Centre for Mental Health and Society

Member, CFMHAS

Research Officer

School of Health Sciences, Bangor University
View Staff Profile

s.nafees@bangor.ac.uk

03000 847089

Sadia Nafees

I am a healthcare researcher with a diverse background, having started my clinical journey in dentistry before transitioning to academia in healthcare sciences. My career spans clinical research, public health, and mental health, strongly focusing on improving healthcare services through innovative solutions. After completing my PhD in Healthcare Sciences at Bangor University in 2016, I joined the Centre for Mental Health and Society in 2018, where I lead impactful research projects. These projects involve collaboration with prison services, academics, and clinicians to drive positive change in healthcare systems. I am involved in several interdisciplinary projects, collaborating with researchers from the UK, Pakistan, and India.

My research primarily addresses the intersection of mental health, healthcare services, and public health. I focus on health services innovation and implementation, particularly in mental health settings, to improve service delivery and outcomes. A key area of my work also includes medical and dental education, emphasising the social determinants of health (SDOH) and their impact on patient care. Additionally, I explore opioid prescribing, substance misuse interventions, and mental health care in prison environments, striving to develop effective strategies for better healthcare provision in these settings. Finally, I am passionate about patient engagement and public involvement in research, ensuring that the voices of those affected by healthcare decisions are central to the process.

Appointment

Research Officer, July 2018 – to date
Centre for Mental Health and Society, School of Health Sciences, Bangor University

Previous

Research Project Support Officer, Nov 2013-Jun 2018

North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research, Bangor University, North Wales, UK

Research assistant, Oct 2011-Oct 2013

North Wales Centre for Primary Care Research, Bangor University, North Wales, UK

Research Assistant, Sep 2008-Sep 2011

Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Cardiff University, Wales, UK

Key Research Projects & Grants Awarded

  • INSIGHT – Evaluation of Prison Psychiatry Placements (£105k, Principal Investigator)
  • SMILE – Enabling Service Users with Severe Mental Illness to Learn and Engage with Good Oral Health (£250k, Co-Investigator)
  • Improving Oral Health in People with Mental Illness with support from dental professionals in a mental health care setting (£20k, Co-Investigator)
  • Evaluation of Substance Misuse Interventions in Prison on Release (£325k, commissioned by BCUHB-HMP Berwyn)
  • CROPP – Control and Reduction of Opioid Prescribing in Primary Care (£19,957, Co-Investigator)
  • PACS – Development of a physical activity booklet for adult cancer survivors and its evaluation in a pilot randomised controlled trial. Grant awarded by BCUHB (£17K, Principal Investigator)

Teaching and Supervision

I am deeply committed to raising awareness of the social determinants of health (SDOH). Since 2021, I have taught medical students about these critical factors, equipping them with knowledge they can apply in their future clinical practice. I have also taught research methodologies to Master students at Bangor University and systematic reviewing to early career researchers (ECRs) internationally.

In addition to teaching, I mentor the next generation of healthcare researchers, supervising undergraduate, MSc, and PhD students across various topics, including research ethics, systematic reviews, mixed methods research, and more. I strive to help them develop a deeper understanding of essential research techniques. Two of my current PhD students are researching opioid medicine management and the optimisation of autologous adipose tissue for human breast reconstruction.

Supervision

  • Lamiya Kabir Nodi – Undergraduate Internship Scheme 2023-2024 – Project:  Qualitative research in chronic health conditions
  • Katie Henderson – Undergraduate Internship Scheme 2023-2024 – Project:  Systematic reviews in mental health

MSc

  • Stella Davies. Title of dissertation: Gastrectomy, is it too much to stomach? (A systematic review of qualitative studies). MSc research, awarded in 2017.
  • Esther Ezeofor. Title of dissertation: Prevention of children and adolescent overweight/obesity through reduction in dietary sugar intake (A systematic review). MSc research, awarded in Sep 2018
  • Amanda Azzopardi. Title of dissertation: Facilitators and barriers to sepsis screening, by frontline health care professionals in secondary care (A systematic review. MSc research, dissertation due in Sep 2019.

PhD

  • John Bailey. Current title: Patients and family experiences of effects of the opioid (mixed methods research). PhD Healthcare Sciences, registered in Mar 2019.
  • Jakub Matusiak. Current title: Optimisation of autologous adipose tissue for human breast reconstruction.

 

Papers

  • An Invitation to Embark on a New Academic Journey to All Early Career Healthcare Professionals and Trainees. Wrexham Healthcare Bulletin of MedED (WHeBMeD). 2025. Vol 1, Issue 1.
  • Hiscock J., Law R., Brain K., Smits S., Nafees S., Williams, NH., Rose J., Lewis., Roberts JL., Hendry A., Neal RD., Wilkinson C.. Hidden systems in primary care cancer detection: an embedded qualitative intervention development study. British journal of general practice 2024. 2024. 74 (745): e544-e551. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGP.2023.0339
  • Nafees SB, Matusiak J, Taylor-Clutton A, Newman S, Poole R. INSIGHT: Integrating Social Determinants of Health in Medical Education During Psychiatry Prison Placements. BJPsych Open. 2024. 10(S1):S116-S116. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2024.321
  • Nafees, S., Matusiak, J., Taylor-Clutton, A., Newman, S., Poole, R.. INSIGHT: Evaluation of the Psychological Medicine Student Placements at HMP Berwyn, North Wales: Year One Findings. BJPsych Open. 2023. 9 (S1), S30-S31. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.147
  • Huxley P, Krayer A, Poole R, Gromadzka A, Jie, D L and Nafees, S . The Goldberg–Huxley model of the pathway to psychiatric care: 21st-century systematic review. BJPsych Open. 2023. Volume 9 , Issue 4 , July 2023 , e114. Available from: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-open/article/goldberghuxley-model-of-the-pathway-to-psychiatric-care-21stcentury-systematic-review/A26CD636065EF580691D379C2CD60682 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.505
  • Gill, S., Bailey, J., Nafees, S., Poole, R. . A qualitative interview study of GPs’ experiences of prescribing opioid medication for chronic pain. BJGP. 2022. 6(4): BJGPO.2022.0085. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgpo.2022.0085
  • Bailey, J., Nafees, S., Gill, S., Jones, L., Poole, R. . Patterns of prescribing in primary care leading to high-dose opioid regimens: a mixed-method study. JCGP Open. 2022. 1-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/BJGPO.2022.0134
  • McPhillips, R., Nafees, S., Elahi, A., Batool, S., Krishna, M., Krayer, A., Huxley, P., Chaudhry, N., Robinson, C.. Knowledge, attitudes and experiences of self-harm and suicide in low-income and middle-income countries: protocol for a systematic review. BMJ Open . 2022. 11(6): e041645. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041645
  • Dr Sadia Nafees, Mrs Andrea Taylor-Clutton, Dr Simon Newman, Prof Rob Poole,. Dr Sadia Nafees/Bangor University. INSIGHT: Evaluation of the Year Four Psychological Medicine Student Placements at HMP Berwyn, North Wales. Cambridge University Press; British Journal of Psychiatry Open. 2022. p. S141-S141. 8(S1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2022.408
  • Poole R & Nafees S. https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/files/37039699/For_the_Arab_Journal_of_Psychiatry_Final_draft_for_Submission_20201023_RP_SN.pdf [Internet]. The Social Determinants of Mental Health, the Pandemic and Social Justice. The Arab Journal of Psychiatry . 2021. 32, 1, 16 -20.
  • Bebbington, E., Lawson, J., Nafees, S., Robinson, C. & Poole, R.,. Evaluation of a framework for safe and appropriate prescribing of psychoactive medications in a UK prison. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health.. 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.2187
  • Bailey, J., Nafees, S., Jones, L. & Poole, R. Rationalisation of long-term high-dose opioids for chronic pain: Development of an intervention and conceptual framework. British Journal of Pain. 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2049463720958731
  • McPhillips, R, Nafees, S, Krishna, M, Krayer, A, Huxley, P. & Robinson, C, . Knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of self-harm and suicide: a systematic review. 2019.
  • Lewis. R, Hendry, M, Din, N, Stanciu. MA, Nafees. S, et al. Factors associated with lung cancer survival – systematic mapping review and overview of systematic reviews. British Medical Journal of Systematic Reviews - in press . 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-019-1087-4
  • Law RJ, Nafees S, Hiscock J, Wynne C, Williams NH. A lifestyle management programme focused on exercise, diet and physiotherapy support for patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis and a body mass index over 35: a qualitative study.. British Journal of General Practitioners . 2019. 17(1):145-151. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.1382
  • Lewis, R., Hendry, M., Din, N., Stanciu, A., Nafees, S., et al (. Pragmatic methods for reviewing exceptionally large bodies of evidence: systematic mapping review and overview of systematic reviews using lung cancer survival as an exemplar. Systematic Reviews 8. 2019. Article number: 171 (2019) . Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-019-1087-4
  • Law, R-J., Nafees, S., Hiscock, J., Wynne, C., et al . A lifestyle management programme focused on exercise, diet and physiotherapy support for patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis and a body mass index over 35: a qualitative study. Musculoskeletal Care; 2019. [cited 2020 Wed 1] p. 14. vol. 17 (2019), p.145. Report No.: vol.17. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.1382
  • Stanciu A.M, Law R.J, Nafees S, et al, (2018). Development of an intervention to expedite cancer diagnosis through primary care: a protocol. British Jounral of General Practice. 2018. Vol. 2, Issue 3. DOI: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgpopen18X101595
  • Hendry M, Pasterfield D, Adams R, Evans M, Fiander A, Robling M, Campbell C, Makin M, Gollins S, Hiscock J, Nafees S, et al . Hendry M, Pasterfield D, Adams R, Evans M, Fiander A, Robling M, Campbell C, Makin M, Gollins S, Hiscock J, Nafees S, et al (2017). Talking about human papillomavirus and cancer: development of scripted consultations through lay and professional stakeholder co-production using qualitative, quantitative and secondary data. British Medical Journal Open. 2017. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-015413
  • Hendry M, Pasterfield D, Gollins S, Adams R, Evans M, Fiander A, Robling M, Campbell C, Bekkers, M-J, Hiscock J, Nafees S, et al. Hendry M, Pasterfield D, Gollins S, Adams R, Evans M, Fiander A, Robling M, Campbell C, Bekkers, M-J, Hiscock J, Nafees S, et al (2016). Talking about human papillomavirus and cancer: Protocol for a patient-centred study to develop scripted consultations. British Medical Journal Open. 2016. DOI: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/4/e011205
  • Fitzsimmons D, Phillips CJ, Bennett H, Jones M, Williams N, Lewis R, Sutton A, Matar HE, Din N, Burton K, Nafees S, Hendry M, Rickard I, Wilkinson C . Cost effectiveness of different strategies to manage patients with sciatica. Pain. 2014. 155(7):1318-27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2014.04.008
  • Neal RD, Nafees S, et al. Patient-reported measurement of time to diagnosis in cancer: development of the Cancer Symptom Interval Measure (C-SIM) and randomised controlled trial of method of delivery. BMC Health Services Research. 2014. 14:3 . DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-14-3
  • Lewis R, Williams NH, Sutton AJ, Burton K, Din N, Matar HE, Hendry M, Phillips CJ, Nafees S, Fitzsimmons D, Rickard I, Wilkinson C. Comparative Clinical Effectiveness of Management Strategies for Sciatica: Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analyses. The Spine Journal. 2013. 15(6):1461-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2013.08.049
  • Williams NH, Lewis R, Din NU, Matar HE, Fitzsimmons D, Phillips CJ, Sutton A, Burton K, Hendry M, Nafees S, Wilkinson C. A systematic review and meta-analysis of biological treatments targeting tumour necrosis factor α for sciatica. Eur Spine J. 2013. 2013. 22 (9): 1921-35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-013-2739-z