School of Psychology: Academic Staff

DR. MOLLY BYRNE

Lecturer (above the bar) & Co-Director, MSc in Health Psychology & Structured PhD in Psychology and Health

CURRENTLY SEEKING PHD STUDENTS TO ENROL ON THE STRUCTURED PHD IN PSYCHOLOGY AND HEALTH - CONTACT ME!

Dr. Molly Byrne BA (Hons), MPsychSc, PhD

Molly Byrne obtained an honours degree in Psychology from Trinity College Dublin (1994) and both a Masters degree in Health Psychology (1998) and a PhD (2003) from NUI, Galway. Molly joined the School of Psychology in NUI, Galway in July 2004, as lecturer with responsibility for managing the teaching and research interface between the School of Psychology and the Departments or Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy. She is currently Co-Director (with Dr Caroline Heary) of the MSc in Health Psychology and Co-Director (with Dr Jane Walsh) of the Structured PhD in Psychology and Health.

Citations in Google Scholar

Research Interests

• Randomised controlled trials of behavioural health interventions.
• Chronic disease (particularly coronary heart disease and diabetes): self-management and psychosocial aspects.
• Sexual issues, sexual counselling and chronic illness.

Publications

Submitted

• Byrne, M., Doherty, S., Steinke, E.E., Jaarsma, T., Fridlund, B., Martensson, J., & Dineen, D. Sexual counseling interventions for sexual problems among people with cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Review Protocol. Cochrane Database, under review.
• Steinke, E.E., Jaarsma, T., Barnason, S.A., Byrne, M., Doherty, S., Dougherty, C.M., Fridlund, B., Kautz, D.D., Martensson, J., Mosack, V. & Moser, D.K. Sexual Counseling for Individuals with Cardiovascular Disease and Their Partners: A Consensus Statement from the American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology. Circulation, under review.

Peer reviewed articles

• Byrne, M., Doherty, S., Murphy, A.W., McGee, H. & Jaarsma, T. (2013) Communicating about sexual concerns within cardiac health services: Do service providers and service users agree? Patient Education and Counseling, in press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2013.03.010).
• D’Eath, M., Byrne, M., Doherty, S., Murphy, A.W. & McGee, H. The CHARMS study: A qualitative enquiry of patient, general practitioner and cardiac rehabilitation staff views on sexual assessment and counselling for cardiac patients. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, in press. March/April, Volume 28 - Issue 2 - p E1–E13. doi: 10.1097/JCN.0b013e318281d0b3
• Dineen, S., O Hara, M.C., Byrne, M., Smith, D., Courtney, C.H., McGurk, C., Heller, S., Newell, J., Coffey, N., Breen, C., O Scannail, M., O Shea, D. Group follow-up compared to individual clinic visits after structured education for type 1 diabetes: a cluster randomised controlled trial. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, in press, 100(1), 29-38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2013.01.017
• Byrne, M., Doherty, S., Murphy, A.W., McGee, H. & Jaarsma, T.The CHARMS Study: Sexual function after cardiac rehabilitation and experiences of sexual function assessment and counselling within health services. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, February 6. doi 10.1177/1474515113477273 .
• Byrne, M., Newell, J., Coffey, N., O Hara, M. C., Cooke, D., & Dinneen, S. F. (2012). Predictors of quality of life gains among people with type 1 diabetes participating in the Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE) structured education programme. Diabetes Research & Clinical Practice, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2012.09.017.
• Cooke, D., O’Hara, M. C., Beinart, N., Heller, S., La Marca, R., Byrne, M., et al. (2012). Linguistic and Psychometric Validation of the Diabetes-Specific Quality-of-Life Scale in UK English for Adults With Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Care December 18.
• Gillespie, P., O’Shea, E., Murphy, A. W., Smith, S. M., Byrne, M. C., Byrne, M., et al. (2012). Relative cost effectiveness of the SPHERE intervention in selected patient subgroups with existing coronary heart disease. The European Journal of Health Economics, 1-15.
• Prior, L., Wilson, J., Donnelly, M., Murphy, A. W., Smith, S. M., Byrne, M.C., Byrne, M. & Cupples, M. (2011). Translating policy into practice: a case study in the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. Health Expectations, 10.1111/j.1369-7625.2011.00754.x
• Heverin, M. & Byrne, M. (2011) The effect of implementation intentions on testicular self-examination using a demonstration video. The Irish Journal of Psychology, 32:1-2, 40-48.
• Doherty, S., Byrne, M., Murphy, A.W & McGee, H.M. (2011) Cardiac rehabilitation staff views about discussing sexual issues with coronary heart disease patients: A national survey in Ireland. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. 10: 101-107
• Clarke, N., Sixsmith, J., Byrne, M. & Nic Gabhainn, S. (2010) Investigating Promoters and Barriers to Active Travel for Primary School Children - A Mixed Methodological Approach. National Institute of Health Sciences, Research Bulletin 5(4): 108-109
• Gillespie P, O’Shea E, Murphy AW, Byrne MC & Byrne M. (2010) The cost-effectiveness of the SPHERE intervention for the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care. 26(3):263-271.
• Byrne, M., Doherty, S., McGee, H.M. & Murphy, A.W. (2010) General practitioner views about discussing sexual issues with patients with coronary heart disease: a national survey in Ireland. BMC Family Practice 2010, 11:40.
• Dinneen, S., O Hara, M.C., Byrne, M., Newell, J., Daly, L., O'Shea, D., & Smith, D. for the Irish DAFNE Study Group. (2009) The Irish DAFNE Study Protocol: A cluster randomised trial of group versus individual follow-up after structured education for Type 1 diabetes. [ISRCTN79759174]. Trials. Sept 23; 10:88
• Murphy AW, Cupples ME, Smith SM, Byrne M, Byrne MC & Newell J. (2009) Effect of tailored practice and patient care plans on secondary prevention of heart disease in general practice: cluster randomised controlled trial. SPHERE study team. British Medical Journal 339:b4220
• Leathem, C.S., Cupples, M.E., Byrne, M.C., Byrne, M., Corrigan, M., Smith, S. & Murphy, A. (2009) Using the opinions of coronary heart disease patients in designing a health education booklet for use in general practice consultations. Primary Health Care Research & Development . 10: 189-199.
• Lyons, R., Byrne, M.Corry, T, Lalor, L, Ruane, H, Shanahan, R & McGinty, C. (2008) An examination of how speech and language therapists assess and diagnose children with specific language impairment in Ireland. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. . 10(6): 425-437.
• McMahon R., & Byrne, M. (2008) Predicting donation among an Irish sample of donors and nondonors: extending the theory of planned behaviour. Transfusion, 48(2):321-31.
• Spillane V., Byrne MC., Byrne, M., Leathem, C.S., O'Malley M., & Cupples ME., (2007) Monitoring treatment fidelity in a randomized controlled trial of a complex intervention. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 60(3):343-52.
