Dr Caroline Mitchell

MBChB , MD, FRCGP, PGCertMedED, DRCOG

Population Health, School of Medicine and Population Health

General Practitioner

Senior Clinical Lecturer Primary Medical Care Research

AUPMC (Academic Unit of Primary Medical Care): Clinical Academic Training Programme Lead Deputy Academic Training Programme Director (DATPD), Faculty of Health

Caroline Mitchell staff profile
Profile picture of Caroline Mitchell staff profile
c.mitchell@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 2206

Full contact details

Dr Caroline Mitchell
Population Health, School of Medicine and Population Health
Sam Fox House
Northern General Hospital
Herries Road
Sheffield
S5 7AU
Profile

I am a GP and a GP trainer in South Yorkshire and a senior academic GP. My research focuses on making healthcare and research participation inclusive of the most disadvantaged in society.  

As the co-lead of the Inclusive Research group within the Primary Care Research section of the Division of Population Health, I have led the development of internationally-recognised examples of participatory engagement with disadvantaged communities and have been commissioned by the NIHR Clinical Research Network to disseminate my group’s approach. I work with world leading primary care research groups, including those at Oxford University (Centre for Research Equity) and the ‘Deep End’ international movement of academics, educators and policy makers who collaborate to address unequal healthcare  (the ‘Inverse Care Law’) in general practice.

This involves understanding of experiences (qualitative research), developing appropriate interventions (through participatory co-design) and evaluation, including through clinical trials.

I also have expertise in evidence synthesis, observational studies and mixed methods research. This methodological range is critical to improving our understanding of the complexity of primary care and general practice, where resource is limited, and clinical presentation is undifferentiated.  


Research subthemes / activities

  • Strategies to enable inclusive research in underserved populations including: training and working with Community Research Link Workers, working with  interpreters, addressing heath literacy barriers and development of enduring community research partnerships – especially with voluntary sector groups
  • Improving uptake of cancer tests and cancer outcomes for people living in the most deprived communities, from ethnic minority populations or with complex needs (eg people with dementia-carer proxy decision making)
  • Interventions to prevent type 2 diabetes for people people living in the most deprived communities/in people from ethnic minorities.
  • Improving access to sexual and reproductive healthcare in underserved populations including addressing the social determinants of maternal-foetal outcomes. 
  • Multimorbidity: physical health care for people with severe mental illness or who use substances ; overlap of polycystic ovarian disease with cardionmetabolic disorders;

Global Health: Training and research capacity lead/ Co-investigator for NIHR global health research:  ‘PRIME’ preventing preterm birth, nutrition in pregnancy, physical co-morbidities)  https://www.primeglobalhealth.co.uk/.


Qualifications
  • Senior Clinical Lecturer
  • General Practitioner (Partner) Woodhouse Health Centre
  • Theme 1 Co-Lead University of Sheffield Cancer Research:
  • Deputy Clinical Academic Training Programme Director NHS HEE YH
  • Honorary Consultant in Primary Care Medicine NHSE Yorkshire and Humber

National Roles

Research interests

As above – see Research Sub-themes .

Methodological

  • Primary care-based randomised controlled trials of complex interventions 
  • Development and piloting of complex interventions in primary care using participatory methods and co-production
  • Primary Care database studies
  • Qualitative research
  • Mixed methods studies
Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

Chapters

Conference proceedings papers

Reports

Preprints

All publications

Journal articles

Chapters

Conference proceedings papers

  • Steele H, Lehane D, Walton E & Mitchell C (2020) Exploring patient preference regarding interpreter use in primary care. British Journal of General Practice, Vol. 70(Suppl 1). London, UK, 12 March 2020 - 12 March 2020. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hynes C, Mitchell C & Wyld L (2020) Cancer treatment decisions for people living with dementia : experiences of family carers. British Journal of General Practice, Vol. 70(Suppl 1). London, UK, 12 March 2020 - 12 March 2020. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Lehane D, Oliver P, Mitchell C & Burton C (2020) Interpreter costs across clinical commissioning groups in England 2017–2018 : a cross sectional survey using ‘freedom of information’ requests. British Journal of General Practice, Vol. 70(Suppl 1). London, UK, 12 March 2020 - 12 March 2020. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Lehane D, Kandrac D, Walton E & Mitchell C (2020) What influences Roma women attending NHS cervical screening? Knowledge, fear, and passive consent. British Journal of General Practice, Vol. 70(Suppl 1). London, UK, 12 March 2020 - 12 March 2020. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Collini PJ, Mitchell C, Dockrell DH, Hubbard R & Lawson R (2019) P259 A better approach to COPD case finding is required in people with HIV. Thorax, Vol. 74(Suppl 2). London, UK, 4 December 2019 - 6 December 2019. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hodges V, Hobbis C, Twohig H & Mitchell C (2018) Exploring the experience of a ‘diagnosis’ of pre-diabetes and factors influencing uptake of a lifestyle intervention programme in areas of socio-economic deprivation. British Journal of General Practice, Vol. 68(Suppl 1), 23 March 2018 - 23 March 2018. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Seddon ACT, Lehane DB, Burr J & Mitchell C (2018) How do homeless women conceptualise access to and experience of antenatal and postnatal care in Sheffield?. Regional Society for Academic Primary Care 2018 Trent, 13 March 2018 - 13 March 2018. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Lehane D, Mawson R & Mitchell C (2017) What factors influence access by new migrant and BME women to NHS cervical screening? Has the screening programme been adapted to improve uptake for these groups of women? A systematic narrative metasynthesis. Society for Academic Primary Care National Conference 2017, 12 July 2017 - 14 July 2017. RIS download Bibtex download
  • McMillan B, Easton K, Delaney B, Madhurvata P, Abdelgalil R & Mitchell C (2017) Women’s views on the potential role of mobile technology in a primary care intervention aimed at reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes amongst women recently diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes.. Society for Academic Primary Care National Conference Programme, 12 July 2017 - 14 July 2017. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Ricketts T, Wood E, Soady J, Saxon D, Hulin J, Ohlsen S & Mitchell C (2017) What is the effect of co-morbid depression on the use of unscheduled hospital care by people with a long term condition?. Society For Academic Primary Care National Conference Programme, 12 July 2017 - 14 July 2017. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Hynes C, Harris J & Mitchell C (2017) Support versus stigma: How do African faith organisations in the UK respond to HIV-related issues?. Society for Academic Primary Care. https://sapc.ac.uk/conference/2017/abstract/support-versus-stigma-how-do-african-faith-organisations, 12 July 2017 - 14 July 2017. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Bishop D, Wood E, Ohlsen S & Mitchell C (2017) ‘Don't just Screen, Intervene’: What are the barriers and facilitators to weight loss for people with a serious mental illness and obesity? . A systematic narrative metasynthesis. National Conference Society for Academic Primary Care Programme, 12 July 2017 - 14 July 2017. RIS download Bibtex download
  • McMillan B, Easton K, Delaney B & Mitchell C (2016) Fitness bands and Facebook TM : can we reduce incident diabetes in high risk postnatal women?. RCGP Conference Book, 5 October 2016 - 7 October 2016. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Lehane DB, Mitchell CA & Mathers N (2016) Cervical screening rates: The Roma Slovak a new migrant population. Annual Primary Care Conference 2016 View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
  • Pitt A, Mitchell C, Colwell B, Appelqvist I, Ashby F, Lloyd C, Gilbody S & Lawson R (2015) M9 Lung Health of OPiate Users (LHOp): A pilot study to assess the respiratory health of opiate misusers attending a community substance misuse clinic. Thorax, Vol. 70(Suppl 3) (pp A230.2-A231) RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mitchell CA, Appelqvist I, Pitt A, Colwell B, Ashby F & Lawson R (2015) 'When's the Lung Lady coming again?". RCGP 20th National Drug and Alcohol Conference, 15 June 2015 - 16 June 2015. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mitchell CA, Mathers N & Hunn A (2012) Mathers, N., Mitchell, C. and Hunn, A., 2012. A study to assess the impact of continuing professional development (CPD) on doctors’ performance and patient/service outcomes for the GMC.. Royal College of General Practitioners, 4 October 2012 - 6 October 2012. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Joyce J & Albury C () Researching together: putting PPIE co-researchers at the heart of research. Researching together: putting PPIE co-researchers at the heart of research, 28 March 2023 - 29 March 2023. RIS download Bibtex download
  • Mitchell CA, Twohig H, mathers N, Mallen C & Mackie SL () Assessing the face validity of a patient reported questionnaire for polymyalgia rheumatica.. SAPC Regional Conference Programme, 15 March 2016 - 15 March 2016. RIS download Bibtex download
  • McMillan B, Hickey E, Patel M & Mitchell C () Mobile health apps: The emperor's new clothes?. Annual Conference of the Royal College of General Practitioners. Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, Glasgow, 1 October 2015 - 3 October 2015. RIS download Bibtex download

Reports

Theses / Dissertations

  • Mawson R nderstanding access to Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (SRH) in General Practice using the Candidacy Framework. RIS download Bibtex download

