Profiles
Professor Mary Hickson
Professor in Dietetics
School of Health Professions (Faculty of Health)
My role is to lead the development and implementation of research within the Dietetic Team, and support research within the School and Faculty, by coordinating and undertaking research activity, encouraging collaborative working, securing research funding and building the Faculty’s reputation internationally.
I am also a Co-Director of the Torbay and South Devon Clinical School. This is an initiative to partner with our colleagues in NHS Trusts in the region. I work closely with Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust to increase research capacity and capability. More information can be found here https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/clinical-schoolshttp://
Qualifications
- 2002 PhD Nutrition, Imperial College London
- 1997 Certificate in Adult Education, Kingston College
- 1989 State Registration as Dietitian, University of Surrey
- 1989 BSc Hons Nutrition and Dietetics (2.1), University of Surrey
Professional membership
- Member of the British Dietetic Association
- Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC): DT04924
Roles on external bodies
- Adjunct Professor, Imperial College London
- Honorary Research Dietitian, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
- NIHR Training Advocate for Dietetics
- Member of the Faculty of Mentors of Health Research Mentors
- Member of the editorial board for the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics
Previously:
- Member of the judging panel for the NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic awards.
- Member of the Clinical Academic Roles Implementation Network (CARIN)
- Member of the NIHR judging panel for RfPB SW region
Teaching interests
My teaching activities are to support the undergraduate dietetic degree program, particularly the project development module, project supervision, as well as delivering lectures in the field of nutrition, dietetics and ageing.
I also support the Masters programs within the School through supervision of project work and teaching research skills and knowledge.
I have a lead role in the Systematic Reviewing module (MCR706) and also teach on the Frailty Module (ADV758/608).
Research interests
My research interests fall under two broad fields:
- Nutrition & Ageing
- Dietetic Practice
My current areas of research are:
Nutrition and Ageing
- Exploration of factors contributing to the development of sarcopenia (using Biobank data)
- Improving nutritional care at the interface between acute and community healthcare (With Anna Julian, PhD student, ICL)
- Nutritional Care of people with dementia and their carers (With Louise Wilkinson, PenCLAHRC PhD student)
- Effects of nitrate and nitrite on health (With Raul Bescos, Ann Ashworth, PhD student and Craig Cutler, PhD student)
- Examining the evidence for first contact dietetic roles within primary care
- Understanding the dietetic workforce of the future
- Prioritisation of referrals for dietetic assessment in acute adult services
- Estimating ascitic fluid weight and its impact on nutritional assessment in liver patients
- Nutritional care in ICU
- Improving hospital food provision
- Iron requirements for those with excess losses
- Probiotic use
- Renal nutrition
I also collaborate with many other disciplines and professions including work on:
- Dysphagia and laryngectomy with Speech and Language Therapists
- Medication harm with Pharmacists and infection control specialists
- Physical activity with Physiotherapists and Sport Science experts
Research degrees awarded to supervised students
PhD students supervised:
Hanan Almutairi - The Feasibility and Safety of the Ketogenic Diet in Treatment of Relapsed Brain Cancer Patients in Paediatric Oncology. Started April 2020
Jill Venables - Meeting nutritive obligations for nutritionally vulnerable patients within a hospital setting. Started Jan 2019
Alex Pinto - Factors affecting metabolism and metabolic control in phenylketonuria. Started Oct 2017
Jennifer Carroll - A mixed methods study to establish core outcomes for refactory childhood epilpsy treated with ketogenic diet therapy. Started April 2018
Craig Culter - The effect of diet and physical activity on the oral nutrate/nitrite pathway and its impact on vascular control. Started October 2017
Julia Eisenblaetter - Dietary counselling of children with food allergy. Started October 2016
Louise Mole - Improving nutritional care for people living at home with Dementia. Started April 2016
Anna Julian – Improving nutritional care at the interface between acute and community healthcare. Awarded 2019.
Ann Ashworth - Effects of dietary nitrate from vegetables on blood pressure in healthy humans: Awarded 2019
Liesl Wandrag – An investigation into inflammatory and nutritional markers during critical illness to identify an indicator of anabolism and to explore a method of attenuating muscle mass loss.Awarded Nov 2013.
Margaret Coffey – An examination of the clinical utility of fiber-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing as an evaluation tool in laryngectomy and an investigation of the effect of different voice prostheses on swallow, voice function and quality of life after laryngectomy. Awarded Nov 2013.
Nurhafzan Anis Ismail – The role of glycaemic index in preventing obesity. Awarded 2014.
