About

I am Professor of Nursing with a specialist interest in the impact of traumatic brain injury on the family. I am currently the chief investigator for an NIHR Research for Patient Benefit study examining a novel storytelling technique to improve family well-being and adjustment. I am also a visiting researcher at the University of Cambridge investigating the role of non-medical providers in the provision of safe effective neurosurgical care in low-and middle-income countries with the NIHR Global Health Research Group on Acquired Brain and Spine Injuries. I am an expert in qualitative research and lead author of Neuro_Qual a free online resource for qualitative research in neurosurgery.

Research interests

Recent publications

• Jordan, J. and Whiffin, C., 2023. Impact of relatives keeping patient diaries in the intensive care unit. Nursing Times, p.2
• Smith, B.G., Tumpa, S., Mantle, O., Whiffin, C.J., Mee, H., Solla, D.J.F., Paiva, W.S., Newcombe, V.F., Kolias, A.G. and Hutchinson, P.J., 2022. Remote follow-up technologies in traumatic brain injury: A scoping review. Journal of neurotrauma, 39(19-20), pp.1289-1317
• Smith, B.G., Whiffin, C.J., Esene, I.N., Karekezi, C., Bashford, T., Mukhtar Khan, M., Fontoura Solla, D.J., Indira Devi, B., Paiva, W.S., Servadei, F. and Hutchinson, P.J., (2022). Neurotrauma clinicians’ perspectives on the contextual challenges associated with traumatic brain injury follow up in low-income and middle-income countries: A reflexive thematic analysis. PloS one, 17(9), p.e0274922
• Whiffin, C., J., Smith, B., G., Selveindran, S., M., Bashford, T., Esene, I., N., Mee, H., Barki, M. T., Baticulon, R., E., Khu, K., J., Hutchinson, P., J., and Kolias, A., G. (2021). 'The Value and Potential of Qualitative Research Methods in Neurosurgery'. World Neurosurgery, pp. 1-9
• Kenward, L., Whiffin, C. and Townend, M., (2021). The needs of clients coming to counselling following second harm: A Q methodology study. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research
• Whiffin, C.J. and Ellis-Hill, C. (2021). 'How does a narrative understanding of change in families post brain injury help us to humanise our professional practice?' Brain Impairment, pp. 1-9
• Whiffin C.J., Smith BG, Esene IN, et al (2021) Neurosurgeons’ experiences of conducting and disseminating clinical research in low-income and middle-income countries: a reflexive thematic analysis, BMJ Open 2021;11:e051806
• Whiffin, C.J., Gracey, F., Ellis-Hill, C. (2021), Whiffin CJ, Gracey F, Ellis-Hill C. The experience of families following traumatic brain injury in adult populations: A meta-synthesis of narrative structures. Int J Nurs Stud. 2021 Jul 21;123:104043
• Smith, B.G., Whiffin, C.J., Esene, I.N., et al. (2021) Neurotrauma physicians’ perspectives on the contextual challenges associated with long-term follow-up following traumatic brain injury in low-income and middle-income countries: a qualitative study protocol. BMJ Open 2021;0:e041442
• Whiffin, C.J. Smith, B.G., Esene, I.N., et al (2020) Neurosurgeons’ experiences of conducting and disseminating clinical research in low- and middle-income countries: a qualitative study protocol, BMJ Open, 10:e038939
• Whiffin, C.J. (2020). 'How to conduct a systematic search for a systematic literature review', OH Today, 27(1), pp. 12-16
• Whiffin, C.J. (2020) Little Quick Fix: Choose Your Methodology Sage, London. https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/eur/choose-your-methodology/book273869
• Whiffin, C.J., Baker, D., Henshaw, L., Nichols, J., Pyer, M. (2019) The value of providing pre-nursing care experience for aspirant nurses, Nursing Times. 115(11):33–36
• Whiffin, C.J., Baker, D. Henshaw, L., Nichols, J. & Pyer, M. (2018) ‘Am I a student or a Health Care Assistant?’ A qualitative evaluation of a programme of pre‐nursing care experience. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 74(11) pp.2610-2621 
• Whiffin, C.J., Ellis-Hill, C.E., Bailey, C., Jarrett, N. & Hutchinson, P.J. (published online 2017) We are not the same people we used to be: An exploration of family biographical narratives and identity change following traumatic brain injury., Neuropsychological Rehabilitation
• Whiffin, C.J., Clarke, H., Brundrett, H., Baker, D. & Whitehead, B. (2017) Collaborative development of an accelerated graduate entry nursing programme outside of traditional funding mechanisms, Nurse Education in Practice , 28,pp.314-317
• Kenward, L., Whiffin, C., Spalek, B., (2017). Feeling unsafe in the healthcare setting: patients’ perspectives. British Journal of Nursing 26, 143–149
• Whiffin, C.J., Bailey, C., Ellis-Hill, C., Jarrett, N., (2014). Challenges and solutions during analysis in a longitudinal narrative case study. Nurse Researcher 21, 20–62
• Whiffin, C.J., Bailey, C., Ellis-Hill, C., Jarrett, N., Hutchinson, P.J., (2015). Narratives of family transition during the first year post-head injury: perspectives of the non-injured members. Journal of Advanced Nursing 71, 849–859
• Whiffin, C.J., Hasselder, A., (2013). Making the link between critical appraisal, thinking and analysis. British Journal of Nursing 22, 831–835
• Whiffin, C. (2012) A study of family transition in the first year post-head injury: perspectives of the non-injured members. University of Southampton, Faculty of Health Sciences, Doctoral Thesis
• Clark, C., Brown, J., Bailey, C. and Hutchinson, P. (2009) Supporting families in the context of adult traumatic brain injury, British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 5(5) pp 216 - 220
• Clark, C. (2005) Health and alcohol use: Educational innovations, Journal of Substance Use 10(4) pp 199 – 206
• Hollinworth, H., Clark, C., Harland, R., Johnson, L. and Partington, G. (2005) Understanding the arousal of anger: a patient-centred approach Nursing Standard 19(37) pp 41-47

