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Professor Angela Harden

Professor of Health Sciences

School of Health Sciences Division of Health Services Research and Management

Contact details

Address

Professor Angela Harden City, University of London
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom

About

Overview

Angela Harden is a social scientist with over 25 years experience in applied research to promote health and reduce inequalities. She is currently Professor of Health Sciences at City, University of London where she leads several research programmes developing and testing interventions targeting the wider social determinants of health. Her research spans the entire the life course, including the REACH Pregnancy programme which is developing and testing new social models of antenatal care in disadvantaged and ethnically diverse urban contexts, the Well Communities programme which is currently examining how to embed community development approaches in local authorities, and the Connect Hackney Ageing Better programme which is testing a suite of community activities to reduce loneliness and social isolation amongst older people. Angela is also the Academy Director of the NIHR North Thames ARC which develops research capacity for conducting and applying applied health research.

From 2015 to July 2020, Angela was the Director of the Institute for Health and Human Development at the University of East London were she led research, consultancy, and training on community and system wide approaches to improving health, including research which has shaped the national roll-out of social prescribing in the NHS. Angela is also recognised as a world leading expert in evidence synthesis. Prior to joining UEL in 2008, she was an associate director of the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre at UCL Institute of Education. Here she developed ground-breaking methods for including qualitative research alongside trials in systematic reviews.

Angela’s research is interdisciplinary and inter-professional and she works with a wide range of research methods from participatory action research through to randomised controlled trials. Her research has led to direct impact on policy, practice and the public through, for example, underpinning NICE Guidance on community engagement to reduce health inequalities and integration of findings from a young commissioners model into a tool kit published by NHS England (‘How to develop youth forums in the NHS’). She has published extensively and has secured funding from national and international bodies such as NIHR, ESRC, AHRC and EUFP7 as well as local health trusts and charities. She is a co-convener of the international Cochrane Collaboration’s Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group. She was a key investigator and theme lead (child and adolescent health) within the NIHR funded North Thames CLAHRC (2013-2019) and is now the Director of the training academy and key investigator in the Population Health and Social Care theme in the successor to the CLAHRC, the North Thames ARC (2019 to 2024). From 2012 to 2018 she was a member of the NIHR Health Technology Assessment Commissioning Board.

Employment

  1. Professor of Health Sciences, City, University London, Jul 2020 – present

Publications

Publications by category

Chapters (6)

  1. Noyes, J., Booth, A., Cargo, M., Flemming, K., Harden, A., Harris, J. … Thomas, J. (2019). Qualitative evidence. Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions (pp. 525–545). ISBN 978-1-119-53662-8.
  2. Kavanagh, J., Campbell, F., Harden, A. and Thomas, J. (2012). Mixed Methods Synthesis: A Worked Example. Synthesizing Qualitative Research: Choosing the Right Approach (pp. 113–136). ISBN 978-0-470-65638-9.
  3. Shepherd, J. and Harden, A. (2009). The value of systematic reviews of the effectiveness of sexual health interventions. Effective Sexual Health Interventions: Issues in Experimental Evaluation ISBN 978-0-19-850849-6.
  4. Thomas, J., Sutcliffe, K., Harden, A., Oakley, A., Oliver, S., Rees, R. … Kavanagh, J. (2005). The barriers to, and the facilitators of, healthy eating among children: Findings from a systematic review. Childhood Obesity: Contemporary Issues (pp. 223–250). ISBN 978-0-8493-2857-2.
  5. Harden, A. and Thomas, J. Mixed Methods and Systematic Reviews: Examples and Emerging Issues. SAGE Handbook of Mixed Methods in Social & Behavioral Research (pp. 749–774). SAGE Publications, Inc.. ISBN 978-1-4129-7266-6.
  6. Booth, A., Hannes, K., Harden, A., Noyes, J., Harris, J. and Tong, A. COREQ (Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies). Guidelines for Reporting Health Research: A User's Manual (pp. 214–226). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ISBN 978-0-470-67044-6.

Journal articles (67)

  1. Watts, P., Rance, S., McGowan, V., Brown, H., Bambra, C., Findlay, G. … Harden, A. (2020). The long-term health and wellbeing impacts of Healthy New Towns (HNTs): protocol for a baseline and feasibility study of HNT demonstrator sites in England. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 6(1). doi:10.1186/s40814-020-0550-2.
  2. Wiggins, M., Sawtell, M., Wiseman, O., McCourt, C., Eldridge, S., Hunter, R. … Harden, A. (2020). Group antenatal care (Pregnancy Circles) for diverse and disadvantaged women: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial with integral process and economic evaluations. BMC Health Services Research, 20(1). doi:10.1186/s12913-020-05751-z.
  3. Amaefule, C.E., Bolou, A., Drymoussi, Z., Gonzalez Carreras, F.J., Pardo Llorente, M.D.C., Lanz, D. … Thangaratinam, S. (2020). Effectiveness and acceptability of metformin in preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes in postnatal women: A protocol for a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind feasibility trialOptimising health outcomes with Metformin to prevent diAbetes after pregnancy (OMAhA). BMJ Open, 10(5). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036198.
  4. Rayment-Jones, H., Silverio, S.A., Harris, J., Harden, A. and Sandall, J. (2020). Project 20: Midwives’ insight into continuity of care models for women with social risk factors: what works, for whom, in what circumstances, and how. Midwifery, 84. doi:10.1016/j.midw.2020.102654.
  5. Hunter, L.J., Da Motta, G., McCourt, C., Wiseman, O., Rayment, J.L., Haora, P. … Harden, A. (2019). Better together: A qualitative exploration of women's perceptions and experiences of group antenatal care. Women and Birth, 32(4), pp. 336–345. doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2018.09.001.
  6. Rayment-Jones, H., Harris, J., Harden, A., Khan, Z. and Sandall, J. (2019). How do women with social risk factors experience United Kingdom maternity care? A realist synthesis. Birth, 46(3), pp. 461–474. doi:10.1111/birt.12446.
  7. Hunter, L., Da Motta, G., McCourt, C., Wiseman, O., Rayment, J., Haora, P. … Harden, A. (2018). ’It makes sense and it works’: Maternity care providers’ perspectives on the feasibility of a group antenatal care model (Pregnancy Circles). Midwifery, 66, pp. 56–63. doi:10.1016/j.midw.2018.07.016.
  8. Hamilton, E.A.A., Nowell, A.K., Harden, A. and Thangaratinam, S. (2018). Conduct and reporting of acceptability, attitudes, beliefs and experiences of pregnant women in randomised trials on diet and lifestyle interventions: A systematic review. European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 225, pp. 243–254. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2018.05.008.
  9. Harden, A., Thomas, J., Cargo, M., Harris, J., Pantoja, T., Flemming, K. … Noyes, J. (2018). Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group guidance series—paper 5: methods for integrating qualitative and implementation evidence within intervention effectiveness reviews. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 97, pp. 70–78. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.11.029.
  10. Noyes, J., Booth, A., Cargo, M., Flemming, K., Garside, R., Hannes, K. … Thomas, J. (2018). Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group guidance series—paper 1: introduction. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 97, pp. 35–38. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.09.025.
  11. Harris, J.L., Booth, A., Cargo, M., Hannes, K., Harden, A., Flemming, K. … Noyes, J. (2018). Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group guidance series—paper 2: methods for question formulation, searching, and protocol development for qualitative evidence synthesis. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 97, pp. 39–48. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.10.023.
  12. Noyes, J., Booth, A., Flemming, K., Garside, R., Harden, A., Lewin, S. … Thomas, J. (2018). Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group guidance series—paper 3: methods for assessing methodological limitations, data extraction and synthesis, and confidence in synthesized qualitative findings. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 97, pp. 49–58. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.06.020.
  13. Cargo, M., Harris, J., Pantoja, T., Booth, A., Harden, A., Hannes, K. … Noyes, J. (2018). Cochrane Qualitative and Implementation Methods Group guidance series—paper 4: methods for assessing evidence on intervention implementation. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 97, pp. 59–69. doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.11.028.
  14. Wiggins, M., Sawtell, M., Wiseman, O., McCourt, C., Greenberg, L., Hunter, R. … Harden, A. (2018). Testing the effectiveness of REACH Pregnancy Circles group antenatal care: Protocol for a randomised controlled pilot trial. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 4(1). doi:10.1186/s40814-018-0361-x.
  15. Sawtell, M., Sweeney, L., Wiggins, M., Salisbury, C., Eldridge, S., Greenberg, L. … Harden, A. (2018). Evaluation of community-level interventions to increase early initiation of antenatal care in pregnancy: Protocol for the Community REACH study, a cluster randomised controlled trial with integrated process and economic evaluations. Trials, 19(1). doi:10.1186/s13063-018-2526-6.
  16. Amaefule, C.E., Drymoussi, Z., Dodds, J., Sweeney, L., Pizzo, E., Daru, J. … Thangaratinam, S. (2018). Effectiveness and acceptability of myoinositol nutritional supplement in the prevention of gestational diabetes (EMmY): A protocol for a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind pilot trial. BMJ Open, 8(9). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022831.
  17. Hatherall, B., Morris, J., Jamal, F., Sweeney, L., Wiggins, M., Kaur, I. … Harden, A. (2016). Timing of the initiation of antenatal care: An exploratory qualitative study of women and service providers in East London. Midwifery, 36, pp. 1–7. doi:10.1016/j.midw.2016.02.017.
  18. Bonell, C., Harden, A., Fletcher, A. and Viner, R. (2016). In memoriam: the contributions to public health research of Farah Jamal, BA, MSc, PhD. Journal of epidemiology and community health, 70(4), pp. 329–330. doi:10.1136/jech-2016-207197.
  19. Jamal, F., Langford, R., Daniels, P., Thomas, J., Harden, A. and Bonell, C. (2015). Consulting with young people to inform systematic reviews: An example from a review on the effects of schools on health. Health Expectations, 18(6), pp. 3225–3235. doi:10.1111/hex.12312.
  20. O’Mara-Eves, A., Brunton, G., McDaid, D., Oliver, S., Kavanagh, J., Jamal, F. … Thomas, J. (2015). Community engagement to reduce inequalities in health: a systematic review, meta-analysis and economic analysis. .
  21. Bonell, C., Jamal, F., Harden, A., Wells, H., Parry, W., Fletcher, A. … Moore, L. (2015). Systematic review of the effects of schools and school environment interventions on
    health: evidence mapping and synthesis.     .
  22. Jamal, F., Bonell, C., Harden, A. and Lorenc, T. (2015). The social ecology of girls' bullying practices: Exploratory research in two London schools. Sociology of Health and Illness, 37(5), pp. 731–744. doi:10.1111/1467-9566.12231.
  23. Jamal, F., Bertotti, M., Lorenc, T. and Harden, A. (2015). Reviewing conceptualisations of community: reflections on a meta-narrative approach. Qualitative Research, 15(3), pp. 314–333. doi:10.1177/1468794113509262.
  24. Shepherd, J., Harden, A., Barnett-Page, E., Kavanagh, J., Picot, J., Frampton, G.K. … Clegg, A. (2014). Using process data to understand outcomes in sexual health promotion: An example from a review of school-based programmes to prevent sexually transmitted infections. Health Education Research, 29(4), pp. 566–582. doi:10.1093/her/cyt155.
  25. Jamal, F., Fletcher, A., Harden, A., Wells, H., Thomas, J. and Bonell, C. (2013). The school environment and student health: A systematic review and meta-ethnography of qualitative research. BMC Public Health, 13(1). doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-798.
  26. Bonell, C., Wells, H., Harden, A., Jamal, F., Fletcher, A., Thomas, J. … Moore, L. (2013). The effects on student health of interventions modifying the school environment: Systematic review. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 67(8), pp. 677–681. doi:10.1136/jech-2012-202247.
  27. Cresswell, J.A., Yu, G., Hatherall, B., Morris, J., Jamal, F., Harden, A. … Renton, A. (2013). Predictors of the timing of initiation of antenatal care in an ethnically diverse urban cohort in the UK. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 13. doi:10.1186/1471-2393-13-103.
  28. Bonell, C.P., Fletcher, A., Jamal, F., Wells, H., Harden, A., Murphy, S. … Thomas, J. (2013). Theories of how the school environment impacts on student health: Systematic review and synthesis. Health and Place, 24, pp. 242–249. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2013.09.014.
  29. Bonell, C., Parry, W., Wells, H., Jamal, F., Fletcher, A., Harden, A. … Moore, L. (2013). The effects of the school environment on student health: A systematic review of multi-level studies. Health and Place, 21, pp. 180–191. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2012.12.001.
  30. Cooper, K., Shepherd, J., Picot, J., Jones, J., Kavanagh, J., Harden, A. … Price, A. (2012). An economic model of school-based behavioral interventions to prevent sexually transmitted infections. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 28(4), pp. 407–414. doi:10.1017/S0266462312000475.
