Dr Amy Baraniak

Teaching responsibilities

I am the Programme Director for MSc Health Psychology programmes at the University of Derby (campus and online).

Module Leaderships:

Family Health across the Lifespan (UG L6)
Living with Long Term Conditions (PG L7)
Professional Skills for Applied Psychology (PG L7)
Empirical Research Project (PG L7)

I contribute to other modules, particularly those in health psychology, and clinical applications of psychology.

I supervise undergraduate and postgraduate student projects in areas related to health and illness, using either quantitative or qualitative methods.

Professional interests

I am an active member of the committee for the Division of Health Psychology (Honorary Secretary).

I am Vice-Chair of Trustees for the Derbyshire Carers Association.

Research interests

My research interests centre around understanding and improving wellbeing. Research has included projects relating to students and carers in particular, with recent work focusing on wellbeing in employment (carers in employment, and the impact of Covid-19 on returning to work).

Membership of professional bodies

Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society
HCPC registered Health Psychologist

Qualifications

Professional Doctorate Health Psychology, Staffordshire University (Stage II training)
MSc Health Psychology, Staffordshire University (Stage I training)

Recent conferences

Knibb, R.C., Cantwell, A. & Stalker, C. (2014). Psychological factors predict asthma control in a UK student population. Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 45, 535-6. (Paper presented at the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology Conference, Telford, September 2014)
Cantwell, A., Knibb, R.C. & Stalker, C. (2014). Psychological factors predict asthma control in a UK student population. (Poster presented at the Division of Health Psychology Conference, York, September, 2014)
Cantwell, A., Knibb, R.C. & Stalker, C. (2013). Illness perceptions and locus of control predict asthma control in a student population. (Poster presented at the Division of Health Psychology Conference, Brighton, September, 2013)
Cantwell, A., Knibb, R.C. & Stalker, C. (2013). Psychological predictors of asthma control in a student population. Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 43, 1438. (Poster presented at the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology Conference, Telford, July 2013)

Experience in industry

My early career was based within primary health care, where I worked with clinical and non-clinical staff to maximise achievement through the Quality and Outcomes Framework and Enhanced Services. I was responsible for the delivery of a number of psychologically-based interventions for the management of mild-moderate mental health issues, smoking cessation and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. I lead the development of services within primary care under the (then) Practice-Based Commissioning policy.

Recent publications

Lunt, J., Henning, S., Elander, J., BAraniak, A., Burton, K. & Ellington, D. (2022). Experience of workers with post-Covid-19 symptoms can signpost suitable workplace accommodations. International journal of workplace health management, 15(3), 359-374
Clare, E., elander, J. & Baraniak, A. (2020). How healthcare providers' own death anxiety influences their communication with patients in end-of-life care: A thematic analysis. Death Studies, 1-8
Henderson, F.M., Cross, A.J. & Baraniak, A. (2019). A new normal with chemobrain: Experiences of the impact of chemotherapy-related cognitive deficits in long-term breast cancer survivors. Health Psychology Open, 6, 1. doi:10.1177/2055102919832234
Baraniak, A. (2013). Promoting the application of health psychology in primary health care. In Foreshaw, M. and Shefiield, S. (Eds). Health Psychology in Action. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell
Baraniak, A. & Sheffield, D. (2011). The efficacy of psychologically-based interventions to improve anxiety, depression and quality of life in COPD: A systematic review & meta-analysis. Patient Education and Counseling, 83, 29-36