Associate Professor Leanne Hassett
People_

Associate Professor Leanne Hassett

A/Prof of Allied Health (WSLHD), Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health
Co-lead Implementation Science Academy, Sydney Health Partners
Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Musculoskeletal Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Associate Professor Leanne Hassett

A/Prof Hassett (PhD; MHS; BAppSc(PHTY)) is a physiotherapist and mid-career academic at the University of Sydney, working in a 40:40:20 academic role in the Sydney School of Health Sciences (0.6FTE) and a research-intensive academic role in the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health (0.4FTE), leading the research theme of physical activity for people with physical disabilities. A/Prof Hassett is currently seconded from her academic role (0.4FTE) to the leadership team of the Implementation Science Program within Sydney Health Partners, an NHMRC-accredited Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre. A/Prof Hassett also holds an Honorary Senior Research Fellowship position in South Western Sydney Local Health District, where A/Prof Hassett worked clinically for 15 years in brain injury rehabilitation. In 2020 A/Prof Hassett received the Vice Chancellor’s award for excellence in research and teaching.

In the past 5 years A/Prof Hassett has attracted over $4.6 million dollars in research funding as a Chief Investigator, including an NHMRC Translating Research into Practice (TRIP) Fellowship (APP1168274), two MRFF grants as CIA (APP2009099; APP1201086) and one NHMRC partnership grant as CIB (APP2011157), all supporting implementation projects to increase physical activity in older adults and people living with disability.

A/Prof Hassett’s leadership of the NHMRC-funded Activity and MObility UsiNg Technology (AMOUNT) rehabilitation trial (APP1063751) demonstrated clinically important improvements in mobility and self-reported walking, with increased physical activity and quality of life in younger participants and provided important information on provision of digital rehabilitation remotely. Related studies by PhD students have contributed important knowledge on the accuracy of activity monitors in rehabilitation populations as well as the experiences of patients and clinicians using digital devices in rehabilitation.

Current work of A/Prof Hassett is contributing to understanding of effectiveness and implementation of physical activity interventions in healthcare, supported by training in implementation science (TIDIRH-Australia, 2020) and behaviour change (Behaviour Change- Principles and Practice, University College London, UK, 2019) as part of A/Prof Hassett’s NHMRC TRIP Fellowship.

My research utilising implementation science methods including hybrid implementation-effectiveness trials (Key paper: Hassett L et al, JOP 2022).

My research topic is focused on increasing physical activity in people living with disability and comprises four inter-related streams:

  • Training fitness and mobility in people after severe traumatic brain injury(Key paper: Hassett L et al, Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2017)
  • Designing/using technology to improve mobility and physical activity in people undertaking rehabilitation(Key paper: Hassett L et al, PLOSMed 2020)
  • Identifying,promoting and evaluating appropriate opportunities for community-based physical activity for people living with disability (Key paper: Hassett L et al, BMJOpen SEM 2021)
  • Training health professionals (particularly physiotherapists) to promote physical activity for broader health benefits within their usual care (Key paper: Zhu S et al, IJERPH 2021)
  • Implementing physical activity promotion within healthcare systems (Key paper:Hassett L et al,Implementation Science Communications2022)

A/Prof Hassett teaches within the neurology program in the Discipline of Physiotherapy. Her teaching activities focus on developing the next generation of evidence-based critical thinking physiotherapists with a passion for working with people living with disability from neurological health conditions.

A/Prof Hassett has supervised research students to timely completion: 2 PhD; 3 Masters; and 8 first-class honours (2 with university medals). A/Prof Hassett is currently primary supervisor for 3 PhD and 1 Masters students, auxiliary supervisor for 2 PhD students, and primary supervisor for 3 honours students. A/Prof Hassett has supported students in successful scholarship applications (e.g., Pearce- RTP scholarship 2021), grant applications (e.g., Treacy- $22,000 Prince of Wales Research Foundation) and conference presentations (e.g., Wong, Emerging Digital Health Research award, Digital Health Week 2021).

Obesity, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease, Healthy Ageing
Project titleResearch student
Co-designing a model of care to deliver physical activity for school-aged children undergoing oncology treatment in an Australian publicly-funded health system.Kathryn CLARK
Physical activity coaching and use of technology for people with mobility limitations.Siobhan WONG

Publications

Book Chapters

  • Tiedemann, A., Hassett, L., Sherrington, C. (2021). Strategies to Promote Uptake and Adherence to Fall Prevention Programmes. In Stephen R. Lord, Catherine Sherrington, Vasi Naganathan (Eds.), Falls in Older People, (pp. 427-435). United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. [More Information]
  • Hassett, L., Allen, N., van den Berg, M. (2020). Feedback-Based Technologies for Adult Physical Rehabilitation. In Christopher M. Hayre, Dave Muller, Marcia Scherer (Eds.), Everyday Technologies in Healthcare, (pp. 143-174). Boca Raton: CRC Press. [More Information]
  • Carr, J., Shepherd, R., Moseley, A., Hassett, L. (2010). Traumatic Brain Injury. In Janet Carr and Roberta Shepherd (Eds.), Neurological Rehabilitation: Optimizing Motor Performance, (pp. 281-305). Sydney: Churchill Livingstone.

Journals

  • Nguy, V., Brady, B., Hassett, L., Canning, C., Elliott, J., Allen, N. (2024). A Mixed Methods Approach to Explore the Experience of Pain and Its Management in People with Parkinson's Disease. Parkinson's Disease, 2024. [More Information]
  • Rendell, R., De Barros Pinheiro, M., Wang, B., McKay, F., Ewen, A., Carnegie, C., Tikomaidelana, E., Fattah, Z., Hassett, L. (2024). Digital Apps to Improve Mobility in Adults with Neurological Conditions: A Health App-Focused Systematic Review. Healthcare, 12(9). [More Information]
  • Purcell, K., Taylor, J., West, K., Haynes, A., Hassett, L., Sherrington, C. (2024). Promotion of physical activity by health professionals in a sample of six public hospitals: A cross sectional study. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 35(1), 176-187. [More Information]

Report

  • Hassett, L., Liu, J. (2005). Physiotherapy for the Acute Care Management of Traumatic Brain Injury: An Information Package.

2024

  • Nguy, V., Brady, B., Hassett, L., Canning, C., Elliott, J., Allen, N. (2024). A Mixed Methods Approach to Explore the Experience of Pain and Its Management in People with Parkinson's Disease. Parkinson's Disease, 2024. [More Information]
  • Rendell, R., De Barros Pinheiro, M., Wang, B., McKay, F., Ewen, A., Carnegie, C., Tikomaidelana, E., Fattah, Z., Hassett, L. (2024). Digital Apps to Improve Mobility in Adults with Neurological Conditions: A Health App-Focused Systematic Review. Healthcare, 12(9). [More Information]
  • Purcell, K., Taylor, J., West, K., Haynes, A., Hassett, L., Sherrington, C. (2024). Promotion of physical activity by health professionals in a sample of six public hospitals: A cross sectional study. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 35(1), 176-187. [More Information]

2023

  • De Barros Pinheiro, M., Hassett, L., Sherrington, C., Hayes, A., van den Berg, M., Lindley, R., Crotty, M., Chagpar, S., Treacy, D., Weber, H., Fairhall, N., Wong, S., McCluskey, M., Togher, L., Howard, K., et al (2023). Economic evaluation of digitally enabled aged and neurological rehabilitation care in the Activity and MObility UsiNg Technology (AMOUNT) trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 37(5), 651-666. [More Information]
  • Souza De Oliveira, J., Gilbert, S., De Barros Pinheiro, M., Tiedemann, A., Macedo, L., Maia, L., Kwok, W., Hassett, L., Sherrington, C. (2023). Effect of sport on health in people aged 60 years and older: A systematic review with meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57(4), 230-236. [More Information]
  • Hassett, L., Shields, N., McKay, M., Cole, J., Moseley, A., Chagpar, S., Geerts, M., Kwok, W., Jensen, C., Sherrington, C. (2023). Effects of sport or physical recreation for adults with physical or intellectual disabilities: a systematic review with meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 58(5), 269-277. [More Information]

