Professor Richard Cooper

PhD, MA, LLB, BSc, PGCertHE, FRSPH, SFHEA, MRPharmS

School of Medicine and Population Health

Professor of Public Health and Social Pharmacy

Richard Cooper
Profile picture of Richard Cooper
richard.cooper@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 0768

Full contact details

Professor Richard Cooper
School of Medicine and Population Health
Room 2016, 2nd Floor
Regent Court (ScHARR)
30 Regent Street
Sheffield
S1 4DA
Profile

I have been at the University of Sheffield since 2007. I studied pharmacy as a first degree and undertook various community pharmacist roles before studying law, then health care ethics at the University of Leeds; my PhD was undertaken at the University of Nottingham and involved an empirical study of ethics in healthcare.

Research interests

My research interests span a number of methodologies (but particularly qualitative and mixed methods) and themes including:

  • Misuse, abuse and addiction to medicines
  • Over-the-counter and prescription medicine supply and prescribing
  • Medical sociology
  • Pharmacy
  • Medical ethics
Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Edited books

  • Vivekananda-Schmidt P, Brooks W, Maybrook-Walker I, Xiu P & Cooper R (Eds.) (2025) Crash Course Medical Ethics and Medical Law. Elsevier.

Journal articles

  • Tuck C, Gray L, Akparibo R & Cooper R (2025) . Global Health Research and Policy, 10.
  • Blease J, Bhonsle Y, Ireson R, Farroha A, Westley G, Cooper R & Hind D (2025) . PLoS ONE, 20(9).
  • Astin F, Goyder E, Cooper R, Stephenson J & Javid F (2025) . Advances in Integrative Medicine, 12(4).
  • Tuck C, Timtoni Iddrisu AR, Moro SA, Akparibo R, Aryeetey R, Gray L & Cooper R (2025) . Communications Medicine, 5.
  • Tuck CZ, Akparibo R, Gray LA, Suraj H, Iddrisu ART, Abane TR, Deedat AA, Aryeetey RNO, Abubakari BB, Azure A & Cooper R (2025) . BMJ Open, 15(2).
  • Cooper R, Matheson C, Pagan E & Radford H (2025) . Pharmacy, 13(1).
  • Jayasooriya S, Inoue M, Allen H, Bojang M, Ceesay A, Touray S, Mortimer K, Cooper R & Balen J (2024) . npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine, 34(1).
  • Tuck C, Gray L, Suraj H, Timtoni Iddrisu A-R, Tampuri A-R, Aryeetey R, Baba BA, Akparibo R & Cooper R (2024) . Journal of Cancer Policy, 41.
  • Tuck C, Cooper R, Aryeetey R, Gray L & Akparibo R (2023) . International Journal for Equity in Health, 22(1).
  • Wang M, Cooper R & Green D (2023) . Pharmacy, 11(6).
  • Kirkcaldy AJ, Wilson M, Cooper R, Baxter SK & Campbell F (2023) . BMJ Open, 13(10).
  • Cooper RJ (2022) . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 30(6), 489-491.
  • Tuck C, Akparibo R, Gray L, Aryeetey R & Cooper R (2022) . BMJ Open, 12(10).
  • Osasu Y, Mitchell C & Cooper R (2022) . BJGP Open, 6(4).
  • David G, Cooper R, Dixon S & Holmes J (2022) . Addiction, 117(4), 1163-1172.
  • Osasu Y, Cooper R & Mitchell C (2021) . BMC Family Practice, 22.
  • Quah M, Marney B, Cooper R & Dickson J (2021) . Clinical Case Reports, 9(7).
  • Booth E, Halliday V & Cooper RJ (2021) . J Public Health (Oxf), 43(2), e213-e223.
  • Milevska-Kostova N, Devi R & Cooper R (2020) . International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 37(1).
  • Ajabnoor AM & Cooper R (2020) . Pharmacy, 8(3).
  • Cooper RJ (2020) . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 28(3), 205-206.
  • Coombes H & Cooper RJ (2019) . Addiction Science and Clinical Practice, 14.
  • Lee E & Cooper R (2019) . Journal of Medical Internet Research Mental Health, 6(4).
  • Sprake E, Russell MJ, Cecil J, Cooper R, Grabowski PS, Pourshahidi LK & Barker M (2018) . Nutrition Journal, 17(90).
  • Cooper R & Tsoneva J (2017) . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 25(5), 351-357.
  • Green MA, Little E, Cooper R, Relton C & Strong M (2016) . BMJ Open, 6.
  • Cooper RJ (2013) . BMJ Open, 3(6).
  • Cooper RJ (2013) . J Subst Use, 18(2), 82-107.

Book chapters

  • Cooper R (2021) In Ballantyne P & Ryan K (Ed.), Living Pharmaceutical Lives (pp. 154-168). Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK: Routledge.
  • Cooper R (2019) Measuring health and illness In van Teijlingen E & Humphris G (Ed.), Psychology and Sociology Applied to Medicine Elsevier
  • Cooper R (2018) (pp. 69-82). ABC-CLIO, LLC
  • Cooper R (2010) The Ethics of Prescribing In Bath-Hextall F (Ed.), New Prescriber Wiley-Blackwell
  • Cooper R (2008) Information technology, ethics and pharmacy medicine sales In Robinson S & Strain J (Ed.), Ethics for Living and Working (pp. 15-30). Troubador Publishing

All publications

Edited books

  • Vivekananda-Schmidt P, Brooks W, Maybrook-Walker I, Xiu P & Cooper R (Eds.) (2025) Crash Course Medical Ethics and Medical Law. Elsevier.

Journal articles

  • Tuck C, Gray L, Akparibo R & Cooper R (2025) . Global Health Research and Policy, 10.
  • Blease J, Bhonsle Y, Ireson R, Farroha A, Westley G, Cooper R & Hind D (2025) . PLoS ONE, 20(9).
  • Astin F, Goyder E, Cooper R, Stephenson J & Javid F (2025) . Advances in Integrative Medicine, 12(4).
  • Tuck C, Timtoni Iddrisu AR, Moro SA, Akparibo R, Aryeetey R, Gray L & Cooper R (2025) . Communications Medicine, 5.
  • Tuck CZ, Akparibo R, Gray LA, Suraj H, Iddrisu ART, Abane TR, Deedat AA, Aryeetey RNO, Abubakari BB, Azure A & Cooper R (2025) . BMJ Open, 15(2).
  • Cooper R, Matheson C, Pagan E & Radford H (2025) . Pharmacy, 13(1).
  • Jayasooriya S, Inoue M, Allen H, Bojang M, Ceesay A, Touray S, Mortimer K, Cooper R & Balen J (2024) . npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine, 34(1).
  • Tuck C, Gray L, Suraj H, Timtoni Iddrisu A-R, Tampuri A-R, Aryeetey R, Baba BA, Akparibo R & Cooper R (2024) . Journal of Cancer Policy, 41.
  • Tuck C, Cooper R, Aryeetey R, Gray L & Akparibo R (2023) . International Journal for Equity in Health, 22(1).
  • Wang M, Cooper R & Green D (2023) . Pharmacy, 11(6).
  • Kirkcaldy AJ, Wilson M, Cooper R, Baxter SK & Campbell F (2023) . BMJ Open, 13(10).
  • Cooper RJ (2022) . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 30(6), 489-491.
  • Tuck C, Akparibo R, Gray L, Aryeetey R & Cooper R (2022) . BMJ Open, 12(10).
  • Osasu Y, Mitchell C & Cooper R (2022) . BJGP Open, 6(4).
  • David G, Cooper R, Dixon S & Holmes J (2022) . Addiction, 117(4), 1163-1172.
  • Osasu Y, Cooper R & Mitchell C (2021) . BMC Family Practice, 22.
  • Quah M, Marney B, Cooper R & Dickson J (2021) . Clinical Case Reports, 9(7).
  • Booth E, Halliday V & Cooper RJ (2021) . J Public Health (Oxf), 43(2), e213-e223.
  • Milevska-Kostova N, Devi R & Cooper R (2020) . International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 37(1).
  • Ajabnoor AM & Cooper R (2020) . Pharmacy, 8(3).
  • Cooper RJ (2020) . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 28(3), 205-206.
  • Coombes H & Cooper RJ (2019) . Addiction Science and Clinical Practice, 14.
  • Lee E & Cooper R (2019) . Journal of Medical Internet Research Mental Health, 6(4).
  • Sherlaw W, Fernandez A, McColl K & Cooper R (2018) . European Journal of Public Health, 28(suppl_4), 255-255.
  • Sprake E, Russell MJ, Cecil J, Cooper R, Grabowski PS, Pourshahidi LK & Barker M (2018) . Nutrition Journal, 17(90).
  • Cooper R & Tsoneva J (2017) . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 25(5), 351-357.
  • Green MA, Little E, Cooper R, Relton C & Strong M (2016) . BMJ Open, 6.
  • Parry CDH, Deluca P, Cooper R & Van Hout MC (2015) . Addiction, 110(10), 1690-1691.
  • Relton C, Li J, Strong M, Holdsworth M, Cooper R, Green M & Bissell P (2014) . BMC Public Health, 14, 444.
  • Cooper RJ (2013) . BMJ Open, 3(6).
  • Cooper R (2013) . Health and Social Care in the Community, 21(3), 254-262.
  • Cooper RJ (2013) . J Subst Use, 18(2), 82-107.
  • Cooper RJ, Bissell P, Ward P, Murphy E, Anderson C, Avery T, James V, Lymn J, Guillaume L, Hutchinson A & Ratcliffe J (2012) . Health (London), 16(2), 115-133.
  • Cooper R (2012) Making the case for ethical decision-making models. Nurse Prescribing, 10(12), 607-611.
  • Cooper R (2011) . Health Sociology Review, 20(4), 462-474.
  • Cooper R & O'Hara R (2010) . Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, 15(Suppl 2), 41-46.
  • Cooper RJ, Bissell P, Ward P, Guillaume L, Anderson C, Avery T, Hutchinson A, Lymn J & Murphy E (2009) . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 17(Supp 2), B30.
  • Cooper RJ (2009) . J Med Ethics, 35(11), 692-695.
  • Cooper RJ, Bissell P & Wingfield J (2009) . Health (London), 13(3), 297-316.
  • Cooper RJ, Guillaume L, Avery A, Anderson C, Bissell P, Hutchinson A, James V, Lymn J, McIntosh A, Murphy E , Ratcliffe J et al (2008) . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 16(Supp 1), A21.
  • Cooper RJ, Lymn J, Anderson C, Avery A, Bissell P, Guillaume L, Hutchinson A, Murphy E, Ratcliffe J & Ward P (2008) . BMC Med Educ, 8, 57.
  • Cooper R, Anderson C, Avery T, Bissell P, Guillaume L, Hutchinson A, Lymn J, Murphy E, Ratcliffe J & Ward P (2008) . J HEALTH SERV RES PO, 13(4), 215-221.
  • Cooper R, Guillaume L, Avery T, Anderson C, Bissell P, Hutchinson A, Lymn J, Murphy E, Ward P & Ratcliffe J (2008) . J Ambul Care Manage, 31(3), 244-252.
  • Cooper RJ, Bissell P & Wingfield J (2008) . J Med Ethics, 34(6), 441-445.
  • Guillaume L, Cooper R, Avery A, Mitchell S, Ward P, Anderson C, Bissell P, Hutchinson A, James V, Lymn J , McIntosh A et al (2008) . J Clin Pharm Ther, 33(1), 11-16.
  • Cooper RJ, Bissell P & Wingfield J (2008) . Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 34(1), 47-50.
  • Anderson C, Cooper RJ, Guillaume L, Avery A, Bissell P, Hutchinson A, James V, Lymn J, McIntosh A & Murphy E (2008) . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 16(SUPPL. 1), A6-A7.
  • Cooper RJ, Anderson C, Avery T, Bissell P, Guillaume L, Hutchinson A, James V, Lymn J, McIntosh A, Murphy E , Ratcliffe J et al (2008) . HEALTH POLICY, 85(3), 277-292.
  • Cooper RJ & Guillaume L (2007) . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 15(Supp 2), B25.
  • Guillaume L, Cooper RJ, Avery A, Ward P, Anderson C, Bissell P, Hutchinson A, James V, Lymn J, McIntosh A , Murphy E et al (2007) . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 15(Supp 2), B62.
  • Cooper R (2007) Ethical issues in the use of electronic health records for pharmacy medicines sales.. J. Inf. Commun. Ethics Soc., 5, 7-19.
  • Cooper RJ, Bissell P & Wingfield J (2007) . J Med Ethics, 33(2), 82-86.
  • COOPER RJ, BISSELL P & WINGFIELD J (2007) Dilemmas in Dispensing, Problems in Practice? Ethical Issues and Law in UK Community Pharmacy. CLINICAL ETHICS, 2(2), 103-108.

Book chapters

  • Cooper R (2021) In Ballantyne P & Ryan K (Ed.), Living Pharmaceutical Lives (pp. 154-168). Abingdon, Oxfordshire, UK: Routledge.
  • Cooper R (2019) Measuring health and illness In van Teijlingen E & Humphris G (Ed.), Psychology and Sociology Applied to Medicine Elsevier
  • Cooper R (2018) (pp. 69-82). ABC-CLIO, LLC
  • Cooper R (2010) The Ethics of Prescribing In Bath-Hextall F (Ed.), New Prescriber Wiley-Blackwell
  • Cooper R (2008) Information technology, ethics and pharmacy medicine sales In Robinson S & Strain J (Ed.), Ethics for Living and Working (pp. 15-30). Troubador Publishing

Conference proceedings

  • Wang M, Cooper R & Green D (2023) . SSM Annual Scientific Meeting (pp A100.2-A101)
  • Tuck C, Baba A, Cooper R, Gray L, Akparibo R, Aryeetey R, Timtoni A & Rahman T (2023) . Population Medicine, Vol. 5(Supplement) (pp 439-440). Rome, Italy, 2 May 2023 - 2 May 2023.
  • Tuck C, Boadu I, Akparibo R, Gray L, Aryeetey R & Cooper R (2023) . Population Medicine, Vol. 5(Supplement) (pp 519-520). Rome, Italy, 2 May 2023 - 2 May 2023.
  • Nagumo W-R, Cooper R & Akparibo R (2020) Determinants of adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting among healthcare professionals in Ghanaian hospitals: A presentation of preliminary qualitative findings. PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY, Vol. 29 (pp 644-644)
  • Nagumo W-R, Cooper R & Akparibo R (2018) Factors Influencing Low Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Among Healthcare Professionals in Ghana. DRUG SAFETY, Vol. 41(11) (pp 1152-1153)
  • Lymn J, Cooper R, Anderson C, Avery T, Bissell P, Guillaume L, Hutchinson A, James V, McIntosh A, Murphy E , Ratcliffe J et al (2008) No more pharmacology? Pharmacists' and stakeholders' views on supplementary prescribing course content. BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Vol. 65(6) (pp 976-976)
  • Cooper R (2008) The Safety Climate of Pharmacist Supplementary Prescribing in England. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Vol. s1(16) (pp A21). Liverpool
  • Milevska-Kostova N, Cooper K & Cooper R () Nostalgia for the Past: Prescribing and Dispensing Practices in Macedionia. Nostalgia for the Past: Prescribing and Dispensing Practices in Macedonia

Reports

  • Ali P, Ariss S, Powell K, Crowder M & Cooper R (2017) Doncaster Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Programme: Evaluation Report, 2017
  • Cooper RJ (2011) 'Respectable Addiction' - a qualitative study of over the counter medicine abuse in the UK.
  • bissell P, Cooper R, preston L, anderson C, avery A, james V, hutchinson A, lymn J, murphy E, ratcliffe J , ward P et al () An Evaluation of Supplementary Prescribing in Nursing and Pharmacy. Final Report for the Department of Health

Preprints

  • Lee E & Cooper RJ () .
Research group

Postgraduate research students

  • Chloe Tuck - Social and economic influences on cancer service utilisation and their implications for health policy in Ghana
  • Menghan Wang - Use and Misuse of Sleeping Medication by University Students in England
  • Narjis Al Shurafa - What is the perceived role of primary care pharmacists in Saudi Arabia in diabetes care? (Successfully completed)
  • Hina Kanabar - What are the factors that inform the doctor to start insulin in the type 2 diabetic patient? (Successfully completed)
  • Andrea Madrid Menendez - What are the values that shape the relationship between alternative/traditional medicine practitioners and their patients? (Successfully completed)
  • Rodney Nagumo - Adverse drug reaction reporting practices amongst Ghanaian healthcare professionals (Successfully completed)
  • Yetenta Osasu - Prescribing, consumption and monitoring of direct oral anticoagulants in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation (Successfully completed)
  • Helen Radford - Dealing with disaster: a qualitative exploration of the experiences of healthcare staff following a mass casualty incident in England (Successfully completed)
  • Jess White - Patient experiences of Addiction to Medicine and Associated Treatment in the United Kingdom
  • Genevieve David (Successfully completed)
  • Emma Howard-Drake (Successfully completed)
  • Ellie Sprake (Successfully completed)
  • Neda Milevska-Kostova (Successfully completed)
  • Penny Siebert (Successfully completed)
  • Ryosuke Yokoe (Successfully completed)
  • Rachel Tattersall (Successfully completed)
  • Hina Patel (Successfully completed) 
Grants
  • Opioid Analgesic Dependence Study 2016-19 Principal Investigator. £199,000
  • Exploring the Misuse and Abuse of Over the Counter (OTC) Medicines in the UK. Principal Investigator.  Jul 08-Dec 10
  • Over-the-Counter Medicine Abuse: a pilot study. 2011-2012
  • - Pain relief strategies for dressing change in chronic wounds: a mixed-methods systematic review and survey of UK practice 2021-23 £221,413 (co-investigator)
  • European Master in Public Health | 2019-2025 Project Reference: 610563-EPP-1-2019-1-FR-EPPKA1-JMD-MOB EU Grant: €4,272,000 (co-applicant) 
Teaching activities

I contribute to a variety of teaching and assessment on Master of Public Health degree modules, as well as the MBChB medical degree.

I coordinate and teach the Qualitative Research Design and Analysis module (HAR6531)

I teach and assess medical ethics, qualitative research, substance misuse and addiction to prescription/OTC medicine on the MBChB.

Professional activities and memberships
  • Registered pharmacist (GPhC regn 2038210)
  • Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
  • Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health
  • Associate editor: Pharmaceutical Issues 
  • Editorial board member journal: 
  • Member of the Society for the Study of Addiction
  • Member of the British Sociological Association
  • Member of the Institute of Medical Ethics
  • Regular peer reviewer for a variety of journals and funding bodies
  • External reviewer -
  • Editorial board member: