Dr Jill Thompson

BSc (Hons), MA, PhD

School of Allied Health, Pharmacy, Nursing and Midwifery

Director of Research for AHPNM

Senior Lecturer in Global Health and Wellbeing

Jill.thompson@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 2075
Room 104, 362 Mushroom Lane

Full contact details

Dr Jill Thompson
School of Allied Health, Pharmacy, Nursing and Midwifery
Room 104
362 Mushroom Lane
Sheffield
S10 2TS
Research interests

I am a social scientist, and my research has a dual focus on rigorous qualitative evaluation methodologies and advancing the health and wellbeing among children and young people, both nationally and globally. 

Evaluation

My expertise lies in the qualitative evaluation of complex interventions, using both process and realist evaluation methodologies. I am adept at applying these methodologies across diverse health and social contexts, working collaboratively with stakeholders to generate evidence that is robust, relevant, and actionable. A cornerstone of my approach is the strategic integration of participatory approaches throughout the research and evaluation lifecycle. 

Children and young people

Alongside my methodological expertise, I possess a sustained commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people. My research in this area spans a wide array of critical topics, including mental health, health promotion and children’s experiences of health care access in both national and global contexts. 

Previous projects

  • A National evaluation of Green Social Prescribing to improve mental health (DEFRA funded)
  • Mixed-Realities Play Kit to Prepare Children Aged 4-10 for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). (Funded by INNOVATE UK and TUOS Knowledge Exchange)
  • Promoting sustainable livelihoods: unpacking possibilities for empowerment with young migrants in Ghana. (Funded by British Academy Youth Futures).
  • Promoting disaster resilience in children: developing a network to research culturally appropriate, sustainable public health interventions in Fiji and Samoa. (Funded by Academy of Medical Sciences and GCRF)
  • Identifying the additional needs of migrant children. (Sheffield Children’s Hospital Funded)
  • Engaging young people and migrant families in enhancing quality care in the management of long-term health conditions. (GNCT funded)
  • A realist synthesis to explain how, for whom, and in what circumstances different community mental health crisis services work (NIHR funded).
  • Hidden Voices: Exploring the impact of migration on children’s perspectives of health (World University Network Funded).
  • Assessment and Satisfaction of services for Juvenile Huntington’s Disease (Research for Patient Benefit funded).
  • Exploring the impact of community-based peer support on promoting health literacy’ (COPES) (NIHR Public Health Research funded)
Publications

Journal articles

  • Spencer G, Dankyi E, Ofori CAE, Agyekum MW, Nyarko S, Asante D, Kwankye SO & Thompson J (2025) . Qualitative Research.
  • Spencer G, Kwankye SO, Thompson J & Dankyi E (2025) . Sociological Research Online, 30(1), 189-208.
  • Ashman M, Clibbens N, Thompson J, Gilburt H, Thompson E & Khalid Y (2024) . Research Involvement and Engagement, 10(1).
  • Spencer G & Thompson J (2024) . International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 108.
  • Taylor B, Thompson J & Ryan T (2024) . Qualitative Health Research, 34(11), 1053-1068.
  • Rivers G, Hinchliff S & Thompson J (2024) . Journal of Clinical Nursing (JCN), 33(6), 2112-2122.
  • Thompson J, Yamada-Rice D, Thompson S, Murray L & Taylor M (2024) . BMJ Innovations, 10(1-2), 38-42.
  • Spencer G, Thompson J, Froehlich F, Asafo D, Doku MT, Asiamah G, Mornuu J, Kassim A, Kwankye SO & Dankyi E (2023) . Journal of the British Academy, 11(S3), 43-67.
  • Rogers MM, Ali P, Thompson J & Ifayomi M (2023) . Social Science & Medicine, 338.
  • Yohani S, Salami B, Taylor M, Bukambu E, Pachani N, Fouche C, Thompson J & Vallianatos H (2023) . International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 97.
  • Clibbens N, Baker J, Booth A, Berzins K, Ashman MC, Sharda L, Thompson J, Kendal S & Weich S (2023) . Health and Social Care Delivery Research, 11(15).
  • Clibbens N, Booth A, Sharda L, Baker J, Thompson J, Ashman M, Berzins K, Weich S & Kendal S (2023) . International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 32(6), 1636-1653.
  • Yamada-Rice D, Love S, Thompson J, Thompson S & McQuillian H (2023) . Multimodality & Society, 3(2), 170-196.
  • Busebaia TJA, Thompson J, Fairbrother H & Ali P (2023) . Journal of Advanced Nursing, 79(10), 3652-3677.
  • Thompson J, Holding E, Haywood A & Foster A (2023) . Health and Social Care in the Community, 2023.
  • Spencer G, Dankyi E, Thompson J, Acton F & Kwankye SO (2022) . International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22).
  • Bray L, Booth L, Gray V, Maden M, Thompson J & Saron H (2022) . Insights into Imaging, 13.
  • Spencer G, Smith M, Hoare K, Fouché C & Thompson J (2022) . Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 52(1), 25-37.
  • Thompson J, Spencer G & Curtis P (2021) . Health Expectations, 24(6), 2057-2064.
  • Salami B, Mogale S, Ojo F, Kariwo M, Thompson J, Okeke-Ihejirika P & Yohani S (2021) . Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 61, 199-206.
  • Foster A, Thompson J, Holding E, Ariss S, Mukuria C, Jacques R, Akparido R & Haywood A (2021) . Health & Social Care in the Community, 29(5), 1439-1449.
  • Thompson J, Fairbrother H, Spencer G, Curtis P, Fouche C, Hoare K, Hogan D, O’Riordan J, Salami B, Smith M , Taylor B et al (2020) . Global Health Promotion, 27(4), 141-144.
  • Spencer G, Fairbrother H & Thompson J (2020) . International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 19.
  • Holding E, Thompson J, Foster A & Haywood A (2020) . Health & Social Care in the Community, 28(5), 1535-1543.
  • Smith J, Ali P, Birks Y, Curtis P, Fairbrother H, Kirk S, Saltiel D, Thompson J & Swallow V (2020) . Journal of Advanced Nursing, 76(8), 1911-1923.
  • Chambers E, Gardiner C, Thompson J & Seymour J (2019) . Palliative Medicine, 33(8), 969-984.
  • Spencer G, Smith M, Thompson J, Fairbrother H, Hoare K, Fouché C & Curtis P (2019) . Health Education Journal, 78(1), 96-107.
  • Bissell P, Thompson J & Gibson BJ (2018) . Sociology, 52(6), 1200-1206.
  • Curtis P, Thompson J & Fairbrother H (2018) . Public Health, 158, 71-85.
  • Thompson J, Tod A, Bissell P & Bond M (2017) . Health Expectations, 20(6), 1342-1349.
  • Fitzsimmons DA, Thompson J, Bentley CL & Mountain GA (2016) . BMC Health Services Research, 16.
  • Harris J, Croot L, Thompson J & Springett J (2016) . Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 70(2), 207-214.
  • Bentley CL, Mountain GA, Thompson J, Fitzsimmons DA, Lowrie K, Parker SG & Hawley MS (2014) . Trials, 15.
  • Thompson J, Bissell P, Cooper CL, Armitage CJ & Barber R (2014) . Qual Health Res, 24(1), 46-54.
  • Harris J, Croot L, Springett J, Wilkins E, Booth A, Campbell F, Thompson J & Yang Y (2013) Promoting Health Literacy through Community Based Peer Support: what works for whom under which circumstances and why?. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITATIVE METHODS, 12, 728-728.
  • Campbell F, Booth A, Harris J, Croot L, Goyder E, Springett J, Thompson J, Van Cleemput P, Wilkins E & Yang Y (2013) Promoting Health Literacy through Community Based Peer Support: integrating qualitative and quantitative research in evidence synthesis.. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITATIVE METHODS, 12, 726-727.
  • Thompson J, Bissell P, Cooper C, Armitage CJ & Barber R (2012) . Health (London), 16(6), 602-618.
  • Fitzsimmons DA, Thompson J, Hawley M & Mountain GA (2011) . Trials, 12(6).
  • Ward PR, Thompson J, Barber R, Armitage CJ, Boote JD, Cooper CL & Jones GL (2010) . J SOCIOL, 46(1), 63-82.
  • Thompson J, Barber R, Ward PR, Boote JD, Cooper CL, Armitage CJ & Jones G (2009) . Health Expect, 12(2), 209-220.
  • Thompson J, Smith J & Evans J () . Evidence Based Nursing.
  • Curtis P, Thompson J & Fairbrother H () Migrant children within Europe: a systematic review of children’s perspectives on their health experiences. Public Health.
  • Harris J, Springett J, Booth A, Campbell F, Thompson J, Goyder E, Van Cleemput P, Wilkins E & Yang Y () Can community-based peer support promote health literacy and reduce inequalities? A realist review.. Journal of Public Health Research, 3(3).

Book chapters

  • Spencer G & Thompson J (2022) In Frankel S (Ed.), Establishing Child Centred Practice in a Changing World: Part A (pp. 9-23). Emerald
  • Spencer G, Dankyi E, Kwankye SO & Thompson J (2021) , Advances in Research Ethics and Integrity (pp. 183-197). Emerald Publishing Limited

Conference proceedings

  • Thompson J, Fairbrother H & Curtis P (2018) . European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 28(Suppl_1) (pp 128-128). Edinburgh, UK, 17 May 2018 - 19 May 2018.
  • Farber A, Tan T-W, Hu B, Dember LM, Beck GJ, Dixon BS, Kusek JW, Feldman HI, Dember L, Kaufman J , Hawley M et al (2015) . Journal of Vascular Surgery, Vol. 62(5) (pp 1258-1265)
  • Croot L, Harris J, Thompson J, Van Cleemput P, Booth A, Campbell F, Springett J & Wilkins E (2013) Promoting Health Literacy through Community Based Peer Support: a participatory approach to a realist review.. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUALITATIVE METHODS, Vol. 12 (pp 727-728)
Research group

I am interested in supervising students in my research areas and welcome prospective students getting in touch to discuss potential applications.

Teaching activities

I currently teach Global Health, Health Promotion, Research Methods and the Dissertation module. 

Professional activities and memberships

I am co-lead for the co-production theme of the South Yorkshire Children and Young People’s Health Research Network (SCYPHeR)

I co-lead the  for the University of Sheffield, with my colleague Dr Hannah Fairbrother. 

I am on the board of the .