2022

  • Haynes, A., Sherrington, C., Ramsay, E., Kirkham, C., Manning, S., Wallbank, G., Hassett, L., Tiedemann, A. (2022). "Sharing Success with Someone": Building therapeutic alliance in physiotherapist-delivered physical activity coaching for healthy aging. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 38.0 (13), 2771-2787. [More Information]
  • Wallbank, G., Sherrington, C., Hassett, L., Kwasnicka, D., Chau, J., Phongsavan, P., Grunseit, A., Martin, F., Canning, C., Baird, M., Shepherd, R., Tiedemann, A. (2022). Acceptability and feasibility of an online physical activity program for women over 50: a pilot trial. Translational Behavioral Medicine, 12(2), 225-236. [More Information]
  • Wallbank, G., Sherrington, C., Hassett, L., Canning, C., Shepherd, R., Richards, B., Mackay, C., Tiedemann, A. (2022). Active Women over 50. Promoting Physical Activity in Women Over 50: A Randomized Trial. American Journal of Health Promotion, 36(2), 305-309. [More Information]

2021

  • West, K., Purcell, K., Haynes, A., Taylor, J., Hassett, L., Sherrington, C. (2021). "People Associate Us with Movement so It's an Awesome Opportunity": Perspectives from Physiotherapists on Promoting Physical Activity, Exercise and Sport. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6), 2963-1-2963-14. [More Information]
  • Taylor, J., Walsh, S., Kwok, W., De Barros Pinheiro, M., Souza De Oliveira, J., Hassett, L., Bauman, A., Bull, F., Tiedemann, A., Sherrington, C. (2021). A scoping review of physical activity interventions for older adults. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 18(1), 82. [More Information]
  • Hassett, L., van den Berg, M., Weber, H., Chagpar, S., Wong, S., Rabie, A., McCluskey, A., Lindley, R., Crotty, M., Sherrington, C. (2021). Activity and MObility UsiNg Technology (AMOUNT) rehabilitation trial - description of device use and physiotherapy support in the post-hospital phase. Disability and Rehabilitation, 43(24), 3454-3460. [More Information]

2020

  • Hassett, L., Ada, L., Hellweg, S., Paul, S., Alzahrani, M., Dean, C. (2020). Active and sedentary bouts in people after stroke and healthy controls: An observational study. Physiotherapy Research International, 25(3), e1845. [More Information]
  • Wallbank, G., Sherrington, C., Hassett, L., Kwasnicka, D., Chau, J., Martin, F., Phongsavan, P., Grunseit, A., Canning, C., Baird, M., Shepherd, R., Tiedemann, A. (2020). Active Women over 50 online information and sup to promote physical activity behaviour change: Study protocol for a pilot trial. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 6, 1-13. [More Information]
  • Hassett, L., van den Berg, M., Lindley, R., Crotty, M., McCluskey, M., Van Der Ploeg, H., Smith, S., Schurr, K., Howard, K., Hackett, M., Togher, L., Treacy, D., Wong, S., Chagpar, S., De Barros Pinheiro, M., Sherrington, C., et al (2020). Digitally enabled aged care and neurological rehabilitation to enhance outcomes with Activity and MObility UsiNg Technology (AMOUNT) in Australia: A randomised controlled trial. PLoS Medicine, 17(2), e1003029. [More Information]

2019

  • Souza De Oliveira, J., Sherrington, C., Paul, S., Ramsay, E., Chamberlain, K., Kirkham, C., O'Rourke, S., Hassett, L., Tiedemann, A. (2019). A combined physical activity and fall prevention intervention improved mobility-related goal attainment but not physical activity in older adults: a randomised trial. Journal of Physiotherapy, 65(1), 16-22. [More Information]
  • Kim, D., Hassett, L., Nguy, V., Allen, N. (2019). A Comparison of Activity Monitor Data from Devices Worn on the Wrist and the Waist in People with Parkinson's Disease. Movement Disorders Clinical Practice, 6(8), 693-699. [More Information]
  • Wallbank, G., Sherrington, C., Canning, C., Hassett, L., Shepherd, R., Richards, B., Mackay, C., Tiedemann, A. (2019). Active women over 50: study protocol for RCT of a low-dose information and support program to promote physical activity behaviour change. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 1-8. [More Information]

2018

  • Souza De Oliveira, J., Hassett, L., Sherrington, C., Ramsay, E., Kirkham, C., Manning, S., Tiedemann, A. (2018). Factors Associated With the Setting of Health-Related Goals Among Community-Dwelling Older People. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 26(3), 499-505. [More Information]
  • Hamilton, C., McCluskey, M., Hassett, L., Killington, M., Lovarini, M. (2018). Patient and therapist experiences of using affordable feedback-based technology in rehabilitation: a qualitative study nested in a randomized controlled trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 32(9), 1258-1270. [More Information]
  • Treacy, D., Hassett, L. (2018). The short physical performance battery. Journal of Physiotherapy, 64(1), 1-1. [More Information]

2017

  • Hassett, L., Moseley, A., Harmer, A. (2017). Fitness training for cardiorespiratory conditioning after traumatic brain injury. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017 (12), 1-65. [More Information]
  • Parma Yamato, T., Hassett, L. (2017). Physical fitness training for stroke survivors (PEDro synthesis). British Journal of Sports Medicine, 51(22), 1634-1635. [More Information]
  • Pearce, L., Hassett, L., Scheibe, F., Price, R., Kirkham, C., Sherrington, C. (2017). Sport and physical activity participation among people with disabilities reported at a sports exhibition and six months later: A cohort study. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 3, 206-220. [More Information]

2016

  • Williams, G., Ada, L., Hassett, L., Morris, M., Clark, R., Bryant, A., Olver, J. (2016). Ballistic strength training compared with usual care for improving mobility following traumatic brain injury: Protocol for a randomised, controlled trial. Journal of Physiotherapy, 62(3), 164-164. [More Information]
  • Chung, A., Harvey, L., Hassett, L. (2016). Do people with intellectual disability use Nintendo Wii when placed in their home as part of a physiotherapy program? An observational study. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 11(4), 310-315. [More Information]
  • Hassett, L., van den Berg, M., Lindley, R., Crotty, M., McCluskey, M., Van Der Ploeg, H., Smith, S., Schurr, K., Killington, M., Bongers, B., Howard, K., Togher, L., Hackett, M., Chagpar, S., Sherrington, C., et al (2016). Effect of affordable technology on physical activity levels and mobility outcomes in rehabilitation: a protocol for the Activity and MObility UsiNg Technology (AMOUNT) rehabilitation trial. BMJ Open, 6(6), 1-9. [More Information]

2015

  • Tiedemann, A., Hassett, L., Sherrington, C. (2015). A novel approach to the issue of physical inactivity in older age. Preventive Medicine Reports, 2, 595-597. [More Information]
  • Hassett, L., Simpson, G., Cotter, R., Whiting, D., Hodgkinson, A., Martin, D. (2015). A prospective interrupted time series study of interventions to improve the quality, rating, framing and structure of goal setting in community-based brain injury rehabilitation. Clinical Rehabilitation, 29(4), 327-338. [More Information]
  • Hassett, L., Moseley, A., Harmer, A., Van Der Ploeg, H. (2015). The Reliability, Validity, and Feasibility of Physical Activity Measurement in Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury: An Observational Study. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 30(2), E55-E61. [More Information]

2012

  • Hassett, L., Moseley, A., Whiteside, B., Barry, S., Jones, T. (2012). Circuit class therapy can provide a fitness training stimulus for adults with severe traumatic brain injury: a randomised trial within an observational study. Journal of Physiotherapy, 58(2), 105-112. [More Information]

2011

  • Hassett, L., Tate, R., Moseley, A., Gillett, L. (2011). Injury severity, age and pre-injury exercise history predict adherence to a home-based exercise programme in adults with traumatic brain injury. Brain Injury, 25(7-8), 698-706. [More Information]

2010

  • Carr, J., Shepherd, R., Moseley, A., Hassett, L. (2010). Traumatic Brain Injury. In Janet Carr and Roberta Shepherd (Eds.), Neurological Rehabilitation: Optimizing Motor Performance, (pp. 281-305). Sydney: Churchill Livingstone.

2009

  • Hassett, L., Moseley, A., Tate, R., Harmer, A., Fairbairn, T., Leung, J. (2009). Efficacy of a fitness centre-based exercise programme compared with a home-based exercise programme in traumatic brain injury: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 41(4), 247-255. [More Information]

2008

  • Hassett, L., Moseley, A., Tate, R., Harmer, A. (2008). Fitness training for cardiorespiratory conditioning after traumatic brain injury. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2, 1-53. [More Information]
  • Moseley, A., Hassett, L., Leung, J., Clare, J., Herbert, R., Harvey, L. (2008). Serial casting versus positioning for the treatment of elbow contractures in adults with traumatic brain injury: a randomized controlled trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 22(5), 406-417. [More Information]

2007

  • Hassett, L., Harmer, A., Moseley, A., Mackey, M. (2007). Validity of the modified 20-metre shuttle test: assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness in people who have sustained a traumatic brain injury. Brain Injury, 21(10), 1069-1077. [More Information]

2006

  • Hassett, L., Moseley, A., Tate, R., Harmer, A. (2006). Fitness training for cardiorespiratory conditioning after traumatic brain injury (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2006 (3), 1-15. [More Information]

2005

  • Hassett, L., Liu, J. (2005). Physiotherapy for the Acute Care Management of Traumatic Brain Injury: An Information Package.

2004

  • Moseley, A., Lanzarone, S., Bosman, J., Van Loo, M., De Bies, R., Hassett, L. (2004). Ecological Validity Of Walking Speed Assessment After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 19(4), 341-348. [More Information]
  • Van Loo, M., Moseley, A., Bosman, J., De Bies, R., Hassett, L. (2004). Test-Re-Test Reliability Of Walking Speed, Step Length And Step Width Measurement After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study. Brain Injury, 18(10), 1041-1048. [More Information]

2003

  • Van Loo, M., Moseley, A., Bosman, J., De Bies, R., Hassett, L. (2003). Inter-rater reliability and concurrent validity of step length and step width measurement after traumatic brain injury. Disability and Rehabilitation, 25(21), 1195-1200. [More Information]
  • Van Loo, M., Moseley, A., Bosman, J., De Bies, R., Hassett, L. (2003). Inter-rater reliability and concurrent validity of walking speed measurement after traumatic brain injury. Clinical Rehabilitation, 17(7), 775-779. [More Information]

Selected Grants

2024

  • Implementation of the Australian Physical Activity Clinical Practice Guideline for people with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, Hassett L, Sherrington C, Haynes A, Smith-Merry J, Gilroy J, Cameron I, Raghunandan R, Brady B, Department of Health and Aged Care (Federal)/MRFF - Traumatic Brain Injury

2023

  • Acceptability and feasibility of the RIPE dance program for preventing falls in people aged 60: a pilot trial, Gilchrist H, Tiedemann A, Sherrington C, Hassett L, Haynes A, Souza De Oliveira J, Physiotherapy Research Foundation/Seeding Grant
  • Active Women over 50 in rural, regional and remote areas: an effectiveness-implementation trial, Tiedemann A, Hassett L, McKeon G, Phongsavan P, Bauman A, Rosenbaum S, Houssami N, Howard K, Luscombe G, Gilchrist H, Biswas R, Department of Health and Aged Care (Federal - administered by NHMRC)/Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission - 2022 Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Grant

Collaboration Group Publications

  • Fitzgerald, M., Ponsford, J., Lannin, NA., O’Brien, T J., Cameron, P., Cooper, D J., Rushworth, N., AUS-TBI Investigators., and Gabbe. (2022) AUS-TBI: The Australian Health Informatics Approach to Predict Outcomes and Monitor Intervention Efficacy after Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, Neurotrauma Reports, 3(1), 217-223.[More Information]