Dr Joseph Keenan
Senior Lecturer in Psychology
My profile
Biography
I completed my PhD at Aberystwyth University in 2016. My research places focus on elements of health psychology and implementation science. More specifically this includes the use of digital health platforms to support health care provision in a number of areas (End of life care and chronic conditions).
My undergraduate degree also completed in Aberystwyth was a joint honours psychology and marketing degree. As such I retain an interest in areas of consumer psychology (decision making, identity, and branding).
Words of wisdom
When progressing through your academic life the only person you should compare yourself to is your prior achievements. Focus on your own development as opposed to how you compare to your peers.
Academic and professional qualifications
I am a fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
External examiner roles
I have experience of acting as an external examiner for the theses of doctoral students
Consultancy and advisory roles
Childhood Tumour Trust (CTT) - Medical Advisory Board member
RareMinds - Advisory Group member
Prizes and awards
LovedBy: Through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) - Lead Academic
Oversight of a project that seeks to embed the principles of behavioural science, health psychology, and developmental psychology within an organisation in the digital health industry.
Prizes and awards
Manchester Metropolitan University:
The Embers Project - Shortlisted for two national awards:
The Nursing Times Awards - Data and Technology in Nursing
RSPH Public Mental Health and Well-being Awards
Aberystwyth University:
Student-Led Teaching Awards - Postgraduate teacher of the year (highly commended)
Expert reviewer for external funding bodies
I have acted as an external reviewer for the following funding bodies:
RGC University Grants Committee (Hong Kong)
Health and Care Research Wales - Health Research Grants
Membership of professional associations
Higher Education Academy - Fellow
Projects
My current research and knowledge exchange (RKE) projects sit at the intersections of behavioural science, health psychology, psychological well-being and implementation science. An overview of some of my current collaborations can be found here:
Lived experiences of long-term and terminal illness
I have published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and commisioned reports utilising qualitative methodologies to explore the lived experiences of individuals with conditions such as cancer, diabetes, COPD, and Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) and their family members.
Digital Health
The Embers Project - Working in collaboration with practitioner and industry partners, I was involved in the development and evaluation of a digital health education platform aimed at 3-5 year olds implemented in a number of nurseries and primary schools across the UK. The platform was underpinned by psychological theory and aimed to develop children’s ability to recognise and develop a number of emotions. The platform also provides teachers and parents with a number of activities they can complete with their child. The project was shortlisted for two national awards:
The Nursing Times Awards (2021) - Category of Data and Technology in Nursing
RSPH Public Health and Mental Health and Well-being awards
Telehealth in Rural Wales - Working in collaboration with Hywel Dda UHB and colleagues at Aberystywth University and Swansea University, we conducted a project which explored the attitudes and experiences of Health Care Professionals and individuals receiving palliative and end of life care towards the introduction of telehealth to specialist services. Further commisioned projects included the United For Health pan-European project which explored Health Care Professionals and individuals living with Type-1 Diabetes and COPD perceptions towards the use of a range of digital devices.
LGBTQ+ Health and Well-being
Working in collaboration with the LGBT Foundation, I am currently supervising a number of projects which explore how members of the LGBTQ+ community make sense of their experiences of “coming-out” in later life in relation to either their sexual or gender identity. Prior research has also explored the barriers of accessing health and psychological support services for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Teaching
Why do I teach?
My main motivation to teach is to facilitate the development of students at all levels of study. The objective of my teaching style is to encourage students to develop an opinion or specific interests which they wish to build upon away from face to face timetabled sessions.
Why study…
Psychology is a rewarding area to study due to the various sub-disciplines that exist within it. While it is important to study the core areas outlined by the BPS, it is also important to develop specific interests in a sub-discipline that you find interesting
Postgraduate teaching
I contribute to the following units:
MSc Psychological Wellbeing Pathway, MSc Health Psychology, and MSc Forensic Psychology:
Research Principles and Methods (Unit Lead)
MSc Health Psychology:
Illness, Disability, and Long-Term Conditions
Understanding and Changing Health Behaviour
Subject areas
Behaviour Change, Digital Health, Implementation Science, Health Inequality, Health Psychology,
Supervision
I have extensive experience in doctoral supervision and examination. I am willing to supervise projects focusing on applied areas of health and illness (e.g., long-term conditions) and digital innovation in the health sector
Manchester Metropolitan University:
- Georgia Wilson - Completed
- Paul Cornwall - In progress
- Naheed Hanif - In progress
- Bruce Harrison - In progress
- Elizabeth McCoy - In progress
- Mahmood Ali - Completed
- Chelsea Murphy - In progress
- Caitriona Plunkett - In progress
Aberystwyth University:
PhD:
- Mr Oliniyi Ogundiya (2nd Supervisor) - Completed
Research outputs
My research expertise includes broad areas of health psychology and implementation science. To date, I have placed focus on the following areas:
Digital Health Platforms
Telehealth
Feasibility and acceptibility of change in organisations
Rural health
Palliative and end of life care
Chronic conditions
From a methodological perspective, I favour a qualitative approach to understanding the perspectives and experiences of participants.
Theoretically, I have expertise in applications of Self-Determination Theory, Unified Theory of the Acceptance and Use of Technology, and Normalization Process Theory
-
Reports
Rahman, R.J., Keenan, J.R. (2015) Patient and professional acceptability of telehealth to monitor COPD and diabetes..
-
Journal articles
Dayes, J., Keenan, J., Sadza, M., Croucher, K. (2023) 'Etiquette in the context of death and dying: communication and conversation.' Omega: Journal of Death and Dying,
Barrington, L.J., Bland, A.R., Keenan, J. (2023) 'Courage, camaraderie and compassion: a qualitative exploration into UK military veterans' experiences of self-compassion within the context of alcohol use disorders and recovery.' BMJ Military Health,
Wilson, G.L., Keenan, J., Porcellato, L., Gee, I., Gough, B., Grogan, S. (2023) 'Using discursive approaches to examine the utility and functions of language in public health and health promotion: highlighting social constructions of e-cigarettes.' Critical Public Health, pp. 1-12.
Samuels, J., Keenan, J., Jolly, A. (2021) 'A qualitative investigation of the impact that therapeutic recreational camps have on the psychological wellbeing of siblings of individuals with health conditions.' Child: Care, Health and Development, 48(2) pp. 259-268.
Warner, A., Keenan, J. (2021) 'Exploring Clinician Wellbeing within a Mentalization-Based Treatment Service for Adult Offending Males with Antisocial Personality Disorder in the Community.' International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, 21(3) pp. 287-297.
Selby, E., Allabyrne, C., Keenan, J.R. (2021) 'Delivering clinical evidence-based child–parent interventions for emotional development through a digital platform: a feasibility trial.' Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 26(4) pp. 1271-1283.
Wilson, G., Keenan, J., Grogan, S., Porcellato, L., Powell, S., Gee, I. (2021) 'An Investigation of Factors Encouraging and Deterring EC use: A Thematic Analysis of Accounts from UK Adults.' Psychology & Health, 37(11) pp. 1379-1395.
Keenan, J., Rahman, R., Hudson, J. (2021) 'Exploring the acceptance of telehealth within palliative care: A Self-Determination Theory perspective.' Health and Technology, 11pp. 575-584.
Burbidge, C., Keenan, J., Parry, S. (2020) '“I’ve made that little bit of difference to this child” : therapeutic parent’s experiences of trials and triumphs in therapeutic children’s homes.' Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health: employee assistance practice and research, 35(4) pp. 256-278.
Rahman, R., Keenan, J., Hudson, J. (2020) 'Exploring rural palliative care patients’ experiences of accessing psychosocial support through telehealth: A longitudinal approach..' Qualitative Research in Medicine and Healthcare, 4(1) pp. 31-42.
Wilson, G., Grogan, S., Powell, S., Gee, I., Porcellato, L., Keenan, J. (2020) 'A Thematic Analysis of Smokers’ and Non-Smokers’ Accounts of E-cigarettes.' Journal of Health Psychology, 27(1) pp. 24-35.
Keenan, J.R., Lionarons, H. (2018) 'Obstacles that stand in the way of digital intervention within mental health.' Journal of mHealth, 5(3)
-
Conference papers
Dayes, J., Sadza, M., Keenan, J., Harris, R. (2022) 'Memorial tattoo etiquette: Death narratives on the body..' In Death and Culture IV.. York St John, York., 8/9/2022 - 9/9/2022.
Craig, E., Parry, S., Keenan, J. (2019) '“I’m a Person Not a Disorder.” A Phenomenological Analysis Exploring How Employees with Bipolar Stay Well at Work.' In BPS Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference. Manchester, 10/7/2019 - 11/7/2019.
Craig, E., Parry, S., Keenan, J. (2019) '“I’m a Person Not a Disorder.” A Phenomenological Analysis Exploring How Employees with Bipolar Stay Well at Work.' In Qualitative Methods in Psychology & History and Philosophy of Psychology Conference 2019. Cardiff, 3/7/2019 - 5/7/2019.
-
Presentations
Keenan, J.R., Rahman, R.J., Hudson, J. (2017) Divergent views of health care professionals and patients concerning the role of telehealth to support relatedness needs in palliative care. [Presentation] Aberystwyth,7/2017.
Keenan, J.R., Mackiewicz, A., Wanat, M. (2017) Conducting emotionally demanding research: Challenges and opportunities. [Presentation] Aberystwyth,7/2017.
Rahman, R.J., Keenan, J.R. (2016) Patient and professional acceptability of telehealth to monitor COPD and diabetes. [Presentation] Aberdeen,9/2016.
Keenan, J.R., Rahman, R.J., Hudson, J. (2015) Exploring palliative care patients’ experiences of accessing psychological support through telehealth. [Presentation] Gregynog, Wales,7/2015.
Keenan, J.R., Rahman, R.J. (2014) Investigating the psychological well-being and need satisfaction of the informal caregivers of palliative care patients through exploration of lived experiences.. [Presentation] Cardiff,7/2014.
-
Theses and dissertations
Keenan, J.R. (2016) The feasibility and acceptability of the use of telehealth to support palliative care in Mid-Wales: Exploring professional perceptions and patient experiences.
-
Posters
Keenan, J.R., Rahman, R.J., Hudson, J. (2016) 'Experiences of palliative care patients accessing psychosocial support through telehealth..' [Poster] Date viewed 9/2016.
Keenan, J.R., Rahman, R.J. (2014) 'Identifying the needs of rural based informal care givers of palliative care patients through exploration of their their lived experience.' [Poster] In BPS Division of Health Psychology. Date viewed 9/2014.
Keenan, J.R., Rahman, R.J. (2014) 'Exploring psychological underpinnings of medical professionals' perceptions of telehealth implementation in palliative care..' [Poster] In European Health Psychology Society conference. Date viewed 8/2014.
Press and media
Media appearances or involvement
My research focusing on the use of telehealth to support palliative care patients in rural Wales was covered by BBC news and can be accessed using this link: