Helen Quirk PhD., CPsychol
Researcher in Exercise Psychology
Summary
My interests are in the promotion of physical activity, exercise, health and wellbeing in clinical and non-clinical populations.
About
My background is in psychology (BSc University of Sheffield, 2010) and sport and exercise psychology (MSc Sheffield Hallam University, 2012).
I joined Sheffield Hallam in September 2016 from the University of Nottingham, where I studied for a PhD exploring the promotion of physical activity in children with type 1 diabetes. I am a chartered member of the British Psychological Society and a member of the parkrun Research Board.
Research
Within the broad area of physical activity for health, I work on a range of research projects from clinical studies, systematic reviews, programme evaluations and national survey studies. Previous and ongoing projects at SHU include:
- parkrun - national health and wellbeing survey
- parkrun - evaluation of the parkrun PROVE project
- parkrun - evaluation of the parkrun Visual Impairment scheme
- Sport England - various commissioned evaluations
- Public Health England - evaluation of the Moving Health Professionals Pilot
- Sheffield Children's Charity - clinical feasibility study of physical activity monitoring in paediatric type 1 diabetes
- Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS FT - a review of community-based physical activity initiation for people living with serious mental illness
- Urostomy Association - a literature review and Delphi survey to explore the experiences of patients who have undergone urostomy procedures
- Health Education England - qualitative study to explore workplace health and wellbeing services in the NHS
Publications
Key Publications
Quirk, H., & Haake, S. (2019). How can we get more people with long-term health conditions involved in parkrun? A qualitative study evaluating parkrun’s PROVE project. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 11 (1), 22. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-019-0136-6
Quirk, H., Crank, H., Carter, A., Leahy, H., & Copeland, R. (2018). Barriers and facilitators to implementing workplace health and wellbeing services in the NHS from the perspective of senior leaders and wellbeing practitioners: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health, 18, 1362. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-6283-y
Reece, L.J., Quirk, H., Wellington, C., Haake, S., & Wilson, F. (2018). Bright spots, physical activity investments that work:parkrun; a global initiative striving for healthier and happier communities. British Journal of Sports Medicine. http://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-100041
Turner, R., Steed, L., Quirk, H., Greasley, R.U., Saxton, J.M., Taylor, S.J.C., ... Bourke, L. (2018). Interventions for promoting habitual exercise in people living with and beyond cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018 (9). http://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD010192.pub3
Quirk, H., Rosario, D., & Bourke, L. (2018). Supportive interventions to improve physiological and psychological health outcomes among patients undergoing cystectomy: A systematic review. BMC Urology, 18, 71. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12894-018-0382-z
Quirk, H., Glazebrook, C., & Blake, H. (2018). A physical activity intervention for children with type 1 diabetes- steps to active kids with diabetes (STAK-D): a feasibility study. BMC Pediatrics, 18 (37). http://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-018-1036-8
Quirk, H., Crank, H., Harrop, D., Hock, E., & Copeland, R. (2017). Understanding the experience of initiating community-based physical activity and social support by people with serious mental illness: a systematic review using a meta-ethnographic approach. Systematic Reviews, 6 (214). http://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-017-0596-2
Blake, H., Quirk, H., Leighton, P., Randell, T., Greening, J., Guo, B., & Glazebrook, C. (2016). Feasibility of an online intervention (STAK-D) to promote physical activity in children with type 1 diabetes : protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials, 17, 583. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-016-1719-0
Quirk, H., Glazebrook, C., Martin, R., & Blake, H. (2016). “We don’t worry about diabetes that much”: A qualitative study exploring perceptions of physical activity among children with Type 1 Diabetes. Advances in Pediatric Research, 3 (1), 2. http://doi.org/10.12715/apr.2016.3.2
Quirk, H., Blake, H., Dee, B., & Glazebrook, C. (2015). “Having diabetes shouldn’t stop them”: healthcare professionals’ perceptions of physical activity in children with Type 1 diabetes. BMC Pediatrics, 15, 68. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-015-0389-5
Quirk, H., Blake, H., Dee, B., & Glazebrook, C. (2014). “You can’t just jump on a bike and go”: a qualitative study exploring parents’ perceptions of physical activity in children with type 1 diabetes. BMC Pediatrics, 14, 313. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-014-0313-4
Quirk, H., Blake, H., Tennyson, R., Randell, T.L., & Glazebrook, C. (2014). Physical activity interventions in children and young people with Type 1 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Diabetic Medicine, 31 (10), 1163-1173. http://doi.org/10.1111/dme.12531
Journal articles
Machaczek, K., Quirk, H., Firth, J., Carney, R., Copeland, R., Pollard, N., ... Goyder, E. (2022). A whole systems approach to integrating physical activity to aid mental health recovery – translating theory into practice. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 23. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2022.100480
Lowe, A., Myers, A., Quirk, H., Blackshaw, J., Palanee, S., & Copeland, R. (2022). Physical activity promotion by GPs: a cross-sectional survey in England. BJGP Open. http://doi.org/10.3399/BJGPO.2021.0227
Haake, S., Quirk, H., & Bullas, A. (2022). Parkrun as a tool to support public health: insights for clinicians. British Journal of General Practice. http://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp.2022.0001
Woodrow, N., Fairbrother, H., Crowder, M., Goyder, E., Griffin, N., Holding, E., & Quirk, H. (2022). Exploring inequalities in health with young people through online focus groups: navigating the methodological and ethical challenges. Qualitative Research Journal, 22 (2), 197-208. http://doi.org/10.1108/qrj-06-2021-0064
Cholerton, R., Butt, J., Quirk, H., & Breckon, J. (2022). Differences in older adults walking football initiation and maintenance influences across respondent characteristics: a cross-sectional survey. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. http://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2021-0305
Quirk, H., Haake, S., Goyder, E., Bullas, A., Graney, M., & Wellington, C. (2022). Change in health, wellbeing and physical activity levels during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort of parkrun participants in the United Kingdom. Health Promotion International. http://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daac012
Haake, S., Quirk, H., & Bullas, A. (2022). The health benefits of volunteering at a free, weekly, 5 km event in the UK: a cross-sectional study of volunteers at parkrun. PLOS Global Public Health, 2 (2). http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0000138
Dunne, A., Haake, S., Quirk, H., & Bullas, A. (2021). Motivation to improve mental wellbeing via community physical activity initiatives and the associated impacts—a cross-sectional survey of UK parkrun participants. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (24). http://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413072
Quirk, H., Bullas, A., Haake, S., Goyder, E., Graney, M., Wellington, C., ... Stevinson, C. (2021). Exploring the benefits of participation in community-based running and walking events: a cross-sectional survey of parkrun participants. BMC Public Health, 21 (1). http://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11986-0
Quirk, H., & Haake, S. (2021). Engaging people with long-term health conditions in a community-based physical activity initiative: a qualitative follow-up study evaluating the parkrun PROVE project. BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation, 13. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-021-00351-8
Myers, A., Quirk, H., Lowe, A., Crank, H., Broom, D., Jones, N., ... Copeland, R. (2021). The Active Hospital Pilot: a qualitative study exploring the implementation of a Trust-wide Sport and Exercise Medicine-led physical activity intervention. PLoS One, 16 (9). http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257802
Smith, R.A., Schneider, P.P., Cosulich, R., Quirk, H., Bullas, A., Haake, S., & Goyder, E. (2021). Socioeconomic inequalities in distance to and participation in a community-based running and walking activity: A longitudinal ecological study of parkrun 2010 to 2019. Health and Place, 71, 102626. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102626
Cholerton, R., Quirk, H., Breckon, J., & Butt, J. (2021). Experiences and strategies influencing older adults to continue playing walking football. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. http://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2020-0058
Quirk, H., Heller, B., & Wright, N. (2020). Feasibility and acceptability of physical activity monitoring as an educational tool in the management of pediatric type 1 diabetes. Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 44 (8), 688-696. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjd.2020.06.013
Schneider, P.P., Smith, R.A., Bullas, A.M., Quirk, H., Bayley, T., Haake, S., ... Goyder, E. (2020). Multiple deprivation and geographic distance to community physical activity events — achieving equitable access to parkrun in England. Public Health, 189, 48-53. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2020.09.002
Quirk, H., Bullas, A., Haake, S., Goyder, E., Graney, M., Wellington, C., ... Stevinson, C. (2020). Exploring the Benefits of Participation in Community-Based Running and Walking Events: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Parkrun Participants. . http://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-122515/v1
Quirk, H., Hock, E., Harrop, D., Crank, H., Peckham, E., Travis-Turner, G., ... Copeland, R. (2020). Understanding the experience of initiating community-based group physical activity by people with serious mental illness: a systematic review using a meta-ethnographic approach. European Psychiatry, 63 (1). http://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.93
Smith, R., Schneider, P., Bullas, A., Haake, S., Quirk, H., Cosulich, R., & Goyder, E. (2020). Does ethnic density influence community participation in mass participation physical activity events? The case of parkrun in England. Wellcome Open Research, 5, 9. http://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.15657.2
Dash, K., Goyder, E.C., & Quirk, H. (2020). A qualitative synthesis of the perceived factors that affect participation in physical activity among children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Diabetic Medicine. http://doi.org/10.1111/dme.14299
Cholerton, R., Breckon, J., Butt, J., & Quirk, H. (2019). Experiences Influencing Walking Football Initiation in 55- to 75-Year-Old Adults: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 1-13. http://doi.org/10.1123/japa.2019-0123
Knox, E.C.L., Quirk, H., Glazebrook, C., Randell, T., & Blake, H. (2019). Impact of technology-based interventions for children and young people with type 1 diabetes on key diabetes self-management behaviours and prerequisites: a systematic review. BMC endocrine disorders, 19 (7). http://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-018-0331-6
Conference papers
Bullas, A., Dunne, A., Haake, S., & Quirk, H. (2020). Can access to green spaces during parkrun events contribute to the positive mental health of the participants? A literature review. In Annual Health Promotion Conference; Promoting health and wellbeing: creating a more equitable and sustainable environment, Galway, Ireland.18th June 2020, Galway, Ireland, 18 June 2020. http://www.nuigalway.ie/media/healthpromotionresearchcentre/conference2020/2020-Health-Promotion-Conference-Booklet.pdf
Theses / Dissertations
Cholerton, R.C. (2021). Walking football initiation and maintenance in older adults: a mixed-methods investigation. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Breckon, J., Butt, J., & Quirk, H. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00390
Posters
Quirk, H. (n.d.). Feasibility of a physical activity intervention for children with Type 1 diabetes: Steps to Actve Kids with Diabetes (STAK-D). Presented at: Diabetes UK Professional Conference 2017, Manchester, 2017