Dr Nicola Boydell is a Lecturer in Social Science and Public Health, and a former THIS Institute Research Fellow at the Usher Institute and Centre for Biomedicine, Self and Society, University of Edinburgh. As a social scientist, Nicola works at the intersections of medical sociology, critical public health and healthcare improvement research. Her engaged research programme aims to deepen understanding of what works, in which contexts and why, in the design and improvement of sexual and reproductive health services. This work is underpinned by active engagement with people with healthcare experience, communities, healthcare professionals and other key groups, using qualitative and collaborative approaches. Nicola’s expertise includes qualitative methods and analysis, engaged and participatory research methods, healthcare improvement and health services research, as well as collaboration with clinical and community health professionals and policy decision-makers.

Projects

• Nicola is Co-Principal Investigator alongside Dr Jeni Harden (Usher Institute) and Co-Investigators Dr Reynolds-Wright and Prof Sharon Cameron (NHS Lothian, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health) for the SCOPE Study: Service Co-Design to Enhance Post-Abortion Contraception Access and Uptake in Scotland. This study, which commenced in March 2024, collaborates with patients and abortion care providers to co-design post-abortion contraceptive (PAC) services. The project aims to reduce inequalities in PAC access and address the diverse needs of those seeking abortion across Scotland. This work builds on their recent qualitative study exploring the experiences of individuals accessing PAC services in NHS Lothian (2022).
• Nicola was Principal Investigator on a collaborative project funded by The Healthcare Improvement Studies (THIS) Institute, focusing on the application of participatory approaches in service improvement within sexual and reproductive health services. The project, informed by participatory healthcare improvement research, explored current practices in the design and improvement of sexual and reproductive healthcare. Developed in collaboration with service users and providers, it worked towards co-designing practical resources to support the involvement of other service users in improving sexual and reproductive health services.
• Between 2021 and 2023, Nicola was a Co-Investigator (PI - Prof Sharon Cameron) on a Scotland-wide evaluation of early medical abortion. In this role, she led a workstream based on her THIS Fellowship qualitative research with abortion care providers across Scotland, examining changes implemented in response to COVID-19. This study contributed to the Scottish Government's recommendations on the future provision of Early Medical Abortion at Home (EMAH). The evaluation built on Nicola's previous research as Co-Investigator (PI - Dr Jeni Harden) on an NHS Lothian-funded study exploring the perspectives of both women and health professionals on a telemedicine Early Medical Abortion (EMA) service introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary objectives were to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on experiences of EMA at home and to evaluate the acceptability of the telemedicine abortion service among women and health professionals, aiming to identify opportunities for service improvement and enhance support for those undergoing EMA.
• Nicola's previous projects include a qualitative evaluation of the implementation of immediate postpartum intrauterine contraception (PPIUC) in a public maternity service, research on HIV prevention in Scotland, and school-based interventions to address sexual and reproductive health needs.

Nicola’s research interests include: social aspects of health and illness, particularly sexual and reproductive health; the application of participatory research methods; engaging and involving communities in health research; and applied, policy relevant, healthcare improvement research.

• 2015 PhD “Personal communities and safer sex: A qualitative study of young gay and bisexual men in Scotland”, University of Glasgow
• 2011 MSc Social Science Research, University of Glasgow
• 2010 PgCert Public Health Studies, Queen Margaret University
• 2008 BSc (Hons) Sociology and Psychology (First Class), Queen Margaret University

• As Lecturer in Social Science and Public Health Nicola leads courses on the Sociology of Health and Illness and Qualitative Research Methods on the Master of Public Health Programme (on-campus) at the University of Edinburgh.
• Dr Boydell also contributes to the Intercalated BMedSci in Bioethics, Law and Society and SEAM (Social and Ethical Aspects of Medicine) modules as part of the MBChB undergraduate medical programme within the University of Edinburgh Medical School.
• Dr Boydell supervises undergraduate students (BMedSci, BMTO Honours programmes), Masters' level students on Master of Public Health Programmes (on-campus and online) and PhD students within CMVM at the University of Edinburgh.