Overview
Background
Bec Jenkinson is health consumer advocate-turned-researcher, with more than 15 years’ experience as a leader in the Australian health consumer movement, advocating for high quality, respectful, person-centred care. She is also skilled qualitative and mixed methods researcher, writer, presenter and networker with a passion for consumer and community involvement in health and medical research, and broad experience encompassing health policy, service delivery and evaluation, and education. Bec's PhD investigated the experiences of women, midwives and obstetricians when pregnant women decline recommended care. She went on to co-lead the development and implementation of Queensland Health's Guideline: Partnering with the woman who declines recommended maternity care. More recently, Bec has been the academic lead of the RADIANT study, alongside a Lived Experience Lead. Aiming to addressing weight stigma in maternity care, RADIANT was recognised with two awards at the inaugural AccessCR Australian Consumer Partnerships in Research Awards in 2025. The study coproduce national, consensus-based Best Practice Principles for Weight Inclusive Maternity Care, which have now been endorsed by peak stakeholder organisations.
Bec is now a Senior Research Fellow with UQ's Clinical Trials Capability Team (ULTRA), working collaboratively with researchers, consumers and other stakeholders to enhance consumer and community involvement (CCI) in clinical trial designs and processes. She is particularly interested in the methodologies of research priority setting, and currently leads a pilot study aiming to expand Australian researchers access to James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnerships. Bec is also interested in how innovative approaches can support more inclusive CCI, and drive health equity in clinical trials.
Availability
- Dr Bec Jenkinson is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Education, Central Queensland University
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Consumer and Community Involvement in Clinical Trials
There is good evidence that involving people with lived experience in the design and conduct of clinical trials can improve recruitment. But challenges remain about how to support people from diverse communities to contribute to CCI, how CCI might support participant retention (not just recruitment), and how innovative approaches to CCI can drive sustainability and impact.
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Research Priority Setting
Australia invests heavily in health and medical research, yet historically decisions about what to research have been made by researchers, and with little input from people with lived experience of health issues and the clinicians who care for them. This has contributed to significant and avoidable research waste. Rigorous participatory approaches to research priority setting, that embed authentic collaboration with research end users (consumers and clinicians), are gaining increasingly attention in Australia, however, reviews have identified inconsistent approaches to involving end users, and called for greater transparency and reproducibility.
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Health Equity in Clinical Trials
Achieving health equity requires that everyone has access to evidence-based healthcare, with randomised controlled trials (RCTs) recognised as gold standard evidence of the effectiveness of innovative healthcare interventions. However, many RCTs fail to recruit diverse participants, meaning that the evidence informing healthcare omits the experiences and outcomes of diverse people and their communities. Although CCI increases the alignment of research with community needs, leading to improved recruitment to RCTs, people from diverse communities are generally underrepresented amongst CCI contributors. Improving the recruitment of diverse communities to RCTs may depend on improving their representation in CCI roles. Innovative strategies to increase the involvement of diverse communities in health and medical research are urgently needed.
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Weight stigma in maternity care
Weight stigma refers to negative attitudes, assumptions, and discriminatory behaviours directed toward people based on their body size, and it can profoundly shape experiences of maternity care. In pregnancy, weight‑based judgement or blame can undermine trust, contribute to avoidance of care, and exacerbate health inequities. Weight‑inclusive approaches prioritise respect, evidence‑informed practice, and recognition of the many factors that influence health beyond body size. These approaches are essential for creating maternity care environments where all women feel safe, valued, and able to participate fully in decisions about their care.
Works
Search Professor Bec Jenkinson’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Partnering with consumers and practising clinicians to establish research priorities for public hospital maternity services
Cole, Roni, Kearney, Lauren, Jenkinson, Bec, Kettle, Imogen, Ng, Beng, Callaway, Leonie and Nugent, Rachael (2024). Partnering with consumers and practising clinicians to establish research priorities for public hospital maternity services. Australian Health Review, 48 (3), 321-331. doi: 10.1071/ah23222
2023
Conference Publication
Should I have an induction of labour?
Morris, Shannon, Adams, Cathy and Jenkinson, Rebecca (2023). Should I have an induction of labour?. Australian College of Midwives National Conference – Be the Change, Adelaide, SA Australia, 12-14 September 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.07.068
2023
Conference Publication
First do no harm: a single site pre-post implementation study of a perineal protection bundle
Lee, Nigel, Allen, Jyai, Jenkinson, Rebecca, Gao, Yu and Kildea, Sue (2023). First do no harm: a single site pre-post implementation study of a perineal protection bundle. Australian College of Midwives National Conference – Be the Change, Adelaide, SA, Australia, 12-14 September 2023. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.07.007
2023
Journal Article
A pre-post implementation study of a care bundle to reduce perineal trauma in unassisted births conducted by midwives
Lee, Nigel, Allen, Jyai, Jenkinson, Bec, Hurst, Cameron, Gao, Yu and Kildea, Sue (2023). A pre-post implementation study of a care bundle to reduce perineal trauma in unassisted births conducted by midwives. Women and Birth, 37 (1), 159-165. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2023.08.003
2023
Journal Article
Bringing researchers to the consumer table: the process and outcomes of a consumer roundtable on telehealth
Jenkinson, Bec, Maxwell, Jo, Bell, Alison, Young, Adrienne, Smith, Anthony C., Christoffersen, Anja, Trevor, Dale, Young, Leonie and Russell, Trevor (2023). Bringing researchers to the consumer table: the process and outcomes of a consumer roundtable on telehealth. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 31 (3), 430-436. doi: 10.1177/1357633x231188536
2023
Conference Publication
Co-designing resources with midwives and consumers to address weight stigma in antenatal care
Hill, B, Hailu, H, Jenkinson, B, Rakic, S, Nagpal, T, Boyle, J, Sheehan, P and Skouteris, H (2023). Co-designing resources with midwives and consumers to address weight stigma in antenatal care. Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide, SA Australia, 18-20 October 2023.
