Directory/Rhianne Kiley

Academic
AdultsWorkforceGeneral population
Head and Neck Cancer
Behaviour changePsychologicalTrainingEducation
Knowledge mobilisationPatient and public involvement and engagementProject managementCo-designEvidence synthesisObservational studiesQualitative studies
Academic institution
Research deliveryResearch leadershipStudy management

I'm a doctoral researcher (School of Psychology, University of Sheffield), examining how language and terminology shape public understanding and patient experience of head and neck cancers, with a particular focus on HPV-related disease. The programme comprises five studies across three work packages: (1) public understanding — a reflexive thematic analysis of celebrity-case social media discourse (complete, currently under journal review) and a forthcoming UK survey of ~1,500 adults on HNC/HPV terminology knowledge and stigma; (2) healthcare professional communication — a survey of ~220 UK secondary care clinicians on HPV communication confidence and barriers; (3) patient and family experience — planned qualitative interviews with HNC patients and their family members.

My work sits at the interface of oral cancer and health communication. I look at how HPV-related head and neck cancer is discussed across public discourse, clinical encounters, and patient experience, with particular interest in stigma and disclosure linked to the sexually transmitted aetiology. This spans analysis of public social media discourse around celebrity cases, a UK clinician survey on HPV communication confidence, and an upcoming UK public survey assessing knowledge of oral cancer terminology and HPV as a risk factor.

I'd welcome hearing from anyone working on UK oral/oropharyngeal cancer awareness, HPV communication, or stigma research, or anyone with experience developing patient-facing HPV communication resources. Also happy to connect with others interested in PPI approaches to sensitive cancer communication research.