Professor Jonathan Gabe

B.Soc.Sc (Hons); PhD (Birmingham)

Professor of Sociology

AS6
Department of Health and Social Care
Royal Holloway, University of London
Egham Hill, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX

Tel: +44 1784 443144
Fax: +44 1784 439 248
E-Mail: J.Gabe@rhul.ac.uk

Research Interests

Mental health, health care organisation and chronic illness.  I am particularly well known for research on social aspects of tranquilliser use, risk and health and the status of medicine and the medical profession in contemporary society.

I have recently completed co-directing a study of `Experts on the line; the case of NHS Direct', funded by the ESRC, and also co-directed two Department of Health funded studies, on disability and handicap in young people with asthma, and patient partnership in medical decision making, involving young people and their families. Previously I was principal investigator on an ESRC funded study of violence against professionals (General Practitioners, Probation Officers and Anglican clergy) and an evaluation of strategies to minimise violence in hospitals, funded by the Home Office.
My publications include a wide range of journals, including Sociology of Health and Illness, Sociology, Sociological Review, Social Science and Medicine and the International Journal of Health Services

Activities and Distinctions

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Co-editor of the international journal Sociology of Health and Illness
Member of the Steering Board, Health Sociology Research Committee, International Sociological Association.
Visiting Professor of Sociology, Institute of Sociology, University of Vienna, Austria, 2007
Editorial Board member, Sociological Compass

 

Selected Grants since 2001

1. Awarded £26,000  (with M. Cowie (PI) and J. Riley from Imperial) from the National Institute for Health Research (Research for Patient Benefit Programme) to study `Patients’ and professionals’ views of telemonitoring in heart failure: a qualitative study 2003             

2. Awarded £24,000 (with M. Bury) by Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital Charitable Fund to undertake a literature review on `Communication in Paediatric Cardiac Care’.2002               

3. Awarded £123,000 (with C. Smith, M. Elston and F. Mueller) by the ESRC to study `Experts on the line: the case of NHS Direct’. 2001               

4. Awarded £29,000 (with M. O’Beirne) by the Home Office to evaluate the Safer Surrey Hospitals Initiative

Selected Publications since 2001

Warner, J. and Gabe, J. (2006)  `Risk, mental disorder and social work practice: a gendered landscape British Journal of Social Work, doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcl334

Gabe, J., Olumide, G. and Bury, M. (2004) `It takes three to tango’: A framework for understanding patient partnership in paediatric clinics. Social Science and Medicine, Vol. 59, No. 5, pp. 1071-1079.

Lowton, K. and Gabe, J. (2003) Life on the slippery slope: Perceptions of health in adults with cystic fibrosis. Sociology of Health and Illness, Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 289-319.

Gabe, J., Bury, M. and Ramsay, R. (2002) Living with asthma: the experiences of young people at home and at school.  Social Science and Medicine, Vol. 55, No. 9, pp.1619-33.

 PhD Students

I am an experienced PhD supervisor and welcome applications from those who wish to undertake postgraduate research in any of my areas of research interest. As noted above, these include mental health, health care organisation and chronic illness. I am particularly well known for my research on social aspects of tranquilliser use, risk and health, the experience of asthma and cystic fibrosis, and the status of medicine and the medical profession in contemporary society.
I am currently supervising the following students:

1. Joana Almeida (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology scholarship) `Non-conventional Therapies in Portugal’. 2007-10.

2. Olive Cheung  (Thomas Holloway studentship) `The management of risk by sex workers in Hong Kong.’ 2005-08

3.  Wendy Lee Phoon (Thomas Holloway studentship) `Patients’ experiences of cancer services in Trinidad. 2006-09

4. Sharon Fleming (ESRC CASE studentship) `Children with asthma as decision makers in their health care’. 2004-07

5. Maria Barnes (part-time) `Accounting for and managing occupational asthma: a case study’. 2000-07.

6. Maria O’Beirne (part-time) `The role of receptionists in general practice’. 2000-07.

7. Ursula Wolski (part time) `The diffusion of new technologies for analysing qualitative data. 2000-07.

Further Information