2022
Journal Article
The impact of a perineal care bundle on women’s birth experiences in Queensland, Australia: a qualitative thematic analysis
Barnett, Belinda, Jenkinson, Bec and Lee, Nigel (2022). The impact of a perineal care bundle on women’s birth experiences in Queensland, Australia: a qualitative thematic analysis. Women and Birth, 36 (3), 271-280. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2022.09.002
2022
Journal Article
Termination of pregnancy in Queensland post-decriminalisation: a content analysis of client records from an all-options pregnancy counselling organisation
Cleetus, Maryanne, Lazarou, Mattea, Tooker, Siân, Jenkinson, Bec and Dean, Judith A. (2022). Termination of pregnancy in Queensland post-decriminalisation: a content analysis of client records from an all-options pregnancy counselling organisation. Sexual Health, 19 (6), 491-500. doi: 10.1071/sh22059
2022
Conference Publication
Consumer involvement in health and medical research at the University of Queensland: A panel discussion
Jenkinson, B, Christoffersen, A, Trevor, D, Anemaat, L, Bell, A and Maxwell, J (2022). Consumer involvement in health and medical research at the University of Queensland: A panel discussion. Health Consumers Queensland Annual Forum, Sunshine Coast, QLD Australia, 13-14 October 2022.
2022
Conference Publication
Partnering with women who decline recommended maternity care
Gray, L, Jenkinson, B. and Kimble, R (2022). Partnering with women who decline recommended maternity care. International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare, Sydney, NSW Australia, 25-26 July 2022.
2021
Journal Article
Validating a scale to measure respectful maternity care in Australia: challenges and recommendations
Jenkinson, Bec, Kearney, Lauren, Kynn, Mary, Reed, Rachel, Nugent, Rachael, Toohill, Jocelyn and Bogossian, Fiona (2021). Validating a scale to measure respectful maternity care in Australia: challenges and recommendations. Midwifery, 103 103090, 103090. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2021.103090
2020
Journal Article
Women's unmet needs in early labour: qualitative analysis of free-text survey responses in the M@NGO trial of caseload midwifery
Allen, Jyai, Jenkinson, Bec, Tracy, Sally K., Hartz, Donna L., Tracy, Mark and Kildea, Sue (2020). Women's unmet needs in early labour: qualitative analysis of free-text survey responses in the M@NGO trial of caseload midwifery. Midwifery, 88 102751, 102751. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2020.102751
2020
Book Chapter
Keeping the canary singing: Maternity care plans and respectful homebirth transfer
Jenkinson, Bec and Fox, Deborah (2020). Keeping the canary singing: Maternity care plans and respectful homebirth transfer. Birthing Outside the System: The Canary in the Coal Mine. (pp. 320-343) edited by Hannah Dahlen, Bashi Kumar-Hazard and Virginia Schmied. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9780429489853-18
2019
Journal Article
Does introducing a dedicated early labour area improve birth outcomes? A pre-post intervention study
Williams, Lauren, Jenkinson, Bec, Lee, Nigel, Gao, Yu, Allen, Jyai, Morrow, Jane and Kildea, Sue (2019). Does introducing a dedicated early labour area improve birth outcomes? A pre-post intervention study. Women and Birth, 33 (3), 259-264. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2019.05.001
2018
Journal Article
Refusal of recommended maternity care: Time to make a pact with women?
Jenkinson, Bec, Kruske, Sue and Kildea, Sue (2018). Refusal of recommended maternity care: Time to make a pact with women?. Women and Birth, 31 (6), 433-441. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2018.03.006
2018
Other Outputs
Getting the ‘Comfortable’ to listen: a mixed methods study of refusal of recommended maternity care
Jenkinson, Rebecca (2018). Getting the ‘Comfortable’ to listen: a mixed methods study of refusal of recommended maternity care. PhD Thesis, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2018.188
2018
Conference Publication
Partnering with women who decline recommended maternity care
Gray, L., Jenkinson, B. and Kimble, R. (2018). Partnering with women who decline recommended maternity care. International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 11-12 September 2018.
2018
Journal Article
Is the Birthing Unit Design Spatial Evaluation Tool valid for diverse groups?
Menke, Sara, Jenkinson, Bec, Foureur, Maralyn and Kildea, Sue (2018). Is the Birthing Unit Design Spatial Evaluation Tool valid for diverse groups?. Women and Birth, 32 (4), 372-379. doi: 10.1016/j.wombi.2018.09.009
2018
Conference Publication
Woman’s decision pathway in pregnancy, labour, and birth
Gray, L., James, C., Jenkinson, B., Burley, K., Kimble, R. and Sketcher-Baker, K. (2018). Woman’s decision pathway in pregnancy, labour, and birth. International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 11-12 September 2018.
2017
Journal Article
The experiences of women, midwives and obstetricians when women decline recommended maternity care: a feminist thematic analysis
Jenkinson, Bec, Kruske, Sue and Kildea, Sue (2017). The experiences of women, midwives and obstetricians when women decline recommended maternity care: a feminist thematic analysis. Midwifery, 52, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2017.05.006
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Bec Jenkinson is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding and incorporating the consumer voice in paediatric intensive care research
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sainath Raman, Professor Kristen Gibbons
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Doctor Philosophy
Postpartum midwifery care for larger bodied women: a mixed methods study
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Lauren Kearney
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Bec Jenkinson directly for media enquiries about:
- health consumer perspectives
- respectful maternity care
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