Moreau Q.;Jackson T.;Ross L.;Straube S.;Toomey E.;Greenhalgh T.
The British Journal Of General Practice : The Journal Of The Royal College Of General Practitioners
DOI: 10.3399/bjgp20X710969
Are questionable research practices facilitating new discoveries in sport and exercise medicine? The proportion of supported hypotheses is implausibly high.
Büttner F;Toomey E;McClean S;Roe M;Delahunt E;
British journal of sports medicine
DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2019-101863
Investigating and evaluating evidence of the behavioural determinants of adherence to social distancing measures - A protocol for a scoping review of COVID-19 research.
Noone C;Warner N;Byrne M;Durand H;Lavoie KL;McGuire BE;Mc Sharry J;Meade O;Morrissey E;Molloy G;O'Connor L;Toomey E;
Hrb Open Research
DOI: 10.12688/hrbopenres.13099.2
Extended use or reuse of single-use surgical masks and filtering face-piece respirators during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: A rapid systematic review.
Toomey EC;Conway Y;Burton C;Smith S;Smalle M;Chan XS;Adisesh A;Tanveer S;Ross L;Thomson I;Devane D;Greenhalgh T;
Infection Control And Hospital Epidemiology
DOI: 10.1017/ice.2020.1243
The Efficacy of Workplace Interventions on Improving the Dietary, Physical Activity and Sleep Behaviours of School and Childcare Staff: A Systematic Review.
Nathan N;Murawski B;Hope K;Young S;Sutherland R;Hodder R;Booth D;Toomey E;Yoong SL;Reilly K;Tzelepis F;Taylor N;Wolfenden L;
International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17144998
Focusing on fidelity: narrative review and recommendations for improving intervention fidelity within trials of health behaviour change interventions
Toomey E.;Hardeman W.;Hankonen N.;Byrne M.;McSharry J.;Matvienko-Sikar K.;Lorencatto F.
Health Psychology And Behavioral Medicine
DOI: 10.1080/21642850.2020.1738935
Feasibility cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating a theory-driven group-based complex intervention versus usual physiotherapy to support self-management of osteoarthritis and low back pain (SOLAS).
Hurley DA;Jeffares I;Hall AM;Keogh A;Toomey E;McArdle D;McDonough SM;Guerin S;Segurado R;Matthews J;
Trials
DOI: 10.1186/s13063-020-04671-x
Choosing Healthy Eating for Infant Health (CHErIsH) study: protocol for a feasibility study
Matvienko-Sikar, K,Toomey, E,Queally, M,Flannery, C,Neill, KO,Dinan, TG,Doherty, E,Harrington, JM,Hayes, C,Heary, C,Hennessy, M,Kelly, C,Mc Hugh, SM,McSharry, J,Stanton, C,Heffernan, T,Byrne, M,Kearney, PM
BMJ open
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029607
Health professional-delivered obesity prevention interventions during the first 1,000 days: A systematic review of external validity reporting.
Hennessy M,Heary C,Laws R,Van Rhoon L,Toomey E,Wolstenholme H,Byrne M,
Hrb Open Research
DOI: 10.12688/hrbopenres.12924.2
Adapting health interventions for local fit when scaling-up: a realist review protocol.
Power J,Gilmore B,Valli�s F,Toomey E,Mannan H,McAuliffe E,
BMJ open
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022084
The effectiveness of health professional-delivered interventions during the first 1000 days to prevent overweight/obesity in children: A systematic review
Hennessy, M,Heary, C,Laws, R,van Rhoon, L,Toomey, E,Wolstenholme, H,Byrne, M
Obesity Reviews
DOI: 10.1111/obr.12924
'Influence of providing information to participants about development of trial outcomes on response rates and attitudes to questionnaire completion: Protocol for a study within a trial'
Griffin, C, Toomey, E, Queally, M, Hayes, C, Kearney, P. and Matvienko-Sikar, K.
Hrb Open Research
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12688/hrbopenres.12895.1
Behaviour change techniques and theory use in healthcare professional-delivered infant feeding interventions to prevent childhood obesity: a systematic review
Matvienko-Sikar, K,Toomey, E,Delaney, L,Flannery, C,McHugh, S,McSharry, J,Byrne, M,Queally, M,Heary, C,Kearney, PM
Health Psychology Review
DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2019.1605838
Using theatre as an arts-based knowledge translation strategy for health-related information: a scoping review protocol.
Hall A,Furlong B,Pike A,Logan G,Lawrence R,Ryan A,Etchegary H,Hennessey T,Toomey E,
BMJ open
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032738
Implementation of a Calorie Menu Labeling Policy in Public Hospitals: Study Protocol for a Multiple Case Study
Kerins, C., Houghton, C., McHugh, S., Geaney, F., Toomey, E., Hayes, C., Perry, I.J. & Kelly, C.
International Journal Of Qualitative Methods
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406919878339
Barriers and enablers to screening and diagnosing depression and diabetes distress in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus; protocol of a qualitative evidence synthesis.
McGrath N;McHugh S;Kearney PM;Toomey E;
Hrb Open Research
DOI: 10.12688/hrbopenres.12947.3
Physician-reported barriers to using evidence-based recommendations for low back pain in clinical practice: a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative studies using the Theoretical Domains Framework.
Hall AM,Scurrey SR,Pike AE,Albury C,Richmond HL,Matthews J,Toomey E,Hayden JA,Etchegary H,
Implementation Science : Is
DOI: 10.1186/s13012-019-0884-4
Addressing fidelity within complex health behaviour change interventions: A protocol of a scoping review of intervention fidelity frameworks and models
Roy, R, Colquhoun, H, Byrne, M, Lorencatto, F,Matvienko-Sikar, K, McCleary, N, Nathan, N, Toomey, E.
Hrb Open Research
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12688/hrbopenres.12892.1
Do mothers accurately identify their child�s overweight/obesity status during early childhood? Evidence from a nationally representative cohort study
Queally, M, Doherty, E, Matvienko-Sikar, K, Toomey, E, Cullinan, J, Harrington, J, Kearney, P.
International Journal Of Behavioral Nutrition And Physical Activity
The CHARMS pilot study: A multi-method assessment of the feasibility of a sexual counselling implementation intervention in cardiac rehabilitation in Ireland
Murphy, P, Noone, C, D�Eath, M, Casey, D, Doherty, S, Jaarsma, T, Murphy, A, O�Donnell, M, Fallon, N, Gillespie, P, Jalali, A, McSharry, J, Newell, J, Toomey, E, Steinke, E, Byrne, M
Pilot And Feasibility Studies
Intervention Fidelity Within Trials of Infant Feeding Behavioral Interventions to Prevent Childhood Obesity: A Systematic Review
Toomey, Elaine,Matvienko-Sikar, Karen,Heary, Caroline,Delaney, Lisa,Queally, Michelle,B Hayes, Catherine,M Kearney, Patricia,Byrne, Molly,Choosing Healthy Eating for Infant Health (CHErIsH) study team
Annals Of Behavioral Medicine
Developing a Core Outcome Set for Childhood Obesity Prevention: A Systematic Review
Matvienko-Sikar, K, Griffin, C, McGrath, N, Toomey, E, Byrne, M, Kelly, C, Heary, C, Devane, D, Kearney, P.M.
Maternal & Child Nutrition
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12680
Transparent and reproducible pain research: a critical review
Lee, H, Lamb, SE, Bagg, M, Toomey, E, Cashin, A, Moseley, L.
Pain
Surveying knowledge, practice and attitudes toward intervention fidelity within trials of complex healthcare interventions
McGee, D, Lorencatto, F, Matvienko-Sikar, K, Toomey, E.
Trials
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.1186%2Fs13063-018-2838-6
Adapting Health Interventions for Local Fit when Scaling-up: A Realist Review Protocol
Power, J, Gilmore, B, Valli�s, F, Toomey, E, Mannan, H, McAuliffe, E.
BMJ open
Parental experiences and perceptions of infant complementary feeding: A qualitative evidence synthesis
Matvienko-Sikar, K, Sinnott, C, Byrne, M, Kelly, C, Toomey, E, McSharry, J, Heary, C, Houghton, C, Kearney, P.
Obesity Reviews
DOI: DOI10.1111/obr.12653
Effects of healthcare professional delivered early feeding interventions on feeding practices and dietary intake: A systematic review
Matvienko-Sikar, K, Toomey, E, Delaney, L, Harrington, J, Byrne, M, Kearney, P, CHErIsH study team
Appetite
DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2017.12.001
Augmenting home exercise programmes in multiple sclerosis with �exercise buddies�: A pilot study
Toomey, E, Coote, S
International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2017.24.2.54
Development of an infant feeding core outcome set for childhood obesity interventions: study protocol
Matvienko-Sikar, K,Byrne, M,Kelly, C,Toomey, E,Hennessy, M,Devane, D,Heary, C,Harrington, J,McGrath, N,Queally, M,Kearney, PM
Trials
DOI: 10.1186/s13063-017-2180-4
Using mixed methods to assess fidelity of delivery and its influencing factors in a complex self-management intervention for people with osteoarthritis and low back pain
Toomey, E, Matthews, J, Hurley, D.
BMJ open
Behaviour change and self-management interventions in persistent low back pain
Mansell, G, Hall, A, Toomey, E.
Best Practice & Research In Clinical Rheumatology
Addressing Intervention Fidelity Within Physical Therapy Research and Clinical Practice
Toomey, E, Hardeman, W
Journal Of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy
DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2017.0609
Development of a Feasible Implementation Fidelity Protocol Within a Complex Physical Therapy-Led Self-Management Intervention.
Toomey E,Matthews J,Guerin S,Hurley DA,
Physical therapy
DOI: 10.2522/ptj.20150446
Sexual counselling for patients with cardiovascular disease: protocol for a pilot study of the CHARMS sexual counselling intervention
Murphy P, McSharry J, Casey D, Doherty S, Gillespie P, Jaarsma T, Murphy A, Newell J, O'Donnell M, Steinke E, Toomey E, Byrne M
BMJ open
Sexual counselling for patients with cardiovascular disease: protocol for a pilot study of the CHARMS sexual counselling intervention
Murphy, Patrick J,Mc Sharry, Jenny,Casey, Dympna,Doherty, Sally,Gillespie, Paddy,Jaarsma, Tiny,Murphy, Andrew W,Newell, John,O'Donnell, Martin,Steinke, Elaine E,Toomey, Elaine,Byrne, Molly
BMJ open
Sexual counselling for patients with cardiovascular disease: protocol for a pilot study of the CHARMS sexual counselling intervention.
Murphy, P. J., Mc Sharry, J., Casey, D., Doherty, S., Gillespie, P., Jaarsma, T., Murphy, A. W., Newell, J., O'Donnell, M., Steinke, E. E., Toomey, E., & Byrne, M.
BMJ open
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011219
Using intervention mapping to develop a theory-driven, group-based complex intervention to support self-management of osteoarthritis and low back pain (SOLAS).
Hurley DA,Murphy LC,Hayes D,Hall AM,Toomey E,McDonough SM,Lonsdale C,Walsh NE,Guerin S,Matthews J,
Implementation Science : Is
DOI: 10.1186/s13012-016-0418-2
Implementation fidelity of physiotherapist-delivered group education and exercise interventions to promote self-management in people with osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain: a rapid review part II.
Toomey E,Currie-Murphy L,Matthews J,Hurley DA,
Manual therapy
DOI: 10.1016/j.math.2014.10.012
The effectiveness of physiotherapist-delivered group education and exercise interventions to promote self-management for people with osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain: a rapid review part I.
Toomey E,Currie-Murphy L,Matthews J,Hurley DA,
Manual therapy
DOI: 10.1016/j.math.2014.10.013
Between-rater reliability of the 6-minute walk test, berg balance scale, and handheld dynamometry in people with multiple sclerosis.
Toomey E,Coote S,
International Journal Of Ms Care
DOI: 10.7224/1537-2073.2011-036
Exploring the use of �Exercise Buddies� to augment physiotherapy in the community for people with Multiple Sclerosis
Toomey, E, Coote, S
Physiotherapy Ireland
DOI: 10.3233/PPR-130019
Physical rehabilitation interventions in nonambulatory people with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review.
Toomey E,Coote SB,
International Journal Of Rehabilitation Research. Internationale Zeitschrift Fu�R Rehabilitationsforschung. Revue Internationale De Recherches De Re�Adaptation
DOI: 10.1097/MRR.0b013e32835a241a