Alison McCracken

Biography

I am a Lecturer in Occupational Therapy and work within the Lancaster campus teaching team on Mondays & Tuesdays. I am also a Clinical Research Therapist working in the NHS based within the Royal Lancaster Infirmary stroke rehabilitation team from Wednesday-Friday. 

I have varied clinical experience having worked within older adults mental health, forensic mental health, wheelchairs & specialist seating, and stroke services. Having completed a Masters in public health I'm interested in thinking about health at a population level.

My NHS role involves a mixture of clinical occupational therapy within stroke therapy services and research. I'm currently leading on research exploring the experiences of people who have been discharged from hospital, as well as facilitating the set up of TRICEPS (A research trial investigating whether Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation [TVNS] paired with rehabilitation therapy can improve arm function in patients with arm weakness after a stroke).

Qualifications and memberships

BSc (Hons): Occupational Therapy

MSc: Public Health

Publications

Comer, C., Collings, R., McCracken, A. et al. Allied health professionals’ perceptions of research in the United Kingdom national health service: a survey of research capacity and culture. BMC Health Serv Res 22, 1094 (2022). https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36030236/   

 

McCracken, A., O’Donoghue, A. & Peel, R. (2021). Utilisation of outcome measures by therapy teams in an NHS Trust. Morecambe Bay Medical Journal 8. https://doi.org/10.48037/mbmj.v8i9.1285   

 

McCracken A, Harrison J, Hill J (2021) Long-Term Conditions normal Self-guided technology to improve health-related behaviour and quality of life in people with cancer British Journal of Community Nursing 26 (9) https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2021.26.9.434

Recent external roles

OT Frontiers Committee Member & Treasurer

Reviewer for NIHR Alerts series

Research Champion – National Institute for Health Research & Council for Allied Health Professions Council – North West Coast (2018-22)

NIHR Research Scholar – Clinical Research Network North West Coast (2019-21)

Guideline Update Team for RCOT NICE-accredited guideline on occupational therapy in the prevention and management of falls.

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