Karen Matthews

Dr. Karen Matthews is a Lecturer in the Nursing Division at Queen Margaret University (QMU), specializing in public health and nursing practice. Her work focuses on vulnerable populations including those affected by addiction, blood-borne viruses, and liver disease. She holds affiliations with the Nursing and Midwifery Council, Royal College of Nursing, and British Association for the Study of the Liver, and is an Associate Member of QMU's Centre for Person-centred Practice Research.

Her research explores innovative healthcare delivery methods, particularly using FibroScan® as a motivational tool for alcohol recovery in high-deprivation rural communities. She emphasizes co-production with service users and non-traditional settings to improve healthcare access for marginalized groups. Dr. Matthews leads the MSc in Person-Centred Practice (Public Health Pathway) and has pioneered creative knowledge exchange projects like the award-winning 2017 Fringe Festival performance.

Awards highlight her impactful work, including a doctoral conference prize and recognition through The Lancet review. Her methodologies combine quantitative/qualitative approaches with community-driven design to address service engagement barriers.