My Biography

I am Co-Course Leader of the Masters in Advanced Facilitation Skills for Health and Well-Being.  I also continue to lecture on the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes within the department and have done so since 2003.  I am a health promotion specialist with a keen interest in developing emotional intelligence, learning in the affective domain, facilitation skills and men's health.  I graduated from the University of Limerick with a PhD.  I also hold a BSc in Sports and Exercise Science (UL).

I have previously been on a full/ part time secondment to the HSE (2003 - 2015) where I worked in the area of men's health policy and men's health promotion research.  

Research

I am member of the Centre for Health Behaviour Research Group at WIT and my areas of research is developing facilitation skills and men's health promotion. I supervise postgraduate research students to MA [23; 6 research & 17 taught] and PhD [1 completed; 3 ongoing] level. 

Recent/ongoing research projects:

2021 -  To explore the acceptability of digital storytelling (DST) as a useful therapeutic intervention for Traveller men affected by suicide.

2021 -  Football Cooperative, a community based physical activity social intervention for men: A feasibility study for scale up.

2021 -  Building capacity within the construction industry in Ireland to respond to suicidal behaviour through the development of a suite of indicated suicide prevention approaches and partnerships.

2019 -  “On Feirm Ground”: The design and evaluation of a bespoke farmers’ health training programme.

2015 -  Men on the Move - A community based PA programme for inactive men in ireland.  

2014 - ‘Engaging Young Men’: The design and evaluation of a training programme targeted at service providers.

2014 - Youth Sector Training Programme in Experiential Based Facilitation Training for Health and Wellbeing  

2014 - A process & outcome evaluation of ‘Engage’, Irelands National Men’s Health Training Programme

 

Recent  / ongoing collaborations include the

• Centre for Men's Health and IT Carlow.
• Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen
• Univserity of Stirling
• Men's Health Forum in Ireland

 

Referring: International Journal of Men’s Health, Sports Medicine, Public Health, The American Journal of Men’s Health, BMC Public Health, International Journal of Men’s Social and Community Health, Health Promotion International, Irish Journal of Medical Sciences.

 

Awards: 

• 2001, Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland, Donegan Medal winner. 
• Men on the Move; 2016 - Project of most impact at the National Postgraduate Conference [Alex Donohoe]; 2017 -  Plenary Session Presentation [Liam Kelly PhD student] first prize for the HEPA Europe 2017 Early Career Research Awards; The programme won the award in the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards in the ‘Best Health and Well being’ category and the Local Authority Members Association Awards and the Public Sector Magazine Awards”.

 

Conference committees:  National Men’s Health Week ‘Mind Yourself’ (2006), “Multidisciplinary Approaches to Men’s Health” (2010).  Seminars: ‘Social Determinants of Men’s Health’ at WIT (2010), Carlow Men’s Health Project (2011). 

Teaching

Postgraduate Teaching:

Masters in Advanced Facilitation Skills for Promoting Health and Well Being [https://www.wit.ie/courses/school/health_sciences/department_of_health_sport_exercise_studies/ma-in-advanced-facilitation-skills-for-promoting-health-and-well-being].  I am currently leading the research stream which includes the following modules:

 - Qualitative Research & Evaluation

 - Qualitative Data Analysis

 - Dissertation

MSc in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Motivational Interviewing for Practice [https://www.wit.ie/courses/school/health_sciences/department_of_nursing/msc-in-cognitive-behaviour-therapy-cbt-and-motivational-interviewing-mi-for].  I currently teach on the following module:

 - Personal Development for Health and Well Being

Undergraduate Teaching:

I have taught the followind modules across the undergraduate courses within the Department of Sport & Exercise Science:

 - Research and Statistics

 - Dissertation

 - Social Personal and Health Education

 - Exercise Physiology

 - Gender Specific Health 

Professional

Cross-Sectoral Collaborations:

I have considerable experience of cross-sectoral collaboration regarding health policy and training; I am co-author of the worlds’ first National Men’s Health Policy (2008) and the subsequent National Men’s Health Action Plan (2016); I co-authored the worlds’ only national men’s health training programme, ENGAGE that is funded by the HSE; from 2012-2016, as a lead facilitator, I trained 74 ENGAGE trainers via a Training of Trainers (ToT) model who delivered a 1-day ENGAGE training programme to over 1200 front line service providers; I have worked with the HSE and National Youth Council of Ireland to develop and deliver Facilitation Skills training to health promotion staff and youth sector workers nationally.  This training was designed to support them to a) make healthier choices for themselves through the development of self-awareness and, in turn, b) address the mental and emotional issues of the young people with whom they work more effectively. 

International Collaborations:

I have considerable experience of international collaborations; I am a co-applicant on a weight loss intervention study, lead staff at Stirling University that is investigating text based narratives to promote weight loss among men; and I was an advisor to a) a systematic review of male weight loss and obesity that was led by staff at the University of Aberdeen[1] and b) a review of men’s food the health behaviour (Safefood Ireland).

Membership of Groups:

• I am a member of the Irish Cancer Society's, Cancer Prevention Committee. 
• I am an affiliate researcher to the Centre for Men’s Health at IT Carlow. 
• I am a former Director and Company Secretary of the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland. 
• I was a member of the national steering committee with the responsibility for developing the National Men’s Health Policy and its subsequent Action Plan, Healthy Ireland- Men (HI-M).
• I was part of the National Men’s Health Policy (NMHP) Implementation Group that is chaired by the Department of Health. 
• I was an Advisor to and conducted qualitative research for the Evaluation of Men on the Move in Mayo (Published January 2013).  I also supported the Donegal Men on the Move Evaluation.
• I was a member of the investigative Network that contributed to research on engaging men in health related initiatives that is being led by the Centre for Men’s Health, Leeds Metropolitan University (due to be conducted August 2014).
• I am a member of the Health Promotion Association of Ireland

Publications

Published Abstracts/Conference Proceedings/Reports: Peer Reviewed

1. Dombrowski SU, McDonald M, van der Pol M, Grindle M, Avenell A, Carroll P, et al. Text messaging and financial incentives to encourage weight loss in men with obesity: the Game of Stones feasibility RCT. Public Health Res 2020;8(11).  Doi: 10.3310/phr08110
2. Murphy N., Oconnor J., Early J., Carroll P., Eagen-Torrko M., Richardson N., Barry M., (2019).  Transnational Education and Community Health Collaboratory (Teach Colab):  from the West Coast (US) to Waterford (Ireland).  International Virtual Exchange Conference Proceedings, 43-44.  Available at:  http://iveconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/IVEC-2019-Conference-Proceedings.pdf.
3. Carroll P., Harrison M., Richardson N., Keohane A., Kelly L., Donoghue A., Robertson S. (2018).  The partnership process in the design, implementation and evaluation the Men on the Move (MOM) gender sensitised community based programme for adult men in Ireland.  Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 15(10), S65-S65. 
4. P Carroll, M Barry, L Harold, M O'Grady, B Barry-Murphy, A O'Neill, L Brennan (2017).   An investigation of the impact of ‘Facilitation Skills for Health and Well-Being’ training.   European Journal of Public Health, 27, (3).   DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckx187.368
5. Robertson C, Archibald D, Avenell A, Douglas F, Hoddinott P, van Teijlingen E, Boyers D, Stewart F, Boachie C, Fioratou E, Wilkins D, Street T, Carroll P, Fowler C.  (2014) Systematic reviews and integrated report on the quantitative, qualitative and economic evidence base for the management of obesity in men.  Health Technol Assess. 18(35), 1-424.  Available at:  http://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/118180/FullReport-hta18350.pdf
6. Carroll P. (2009) Engaging Vulnerable Men in Ireland.  Journal of Men’s Health, 6(3): 273 no.182.
7. Cummins NM, Towler MR, Wren A, Rushe N, Saunders J, Jakeman PM, Carroll P. and Murphy, N. (2007)  Raman Spectroscopy of Keratin: A Comparison with other Methods of Evaluating Bone Health. Published in the proceedings of the European Society of Biomaterials, Brighton, UK, Sept
8. Cummins NM, Carroll P and Jakeman PM. (2006) The validity of using an uncoupling index as a tool in the assessment of bone health. Irish Journal of Medical Sciences
9. Murphy N.M.  and Carroll P.  (2003) The effect of physical activity and its interaction with nutrition on bone health.  Published in the proceedings of the Nutrition Society Meeting, University College Cork, Ireland.  62, 1-10
10. Loughnane M., Murphy N., Donnelly R., Barrett E., Barry D., Jakeman P.M., Carroll P. (2003) Acute effects of anaerobic and aerobic exercise on bone turnover in healthy postmenopausal women.  Published in the proceedings of the 9^th meeting of the National Osteoporosis Society, Bath, UK.  P27
11. Carroll P., Murphy N., Donnelly R., Barry D., Barrett E., Jakeman P.M.  Loughnane M. (2003) Acute effects of anaerobic exercise on bone turnover in healthy postmenopausal women.  National Institute of Health Sciences, Research Bulletin 1:5, 43-44
12. Carroll P., Hunter A., Barrett E., Barry D. Jakeman P.M. (2002) Biological and analytical variability of biochemical markers specific for bone formation and resorption in healthy men.  Journal of Physiology 547P; C116 
13. Carroll P., Hunter A., Barrett E., Barry D. Jakeman P.M. (2002) Acute effects of impact and non-impact exercise on bone turnover in healthy young adult males.  Published in the proceedings to the European Congress of Sports Science, Athens, Greece.  L117
14. Carroll P., Hunter A., Barry D., Barrett  E., Loughnane M., Donnelly R., Murphy N., Jakeman P.M. (2002).  The components of variance and the critical difference in specific markers of bone turnover in healthy adult males and postmenopausal women.  National Institute of Health Sciences, Research Bulletin, 1: 4, 44-45
15. Carroll P., Jakeman P.M., Barrett E, Murphy N., Donnelly R., Loughnane M., Murphy M (2002) Biological Day-to-Day Variability and Critical Differences in the Serial Measurement of Two Biochemical Markers of Bone Turnover in the Sera of Healthy Young Adult Males.  National Institute of Health Sciences, Research Bulletin, 1: 3, 41-42 
16. Carroll P., Jakeman P.M. (2001) The variability in the use of biochemical markers to determine bone turnover in young adult males.  Irish Journal of Medical Science 170; 453 pg183, no.8
17. Carroll P., Barrett E., Murphy N., Donnelly R., Loughnane M., Jakeman P.M., (2001) The optimum marker of bone resorption for both healthy young males and non-osteoporotic postmenopausal women: Sample collection, mode of assessment and inherent variability.  National Institute of Health Sciences, Research Bulletin, 1: 2, 41-42 

Publications:  Reports/Book chapters/Non-refereed publications, Reports:

1. HAMMERSLEY, C., RICHARDSON, N., CARROLL, P., McNAMARA, J., & MEREDITH, D. (2020). ‘On Feírm Ground’: A formative evaluation to inform the design of a bespoke farmers’ health training programme. Interim Report Executive Summary.  Available at:  https://www.teagasc.ie/media/website/publications/2020/On-Feirm-Ground---Wellbeing-for-farmers.pdf
2. Carroll P., Richardson N., Harrison M., Robertson S., Keohane A., Kelly L., Donohoe A. (2019). Men on the Move: A Community Based Physical Activity Programme for Adult Men in Ireland. Evaluation Report. Dublin: Health Service Executive.  Available at:https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/media/pressrel/men-on-the-move-evaluation-report.pdf.
3. Health Services Executive (2017) (Prepared by:  Richardson N. & Carroll P.).  National Men’s Health Action Plan. Healthy Ireland - Men. HI-M 2017-2021. Working with men in Ireland to achieve optimum health and wellbeing.  Dublin:  Health Services Executive.  Available at:  https://www.mhfi.org/HI-M.pdf.
4. Grace B., Richardson N., Carroll P. (2015). Engaging Young Men Project.  A report on the mapping exercise conducted in Ireland in 2014.  Dublin:  Men’s Health Forum in Ireland.  Available at:  www.mhfi.org
5. Richardson N. & Carroll P.  Improving Male Health.  A review of policy and progress in 12 countries.  Men’s Health in Ireland.  In:  Men’s Health Around the World: a review of policy and progress in 11 countries.  Edts Wilkins D. & Savoye E.  Brussels:  European Men’s Health Forum.  pp. 33-38.  Available at http://www.emhf.org/resource_images/11countries.pdf.
6. Department of Health and Children (Prepared by; Richardson N and Carroll P.).  National Men’s Health Policy 2008-2013. Working with men in Ireland to achieve optimum health and wellbeing. Dublin: Department of Health and Children; 2008.  Available at http://www.dohc.ie/publications/national_mens_health_policy.html
7. Department of Health and Children (Prepared by; Richardson N and Carroll P.).  National Men’s Health Policy 2008-2013. Working with men in Ireland to achieve optimum health and wellbeing. Reference Document; 2008. Available at http://www.dohc.ie/publications/pdf/reference_document.pdf.

