Overview
Background
Dr Suzanne McDonald is a Research Fellow at the General Practice Clinical Unit within the Greater Brisbane Clinical School at The University of Queensland. Her research focuses on the development and application of digital N-of-1 trials in medicine, working across multiple clinical and research specialties. Her work spans chronic and complex conditions, including neurological conditions (e.g. multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease), post-viral conditions (e.g. long COVID), and metabolic and rare genetic disorders (e.g. phenylketonuria, Kleefstra syndrome).
Dr McDonald also contributes to the RELEASE (Redressing long-term antidepressant use) research program, focusing on health outcomes associated with long-term (>12 months) antidepressant use and the application of N-of-1 longitudinal approaches to understand antidepressant withdrawal symptoms during tapering.
Dr McDonald chairs the International Network for N-of-1 Trials and Single-Case Designs (www.nof1sced.org), a global network of over 800 academics, researchers and clinicians interested in N-of-1 trials and other single-case designs across 49 countries.
Dr McDonald regularly supervises medical students. Medical students at the University of Queensland who are interested in N-of-1 trials and Bayesian statistical approaches are encouraged to contact her to discuss potential opportunities.
Availability
- Dr Suzanne McDonald is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Masters (Coursework) of Psychology, University of Aberdeen
- Masters (Research) of Science (Psychology), University of Aberdeen
- Masters (Coursework) of Public Health and Health Services, Newcastle University
- Masters (Coursework) of Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology, Northumbria University
- Doctor of Philosophy of Medical Science, Newcastle University
- Professional Doctorate of Health, Clinical and Counselling Psychology, The British Psychological Society
Works
Search Professor Suzanne McDonald’s works on UQ eSpace
2019
Journal Article
Exploring patient attitudes to behaviour change before surgery to reduce peri-operative risk: preferences for short- vs. long-term behaviour change
McDonald, S., Yates, D., Durrand, J. W., Kothmann, E., Sniehotta, F. F., Habgood, A., Colling, K., Hollingsworth, A. and Danjoux, G. (2019). Exploring patient attitudes to behaviour change before surgery to reduce peri-operative risk: preferences for short- vs. long-term behaviour change. Anaesthesia, 74 (12), 1580-1588. doi: 10.1111/anae.14826
2019
Conference Publication
N-of-1 Trials in Clinical Research: Opportunities and Challenges
McDonald, S. and Nikles, J. (2019). N-of-1 Trials in Clinical Research: Opportunities and Challenges. ACTA International Clinical Trials Conference, Sydney, Australia, October 2019.
2019
Conference Publication
Understanding Symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome using Scientific Insights from N-of-1 Studies
McDonald, S., Tan, S., Banu, S., McGree, J., Mitchell, G. and Nikles, J. (2019). Understanding Symptoms of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome using Scientific Insights from N-of-1 Studies. Division of Health Psychology Annual conference, Manchester, United Kingdom, July 2019.
2019
Journal Article
A feasibility study with embedded pilot randomised controlled trial and process evaluation of electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation in patients with periodontitis
Holliday, Richard, Preshaw, Philip M., Ryan, Vicky, Sniehotta, Falko F., McDonald, Suzanne, Bauld, Linda and McColl, Elaine (2019). A feasibility study with embedded pilot randomised controlled trial and process evaluation of electronic cigarettes for smoking cessation in patients with periodontitis. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 5 (1) 74, 74. doi: 10.1186/s40814-019-0451-4
2019
Conference Publication
Using N-of-1 methods to identify patterns and predictors of ME/CFS symptom exacerbations
McDonald, S., Tan, S., Banu, S., McGree, J., Mitchell, G. and Nikles, J. (2019). Using N-of-1 methods to identify patterns and predictors of ME/CFS symptom exacerbations. ME/CFS International Research Symposium., Geelong, VIC, Australia, March 2019.
2019
Book Chapter
Helping people to act on their intentions
McDonald, Suzanne and Sniehotta, Falko (2019). Helping people to act on their intentions. Psychology and sociology applied to medicine: an illustrated colour text. (pp. 74-75) edited by Edwin Roland van Teijlingen and Gerald M Humphris. Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom: Elsevier.
2019
Book Chapter
Health beliefs, motivation and behaviour
McDonald, Suzanne and Sniehotta, Falko (2019). Health beliefs, motivation and behaviour. Psychology and sociology applied to medicine: an illustrated colour text. (pp. 70-71) edited by Edwin Roland van Teijlingen and Gerald M Humphris. Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom: Elsevier.
2018
Conference Publication
Managing symptoms of ME/CFS using scientific insights from N-of-1 studies
Tan, S., McDonald, S., McGree, J., Mitchell, G. and Nikles, J. (2018). Managing symptoms of ME/CFS using scientific insights from N-of-1 studies. CFS/ME International Conference , Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 2018.
2017
Journal Article
Changes in physical activity during the retirement transition: A series of novel n-of-1 natural experiments
McDonald, Suzanne, Vieira, Rute, Godfrey, Alan, O'Brien, Nicola, White, Martin and Sniehotta, Falko F. (2017). Changes in physical activity during the retirement transition: A series of novel n-of-1 natural experiments. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 14 (1) 167, 167. doi: 10.1186/s12966-017-0623-7
2017
Journal Article
Corrigendum to “Reducing implant loss rates in immediate breast reconstructions”
Darragh, L., Robb, A., Hardie, C. M., McDonald, S., Valand, P. and O'Donoghue, J. M. (2017). Corrigendum to “Reducing implant loss rates in immediate breast reconstructions”. Breast, 36, 106-106. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2017.08.009
2017
Journal Article
Dynamic modelling of n-of-1 data: powerful and flexible data analytics applied to individualised studies
Vieira, Rute, McDonald, Suzanne, Araújo-Soares, Vera, Sniehotta, Falko F. and Henderson, Robin (2017). Dynamic modelling of n-of-1 data: powerful and flexible data analytics applied to individualised studies. Health Psychology Review, 11 (3), 222-234. doi: 10.1080/17437199.2017.1343680
2017
Journal Article
Reducing implant loss rates in immediate breast reconstructions
Darragh, L., Robb, A., Hardie, C. M., McDonald, S., Valand, P. and O'Donoghue, J. M. (2017). Reducing implant loss rates in immediate breast reconstructions. Breast, 31, 208-213. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2016.11.015
2016
Journal Article
N-of-1 randomised controlled trials in health psychology and behavioural medicine: A commentary on Nyman et al., 2016
McDonald, Suzanne, Araújo-Soares, Vera and Sniehotta, Falko F. (2016). N-of-1 randomised controlled trials in health psychology and behavioural medicine: A commentary on Nyman et al., 2016. Psychology and Health, 31 (3), 331-333. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2016.1145221
2016
Journal Article
Estimating cut points: a simple method for new wearables
Hickey, A., Newham, J., Slawinska, M. M., Kwasnicka, D., McDonald, S., Del Din, S., Sniehotta, F. F., Davis, P. A. and Godfrey, A. (2016). Estimating cut points: a simple method for new wearables. Maturitas, 83, 78-82. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2015.10.003
2015
Journal Article
Changes in physical activity during the retirement transition: a theory-based, qualitative interview study
McDonald, Suzanne, O'Brien, Nicola, White, Martin and Sniehotta, Falko F. (2015). Changes in physical activity during the retirement transition: a theory-based, qualitative interview study. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 12 (1) 25. doi: 10.1186/s12966-015-0186-4
2015
Journal Article
The features of interventions associated with long-term effectiveness of physical activity interventions in adults aged 55–70 years: a systematic review and meta-analysis
O’Brien, Nicola, McDonald, Suzanne, Araújo-Soares, Vera, Lara, Jose, Errington, Linda, Godfrey, Alan, Meyer, Thomas D., Rochester, Lynn, Mathers, John C., White, Martin and Sniehotta, Falko F. (2015). The features of interventions associated with long-term effectiveness of physical activity interventions in adults aged 55–70 years: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Psychology Review, 9 (4), 417-433. doi: 10.1080/17437199.2015.1012177
2011
Journal Article
Randomised controlled feasibility trial of an evidence-informed behavioural intervention for obese adults with additional risk factors
Sniehotta, Falko F., Dombrowski, Stephan U., Avenell, Alison, Johnston, Marie, McDonald, Suzanne, Murchie, Peter, Ramsay, Craig R., Robertson, Kim and Araujo-Soares, Vera (2011). Randomised controlled feasibility trial of an evidence-informed behavioural intervention for obese adults with additional risk factors. PLoS ONE, 6 (8) e23040, e23040. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023040
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Suzanne McDonald is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Suzanne McDonald directly for media enquiries about:
- N-of-1 trials
- Personalised medicine
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: