Jane Cockle-Hearne

Dr Jane Cockle-Hearne is a Research Fellow at the University of Surrey's School of Health Sciences, affiliated with the Maternal, Child and Family Health Cluster. She holds a first-class honours degree in Psychology from London University and completed her PhD by publication focusing on cancer care and nurse training. Her research bridges healthcare, psychology, and technology to improve patient outcomes.

Her work emphasizes empowering cancer patients through self-management strategies, particularly via e-health platforms and peer support. Notable projects include Getting Down to Coping, a web-based program for prostate cancer survivors, and the No conversation too tough training for healthcare professionals to support families facing parental death. She collaborates with NHS IAPT and hospices to address gaps in palliative care for families with dependent children.

Research interests include psychological support post-treatment, unmet supportive care needs, and training healthcare professionals to communicate effectively with families. Methodologically, she employs mixed methods, including qualitative interviews and clinical trial coordination.

Key contributions include mapping palliative care interventions for families with dependent children and evaluating hospice support systems. Her findings highlight systemic challenges in pre-bereavement care and advocate for staff training and flexible support models.