Evaluation Reports:

1. Carroll P., Lambe B., Wardrop B., Kirwan L., Donaldson C., Byrne E. (2010) Happy Heart at Work, Health Check: Workplace Health Promotion Programme.  Evaluation Report.  Dublin:  Irish Heart Foundation. 
2. Kirwan L., Murphy N., Lambe B., Carroll P. (2010) National Men’s Health Week 2010, Evaluation Report.  Derry: Men’s Health Forum in Ireland.  Available at www.mhfi.org/mens-health-week-2010.html
3. McCarthy M, Richardson N, Kirwan L, O’Connell L, Dunne N, Carroll P (2009) National Men’s Health Week, 2009 Evaluation Report.  Belfast:  Men’s Health Forum in Ireland.  Available at http://www.mhfi.org/mhw2009.htm.
4. Carroll P. & Fanning O. (2007).  Carlow Rapid Equality for Women (CREW) Project:  Evaluation Report.  Carlow:  St. Catherine’s Community Services
5. Carroll P. & Lane A. (2007). Moving Hearts: An Evaluation.  Kilkenny:  Health Promotion Department. 
6. Carroll P. & Fanning O. (2006). A Review of the Services Delivered by the Health Promotion Officers with Responsibility for Smoking Cessation.  Kilkenny:  Health Promotion Department.

Other Non-Refereed Publications:

1. Fowler C., Richardson N., Carroll P., Brennan L. & Murray F. (2015). Connecting with Young Men: Unit 6, Engage National Men’s Health Training. Ireland.
2. Richardson N. Brennan L. Lamb B. & Carroll P. (2013) ENGAGE.  National Men’s Health Training Programme. A men’s health training resource pack for health professionals
3. Carroll P., Kirwan L., Lambe B. (2013).  Community Based Health Promotion for Men; A Guide for Practitioners.  Waterford:  Centre for Health Behaviour Research, Waterford Institute of Technology. 
4. Carroll P.  (2013). Men’s Health Matters:  A Practical Guide to Healthcare for Men.  Waterford:  Centre for Health Behaviour Research, Waterford Institute of Technology.
5. Carroll P.  (2011). Men’s Health Matters:  A Practical Guide to Healthcare for Men.  Waterford:  Centre for Health Behaviour Research, Waterford Institute of Technology.
6. Richardson N. & Carroll P. (2009) Top Tips to Support Men to Access Primary Care Services.  Men’s Health Forum in Ireland.  Available at http://www.mhfi.org/toptips2009.pdf.
7. Lane A., Brennen L. & Carroll P. (2005) A survey of the level of alcohol consumption among third level students engaged in sports clubs. Exercise and Sports Science Association of Ireland, Newsletter 4: 1, 9-11
8. O’Loughlin C and Carroll P (2006)  Playground Markings & Other Traditional Games 2^nd Edition.  Kilkenny:  Health Promotion Department, Health Service Executive.
9. Carroll P. (2004) Playground Markings & Other Traditional Games.  Health Promotion Department, South Eastern Health Board
10. Carroll P. (2004) Let the Children Play.  Exercise and Sports Science Association of Ireland, Newsletter 3: 3, 5-6
11. Carroll P. (2001) Creatine; To load or not to load, that is the question.  Exercise and Sports Science Association of Ireland, Newsletter 1: 2, 6-7