• Buckley B., Murphy AW., Byrne, M., & Glynn, L. (2007) Selection bias resulting from the requirement for prior consent in observational research: a community cohort of people with ischaemic heart disease. Heart 93(9):1116-20
• Buckley B., Glynn, L., Murphy, A.W., Shryane, E. & Byrne, M. (2007) Searching for reliable mortality data. Forum, April, 25-26
• Corrigan M., Cupples, M.E., Smith, S.M., Byrne, M., Leathem, C.S., Clerkin P. & Murphy, A.W. (2006) The contribution of qualitative research in designing a complex intervention for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in two different healthcare systems. BMC Health Services Research, 6:90.
• Ononese, V., Murphy, A.W., Byrne, M., Bradley, C., MacFarlane, A. (2006). Patients and health professionals’ perspectives on the sociocultural influences on secondary cardiac behaviour: a qualitative study of the implications in policy and practice. Family Practice, 23(5), 587-96.
• Byrne, M., Cupples, M.E., Smith, S.M., Leathem, C. Corrigan, M., Byrne, M.C., Murphy, A.W. (2006) Development of a Complex Intervention for Secondary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease in Primary Care Using the Medical Research Council Framework. American Journal of Managed Care. 12(5): 261-266.
• Byrne, M., Murphy, A.W., Walsh, J.C., Shryane, E., McGroarty, E., Kelleher, C. (2006) A cross-sectional study of secondary cardiac care in general practice: impact of personal and practice characteristics. Family Practice. 23: 295-302.
• O'Brien N., Armstrong P., McLoughlin M., Byrne M. & Murphy AW. (2005). A comparative study on attitudes, towards the provision of out-of-hours care, of the spouses of general practitioners participating, or not, in a rural out-of-hours co-op. Irish Medical Journal. 98(9): 267-9.
• Murphy, A.W., Cupples, M.E., Smith, S., Byrne, M., Leathem, C., Byrne, M,C. (2005) The SPHERE Study. Secondary prevention of heart disease in general practice: protocol of a randomised controlled trial of tailored practice and patient care plans with parallel qualitative, economic and policy analyses. [ISRCTN24081411]. Current Controlled Trials in Cardiovascular Medicine. Jul 29;6(1):11.
• Byrne, M., Corrigan, M., Cupples, M.E., Smith, S.M., Leathem, C., Murphy, A.W. (2005) The Sphere Study: Using Psychological Theory to Inform the Development of Behaviour Change Training for Primary Care Staff to Increase Secondary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease. Irish Journal of Psychology. 26, (1-2): 53-64.
• Smith, S.M., Allwright, S., Byrne, M., Brazier, H., O’Dowd, T. & Murphy, A.W. (2005) International variations in the generation of the evidence base for primary care. European Journal of General Practice. 11: 33 - 34.
• Mc Loughlin, M., Armstrong, P., Byrne, M., Heaney, D., O’Brien, N., Murphy, A.W.(2005) A comparative study on attitudes, mental health and job stress amongst general practitioners participating, or not, in a rural out of hours co-operative. Family Practice 22(3): 275-279.
• Byrne, M., Murphy, A.W. & Walsh, J. (2005) Secondary prevention of coronary heart disease: Patients’ beliefs and health related behaviour. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 58: 403-415.
• Glynn, L., Byrne, M., Newell, J. & Murphy, AW. (2004) The effect of health status on patients’ satisfaction with out of hours care provided by a family doctor cooperative. Family Practice,21(6):677 – 683.
• Glynn, L.G., Byrne M., Murphy AW. (2004) Effect of rurality on patients’ satisfaction with out of hours care provided by a family doctor cooperative. Rural and Remote Health 4 (online): 320. Available from: http://rrh.deakin.edu.au/
• Byrne, M., Murphy, A.W., Plunkett, P.K. & Bury, G. (2004) In reply to letter "Frequent Attenders to an Accident and Emergency Department". Annals of Emergency Medicine, 2004; 43(1):138. (Research letter).
• Hickey, A.M., McGee, H.M., Smith, M. & Byrne, M. (2003) "Ask me, even if I say ’No’": Inclusion of sensitive populations in research. The Irish Journal of Psychology, 2003, 24(1-2), 88-90.
• Byrne, M. & Campbell, N. (2003) Promoting behaviour change in patients with coronary heart disease – a consensus group study in primary care. European Journal of General Practice, 9: 134 - 140.
• Murphy, A.W., Byrne, M., Plunkett, P, McGee, H. & Bury, G. (2003) Alternatives for automated communication in research. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 42(5): 712-713. (Research letter).
• Byrne, M., Murphy, A.W., Plunkett, P.K., McGee, H.M., Murray, A. & Bury, G. Frequent attenders to an accident and emergency department: a study of primary health care use, medical profile and psychosocial characteristics. (2003) Annals of Emergency Medicine, 41(3): 309-318.
• Byrne, M. & Murphy, A.W. (2002) Inequalities in prescribing of secondary preventative therapies for ischaemic heart disease in Ireland. Irish Medical Journal, Oct; 95(9): 282. (Research letter).
• Byrne, M. & Curtis, R. (2000) Designing health communication: Testing the explanations for the impact of communication medium on effectiveness. British Journal of Health Psychology, 5: 189-199.

Other publications

• Byrne, M. (2012) How to apply for research funding. Health and Social Care Professionals Research Methodology Compendium.
• Byrne, M. (2011) Getting a move on: How active commuting promises health benefits for all. Public Service Review: European Science and Technology, issue 13.
• Byrne, M. & Murphy, A. (2002) Secondary prevention of heart disease: a baseline survey of patients’ lifestyles and service provision in the North Western and Western Health Boards. Department of General Practice, NUI, Galway: Research and Development Report Number 2.
• McGee, H., Hickey, A., Smith, M. & Byrne, M. (2000) Review of health services available for persons who contracted Hepatitis C through the administration within the state of blood or blood products. Dublin, Ireland: Consultative Council on Hepatitis C, Department of Health and Children.
• Byrne, M. (1999) Health Psychology in Ireland. Health Psychology Update (the newsletter of the BPS Health Psychology Division), January.
• Byrne, M. (1998) A Survey of Conference delegates. The European Health Psychology Newsletter, January.

Current Research Studies

The CHARMS Study. A study of sexual function, assessment and counselling for people with coronary heart disease in Ireland: current practice needs, assessment and best practice guideline development. (as Principle Investigator) http://www.nuigalway.ie/psy/charms.html

The Irish DAFNE Study. A cluster randomised trial of group versus individual follow-up after structured education for Type 1 diabetes (as health psychology advisor on Research Steering Committee) http://www.trialsjournal.com/content/10/1/88

Research Grants

• Health Research Board Health Research Award (2012, as collaborator)
  • Principal applicant: Prof Martin O Donnell
  • Funding amount: €300,000
  • Title of study: Sleep Hygiene Education for Blood Pressure Reduction: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

• Health Research Board Project Grant (2007, as principal applicant)
  • Co-applicants: Prof Andrew W Murphy, Department of General Practice, NUI, Galway and Prof Hannah McGee, Department of Psychology, RCSI.
  • Funding amount: €298,344
  • Title of study: A study of sexual function assessment and counselling for people with coronary heart disease in Ireland: current practice, needs assessment and best practice guideline development’.

Current Teaching & Administration

• Coordinator, Psychology teaching to Occupational and Speech and Language Therapy Disciplines (2004- )
• Director, MSc in Health Psychology (2010-2011); Co-Director, MSc in Health Psychology (2012-2014)
• Co-Director, Structured PhD in Psychology and Health (2009- )

Undergraduate teaching

Postgraduate teaching (within School of Psychology)

Postgraduate teaching (within NUI, Galway)

Current Postgraduate Supervision

• Siobhan Daly (2010- ). PhD, School of Psychology, NUI Galway
• Mary Clare O Hara (2009 -). PhD, Department of Medicine, NUI Galway
• Cormac Begley (2008-). PhD, School of Psychology, NUI Galway
• Eimear Lee (2009- ). PhD, School of Psychology, NUI Galway

Other Professional Activities

• Chair, PSI Division of Health Psychology Sub-Group on Professional Development for Health Psychologists (since August 2012)
• National Delegate (for Ireland) for the European Health Psychology Society (since 2011) http://www.ehps.net/index.php/Länder/national-delegates.html
• Member, European Health Psychology Society & Psychological Society of Ireland (since 2000)
• Committee Member, Psychological Society of Ireland, Division of Health Psychology (2001 – 2010; former Chair and Treasurer)
• Division of Health Psychology Annual ’Psychology, Health and Medicine Conference’, founding Conference Chair (2004) and Conference Committee Member (2005-2011)
• Member, Editorial Scholar Panel for the British Journal of Health Psychology (since May 2006).
• Peer reviewer for BioMed Central, British Journal of Health Psychology, Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, Irish Journal of Psychology, Implementation Science, Depression and Anxiety

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