Norlida Mat Daud – The effects of propionate on appetite and gut hormones. Awarded Jan 2013.
Charlotte Moss - Comparison of gut hormones in healthy older and young adults. Awarded Jan 2013.
Lina Johansson – Broadening Options for Long-term Dialysis in the Elderly. Awarded Jan 2012.
Elena Philippou – Dietary carbohydrate manipulation and its effect on coronary heart disease risk factors and body weight maintenance. Awarded 2008.
Grants & contracts
BDA General Education Trust Grant - Transition of Covid-19 patients into the community after discharge from acute care, including ICU: Ensuring continuity of nutritional care in this group. Sep 2020.
Abbott Nutrition Educational Grant - To produce a rapid systematic review collating information about covid-19 rehabilitation and nutrition. Aug 2020
BDA General Education Trust Project Grant to explore the first contact role of dietitians in primary care. July 2017 - August 2019.
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
Articles
(2021) 'Long‐term symptom severity in people with irritable bowel syndrome following dietetic treatment in primary care: A service evaluation' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics , DOI Open access
(2021) 'A UK survey of nutritional care pathways for patients with Covid‐19 prior to and post hospital stay' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics , DOI Open access
(2020) 'Nature of the evidence base and frameworks underpinning dietary recommendations for prevention of non-communicable diseases: a position paper from the Academy of Nutrition Sciences' The British Journal of Nutrition: an international journal of nutritional science 1-15 , DOI Open access
(2020) 'Feasibility, acceptability and cost efficiency of using webinars to deliver first‐line patient education for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome as part of a dietetic‐led gastroenterology service in primary care' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 33, (6) 758-766 , DOI Open access
(2020) 'Nutrition-related symptoms in adult survivors of critical illness who are eating orally: a scoping review protocol' JBI Evid Synth 18, (6) 1326-1333 , DOI
(2020) 'Development of a practice guideline for dietary counselling of children with IgE-mediated food allergy' Allergo Journal International , DOI Open access
(2020) 'Effects of Chlorhexidine mouthwash on the oral microbiome' Scientific Reports 10, (1) 0-0 , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Nutrition-related symptoms in adult survivors of critical illness when eating orally: a scoping review protocol' JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports 1-1 , DOI Open access
(2019) 'The contribution of ascitic fluid to body weight in patients with liver cirrhosis, and its estimation using girth: a cross-sectional observational study' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics Open access
(2019) 'Exploration of muscle loss and metabolic state during prolonged critical illness: implications for intervention?' PLoS One , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Leucine-enriched essential amino acid supplementation in mechanically ventilated trauma patients: a feasibility study' Trials 20, (1) , DOI Open access
(2019) '‘It’s what you do that makes a difference’ An interpretative phenomenological analysis of health care professionals and home care workers experiences of nutritional care for people living with dementia at home' BMC Geriatrics 19, (1) , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Family carers’ experiences of nutritional care for people living with dementia at home: An interpretative phenomenological analysis' Dementia 147130121987203-147130121987203 , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Dietitian-led clinics in primary care: A scoping review' The JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports 1-1 , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Post-exercise hypotension and skeletal muscle oxygenation is regulated by nitrate-reducing activity of oral bacteria' Free Radical Biology and Medicine 143, 252-259 , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Dietary intake of inorganic nitrate in vegetarians and omnivores and its impact on blood pressure, resting metabolic rate and the oral microbiome' Free Radical Biology and Medicine , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Outcome measurement and reporting in childhood epilepsy treated with ketogenic diet therapy' JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports 1-1 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Potentially modifiable determinants of malnutrition in older adults: A systematic review' Clinical Nutrition , DOI Open access
(2018) 'An Investigation of Reliability of the Sunderland Tracheosophageal Voice Perceptual Scale' Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica 71, (1) 16-23 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Comparative effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation via buccal spray versus oral supplements on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in humans: a systematic review protocol' JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions to treat malnutrition in older persons: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The SENATOR project ONTOP series and MaNuEL knowledge hub project' Ageing Research Reviews 49, 27-48 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Changes in physical activity, weight and wellbeing outcomes among attendees of a weekly mass participation event: a prospective 12-month study' Journal of Public Health , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Enhanced referral prioritisation for acute adult dietetic services: A randomised control trial to test a web-based decision training tool' Clinical Nutrition 37, (5) 1456-1461 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Evaluating the effect of different voice prostheses on alaryngeal voice quality' The Laryngoscope 128, (11) 2460-2466 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Microbial Preparations (Probiotics) for the Prevention of Clostridium difficile Infection in Adults and Children: An Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis of 6,851 Participants' Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 39, (7) 771-781 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Impact of route and adequacy of nutritional intake on outcomes of allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation for haematologic malignancies' Clinical Nutrition , DOI Open access
(2018) 'Double Blind Study Investigating the Effect of Different Voice Prostheses on Ease of Swallowing and Residue Post Laryngectomy' Dysphagia 33, (5) 616-626 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'The nutritional care of people living with dementia at home: A scoping review' Health & Social Care in the Community 26, (4) e485-e496 , DOI Open access
(2018) 'An Investigation of the Post-laryngectomy Swallow Using Videofluoroscopy and Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)' Dysphagia , DOI Open access
(2017) 'Dietary Magnesium May Be Protective for Aging of Bone and Skeletal Muscle in Middle and Younger Older Age Men and Women: Cross-Sectional Findings from the UK Biobank Cohort' Nutrients 9, (11) 0-0 , DOI Open access
(2017) 'Dietary Magnesium May Be Protective for Aging of Bone and Skeletal Muscle in Middle and Younger Older Age Men and Women: Cross-Sectional Findings from the UK Biobank Cohort' Nutrients , DOI Open access
(2017) 'Future Dietitian 2025: informing the development of a workforce strategy for dietetics' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics , DOI Open access
(2017) 'Using judgement analysis to identify dietitians’ referral prioritisation for assessment in acute adult services' European Journal of Clinical Nutrition Open access
(2017) '7-day weighed food diaries suggest patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia may spontaneously modify their diet to avoid nosebleed precipitants' Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases 12, (60) , DOI Open access
(2016) 'Impacts of High-Protein Oral Nutritional Supplements Among Malnourished Men and Women with Sarcopenia: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Controlled Trial' Journal of the American Medical Directors Association 17, (11) 1044-1055 , DOI Open access
(2016) 'Increased peptide YY blood concentrations, not decreased acyl-ghrelin, are associated with reduced hunger and food intake in healthy older women: Preliminary evidence' Appetite 105, 320-327 , DOI Open access
(2016) 'Frailty Prevention and Treatment: Why Registered Dietitian Nutritionists Need to Take Charge' Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics , DOI Open access
(2016) 'Does body mass index impact on muscle wasting and recovery following critical illness? A pilot feasibility observational study' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 30, (2) 227-235 , DOI Open access
(2016) 'Dietary supplement use and nosebleeds in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia - an observational study' Intractable & rare diseases research 5, (2) 109-113 Open access
(2016) 'The validity and reliability of the EValuation of INtervention Scale: preliminary report' Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) 105, (6) 618-622 Open access
(2015) 'Nutritional interventions in sarcopenia: a critical review' Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 74, (4) 378-386 , DOI Open access
(2015) 'Lack of weight recording in patients being administered narrow therapeutic index antibiotics: a prospective cross-sectional study' BMJ Open 5, (4) e006092-e006092 , DOI Open access
(2014) 'Facilitating Participation in Health-Enhancing Physical Activity: A Qualitative Study of parkrun' International Journal of Behavioral Medicine 22, (2) 170-177 , DOI
(2014) 'A descriptive exploratory study of how admissions caused by medication-related harm are documented within inpatients’ medical records' BMC Health Services Research 14, (1) , DOI Open access
(2014) 'Impact of supplementation with amino acids or their metabolites on muscle wasting in patients with critical illness or other muscle wasting illness: a systematic review' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 28, (4) 313-330 , DOI
(2014) 'Top dietary iron sources in the UK' British Journal of General Practice 64, (621) 172.2-173 , DOI
(2013) 'Hemorrhage-Adjusted Iron Requirements, Hematinics and Hepcidin Define Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia as a Model of Hemorrhagic Iron Deficiency' PLoS ONE 8, (10) e76516-e76516 , DOI Open access
(2013) 'Influence of Psychosocial Factors on the Energy and Protein Intake of Older People on Dialysis' Journal of Renal Nutrition 23, (5) 348-355 , DOI
(2013) 'Nutrition Changes in Conservatively Treated Patients with Encapsulating Peritoneal Sclerosis' Peritoneal Dialysis International: Journal of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis 33, (5) 538-543 , DOI
(2013) 'Exploring the public health potential of a mass community participation event' Journal of Public Health 36, (2) 268-274 , DOI
(2013) 'Examining the evidence for the use of probiotics in clinical practice' Nursing Standard 27, (29) 35-41 , DOI
(2012) 'The Effect of Tenofovir on Vitamin D Metabolism in HIV-Infected Adults Is Dependent on Sex and Ethnicity' PLoS ONE 7, (9) e44845-e44845 , DOI Open access
(2011) 'Gastrointestinal hormones: the regulation of appetite and the anorexia of ageing' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 25, (1) 3-15 , DOI
(2011) 'Impact of protected mealtimes on ward mealtime environment, patient experience and nutrient intake in hospitalised patients' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 24, (4) 370-374 , DOI
(2011) 'Probiotics in the prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and Clostridium difficile infection' Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology 4, (3) 185-197 , DOI
(2011) 'Identifying the factors that influence energy deficit in the adult intensive care unit: a mixed linear model analysis' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 24, (3) 215-222 , DOI
(2010) 'The Reliability of One vs. Three Trials of Pain-free Grip Strength in Subjects with Rheumatoid Arthritis' Journal of Hand Therapy 23, (4) 384-391 , DOI
(2010) 'An investigation of the responses to nutritional intervention and food composition changes in the malnourished and re-fed elderly'
(2010) 'Broadening Options for Long-term Dialysis in the Elderly (BOLDE): differences in quality of life on peritoneal dialysis compared to haemodialysis for older patients' Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 25, (11) 3755-3763 , DOI Open access
(2009) 'Preliminary report: the effect of a 6-month dietary glycemic index manipulation in addition to healthy eating advice and weight loss on arterial compliance and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure in men: a pilot study' Metabolism 58, (12) 1703-1708 , DOI
(2009) 'Validity, reliability and acceptability of the Imperial Nutritional Screening System (INSYST): a tool that does not require the body mass index' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 22, (6) 536-544 , DOI
(2009) 'Evaluation of attendance and weight loss in an intensive weight management clinic compared to standard dietetic care' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 22, (1) 72-76 , DOI
(2009) 'The Effect of Dietary Glycemic Index on Weight Maintenance in Overweight Subjects: A Pilot Study' Obesity 17, (2) 396-401 , DOI
(2008) 'The effectiveness of targeted feeding assistance to improve the nutritional intake of elderly dysphagic patients in hospital' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 21, (6) 555-562 , DOI
(2007) 'Relationship of glycaemic index with cardiovascular risk factors: analysis of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey for people aged 65 and older' Public Health Nutrition 10, (11) 1321-1335 , DOI
(2007) 'Erratum: Use of probiotic Lactobacillus preparation to prevent diarrhoea associated with antibiotics: Randomised double blind placebo controlled trial (British Medical Journal (2007) 335, (80-83))' British Medical Journal 335, (7623)
(2007) 'Use of probiotic Lactobacillus preparation to prevent diarrhoea associated with antibiotics: randomised double blind placebo controlled trial (vol 335, pg 80, 2007)' BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL 335, (7623) 754-754
(2007) 'Does a new steam meal catering system meet patient requirements in hospital?' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 20, (5) 476-485 , DOI
(2007) 'Evaluation of paladai cup feeding in breast-fed preterm infants compared with bottle feeding' Early Human Development 83, (9) 619-621 , DOI
(2007) 'Evaluation of paladai cup feeding in breast-fed preterm infants compared with bottle feeding' EARLY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 83, (9) 619-621 , DOI
(2007) 'Use of probiotic
Lactobacillus
preparation to prevent diarrhoea associated with antibiotics: randomised double blind placebo controlled trial' BMJ 335, (7610) 80-80 , DOI
(2006) 'Vulnerable patients with a fractured neck of femur: nutritional status and support in hospital' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 19, (3) 209-218 , DOI
(2006) 'Eating together is important: using a dining room in an acute elderly medical ward increases energy intake' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 19, (1) 23-26 , DOI
(2005) 'The prevalence of malnutrition in hospitals can be reduced: Results from three consecutive cross-sectional studies' Clinical Nutrition 24, (6) 1078-1088 , DOI
(2005) 'Comparison of energy and protein intakes of older people consuming a texture modified diet with a normal hospital diet' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 18, (3) 213-219 , DOI
(2004) 'A prospective randomised controlled trial of nutritional supplementation in malnourished elderly in the community: clinical and health economic outcomes' Clinical Nutrition 23, (2) 195-204 , DOI
(2004) 'An investigation into the relationships between quality of life, nutritional status and physical function' Clinical Nutrition 23, (2) 213-221 , DOI
(2004) 'Does additional feeding support provided by health care assistants improve nutritional status and outcome in acutely ill older in-patients?—a randomised control trial' Clinical Nutrition 23, (1) 69-77 , DOI
(2003) 'A comparison of three methods for estimating height in the acutely ill elderly population' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 16, (1) 13-20 , DOI
(1999) 'The Design of the Feeding Support Trial - does intensive feeding support improved nutritional status and outcome in acutely ill older in-patients?' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 12, (1) 53-59 , DOI
(1998) 'How well nourished are your patients?' Journal of Community Nursing 12, (1)
(1997) 'Implementing a nutritional assessment tool in the community: a report describing the process, audit and problems encountered' Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics 10, (6) 373-377 , DOI
Books
Lomer M (2014) Chapter: Probiotics and the gastrointestinal microbiota. In Advanced Nutrition and Dietetics in Gastroenterology. 1st Oxford John Wiley & Sons Advance Nutrition and Dietetics Publisher Site , DOI
(2013) Research Handbook for Health Care Professionals. Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons
Payne A; Barker MH (2010) Introduction: Quality improvement and research in advancing dietetics and clinical nutrition. In Advancing Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition. Edinburgh Churchill Livingstone Elsevier
Frost G; Dornhorst A; Moses R (2003) Chapter: Nutritional Management of the Elderly Person with Diabetes. In Nutritional Management of Diabetes Mellitus. Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons
Chapters
(2018) 'Minerals in nutrition support' Advanced Nutrition and Dietetics in Nutrition Support Wiley 155-166 , DOI
Conference Papers
(2020) 'Comparative effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation via buccal spray versus oral supplements on 25(OH)D concentrations: a systematic review' Cambridge University Press (CUP) , DOI
(2015) 'Predominant dietary iron sources in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia' 567-567
(2014) 'IS IT SAFE TO MOBILISE PATIENTS ON AN ADULT INTENSIVE CARE UNIT WHO REQUIRE CONTINUOUS INOTROPE AND/OR VASOPRESSOR INFUSIONS?' S139-S139
(2013) 'Anatomical predictors of dysphagia in stroke: a voxel-lesion mapping study' 40-40
(2012) 'TENOFOVIR AND CALCIUM METABOLISM IN HIV-INFECTED ADULTS' S751-S752
(2012) 'DOES BODY MASS INDEX INFLUENCE MUSCLE WASTING FOLLOWING CRITICAL ILLNESS?' S130-S131
(2011) 'Anorexia of Ageing is Associated with Increased Post-Prandial Secretion of the Anorectic Gastrointestinal Hormone Peptide YY' Cambridge University Press (CUP) , DOI
(2010) 'P132 Carbon dioxide sensitivity in patients with hyperventilation syndrome' BMJ A134-A134 , DOI
(2010) 'Quality of Life in Matched Older Peritoneal and Haemodialysis Patients: Results from the BOLDE Study' 53-53
(2010) 'Impact of protected mealtimes on mealtime environment and nutrient intake in hospital patients' Cambridge University Press (CUP) , DOI
(2007) 'Oral fluid intake of dysphagic patients in hospital, Cotter, Deirdre, Wright L. Hickson, M, Charing Cross Hospital, London, United Kingdom' 361-361
(2007) 'Modest improvements in weight maintenance on a low-glycaemic index (G1) diet following weight loss in overweight and obese subjects' 75A-75A
(2006) 'Appetite controlling gut hormone release during acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease' II87-II87
Posters
'Dietary assessments suggest many patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia do not ingest recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for iron, and may spontaneously modify their diet to avoid nosebleed precipitants'
'Parkrun, activity and health: The public health potential of parkrun' Open access
'Impact of Nutrition on Non-Relapse Mortality and Acute Graft Versus Host Disease during Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Hematologic Malignancies' , DOI Open access
Additional information
Awards
2018 Rose Simmons Award for best publication by a dietitian, British Dietetic Association
2016: Roll of Honour for contributions Research, British Dietetic Association
2015: Roll of Honour for contributions BDA Research symposium, British Dietetic Association
2012: Elizabeth Washington Award for best educational work relating to nutrition, British Dietetic Association
2010: Best Presentation Award, British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Annual Conference
2009: Roll of Honour for contributions to the BDA Research Committee, British Dietetic Association
2008: Rose Simmonds Award for best publication by a dietitian, British Dietetic Association
2008: Award for Teaching Excellence, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London