Membership of professional bodies

Professional interests

My principal research interests lie in how families are affected by traumatic brain injury. I pursued this interest through a doctoral study with the University of Southampton and hold a PhD entitled “A study of family transition in the first year post-head injury: perspectives of the non-injured members”. Additional research expertise includes the use of narrative inquiry methodologies and the value of pre-nursing care experience in nurse education.

I am Co-Chair and founder of Anchor Point, a charitable organisation working to improve the lives of families after acquired brain injury.

Qualifications

• BA (Hons) Adult Nursing - First Class
• PGCert Interprofessional Healthcare
• PhD

Recent conferences

• January 2024 Poster: 'Working with the 'Life Threads’ approach to support families after traumatic brain injury: WIP' Society for Research in Rehabilitation (London) 
• December 2023 'The contribution of qualitative research to neurosurgery: A scoping review' World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies World Congress (Cape Town)
• November 2023 Poster: 'Working with the 'Life Threads’ approach to support families after traumatic brain injury' United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum (Manchester) [poster award]
• June 2023 invited speaker ‘Qualitative research in neurosurgery: is it really underused or misunderstood?’ European Association of Neurosurgical Societies, Young Neurosurgeons Research Methods Course (Madrid)
• June 2023 invited speaker ‘Does research really change practice?’ British Association of Brain Injury Case managers (Coventry)
• September 2021 invited speaker ‘Who are we now? An exploration of family identity following brain injury’ Ahead Together (Oxford)
• November 2019 invited speaker 'An exploration of family in the context of head injury: a narrative understanding of change' British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine & SRR joint conference
• November 2019 “An exploration of family in the context of head injury” (invited speaker), South Yorkshire Acquired Brain Injury Forum Autumn Event
• September 2019 invited speaker and expert panel member ‘The family experience of head injury’ St Andrew’s Healthcare; Reducing the Journey from Injury to Home: Sustaining Innovation in Specialist Brain Injury Rehabilitation (Nottingham)
• June 2019 invited speaker “An exploration of family in the context of head injury” Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation Alliance; University of East Anglia
• June 2019 expert panel member Graduate Entry Nursing International Network Student and Alumni Conference (Norwich)
• May 2019 invited speaker ‘Family Transition: the first year’, Head First, Family Matters: Understanding and addressing Family Needs after Acquired Brain Injury (London)
• July 2018 ‘An exploration of biographical narratives and identity change following Traumatic Brain Injury’ Research Showcase University of Derby

Experience in industry

• Trustee and Director for Headway Derby

In the media

• The Family Experience of Head Injury
• Anchor Point: a new Special Interest Group making a difference for families affected by brain injury
• Anchor Point – increasing support for families affected by ABI

Teaching responsibilities

I supervise a range of PhD and Professional Doctorates both internally and externally. Please contact me if you are interested in commencing your doctorate and have an interest in the subjective experience of brain injury and its impact on families.