Chris Burton

Professor Chris Burton is a Professor of Primary Medical Care at the University of Sheffield's School of Medicine and Population Health, where he leads the research group in the Academic Unit of Primary Medical Care. As both a GP and researcher, he has established himself as a leading expert in persistent physical symptoms and functional somatic disorders, with a focus on improving clinical communication and healthcare delivery for patients with these conditions.

Professor Burton's primary research interests center on persistent physical symptoms, including his leadership of the Multiple Symptoms Study 3 trial. He investigates the mechanisms of persistent (or functional) symptoms and clinical communication about them. His health services research typically involves analysis of large scale data to understand clinical practice (diagnosis and testing) and healthcare use (particularly of urgent and unscheduled care). He applies systems thinking to examine healthcare use from the perspective of complex systems theory, analyzing patterns of attendance and their implications for service delivery.

His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on functional somatic disorders, symptom management, and healthcare systems. The Multiple Symptoms Study 3 trial represents a major contribution to the field, examining an extended-role general practitioner clinic for persistent physical symptoms. His work spans qualitative and quantitative methodologies, with publications in high-impact journals including The Lancet, BMC Medicine, and PLOS One. His research increasingly addresses the intersection of physical and mental health, with recent studies on complex mental health difficulties in primary care.

• NIHR SEISMIC Systems Engineering Development Award: RESHAPE-CARE (£198,000)
• NIHR HTA: EIFFEL (Effectiveness of Interventions For Fatigue in Long Term Conditions)
• NIHR HS&DR: Frequent users of the Emergency Department study (£1,327,296)
• NHS England: FAIRSTEPS study (£258,900)
• NIHR HS&DR: Multiple Symptoms Study 3 (£1,194,291)

Within the University of Sheffield, Professor Burton contributes to teaching on evidence-based medicine and clinical communication. He leads the Critical Appraisal SSC in Phase 1 of the MBChB program and is interested in teaching advanced clinical communication techniques including effective reassurance in later years.