Associate Professor Rachel Thompson
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Associate Professor Rachel Thompson

BPsySc(Hons) PhD Qld. GradCertEdStudies Syd. FHEA
Associate Professor
School of Health Sciences
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Associate Professor Rachel Thompson

I am a behavioural scientist with training in health psychology and shared decision-making. I am Head of the Discipline of Behavioural and Social Sciences in Health, Sydney School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health.

I conduct perinatal and reproductive health research that seeks to enable all people to access health care that is evidence-based and aligned with their preferences and values. I am the lead of the Periscope Lab, a member of the Wiser Healthcare research collaboration, and am affiliated with the Sydney Health Literacy Lab.

I also teach HSBH3005 Evidence Based Health Care and mentor and supervise people conducting behavioural science and health services research in a range of areas (see Teaching interests below).

I mentor and supervise people conducting behavioural science and health services research in a range of areas including:

  • Perinatal and reproductive health (e.g., contraception, abortion, pregnancy and childbirth, fertility and infertility, menstruation)
  • Patient-centred care
  • Shared decision-making and patient decision aids
  • Patient and public participation
  • End user engagement and co-design
  • Inequities and inequalities
  • Health care access and experience
  • Patient-reported measurement
  • Evidence-based medicine
  • Low-value care
  • Conflicts of interest
  • Quantitative and qualitative methods

If you are considering applying for a PhD or Masters research degree at the University of Sydney and are interested in these or related areas, please feel free to email me.

Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health
Project titleResearch student
Weight stigma in maternity care: Experiences, outcomes and contributing factorsAshleigh ARMANASCO
Pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies for the management of musculoskeletal conditions.Lisa VIZZA

Publications

Journals

  • Copp, T., Thompson, R., Hammarberg, K., Lensen, S., Augustine, L., Doust, J., Peate, M., Cvejic, E., Mol, B., Lieberman, D., McCaffery, K. (2024). Attitudes, knowledge and practice regarding the anti-müllerian hormone test among general practitioners and reproductive specialists: A cross-sectional study. BJOG, 131(8), 1072-1079. [More Information]
  • Dolan, H., Bateson, D., Li, M., Thompson, R., Tam, C., Bonner, C., Trevena, L. (2024). Development and pilot testing of the Population And ContExt adaption of decision aids (PACE) framework. PEC Innovation, 5(100347). [More Information]
  • Gamble, A., McKay, M., Anderson, D., Pappas, E., Cooper, I., Macpherson, S., Harris, I., Filbay, S., McCaffery, K., Thompson, R., Maher, C., Zadro, J., et al (2024). Development of a patient decision aid for children and adolescents following anterior cruciate ligament rupture: an international mixed-methods study. BMJ Open, 14(4), e081421. [More Information]

2024

  • Copp, T., Thompson, R., Hammarberg, K., Lensen, S., Augustine, L., Doust, J., Peate, M., Cvejic, E., Mol, B., Lieberman, D., McCaffery, K. (2024). Attitudes, knowledge and practice regarding the anti-müllerian hormone test among general practitioners and reproductive specialists: A cross-sectional study. BJOG, 131(8), 1072-1079. [More Information]
  • Dolan, H., Bateson, D., Li, M., Thompson, R., Tam, C., Bonner, C., Trevena, L. (2024). Development and pilot testing of the Population And ContExt adaption of decision aids (PACE) framework. PEC Innovation, 5(100347). [More Information]
  • Gamble, A., McKay, M., Anderson, D., Pappas, E., Cooper, I., Macpherson, S., Harris, I., Filbay, S., McCaffery, K., Thompson, R., Maher, C., Zadro, J., et al (2024). Development of a patient decision aid for children and adolescents following anterior cruciate ligament rupture: an international mixed-methods study. BMJ Open, 14(4), e081421. [More Information]

2023

  • Abdel Shaheed, C., Ivers, R., Vizza, L., McLachlan, A., Kelly, P., Blyth, F., Stanaway, F., Clare, P., Thompson, R., Lung, T., Reid, S., McCaffery, K., Mathieson, S., Maher, C., et al (2023). Clinical Observation, Management and Function Of low back pain Relief Therapies (COMFORT): A cluster randomised controlled trial protocol. BMJ Open, 13(11), e075286. [More Information]
  • Copp, T., Thompson, R., Doust, J., Hammarberg, K., Peate, M., Lensen, S., Cvejic, E., Lieberman, D., Mol, B., McCaffery, K. (2023). Community awareness and use of anti-Müllerian hormone testing in Australia: a population survey of women. Human Reproduction, 38(8), 1571-1577. [More Information]
  • Gan, J., McKay, M., Jones, C., Harris, I., McCaffery, K., Thompson, R., Hoffmann, T., Adie, S., Maher, C., Zadro, J. (2023). Developing a patient decision aid for Achilles tendon rupture management: a mixed-methods study. BMJ Open, 13(6), e072553. [More Information]

