My Biography

Evan Matthews is A/ Lecturer in Physical Activity and Health Promotion and Ass. Programme Lead BSc Public Health and Health Promotion in the Department of Sport and Exercise Science, School of Health Sciences. Evan has particular research and teaching interests in health behaviours and marginalised population groups.  

Evan completed his PhD in 2019/2020 entitled: Developing a physical activity programme for people with severe mental illness using an Experience-based Co-design approach under supervision of Dr Suzanne Denieffe (WIT) and Dr Mary Cowman (WIT), and examined by Prof. Attilio Carraro (UniBZ) and A/Prof Brian Keogh (TCD). His work has been presented at conferences such as the World Congress in Psychiatry (World Psychiatric Association) and the Society for Mental Health Researchers. Following his doctoral studies, Evan held the position of Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Department of Nursing and Healthcare (WIT), and Research Lead with the Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development Unit, South-East (HSE). During this time Evan was also the coordinator of the CARE Collaborations initiative (WIT/NMPDU) which funds nursing and midwifery postgraduate research in the southeast region. 

Research

Evan’s personal research work largely focuses on health behaviours and marginalised clinical populations, such as those with severe mental illness, substance use disorder and intellectual disability. He also has a particular interest in methods of service user inclusion in research. Evan is an Early Career Member of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry and sits on the Review board of the Journal of Nursing Reports. Evan is currently supervising two research students (PhD and MSc) in the Department of Nursing and Healthcare, WIT.

Recent funding awarded

• South-East Development Fund (2021 R2) - €90,000 (PI)
• South-East Development Fund (2021 R1) - €90,000 (PI)
• Research Connexions, WIT (2021)- €4,000
• The HSE (Substance misuse research) (2020)- €24,000 (Co-I)
• SlainteCare 2019 (Exercise Effect Project) (2019) - €49,000 (Co-I)
• The HSE, Health and Wellbeing (Service Development) (2021) - €7,000 (Co-I)

Teaching

Evan Matthews is A/ Lecturer in Physical Activity and Health Promotion and Ass. Programme Lead BSc Public Health and Health Promotion in the Department of Sport and Exercise Science, School of Health Sciences. Evan also supervises research projects at undergraduate and postgraduate level (BSc, MA and PhD) within the School of Health Sciences.

Previously Evan has held part-time A/lecturer positions in Applied Health Care (Department of Nursing and Healthcare, WIT), and A/Lecturer in Healthcare Issues in Custodial Settings (Higher Certificate in Custodial Care; School of Humanities, WIT).

Selected Research Output

Publications

Solmi et al...  (2021). The collaborative outcomes study on health and functioning during infection times in adults (COH-FIT-Adults): Design and methods of an international online survey targeting physical and mental health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Affective Disorders. 19. 10.1016/j.jad.2021.07.048

Solmi et al... (2021). Physical and mental health impact of COVID-19 on children, adolescents, and their families: The Collaborative Outcomes study on Health and Functioning during Infection Times -Children and Adolescents (COH-FIT-C&A). Journal of Affective Disorders. 10.1016/j.jad.2021.09.090

McKeon, G. Mastrogiovanni, C. Chapman, J. Stanton, R. Matthews, E. Steel, Z. Wells, R. & Rosenbaum, S. (2021). The experiences of peer-facilitators delivering a physical activity intervention for emergency service workers and their families. Mental Health and Physical Activity. 21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2021.100414.

Matthews, E. Van Hout, MC. Scheibein, F. & Cowman, M. (2021). A qualitative study of physical activity and dietary practices of people accessing opioid substitution treatment in Ireland. Heroin addiction and related clinical harms. 23(5): 37-45.

Matthews, E. Cowman, M. & Denieffe, S. (2020). Exploring the experiences of physical activity among key stakeholders in rehabilitation and recovery mental health services. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2020.1789782

Rosenbaum, S. Morrell, R. Abdel-Baki, A. Ahmadpanah, M. Anilkumar, T.V. Baie, I. Bauman, A. … Matthews, E. … and Ward, P.B. (2020). Assessing physical activity in people with mental illness: 23-country reliability and validity of the Simple Physical Activity Questionnaire (SIMPAQ). BMC Psychiatry. 20 (108). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-2473-0

Matthews, E. Cowman, M. Brannigan, M. Sloan, D. Ward, P.B. & Denieffe. S. (2018). Physical activity and the barriers to physical activity between active and inactive people with severe mental illness in Ireland. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 15, 139-144.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2018.10.003

Matthews, E. Cowman, M. & Denieffe. S. (2018). Calling for a change in Irish mental health care strategy for cohesive physical activity and sedentary behaviour inclusion. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine. 1-3. DOI:10.1017/ipm.2018.38

Matthews, E. Cowman, M. & Denieffe. S. (2017). Using Experience-based Co-design for the development of physical activity provision in non-acute rehabilitation and recovery mental health care. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. 24(7) DOI: 10.1111/jpm.12401

Selected conference output

Scheibein, F. McGirr, K. Morrison, A. Wells, J. & Matthews, E. (2021). A systematic review of Alternative Nicotine Delivery System (ANDS)-based interventions on smoking-related health outcomes among marginalised population groups. RCSI University Hospital Waterford Annual Research Day. Waterford.

Banville, E. Matthews, E. Cowman, M. Flynn, A. Harrison, M. Mulhare, B. Kissane, S. Lowney, P. O’Riordan, C. Ronan, F. & Denieffe, S. (2021). The Exercise Effect: A Slainte Care project to integrate an exercise practitioner into multidisciplinary mental health services. RCSI University Hospital Waterford Annual Research Day. Waterford.

Matthews, E. (2021). Exercise and mental health: bringing evidence to practice (Keynote address). RCSI University Hospital Waterford Annual Research Day. Waterford.

Schuch, F., Deenik, J. Matthews, E. Fibbins, H. & Ward, P. B. Implementing interventions to improve physical health in people with severe mental illness (Symposium). 19th World Congress in Psychiatry (World Psychiatric Association), Lisbon.

Matthews, E. Using patient inclusion in physical activity programmes for people with severe mental illness: 2nd Annual Exercise Professionals in Mental Health Conference. Springfield University Hospital, NHS Trust, London.