Research Fellow

Email: krysia.canvin@psych.ox.ac.uk

Biography

I joined the Social Psychiatry research group in April 2009 to work on two studies of coercion in mental health: ULTIMA, a study of informal coercion or ‘leverage’ and OCTET, a randomised controlled trial of the new community treatment orders.

Prior to this, I worked in the DIPEx health experiences research group in the Department of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford where I conducted a qualitative study of the experiences of people with mental health problems in Black and minority ethnic communities.

I began my research training after gaining a degree in law at UWE, Bristol, remaining in the same department to study women’s experiences of pregnancy in prison for my PhD. I completed my first postdoctoral position in the Department of Psychiatry at St George’s Hospital in London, where I conducted the qualitative part of a multi-centre investigation into the use of supervised discharge and guardianship. I then moved to the University of Liverpool (via a short stint at the University of Manchester), where I spent 6 years working on various health-related research projects in the Departments of Primary Care and Public Health respectively.

My research has mainly been concerned with marginalised and vulnerable groups, including people experiencing mental health problems, financial and social deprivation, people in secure settings, and minority ethnic groups. My research interests lie in three main interconnecting areas: perceptions and experiences of public services and policies; health and mental health experiences; and compliance, coercion and compulsion.

The themes of compliance, coercion and compulsion are the focus of my current work in the Social Psychiatry research group and follow on from a study I conducted on mental health service users’ experiences of supervised discharge and guardianship (the qualitative arm of a multi-centre evaluation of the effectiveness of supervised discharge and guardianship conducted against the backdrop of the then long-running debate about introducing community treatment orders). In this earlier study we found that service users’ compliance with these compulsory interventions was multifaceted and not at all straightforward, and included: being resigned to and dependent upon the orders; expressing ownership; simply cooperating or resisting; and engaging in bargaining. We also found that when considering the general (hypothetical) application of compulsory powers, participants considered their use justified if it was ultimately beneficial, or if there was evidence of mental health problems, dangerousness, or lack of insight. They rejected the idea of interventions that intruded upon their autonomy and privacy, however.

My interest in these issues stretches back to my PhD work where I explored the ways in which pregnant prisoners sought to comply with standard antenatal advice, even where this led to a more punitive experience of imprisonment. I found that they were ‘compliant’ partly because they were a captive audience for interventions, but that their compliance was also driven by their own self-discipline (a response to their awareness that they were being monitored and that non-compliance might not only lead to the label ‘bad mother’ but might also affect whether they could keep the baby in prison with them). These themes also arose in a study of how social welfare policies and practices build or undermine resilience in poor households, a comparative piece of work conducted in collaboration with colleagues at the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm. Here, we found that people living in deprived circumstances in the UK avoided various health and social interventions (‘non-compliance’) for fear of negative consequences such as the risk of losing custody of their children, jeopardising social welfare benefits, or being negatively judged and labelled. Similarly, this fear was driven by their perception that they were being subject to increasing levels of surveillance, in this case by service providers and neighbours.

Profile:

2007-2009: Senior Researcher, DIPEx Health Experiences Research Group, Department of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford.

2004-2007: Research fellow, Division of Public Health & Department of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Liverpool.

2001-2003: Research Associate, Division of Primary Care, University of Liverpool.

2003: Research Co-ordinator, Health R&D NW, University of Liverpool.

2001: Honorary Research Fellow, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, St. George’s Hospital Medical School, London.

2000: Honorary Research Assistant, Medical School, University of Manchester.

1999-2000: Research Assistant, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, St. George’s Hospital Medical School, London.

1998-1999: Interviewer, National Centre for Social Research.

1995-1998: Visiting Lecturer, Law Faculty, University of the West of England, Bristol.

1995-1999: PhD “The Experience of Pregnancy in Prison”, Faculty of Law, University of the West of England, Bristol.

1991-1994: LLB (Hons), Faculty of Law, University of the West of England, Bristol.

Peer Reviewed Journal Publications

Rugkåsa, J., Canvin, K. (in press) Researching Mental Health in Minority Ethnic Communities: Reflections on Recruitment, Qualitative Health Research

Marttila, A., Whitehead, M., Canvin, K., Burström, B. (2009) Dependent and controlled - experiences of living on social assistance in Sweden. International Journal of Social Welfare 19(2): 142-151.

Canvin, K., Marttila, A., Burström, B., Whitehead, M. (2009) Tales of the unexpected? Hidden resilience in poor households in Britain. Social Science and Medicine 69(2): 238-245.

Litva, A., Canvin, K., Shepherd, M., Jacoby, A. Gabbay, M. (2009) Lay Perceptions of the Desired Role and Type of User Involvement in Clinical Governance. Health Expectations 12(1): 81-91.

Canvin, K., Jones, C., Marttila, A., Burström, B., Whitehead, M. (2007) Can I risk using public services? Perceived consequences of seeking help and health care among households living in poverty: qualitative study. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 61: 984-989.

Canvin, K., Jacoby, A. (2006) Duty, Desire or Indifference? Patient decisions about recruitment to an epilepsy treatment trial. Trials 7(1).

Jones, C., Burström, B., Marttila, A., Canvin, K., Whitehead, M. (2006) Studying social policy and resilience to adversity in different welfare states: Britain and Sweden. International Journal of Health Services 36(3):425-442.

Canvin, K., Bartlett, A. & Pinfold, V. (2005) Acceptability of compulsory powers in the community: The ethical considerations of mental health service users on Supervised Discharge and Guardianship. Journal of Medical Ethics 31: 457-462.

Litva, A., Gabbay, M., Canvin, K., & Jacoby, A. (2003) Public involvement in clinical governance. Clinical Governance Bulletin 4 (4): 2-3.

Canvin, K., Bartlett, A. & Pinfold, V. (2002) A ‘Bittersweet Pill To Swallow’: Learning From Mental Health Service Users’ Responses To Compulsory Community Care. Health and Social Care in the Community 10 (5): 361-369.

Other Journal Publications

Sen, D., Canvin, K., Rugkåsa, J. (2009) HealthTalkOnline.org. OpenMind 154: 10-12.

Rugkåsa, J., Canvin, K. (2007) DIPEx – a Collection of Personal Narratives of Health and Illness. KnowledgShare section of Diversity in Health and Social Care. 4(4): 110.

Canvin, K. & Ford, F.M. (2002) Positive steps on the path to employment: returning to work after mental health problems [abstract]. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 56 Suppl 2:A10 

Book Chapters

Hodgson, P. & Canvin, K. (2005) Translating Health Policy Into Research Practice, in Lesley Lowes & Ian Hulatt (eds), Service Users’ Involvement in Health and Social Care Research. London, Routledge.

Bartlett, A. & Canvin, K. (2002) ‘User Views and Ethical Issues in Qualitative Method’ In Gwen Adshead & Chris Brown (eds), Ethical Issues in Forensic Mental Health Research. London, Jessica Kingsley.

Websites

Canvin, K. (2008) Mental health: ethnic minority experiences. Available at: http://www.healthtalkonline.org/mental_health/minorityethnicmentalhealthserviceusers

Published Reports

Whitehead, M., Canvin, K., Jones, C. (2006) ‘Beating Poverty’ in Mel Bartley (ed), Capability and resilience: Beating the odds. London, UCL Department of Epidemiology and Public Health.

Whitehead, M., Canvin, K., Jones, C. (2006) ‘Designing services that enhance resilience and well-being’ in Mel Bartley (ed), Capability and resilience: Beating the odds. London, UCL Department of Epidemiology and Public Health.

Unpublished Reports

Canvin, K., Jones, C., Whitehead, M. (2004) How do social welfare policies and practices build or undermine resilience in poor households? An international comparative study. Unpublished position paper for the ESRC Priority Network on the development and persistence of human capability and resilience in its social and geographical context.

Canvin, K., Jacoby, A., Buck, D. (2004) Understanding epilepsy patients’ decisions about participation in randomised controlled trials. Unpublished report to the BUPA foundation.

Canvin, K., Jacoby, A., Hunter, R. (2003) Final Report Of An Evaluation of the Impact of the Regional R&D Fund on Research Capability Building. Unpublished Report to Health R&D North West. Available at:

http://www.lancs.ac.uk/users/ihr/hrdn/reportsandpublications.htm

Litva, A., Canvin, K., Gabbay, M., Jacoby, A. & Bell, P. (2002) Lay and Professional Perceptions of Public Involvement in Clinical Governance. Unpublished End of Award Report to the ESRC.

Bindman, J., Pinfold, V., Hatfield, B., Canvin, K., Bartlett, A. & Thornicroft, G. (2001) National Evaluation of Supervised Discharge and Guardianship. Unpublished Report of a Study Commissioned by the Department of Health.

Canvin, K. (2000) The Kick Inside: An Account of the Experience of Pregnancy in Prison. Unpublished PhD Thesis. 

Invited Talks

Keynote speaker:

Canvin, K., Whitehead, M. (2008) Delivering services that enhance resilience and well-being. Focusing on Child Poverty, Capability and Resilience: ‘Beating the Odds’, Leamington Spa, February 2008.

Other invited talks:

Canvin, K., Jones, C., Whitehead, M. (2005) Resilience and Social Welfare. Invited workshop at the Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool.

Canvin, K., Whitehead, M., Jones, C. (2004) How do social welfare policies and practices build or undermine resilience in poor households? An international comparative study. Invited presentation at the one-day conference: Parenting Child Health and Disadvantage. Lancaster 2004.

Ford, F.M., Canvin, K., Lewis, C. (2002) Job retention and rehabilitation of people with mental health problems: An evidence-based workplace intervention. Invited talk to Sefton Social Services, Liverpool.

Ford, F.M., Lewis, C., Canvin, K. (presenter) (2002) Mental health: no barrier? The NHS as good corporate citizen. Invited workshop at The NHS as Good Corporate Citizen Conference, Birmingham 2002.

Canvin, K. (1996) Pregnancy in a Custodial Environment: Dilemmas in Policy and Practice for the Prison Service. Invited lecture at the University of Wales, Cardiff.

Peer Reviewed Conference Contributions

Canvin, K. & Rugkåsa, J. (2008) What can service providers learn from mental health service users and carers? UK Mental Health Research Network Scientific Conference, London, March 2008.

Rugkåsa, J. & Canvin, K. (2007) Practical Issues in Recruiting Participants from Minority Ethnic Groups. Studying ethnic minorities – methodological approaches in qualitative research. Danish National Institute of Social Research, Copenhagen, Denmark, December 2007.

Hodgson, P. & Canvin, K. (2006) What does health research mean to consumers? British Sociological Association Medical Sociology Group Conference, Edinburgh, September 2006.

Canvin, K., Jones, C., Whitehead, M. (2005) The lived experience of poverty and social welfare services in Britain & Sweden: An exploration of the features that build or undermine resilience in poor households. British Sociological Association Annual Conference, York, April 2005.

Ford, F.M. & Canvin, K. (2004) Return to Work after Mental Health Problems: the professionalisation of experience. European Public Health Association ASM, Oslo 2004.

Litva, A., Canvin, K., Gabbay, M., Jacoby, A., Bell, P. (2004) Who should be involved: Lay and Professional Perceptions of Public Involvement in the Quality of Healthcare Delivery. International Conference for Quality in Healthcare, Amsterdam 2004.

Ford, F.M. & Canvin, K. (2003) What can health professionals do to promote the functional recovery of people with mental health problems? SAPC Conference, Manchester 2003.

Canvin, K. & Hodgson, P. (2002) Researching with consumers: Overcoming obstacles and recognising limitations. Consumers in NHS Research: Making a Difference, Harrogate 2002.

Litva, A., Canvin, K., Jacoby, A., Gabbay, M. (2002) Is Clinical Governance just too 'airy fairy' for the public to grasp? Professional and Lay views of public involvement in Clinical Governance.  Clinical Excellence Conference, Birmingham, November 2002.

Canvin, K., Litva, A., Jacoby, A., Gabbay, M. (2002) Professional perceptions of clinical governance in primary care: From "accountability" to "zero" effect on public perceptions of the NHS. Clinical Excellence Conference, Birmingham, November 2002; Society for Social Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting, Liverpool, September 2002; British Sociological Association Medical Sociology Group Conference, York, September 2002; The Society for Academic Primary Care Annual Conference, Birmingham, July 2002.

Litva, A., Canvin, K. Jacoby, A., Gabbay, M. (2002) Should the public be involved in Clinical Governance? 19th International Conference of the International Society for Quality in Health Care, Paris, November 2002.

Canvin, K. & Ford, F.M. (2002) The professionalisation of experience: Making experiences of mental ill health work. British Sociological Association Medical Sociology Group Conference, York, September 2002.

Litva, A., Canvin, K., Jacoby, A., Gabbay, M. (2002) Prioritising quality: Lay and professional perceptions of public involvement in Clinical Governance in Primary Care. 4th International Conference on Priorities in Health Care, Oslo, September 2002.

Canvin, K. & Ford, F.M. (2002) Positive steps on the path to employment: returning to work after mental health problems. Society for Social Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting, Liverpool, September 2002.

Litva, A., Canvin, K., Jacoby, A., & Gabbay, M. (2002) ‘Clinical Governance is just too airy fairy for people to grasp’: Exploring professional and lay views of public involvement in Clinical Governance. The Society for Academic Primary Care Annual Conference, Birmingham, July 2002.

Canvin, K. (2001) Pregnant Prisoners’ Expectations for Pregnancy. British Sociological Association Human Reproduction Study Group Annual Conference, Northampton.

Canvin, K. & Ford, F.M. (2001) Return to work following mental illness: work in progress. British Sociological Association Medical Sociology Group Conference, York, September 2001.

Litva, A., Canvin, K., Jacoby, A., & Gabbay, M. (2001) Grasping at Straws: Exploring Professionals’ Views of Public Involvement. British Sociological Association Medical Sociology Group Conference, York, September 2001.

Pinfold, V. & Canvin, K. (2001) Challenging coercion in the community: Mental health professionals’ and service users’ experiences of policies to control ‘Patients in the Community’ in England. Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, New York.

Canvin, K. (1998) Pregnancy v. Prison: Institutions in Conflict? Socio-Legal Studies Association Annual Conference, Leicester.

Canvin, K. (1997) Hard Labour? Pregnancy in Prison. Howard League Annual Conference, Oxford.