Louise Prothero

Louise Prothero is a Senior Research Fellow at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), working within the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care and the School of Midwifery and Community Health. She joined ARU in 2022 and serves as Co-Lead of the Health and Care Workforce Research Group, which is part of ARU's Health and Care Research Centre (HCRC). As a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Dr. Prothero brings extensive expertise in health psychology research with a focus on the intersection of physical and mental health.

Dr. Prothero's educational background includes:

• PhD in Health Studies Research from King's College London
• MSc in Health Psychology from City, University of London
• BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Essex

Her research primarily focuses on the psychosocial aspects of long-term physical health conditions, with particular emphasis on health behaviors in emerging adulthood. Dr. Prothero investigates how individuals manage chronic conditions and the psychological factors that influence health outcomes. Her work in coaching psychology and motivational interviewing has significant implications for behavior change interventions in healthcare settings. She has developed expertise in mixed methods research approaches, particularly in participatory and qualitative methodologies that engage diverse stakeholders including patients, carers, and clinicians.

Dr. Prothero's publication record demonstrates a strong trajectory in healthcare research, with recent work focusing on workforce development in mental health services, simulation-based nursing education, and barriers to diabetic retinopathy screening among young adults. Her research consistently addresses health inequalities and seeks to improve healthcare delivery through evidence-based interventions.

Dr. Prothero actively contributes to research funding initiatives, currently serving as Co-Investigator on an NHS England-funded project examining the development of the Allied Health Professionals workforce within mental health services. Her grant demonstrates her commitment to translating research into practical healthcare improvements.

As a research supervisor, Dr. Prothero currently supports doctoral students working on topics related to nursing leadership in digital health policy and experiences of nurse partners in general practice partnerships. Her supervisory approach reflects her commitment to developing the next generation of healthcare researchers.