2022

  • Dolan, H., Bateson, D., Li, M., Thompson, R., Tam, C., Bonner, C., Trevena, L. (2022). Acceptability and perceived feasibility of adapted encounter decision aids on contraceptive methods: An interview study with healthcare providers and Chinese migrant women. PEC Innovation, 1. [More Information]
  • Tracy, M., Thompson, R., Muscat, D., Bonner, C., Hoffmann, T., McCaffery, K., Shepherd, H. (2022). Implementing shared decision-making in Australia. German Journal for Evidence and Quality in Health Care (Zeitschrift fur Evidenz, Fortbildung und Qualitaet im Gesundheitswesen), 171, 15-21. [More Information]
  • Zadro, J., Karunaratne, S., Harris, I., Jones, C., O'Keeffe, M., Ferreira, G., Buchbinder, R., McCaffery, K., Thompson, R., Maher, C., et al (2022). The impact of a patient decision aid on intention to undergo surgery for subacromial pain syndrome: An online randomised controlled trial. Patient Education and Counseling, 105(9), 2951-2961. [More Information]

2021

  • Dolan, H., Li, M., Bateson, D., Thompson, R., Tam, C., Bonner, C., Trevena, L. (2021). 'Every medicine is part poison': a qualitative inquiry into the perceptions and experiences of choosing contraceptive methods of migrant Chinese women living in Australia. BMC Women's Health, 21(1), 100. [More Information]
  • Munro, S., Wilcox, E., Lambert, L., Norena, M., Kaufman, S., Encinger, J., Kendall, T., Thompson, R. (2021). A survey of health care practitioners' attitudes toward shared decision-making for choice of next birth after cesarean. Birth, 48(2), 194-208. [More Information]
  • Thompson, R., Paskins, Z., Main, B., Pope, T., Chan, E., Moulton, B., Barry, M., Braddock, C. (2021). Addressing Conflicts of Interest in Health and Medicine: Current Evidence and Implications for Patient Decision Aid Development. Medical Decision Making, 41(7), 768-779. [More Information]

2020

  • Dolan, H., Li, M., Bateson, D., Thompson, R., Tam, C., Bonner, C., Trevena, L. (2020). Healthcare providers' perceptions of the challenges and opportunities to engage Chinese migrant women in contraceptive counselling: A qualitative interview study. Sexual Health, 17(5), 405-413. [More Information]
  • Miller, Y., Armanasco, A., McCosker, L., Thompson, R. (2020). Variations in outcomes for women admitted to hospital in early versus active labour: an observational study. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 20(1), 469. [More Information]

2019

  • Donnelly, K., Dehlendorf, C., Reed, R., Agusti, D., Thompson, R. (2019). Adapting the Interpersonal Quality in Family Planning care scale to assess patient perspectives on abortion care. Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes, 3(1), 1-10. [More Information]
  • Muscat, D., Chang, E., Thompson, R., Cvejic, E., Tracy, M., Zadro, J., Smith, J., Lindner, R., McCaffery, K. (2019). Evaluation of the Choosing Wisely Australia 5 Questions resource and a shared decision-making preparation video: protocol for an online experiment. BMJ Open, 9(11), 1-7. [More Information]
  • Munro, S., Manski, R., Donnelly, K., Agusti, D., Stevens, G., Banach, M., Boardman, M., Brady, P., Bradt, C., Foster, T., Shepherd, H., Trevena, L., Thompson, R., et al (2019). Investigation of factors influencing the implementation of two shared decision-making interventions in contraceptive care: a qualitative interview study among clinical and administrative staff. Implementation Science, 14(1), 1-16. [More Information]

2018

  • Donnelly, K., Elwyn, G., Thompson, R. (2018). Quantity over quality-Findings from a systematic review and environmental scan of patient decision aids on early abortion methods. Health Expectations, 21(1), 316-326. [More Information]
  • Nijagal, M., Wissing, S., Stowell, C., Olson, E., Amer-Wahlin, I., Bonsel, B., Brooks, A., Matthew, C., Thompson, R., et al (2018). Standardized outcome measures for pregnancy and childbirth, an ICHOM proposal. BMC Health Services Research, 18(1), 953. [More Information]
  • Forcino, R., Paul J., B., O’Malley, A., Roger, A., Castaldo, M., Ozanne, E., Sanja Percac-Lima, P., Cheryl, D., Tai-Seale, M., Thompson, R., et al (2018). Using CollaboRATE, a brief patient- reported measure of shared decision making: Results from three clinical settings in the United States. Health Expectations, 21(1), 82-89. [More Information]

2017

  • Barr, P., Forcino, R., Thompson, R., Ozanne, E., Arend, R., Castaldo, M., O’Malley, A., Elwyn, G. (2017). Evaluating CollaboRATE in a clinical setting: analysis of mode effects on scores, response rates and costs of data collection. BMJ Open, 7(3), e014681. [More Information]
  • Beckmann, M., Thompson, R., Miller, Y., Prosse, S., Flenady, V., Kumar, S. (2017). Measuring women's experience of induction of labor using prostaglandin vaginal gel. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology: X, 210, 189-195. [More Information]
  • Thompson, R., Manski, R., Donnelly, K., Stevens, G., Agusti, D., Banach, M., Boardman, M., Brady, P., Bradt, C., Foster, T., Shepherd, H., Trevena, L., et al (2017). Right for Me: Protocol for a cluster randomised trial of two interventions for facilitating shared decision-making about contraceptive methods. BMJ Open, 7(10), 1-12. [More Information]

2016

  • Gabrielle, S., Miller, Y., Watson, B., Thompson, R. (2016). Choosing a Model of Maternity Care: Decision Support Needs of Australian Women. Birth Issues, 43(2), 167-175. [More Information]
  • Forcino, R., Bustamante, N., Thompson, R., Percac-Lima, S., Elwyn, G., Pérez-Arechaederra, D., Barr, P. (2016). Developing and Pilot Testing a Spanish Translation of CollaboRATE for Use in the United States. PloS One, 11(12), e0168538. [More Information]
  • Stevens, G., Thompson, R., Watson, B., Miller, Y. (2016). Patient decision aids in routine maternity care: Benefits, barriers, and new opportunities. Women and Birth, 29(1), 30-34. [More Information]

2015

  • Miller, Y., Prosser, S., Thompson, R. (2015). Back to normal: A retrospective, cross-sectional study of the multi-factorial determinants of normal birth in Queensland, Australia. Midwifery, 31(8), 818-827. [More Information]
  • Elwyn, G., Thompson, R., John, R., Grande, S. (2015). Developing integrate: A fast and frugal patient-reported measure of integration in health care delivery. International Journal of Integrated Care, 15(1), 1-8. [More Information]
  • Donnelly, K., Thompson, R. (2015). Medical versus surgical methods of early abortion: Protocol for a systematic review and environmental scan of patient decision AIDS. BMJ Open, 5(7). [More Information]

2014

  • Miller, Y., Dane, A., Thompson, R. (2014). A call for better care: The impact of postnatal contact services on women's parenting confidence and experiences of postpartum care in Queensland, Australia. BMC Health Services Research, 14(1). [More Information]
  • Grande, S., Faber, M., Durand, M., Thompson, R., Elwyn, G. (2014). A classification model of patient engagement methods and assessment of their feasibility in real-world settings. Patient Education and Counseling, 95(2), 281-287. [More Information]
  • Thompson, R., Miller, Y. (2014). Birth control: To what extent do women report being informed and involved in decisions about pregnancy and birth procedures? BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 14(1). [More Information]

2013

  • Wojcieszek, A., Thompson, R. (2013). Conceiving of change: A brief intervention increases young adults' knowledge of fertility and the effectiveness of in vitro fertilization. Fertility and Sterility, 100(2), 523-529. [More Information]
  • Elwyn, G., Barr, P., Grande, S., Thompson, R., Walsh, T., Ozanne, E. (2013). Developing CollaboRATE: A fast and frugal patient-reported measure of shared decision making in clinical encounters. Patient Education and Counseling, 93(1), 102-107. [More Information]
  • Thompson, R., Lee, C., Adams, J. (2013). Imagining fatherhood: Young Australian men's perspectives on fathering. International Journal of Men's Health, 12(2), 150-165. [More Information]

Selected Grants

2022

  • COMFORT: Clinical Observation, Management, and Function Of low back pain Relief Therapies, Abdel Shaheed C, Maher C, McLachlan A, Blyth F, Kelly P, Stanaway F, Thompson R, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)/Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies

Further Publications

  • Stacey, D,Volk, R J, IPDAS Evidence Update Leads (Bekker, H, Steffensen, K D, Hoffmann, T C, McCaffery, K, Thompson, R, Thomson, R, Trevena, L, van der Weijden, T, Witteman, H). (2021). The International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS) Collaboration: Evidence Update 2.0. Medical Decision Making, 41 (7) 729-733 [More Information]