Sharon Manship

About

Sharon Manship is a Research Associate in the Centre for Health Services Studies with expertise in public health research and using mixed methodologies, with a particular focus on qualitative methods. Sharon’s research interests include public health, women’s health and arts & health.

Sharon’s current projects are:

• Exploring the diagnosis experiences and post-diagnosis support needs of individuals living with Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC) Medway – working with Medway Council to help enhance research capacity and embed a culture of evidence-based decision making
• Creative Healthy Neighbourhoods – building a picture of health needs, assets, barriers and the contribution of arts programmes in Brompton and Luton (Medway)

Sharon also co-founded The Inclusive Women’s Health Research Group in 2023, which brings together those with an interest in women’s health research in all its forms to share research, funding updates, resources and ideas and to network and collaborate on studies.

Sharon’s previous research includes:

• Understanding the implementation and impact of place-based approaches to health – Growing Health Together
• Evaluating the Diabetes and WELLbeing (DWELL) psychoeducational programmefor people with type 2 diabetes
• Assistive Devices For Empowering Disabled People Through Robotic Technologies (ADAPT) Project – the development and evaluation of training for health and social care professionals in assistive technology
• Exploring reasons for late testing and diagnosis of HIV
• Arts & health
  • Singing for mental health and wellbeing
  • Evaluations of interventions for sight impaired and blind adults and people living with dementia
• The use of reminiscence materials within care settings
• Domestic abuse prevention for children and adolescents
• Health promotion in the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community

Prior to working at University of Kent, Sharon worked at Canterbury Christ Church University for 15 years across a variety of public health studies, where she also obtained her MA in Management Studies and MSc in Health Promotion and Public Health.

Research interests

Public health, women’s health, arts & health, health promotion