  31. Picot, J., Shepherd, J., Kavanagh, J., Cooper, K., Harden, A., Barnett-Page, E. … Frampton, G.K. (2012). Behavioural interventions for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections in young people aged 13-19 years: A systematic review. Health Education Research, 27(3), pp. 495–512. doi:10.1093/her/cys014.
  32. Bertotti, M., Harden, A., Renton, A. and Sheridan, K. (2012). The contribution of a social enterprise to the building of social capital in a disadvantaged urban area of London. Community Development Journal, 47(2), pp. 168–183. doi:10.1093/cdj/bsr020.
  33. Sampson, A., Harden, A., Tobi, P. and Renton, A. (2012). Promoting a healthy legacy for the Olympic Park: Findings from a pre-games study. Perspectives in Public Health, 132(2), pp. 64–65. doi:10.1177/1757913912437675.
  34. Hannes, K. and Harden, A. (2011). Multi‐context versus context‐specific qualitative evidence syntheses: combining the best of both. Research Synthesis Methods, 2(4), pp. 271–278. doi:10.1002/jrsm.55.
  35. Watts, P., Phillips, G., Petticrew, M., Harden, A. and Renton, A. (2011). The influence of environmental factors on the generalisability of public health research evidence: Physical activity as a worked example. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 8. doi:10.1186/1479-5868-8-128.
  36. Bonell, C., Harden, A., Wells, H., Jamal, F., Fletcher, A., Petticrew, M. … Moore, L. (2011). Protocol for a systematic review of the effects of schools and school-environment interventions on health: Evidence mapping and syntheses. BMC Public Health, 11. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-11-453.
  37. Kavanagh, J., Oakley, A., Harden, A., Trouton, A. and Powell, C. (2011). Are incentive schemes effective in changing young people's behaviour? A systematic review. Health Education Journal, 70(2), pp. 192–205. doi:10.1177/0017896910375878.
  38. Shepherd, J., Kavanagh, J., Picot, J., Cooper, K., Harden, A., Barnett-Page, E. … Price, A. (2010). The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of behavioural interventions for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections in young people aged 13-19: A systematic review and economic evaluation. Health Technology Assessment, 14(7), pp. 1–230. doi:10.3310/hta14070.
  39. Woodman, J.L., Harden, A., Thomas, J., Brunton, J., Kavanagh, J. and Stansfield, C. (2010). Searching for systematic reviews of the effects of social and environmental interventions: A case study of children and obesity. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 98(2), pp. 140–146. doi:10.3163/1536-5050.98.2.006.
  40. Harden, A., Brunton, G., Fletcher, A. and Oakley, A. (2009). Teenage pregnancy and social disadvantage: Systematic review integrating controlled trials and qualitative studies. BMJ (Online), 339(7731), pp. 1182–1185. doi:10.1136/bmj.b4254.
  41. Kavanagh, J., Oliver, S., Lorenc, T., Caird, J., Tucker, H., Harden, A. … Oakley, A. (2009). School-based cognitive-behavioural interventions: A systematic review of effects and inequalities. Health Sociology Review, 18(1), pp. 61–78. doi:10.5172/hesr.18.1.61.
  42. Oliver, S., Harden, A., Rees, R., Shepherd, J., Brunton, G. and Oakley, A. (2008). Young people and mental health: Novel methods for systematic review of research on barriers and facilitators. Health Education Research, 23(5), pp. 770–790. doi:10.1093/her/cym038.
  43. Thomas, J. and Harden, A. (2008). Methods for the thematic synthesis of qualitative research in systematic reviews. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 8. doi:10.1186/1471-2288-8-45.
  44. Waters, E., Petticrew, M., Priest, N., Weightman, A., Harden, A. and Doyle, J. (2008). Evidence synthesis, upstream determinants and health inequalities: The role of a proposed new Cochrane Public Health Review Group. European Journal of Public Health, 18(3), pp. 221–223. doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckm127.
  45. Fletcher, A., Harden, A., Brunton, G., Oakley, A. and Bonell, C. (2008). Interventions addressing the social determinants of teenage pregnancy. Health Education, 108(1), pp. 29–39. doi:10.1108/09654280810842111.
  46. Brunton, G., Oakley, A. and Harden, A. (2007). Systematic review addresses socioeconomic inequalities [2]. British Medical Journal, 334(7587), p. 221.
  47. Rees, R., Kavanagh, J., Harden, A., Shepherd, J., Brunton, G., Oliver, S. … Oakley, A. (2006). Young people and physical activity: A systematic review matching their views to effective interventions. Health Education Research, 21(6), pp. 806–825. doi:10.1093/her/cyl120.
  48. Shepherd, J., Harden, A., Rees, R., Brunton, G., Garcia, J., Oliver, S. … Oakley, A. (2006). Young people and healthy eating: A systematic review of research on barriers and facilitators. Health Education Research, 21(2), pp. 239–257. doi:10.1093/her/cyh060.
  49. Boaz, A., Ashby, D., Denyer, D., Egan, M., Harden, A., Jones, D.R. … Tranfield, D. (2006). A multitude of syntheses: A comparison of five approaches from diverse policy fields. Evidence and Policy, 2(4), pp. 479–502. doi:10.1332/174426406778881755.
  50. Brunton, G., Thomas, J., Harden, A., Rees, R., Kavanagh, J., Oliver, S. … Oakley, A. (2005). Promoting physical activity amongst children outside of physical education classes: A systematic review integrating intervention studies and qualitative studies. Health Education Journal, 64(4), pp. 323–338. doi:10.1177/001789690506400404.
  51. Harden, A. and Thomas, J. (2005). Methodological issues in combining diverse study types in systematic reviews. International Journal of Social Research Methodology: Theory and Practice, 8(3), pp. 257–271. doi:10.1080/13645570500155078.
  52. Oliver, S., Harden, A., Rees, R., Shepherd, J. and Brunton, G. (2005). An Emerging Framework for Including Different Types of Evidence in Systematic Reviews for Public Policy. Evaluation, 11(4), pp. 428–446. doi:10.1177/1356389005059383.
  53. Gillies, V., Harden, A., Johnson, K., Reavey, P., Strange, V. and Willig, C. (2005). Painting pictures of embodied experience: The use of nonverbal data production for the study of embodiment. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 2(3), pp. 199–212. doi:10.1191/1478088705qp038oa.
  54. Harden, A., Garcia, J., Oliver, S., Rees, R., Shepherd, J., Brunton, G. … Oakley, A. (2004). Applying systematic review methods to studies of people's views: An example from public health research. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 58(9), pp. 794–800. doi:10.1136/jech.2003.014829.
  55. Thomas, J., Harden, A., Oakley, A., Oliver, S., Sutcliffe, K., Rees, R. … Kavanagh, J. (2004). Integrating qualitative research with trials in systematic reviews. British Medical Journal, 328(7446), pp. 1010–1012. doi:10.1136/bmj.328.7446.1010.
  56. Gillies, V., Harden, A., Johnson, K., Reavey, P., Strange, V. and Willig, C. (2004). Women's collective constructions of embodied practices through memory work: Cartesian dualism in memories of sweating and pain. British Journal of Social Psychology, 43(1), pp. 99–112. doi:10.1348/014466604322916006.
  57. Harden, A., Oakley, A. and Oliver, S. (2001). Peer-delivered health promotion for young people: A systematic review of different study designs. Health Education Journal, 60(4), pp. 339–353. doi:10.1177/001789690106000406.
  58. Ogden, J. and Harden, A. (1999). The timing, format and content of school based sex education: An experience with a lasting effect? Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 25(3), pp. 115–118.
  59. Harden, A. and Ogden, J. (1999). Sixteen to nineteen year olds' use of, and beliefs about, contraceptive services. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 24(4), pp. 141–144.
  60. Harden, A., Peersman, G., Oliver, S., Mauthner, M. and Oakley, A. (1999). A systematic review of the effectiveness of health promotion interventions in the workplace. Occupational Medicine, 49(8), pp. 540–548. doi:10.1093/occmed/49.8.540.
  61. Harden, A., Peersman, G., Oliver, S. and Oakley, A. (1999). Identifying primary research on electronic databases to inform decision-making in health promotion: The case of sexual health promotion. Health Education Journal, 58(3), pp. 290–301. doi:10.1177/001789699905800310.
  62. Harden, A. and Ogden, J. (1999). Young women's experiences of arranging and having abortions. Sociology of Health and Illness, 21(4), pp. 426–444. doi:10.1111/1467-9566.00165.
  63. Oliver, S., Peersman, G., Harden, A. and Oakley, A. (1999). Discrepancies in findings from effectiveness reviews: The case of health promotion for older people in accident and injury prevention. Health Education Journal, 58(1), pp. 66–77. doi:10.1177/001789699905800108.
  64. Harden, A. and Ogden, J. (1999). Condom use and contraception non-use amongst 16-19 year olds: A within subjects comparison. Psychology and Health, 14(4), pp. 697–709. doi:10.1080/08870449908410758.
  65. Peersman, G., Harden, A., Oliver, S. and Oakley, A. (1999). Discrepancies in findings from effectiveness reviews: The case of health promotion interventions to change cholesterol levels. Health Education Journal, 58(2), pp. 192–202. doi:10.1177/001789699905800210.
  66. Harden, A. and Willig, C. (1998). An exploration of the discursive constructions used in young adults' memories and accounts of contraception. Journal of Health Psychology, 3(3), pp. 429–445. doi:10.1177/135910539800300310.
  67. Ogden, J. and Harden, A. (1995). Beliefs about condoms in 12/13 and 16/17 year olds. AIDS Care, 7(2), pp. 205–210. doi:10.1080/09540129550126713.