Skip to main content
Wolfson Institute of Population Health
  1. WIPH
  2. People
  3. Profiles

Dr Christina Derksen, PhD

Christina

Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Health Psychology (CanDetect)

Email: christina.derksen@qmul.ac.uk

Profile

I hold a PhD in Psychology and joined the Centre of Prevention, Detection & Diagnosis at the Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine in May 2023. My focus is on using quantitative and qualitative methods to develop and refine a Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Platform to facilitate the detection of upper gastrointestinal cancers. I am a guest researcher for Health CASCADE, a Marie Skłodowska Curie Innovative Training Networks project for co-creative research funded by the European Union.

My training was at the University of Marburg (MSc in Clinical Psychology) and the Constructor University Bremen (PhD in Psychology), where I completed my PhD on behavioural influences on communication and patient safety in obstetric care. In my PhD research, I actively involved patients and the public in the development and evaluation of both live and mHealth interventions.

Research

Research Interests:

In my research, I use psychological and behavioural theories to understand determinants of health and illness such as illness perceptions, self-efficacy, and behavioural planning. An important part of my previous research has been the patient-provider relationship and communication to improve patient safety. I aim to overcome the gap between research and healthcare and thus also focus on implementation strategies, especially aiming to reduce inequalities in healthcare systems worldwide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I worked on facilitating psychosocial support and digital interventions for patients suffering from post-acute COVID-19 syndromes.

I use co-creative and multi-method approaches such as quantitative surveys and randomized-controlled designs, but also qualitative interviews and focus groups to improve and adapt interventions. I am also interested in conducting systematic reviews. I aim to work in multidisciplinary teams to link changes in health behaviour and help-seeking to objective outcomes such as preventable adverse events.

Publications

  • Emad Y, Derksen C, Petrie KJ et al. (2024). A content analysis of medication adherence material in patient educational resources about gout. nameOfConference


  • Keller FM, Dahmen A, Kötting L et al. (publicationYear). Evaluation of Social-Cognitive Determinants of Patients’ Hand Hygiene Decisions and the Role of Mental Health in a Cross-Sectional and a Longitudinal Study of German Patients. nameOfConference


  • Hüner B, Schmiedhofer M, Derksen C et al. (publicationYear). What went wrong? – Insights in subjective perceptions and desired interventions after stressful perceived birth experiences. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Derksen C, Rinn R, Gao L et al. (publicationYear). Longitudinal Evaluation of an Integrated Post–COVID-19/Long COVID Management Program Consisting of Digital Interventions and Personal Support: Randomized Controlled Trial. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Schmiedhofer M, Lippke S, Derksen C et al. (2023). Hilflos und fremdbestimmt“ – eine qualitative Auswertung von traumatisierenden Geburtserlebnissen. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Kötting L, Derksen C, Keller FM et al. (publicationYear). Comparing the Effectiveness of a Web-Based Application With a Digital Live Seminar to Improve Safe Communication for Pregnant Women: 3-Group Partially Randomized Controlled Trial. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
  • Dietl JE, Derksen C, Keller FM et al. (publicationYear). Interdisciplinary and interprofessional communication intervention: How psychological safety fosters communication and increases patient safety. nameOfConference


  • Dietl JE, Derksen C, Keller FM et al. (publicationYear). Psychosocial Processes in Healthcare Workers: How Individuals’ Perceptions of Interpersonal Communication Is Related to Patient Safety Threats and Higher-Quality Care. nameOfConference


  • Lippke S, Rinn R, Derksen C et al. (publicationYear). Patients’ Post-/Long-COVID Symptoms, Vaccination and Functional Status—Findings from a State-Wide Online Screening Study. nameOfConference


  • Hüner B, Schmiedhofer M, Derksen C et al. (2023). „Hilflosigkeit, das Abgeben jeglicher Selbstverantwortung und Selbstbestimmtheit“ – eine qualitative Auswertung von traumatisierenden Geburtserlebnissen in Relation zum Geburtsmodus. nameOfConference


    QMRO: qmroHref
View Profile Publication Page
Back to top