My Biography

Dr Michelle Foley is a Senior Technical Officer and Marie Curie Fellow at the Department of Nursing & Healthcare, WIT since 2002. She holds degrees from the University of Manchester, UK (PhD in Community Medicine); The Open University (MSc) and Waterford Institute of Technology (BSc Hons in Chemistry and Quality Management). She also holds a postgraduate qualification in Epidemiology(London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine) and undergraduate Diplomas in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Science (Waterford Institute of Technology)

Her research interests are firmly grounded health and has both extensive qualitative and quantitative research experience. She has authored to date a number of peer reviewed journal publications, including Sickness Certification in General Practice, Maternity Care, Renal Care, Hip Arthroscopy, pharmacy practice, Codeine misuse, and Drug and Alcohol education.  In 2013, she was part of the research team awarded an FP7 Marie Curie Actions-IAPP grant investigating codeine use, misuse and dependence in Ireland, United Kingdom and South Africa (€2.02 million) which was ranked 2nd place in the Life Sciences Division.  As part of this project she undertook a 2 year secondment as a More Experienced Researcher (MER) to a leading UK pharmacy chain.

Prior to joining WIT, she worked as a Material Scientist at Garrett Engine Boosting Systems. She is also a qualified Six Sigma process improvement specialist 

Research

Carney T. Wells J. Bergin M. Dada S. Foley M. McGuiness P. Rapca A. Rich E. Van Hout MC (2016) A Comparative Exploration of Community Pharmacists’ Views on the Nature and Management of Over-the-Counter (OTC) and Prescription Codeine Misuse in Three Regulatory Regimes: Ireland, South Africa and the United Kingdom, International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, DOI 10.1007/s11469-016-9640-z

Foley, M., Breindahl, T., Hindersson, P., Deluca P., A Kimergård. Misuse of 'over-the-counter' codeine analgesics: Does formulation play a role? Public Health, Letter to the Editor, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2015.10.006

Bergin, M.; Norman, I; Foley, M.; Harris, R.; Rapca, A.; Rich, E. and Van Hout, M.C. Practice implications and recommendations for managing codeine misuse and dependence' Acta Pharmalogica. 65 351–364, DOI: 10.1515/acph-2015-0040.

Foley, M., Harris, R., Rich, E., Rapca, A., Bergin, M., Norman, I., Van Hout, MC (2014). Availabity of Over-The-Counter Codeine across the European Union. Public Health. Early on line 26 July 2015

Foley, M., Susan, R., Sheahan, L. (2015) – “Long term management with Phosphate binders in Chronic Kidney Disease: patient satisfaction levels with information received from their healthcare professional” Journal of Applied Medical Research, Early on line, 4th May 2015

Van Hout, MC. Bergin, M. Foley, M. Rich, E. Rapca, AI. Harris, R. Norman I. (2014) A Scoping Review of Codeine Use, Misuse and Dependence, final report. CODEMISUSED Project European Commission 7th Framework Programme, EU. Brussels.

Foley, M. Rich, E. Norman, I .Van Hout, MC. (2014) Codeine consumption through prescribing in the Republic of Ireland, the Republic of South Africa and the United Kingdom, Supplement to the CODEMISUSED Scoping Review. CODEMISUSED Project European Commission 7th Framework Programme, EU. Brussels.

Murphy, A.; Wells, J.; Chesser-Smyth, P.; Sheahan, L.; Foley, M. (2014). An Exploratory Survey of Low-Risk Pregnant Women's Perceptions of Antenatal Care and Services in Southern Ireland. International Journal of Childbirth, 4(3):169-182

Van Hout, MC., McCormack, A., & Foley, M (2014). A Question of Shared Responsibility: results from a pilot study. Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education. 57(1):7

Culleton, L., Van Hout, MC., & Foley, M (2014). A Social Norms Approach to Drug Prevention in Schools in Ireland: Results from a Pre Development study. Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education 57(2):27-46.

Van Hout, MC., & Foley, M. (2013). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults attending addiction treatment in Ireland: Preliminary International ADHD in Substance Use Disorders Prevalence Study (IASP) Results. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine. 30(3):171-177

Carton, P., Foley, M., Patterson, K. (2103) The Arthroscopic Classification of Sub-Spine Morphology in the hip. The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery; 29(12):e195–e196. DOI: 10.1016/j.arthro.2013.09.030

Foley, M. Thorley K., Van Hout ,MC. (2013) Assessing fitness for work: GPs judgment making. European Journal of General Practice; 19 (4): 1751-1402

Foley, M. Thorley K., Van Hout, MC. (2013) Sickness certification difficulties in Ireland—a GP focus group study. Occupational Medicine (Lond), 2013, 63(5):369-372

Foley, M., Thorley, K. Denny M., (2012). ‘The Sick Note’ – A qualitative study of General practitioners in Ireland. European Journal of General Practice, 18(2), 92-99

Foley, M., Van Hout, MC., & Tarrant, H (2012). Development of a user friendly Social Capital scale in Volunteering.  International Journal of Volunteer Administration. 1, 35-41.

Van Hout, M.C., Foley, M., McCormack, A., & Tardif, E (2012). Teachers’ perspectives on their role in school based alcohol and cannabis prevention. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education. 50,(6):328-341.

Van Hout, MC, Tarrant, H., & Foley, M (2011). Mé féin nó an Pobal: Social Processes and Connectivity in Irish Volunteering.  Irish Journal of Applied Social Studies. 11(1) 39-55 

Teaching

Waterford Institute of Technology 2012- 2013: Lecturer in Nursing (Undergraduate and Postgraduate studies): subject areas Anatomy and Physiology, Pathophysiology and Research Methods (including statistics)

Waterford Institute of Technology 2007-2013: Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training and certification.

Waterford Institute of Technology 2010-2013: Manual Handing and Patient Moving training and certification.

Waterford Institute of Technology 2007 -2012: Tutor in the Centre for Health, Access, Retention and Teaching (CHART): Subjects taught: Anatomy and Physiology, Pharmacology, Lifecycle, Statistics, Biomolecules and cells, Research Methods.

Waterford Institute of Technology 2002 – 2005:– Part Time Lecturer in Quality Management and Statistics

Waterford Institute of Technology 2002 -2005: Part Time Lecturer in Biological and Related Sciences.

External Review

2014 – 2015: External Expert Consultation – Fit for Work Coalition: Medical Certification review - Arthritis Ireland -1 Clanwilliam Square, Grand Canal Quay, Dublin 2

2014: External expert review: Getting the Best from the Fit Note -Investigating the Use of the Statement of Fitness for Work. Dr Carol Coole, Prof. Avril Drummond, Prof. Paul Watson, Dr Fiona Nouri, Iskra Potgieter, School of Health Sciences, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham UK

Specialisms and skillset

Reviewing of scientific information and literature to ensure quality and accuracy of medical and scientific information.
Lead in the conceptual design of scientific research including data collection methods and analysis.
Design of questionnaires for use in the data collection of information in human populations.
Health needs assessment and evaluation.
Public health informatics including use of frameworks for evaluation of public health initiatives and surveillance. 
Management of laboratory based activities in line with good laboratory practice (GLP).
Data analysis and statistical testing, including using a range of office software; databases, spreadsheets, statistical packages and NVivo qualitative software.
Developing professional relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
Teaching, training and course development
Quality management, including preparation of manuals and auditing procedures.
Identification of opportunities for potential external research collaborations and preparation of documentation for external funding calls.
Supervision, training and mentoring to staff and students in both academic clinical and industry settings.
Resolving and solving problems and challenges in team based approaches.
Reviewing and updating health and safety policies
Tendering of products and service