![Kavita Vedhara BA, PhD FAcSS](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/4932?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Professor Kavita Vedhara
(she/her)
BA, PhD FAcSS
Academic and research staff
- VedharaK@cardiff.ac.uk
- Tower Building, Floor 7, Room 12, 70 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT
Overview
Health psychologist with expertise in the inter-relationships between psychological factors and health and disease outcomes. My research spans three main areas. The first is concerned with psychological influences on the body and this work has shown that negative moods such as stress and depression can make us more vulnerable to infections, including COVID19; can slow the healing of wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers; and can also make vaccines work less well. The second area is concerned with psychological influences on behaviour and has explored the factors influencing people's engagement with health interventions such as screening, mask wearing and vaccinations. The third area is concerned with interventions and how we can 'harness' the power of these psychological influences to improve the health and well-being of patients and the public.
Publication
2024
- Hancox, J. E., Chaplin, W. J., Hilton, C., Gray, K., Game, F. and Vedhara, K. 2024. Development of a motivation communication training programme to aid diabetes-specialist podiatrists with adherence discussions. Health Education & Behavior 51(2), pp. 240-250. (10.1177/10901981231216744)
- Fuller, A. et al. 2024. Patient and health professional views on risk-stratified monitoring of immune-suppressing treatment in adults with inflammatory diseases. Rheumatology, article number: keae175. (10.1093/rheumatology/keae175)
- Broadbent, E. et al. 2024. Changes in hair cortisol in a New Zealand community sample during the Covid-19 pandemic. Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology 17, article number: 100228. (10.1016/j.cpnec.2024.100228)
- Tan, T. et al. 2024. Motivation communication training programme for healthcare professionals to support adherence in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: Proof of concept study. PLoS ONE 19(2), article number: e0295180. (10.1371/journal.pone.0295180)
2023
- Cullen, K., Jones, M., Sheehan, C., Game, F., Vedhara, K. and Fitzsimmons, D. 2023. Development of a resource-use measure to capture costs of diabetic foot ulcers to the United Kingdom National Health Service, patients and society. Journal of Research in Nursing 28(8), pp. 565-578. (10.1177/17449871231208108)
- Harwood, R. et al. 2023. Promoting activity, independence and stability in early dementia and milk cognitive impairment (PrAISED): randomised controlled trial. British Medical Journal 2023(382), article number: e074787. (10.1136/bmj-2023-074787)
Articles
- Hancox, J. E., Chaplin, W. J., Hilton, C., Gray, K., Game, F. and Vedhara, K. 2024. Development of a motivation communication training programme to aid diabetes-specialist podiatrists with adherence discussions. Health Education & Behavior 51(2), pp. 240-250. (10.1177/10901981231216744)
- Fuller, A. et al. 2024. Patient and health professional views on risk-stratified monitoring of immune-suppressing treatment in adults with inflammatory diseases. Rheumatology, article number: keae175. (10.1093/rheumatology/keae175)
- Broadbent, E. et al. 2024. Changes in hair cortisol in a New Zealand community sample during the Covid-19 pandemic. Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology 17, article number: 100228. (10.1016/j.cpnec.2024.100228)
- Tan, T. et al. 2024. Motivation communication training programme for healthcare professionals to support adherence in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: Proof of concept study. PLoS ONE 19(2), article number: e0295180. (10.1371/journal.pone.0295180)
- Cullen, K., Jones, M., Sheehan, C., Game, F., Vedhara, K. and Fitzsimmons, D. 2023. Development of a resource-use measure to capture costs of diabetic foot ulcers to the United Kingdom National Health Service, patients and society. Journal of Research in Nursing 28(8), pp. 565-578. (10.1177/17449871231208108)
- Harwood, R. et al. 2023. Promoting activity, independence and stability in early dementia and milk cognitive impairment (PrAISED): randomised controlled trial. British Medical Journal 2023(382), article number: e074787. (10.1136/bmj-2023-074787)
Biography
- Professor of Health Psychology, School of Psychology, Cardiff University (Present)
- Professor of Health Psychology, Centre for Academic Primary Care, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham (2012-23)
- Professor of Health Psychology, Institute for Work, Health & Organisations, University of Nottingham (2009-12)
- Senior Scientist, MRC Health Services Research Collaboration, University of Bristol(2004-09)
- Career Track Scientist, MRC Health Services Research Collaboration, University of Bristol (1999-04)
- Lecturer in Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Bristol, (1998-99)
Honours and awards
2021: Trustee Academy of Social Sciences
2020: Fellow US Academy of Behavioral Sciences
2015: Fellow Academy of Social Sciences
2013: Division 38 Distinguished International Affiliate of American Psychological Association
Committees and reviewing
- 2021 –: NIHR Programme Grants for Applied Research
- 2020-21: UKRI-MRC/NIHR Multimorbidity Expert Review Panel
- 2016-20: Yorkshire Cancer Research Advisory Panel
- 2015-17: External REF reviewer for University of Swansea Department of Psychology
- 2010 : NIHR HTA College of Experts
- 2010-16: NIHR Programme Grants for Applied Research
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2010-13: MRC Population Health Scientist Fellowship Training and Career Development Panel
Research themes
Specialisms
- Diabetes
- vaccines
- stress
- behavioural medicine