School of Psychology: Academic Staff

DR. MOLLY BYRNE

Lecturer (above the bar) & Director, MSc in Health Psychology

Office Rm. 3025, New Engineering Building
Telephone 353-91-495182
E-mail Molly Byrne

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 directing the MSc in Health Psychology. http://www.nuigalway.ie/psy/mhp1.html

Research Interests

• The application of psychological theory to health behaviour change.
• Chronic disease (particularly coronary heart disease and diabetes): self-management and psychosocial aspects.
• Blood donation behaviour.
• Enhancing physical activity, particularly active commuting (walking and cycling).

Publications

Peer reviewed articles

• 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. & 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 SPHERE Study. A randomised controlled trial of tailored practice and patient care plans with parallel qualitative, economic and policy analyses.(as funding co-applicant and co-investigator) http://www.spherestudy.com/

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

The PRE-EMPT Study. Preventing disease through opportunistic, Rapid EngagEMent by Primary Care Teams using Behaviour Change Counselling (as member of the Trial Steering Group) http://medicine.cf.ac.uk/en/departments/primary-care-public-health/research/south-east-wales-trials-unit/sewtu-what-we-do/full-sewtu/sewtu-pre-empttrialstudy/sewtu-pre-empt/

Research Grants

• Health Research Board Project Grant (2007, as principle 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’.


• Irish Heart Foundation Research Award (2006, as co-applicant)
  • Co-applicants: The SPHERE Study team
  • Funding amount: €63,517
  • Title of study: The SPHERE Study. Secondary prevention of heart disease in general practice: a randomised controlled trial of tailored practice and patient care plans with parallel qualitative, economic and policy analyses.


• NUI, Galway Millennium Research Fund (2005, as sole applicant).
  • Funding amount: €6,870
  • Title of study: An exploration of the psychological facilitators and barriers to blood donation among donor and non-donor staff and students of NUI, Galway.


• Health Research Board Project Grant (2004, as co-applicant)
  • Co-applicants: Brian Buckley and Andrew W Murphy, Department of General Practice, NUI, Galway
  • Funding amount: €165,000
  • Title of study: Community cohort study of 1,611 patients with a diagnosis of established heart disease.


• Health Research Board Research Programme Grant (2002, as co-applicant)
  • Co-applicants: Andrew W Murphy, Department of General Practice, NUI, Galway, Susan M Smith, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, TCD and Margaret Cupples, Department of General Practice, QUB
  • Funding amount: €1,000,000
  • Title of study: Secondary prevention of heart disease in general practice: a randomised controlled trial with qualitative, economic and policy analyses of an intervention to produce improved and sustained outcomes.


• Health Research Board and British Research Council, Research Visit Scheme award (2001, as principal applicant)
  • Co-applicants: Neil Campbell, University of Aberdeen
  • Funding amount: £4,000
  • Title of study: Promoting behaviour change in patients with coronary heart disease – a consensus group study in primary care.


• Health Services Research Fellowship (1999)
  • Co-applicants: Andrew W Murphy, Department of General Practice, NUI, Galway and Jane Walsh, School of Psychology, NUI, Galway
  • Funding amount: £99,000
  • Title of study: Baseline survey of provision of secondary cardiac preventive measures in general practice and associated patient illness perceptions.

Current Teaching, Administration & Supervision

• PS151 Health Psychology (Second Year, BSc (Hons) in Speech and Language Therapy & Second Year, BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy)
• OY307 Research Methods (Third Year, BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy)
• PS158 Research in Health (Second Year, BSc (Hons) in Speech and Language Therapy)

Postgraduate:

• PS577 Models of Health Related Behaviour and Cognition (MSc in Health Psychology)
• PS580 Minor Dissertation (MSc in Health Psychology)

Coordination Duties:

• Director, MSc in Health Psychology

Project supervision

• PhD in Child and Youth Research
  • Helen Gleeson (started 2009). An exploration of the factors that influence young people’s attitudes toward the Gardai in Ireland. A mixed methods approach.
• DPsychSc in Clinical Psychology
  • Sharyn Carley: Factors predicting GP screening for maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy: a Theory of Planned Behaviour Approach
• MPsychSc in Health Psychology
  • (1) Martina Raftery (2010/2011). Breastfeeding and post-natal depression
  • (2) Hannah Cullen (2010/2011). Social support, stress and health behaviour among third level students.

Other Professional Activities

• Committee Member (Vice Chair September 2006 – September 2007) of the NUI, Galway Research Ethics Committee http://www.nuigalway.ie/psychology/events.htm#1
• Committee member of the Psychological Society of Ireland, Division of Health Psychology (former Chair and Treasurer) http://www.psihq.ie/members_div_health.asp
• European Health Psychology Society, Member
• Member of the Editorial Scholar Panel for the British Journal of Health Psychology (since May 2006). http://www.ehps.net/
• Peer reviewer for BioMed Central, British Journal of Health Psychology and the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine.

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