Allied Health Professional and qualitative researcher Fran Toye looks at how qualitative research can allow hidden voices to emerge and improve patient care
Fran Toye
Fran studied Archaeology and Anthropology at Cambridge University (1986-1990) and later qualified as a physiotherapist (1996). She first joined the Physiotherapy Research Unit at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in 1999 when she was funded and successfully completed a PhD thesis, which explored the assessment of need for total knee replacement. Prior to this Fran practised as an outpatient physiotherapist at Queen Mary’s in Roehampton. Fran’s research aims to explore how culture, context and narrative effect patients and clinicians healthcare decisions. She has published a body of primary qualitative research and has expertise in qualitative research methodology, including qualitative systematic review. Fran’s research plans are to focus on maximising the impact of qualitative research through complementary modes of dissemination such as audio/visual media. One of her missions is to de-mystify qualitative research methods in order to embrace the wider research community and other stakeholders.