Preprints

Research group
  • Co_lead the Deep End Research Alliance  with Dr Kate Fryer – Health services researcher , Social Scientist and Dr Ben Jackson – Director of General Practice teaching https://sites.google.com/sheffield.ac.uk/dera/home/our-team
  • Postgraduate supervision of Clinical Academic Clinical Fellowships (x7 to 2023; x4 current- Reynolds, Linton, Marshall, Sharmon)  and Academic Foundation Doctors on 4 month placements
  • PhD students: S Gillepsie, M Boo
  • NIHR Clinical Lecturers: Q Huang, R Mawson, S Jayasooriya
  • NIHR PLAF: J Rutter- £22,107
  • NIHR IPF: L Emery) : £130,876
Grants
  • RCGP SfPB   Dementia and ethnicity - partnering with community organisations to co-produce research priorities and study design exploring access to dementia services for ethnic minority patients; £18,928 PI Reynolds (NIHR ACF) ; CIs Mitchell, Fryer, Jackson
  • NIHR Programme Grants NIHR 202860 ; £2,267,478 ; New remission care pathway: Diabetes Adaptive Weight management Network "NewDAWN ; PIs Aveyard, Jebb (Oxford University ), University of Sheffield CI – Mitchell, Breeze, Brennan.
  • RESEARCH ENGLAND / HEFCE A study in prostate cancer men receiving antiandrogens to identify and treat cardiovascular , musculoskeletal and metabolic complications. A pilot qualitative study to improve inclusion of men with prostate cancer from black men and those from socioeconomically deprived populations £14,995 PI Brown, CI Huang, Mitchell
  • NIHR BRC I&I ; £2,234,684 within BRC Neurosciences, Infection and Immunity, Cardiovascular diseases, Imaging, Engineering for health; PI Rowland-Jones; Mitchell is a ley researcher and EDI lead  within the I&I programme
  • NHSE HEE Yorkshire and Humber- commissioned: £249,948 ; The 'FAIR STEPS' study Framework Addressing Inequities in pRimary care using STakEholder PerspectiveS: a mixed method study PI Jackson; CI Ariss, Burton, Mitchell, Costner
  • Yorkshire & the Humber Y YH NHSE Public Health: £24,500 Self-harm in Adults 8/21-12/22 PI joint Oliver, Huddy; .CI  Mitchell, Hulin 
  • RCGP SfPB; £14,998 : Perspectives on contraception amongst ethnic minority groups: A qualitative study- PI Linton CI Mawson, Mitchell, , Fryer
  • NIHR Research Capacity Funding  Sheffield Health &Social Care Trust/ CCG £67,298 Three sconsecutive tudies to support research engagement of ethnic minority and  socioeconomically deprived populations in the Deep End Cluster Research Network  in NIHR priority areas (Mitchell / Fryer Co-PIs) 2021-2023
  • NIHRi4i Connect: ‘Using digital health to transform the management of longterm conditions’ (Brown PI,Mitchell CI) £27,765 2020-23
  • Early detection of bladder cancer in Yorkshire: Feasibility assessments for implementing a targeted study in populations with high disease specific mortality risk. Yorkshire Cancer REsearch  Sheffield PI Catto, CIs Chilcott, Cumberbatch, Hussein, Mitchell £417,610
  • NIHR HS&DR Understanding the role of link workers in primary care : a realist evaluation to inform current and future policy (led by Oxford- PIs Tierney, Mahtani, Mitchell local PI) £607,071 2021-2024
  • NIHR PRIME GLOBAL HEALTH : PReterm bIrth prevention and manageMEnt  (PI Anumba; Mitchell CI) £361,118 7/2020-23
  • NIHR RCF Pilot study to support inclusive research with ethnic minority/ socioeconomically deprived populations in the Deep End Cluster Research Network (Mitchell PI, Fryer co_I ) £14,397  2020/2021
  • NIHR RCF Chronic Lung disease in ethnic minority/underserved populations £9907 (Jayasooriya PI, MitchellFryer Co-I) 2021
  • Health Education England : Co-design and evaluation of interventions to support transitions between clinical and academic posts for clinical academic trainees
    • SuppoRTT Work Package 1: £18,392 Co-PI Mitchell Payne 2018/2019;
    • SuppoRTT Work Package 2: £36,526 Co-PI Mitchell Payne 2019-2021;
    • SuppoRTT Work Package 3: £12,143 (co-PI Mitchell/ Payne ) 2020/2021
  • Health Education England : Pilot Study to explore barriers and facilitators to career progress for clinical academic trainees Co-PI Mitchell/  Anumba CI Chico £44,579 2018-2021
  • Awareness and Beliefs About Cancer (ABACus): randomised controlled trial of the health check intervention to improve cancer symptom awareness and help seeking among people living in socioeconomically deprived communities: Dr Mitchell is the Sheffield CO_APP with researchers at Cardiff University and Leeds University (PI Dr K Brain Cardiff University) £486,014 for this study which is one of 5 funded projects with the Yorkshire Cancer Research Network £7million investment in 'Lung Cancer and Early Diagnosis’ Jan 17
  • RCGP SFPB Co-app Feb-Oct 2016 : £10,500 “Postnatal women’s views on the use of mobile technology in facilitating sustained lifestyle change following gestational diabetes
  • Inter-practice multidisciplinary primary care research team; research mentorship. Trent Designated Research Team grant. [Co-applicant] £20,000, Oct 2001 for 17 months.
  • Development and evaluation of a Yorkshire-Humber "Deep End Research Alliance" (DERA) to address gaps in research participation in 3 priority health areas (COPD, Mental Health and Dementia) in under-served populations NIHR YH CRN Strategic Business development funding (£29,995) PI CM
  • Early detection of bladder cancer in Yorkshire: Feasibility assessments for implementing a targeted study in populations with high disease specific mortality risk. Yorkshire Cancer REsearch  Sheffield PI Catto, CIs Chilcott, Cumberbatch, Hussein (Caroline) Mitchell £417,610
Teaching activities
  • PhD supervisor and examiner
  • Masters supervision and examiner
  • SSC and BMedSci research student supervisor. I started a BMedSci peer learning set to develop writing and dissemination skills in AUPMC and still contribute to these sessions
  • Leadership role postgraduate clinical academic training programme and individual supervision for Clinical Academics in training (AFT; NIHR Academic Clinical Fellows, Clinical Lecturers and In-Practice training fellows; regionally funded Academic Training Fellows)- in primary care and cross specialty.
Professional activities and memberships
  • NIHR reviewer Programme Grants for Applied Research 2016
  • 2016 Canadian Institutes of Health Research: Nominated external peer reviewer: Research, Knowledge Translation and Ethics Grant Portfolio (2015/ 2016) for Chronic Diseases (‘SPOR’); Stage One evaluation for Spring 2016 Project Grant Competition
  • HTA Project: 14/45/04 - Chondroitin sulphate for hand osteoarthritis: a randomised, placebo- controlled trial in primary care: The FACTUAL STUDY
  • 2015 nominated and appointed as a Member of the Data Monitoring (and Ethics) Committee (DM(E)C) for the NIHR HTA Programme
  • 2014 to date: Collaboration for Leadership in research in health and care (CLARHC SY): co-lead workstream ‘Implementation and evaluation’ in the Mental Health and Co-morbidities theme
  • 2014 to date: General Practice representative and Academic Supervisor : Clinical Academic Working Group University of Sheffield ; The Medical School
  • 2013 to date : Member of the Oxford primary care academic leadership programme Advisory committee
  • Chair of the Trial Steering Committee, University of Keele, Primary care Osteoarthritis Screening Trial) 2010-2014
  • 2012 to date: RCGP representative RCP National Committee for Rehabilitation Medicine
  • 2011 to date : RCGP representative Q-Reeearch Steering committee: University of Nottingham
  • 2007 to date: member International Oxford (formerly Brisbane) Primary Care Academic Leadership programme (Cohort 2)
  • 2008-2010-member of content development group and steering group for the NHS patient decision aid for knee arthritis (launch event September 2010)
  • 2008/2009: Better Outcomes for patients – member of stakeholder (NHS, Voluntary Sector, lay representation, DAAT) and expert resource group to inform the restructuring of Alcohol Services in Sheffield; facilitated by Sheffield NHS PCT
  • 2005-2007: Programme lead : (1) Socially excluded groups, health inequalities, service users and carers Sheffield Health & Social Care Research Consortium
  • 2004-2006: NHS R&D Forum: Member of the Primary Care Research Working Group
  • 2005/2006 Consultancy lead (with Trent RDSU/ Sheffield Hallam University) to undertake an evaluation of Orthopaedic screening services by Sheffield NHS PCT and Sheffield University Hospitals trust

External Examiner/Peer review

  • Keele University:Research :Masters Programme and PhDs
  • University of Leeds: External Review of the leadership module on the Intercalated Primary Care BSc
  • Peer review for grants and final reports for: NIHR HSD&R; HTA programmes; NIHR programme grants
  • Peer reviewer: BJPscy; BJGP
  • Reviewer for the BMJ medical journal and BJGP
  • Peer Reviewer for the Canadian Strategy for Patient Orientated Research (SPOR) Grant Programme 2015

Conference Presentations

  • NAPCRG 2015 Oral Presentation - The effects of implementing a point-of-care electronic template to prompt routine anxiety and depression case finding in patients consulting for clinical osteoarthritis (the POST trial): a qualitative study Bernadette Bartram