The University of Sheffield
The School of Clinical Dentistry

Dr Sarah R Baker [BSc (Hons) Psychology, PhD,

C.Psychol., AFBPsS]

Unit of Dental Public Health
School of Clinical Dentistry,
Claremont Crescent,
University of Sheffield,
S10 2TA,
UK.

Tel: +44 (0) 114 271 7837
Fax: +44 (0) 114 271 7843

email : s.r.baker@sheffield.ac.uk

Biography

I am a Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Chartered Psychologist who joined the School in 2005. I am currently Research Group Lead for Dental Public Health; one of four research groups within the School.

I am currently involved in a number of projects which utilise psychological theories, methods and techniques to address key questions within the field of oral health.

Research Interests

My research interests involve two interrelated themes each of which includes a number of key projects:

1. Oral health related quality of life

The inclusion of oral health quality of life (OHQoL) in research and clinical practice is relatively recent in dentistry, and marks a shift to a more biopsychosocial, patient-centred approach. The interdisciplinary Dental Public Health Research Group in the School is at the forefront of research in OHQoL in the UK and internationally. I am involved in a number of key projects -

My principal research interest relates to the psychological and social factors which influence how people cope with major events in their lives, including chronic health conditions. This programme of work investigates the psychosocial factors which impact on individual´s experiences of their oral health and quality of life. Understanding the role of such factors – sense of coherence, social support networks, coping strategies etc – allows us to explore potential mechanisms by which oral health impacts on individual´s daily lives and, in turn, develop intervention strategies to improve health. Two current projects explore the determinants and consequents of oral health related quality of life in children and are funded by Royal Thai Government Studentships (2005-2011). A further series of projects investigate the everyday experience of living with dentine sensitivity and is funded by GlaxoSmithKline (2008-13).

The second programme of work within this theme involves a critical examination of the conceptual foundations of oral health quality of life research, together with methodological and statistical critiques of existing patient reported outcome measures in dentistry. This work has primarily involved secondary analyses of existing datasets using structural equation modelling.

2. The impact of oral heath on children and their families

The highly successful Childhood and Youth Oral Health Group in the School is at the forefront of research on child-centred approaches in Dentistry. I am involved in a number of projects within this group:

  1. Children and adolescents’ experience of visible disfigurement

The aim of this research is to understand the impact of oro-facial conditions on children and young adults. One project funded by the Sheffield Hospitals Charitable Trust (2006-8) explored the impact of oro-facial conditions on children as they make the transition to secondary school, and the role of self esteem and coping strategies in facilitating children´s adjustment. A second project is collaboration with the Psychology Department, University of Sheffield and explores Asian adolescents´ experience of living with visible difference. The project is funded by an ESRC Case Award in collaboration with Sheffield Health and Social Research Consortium (2006-2011), and is one of the first to examine visible disfigurement amongst minority groups.

Teaching Interests

I currently have responsibility for the learning, teaching and assessment of communication skills within the BDS undergraduate curriculum for Years 1-3. I am also involved in teaching and supervision on the Masters in Dental Public Health programme, and am currently module lead for Research Methods in Clinical Dentistry. I supervise dissertations within the Psychology Department for students undertaking both the DClinPsy and MSc in Psychological Research programmes.

Professional activities

Within the School, I am Lead for the Dental Public Health Research Group and a member of the School Management Team and Research Committee. I am an elected Member of Senate, University of Sheffield.

I am currently Associate Editor for the journal Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology and Section Editor for Behavioural Sciences for the Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal. I review for a number of journals in the psychology, dentistry and quality of life fields including Social Science and Medicine, Personality and Individual Differences, International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, Quality of Life Research, Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal, Journal of Psychosomatic Research, Journal of Orthodontics and British Journal of Health Psychology.
I am currently program chair and executive committee member for the Behavioural, Epidemiologic and Health Services Research Group of the International Association for Dental Research.

I am an Approved Stage 2 supervisor for the Chartership in Health Psychology qualification with the British Psychological Society, and currently have one Stage 2 Trainee, Jenny Porritt.

Current funding

Baker SR, Robinson PG, Gibson BJ. Living with oral conditions. GlaxoSmithKline. 2010-2013.

Gibson BJ, Baker SR, Robinson PG, Locker D. Expanding oral health: Medical and social approaches to the understanding of dentine sensitivity. GlaxoSmithKline. 2008-2010.

Robinson PG, Thornhill M, Baker SR, Gibson B. The subjective experience of using a Sodium Lauryl Sulphate free toothpaste. GlaxoSmithKline. 2010-2012

Selected publications [2006+]

2011

Porritt J, Rodd H, Baker SR. (2011). Quality of life impacts following childhood dento-alveolar trauma. Dental Traumatology; 27: 2-9.

2010

Baker SR, Mat A, Robinson PG. (2010). What psychosocial factors influence adolescents’ oral health? Journal Dental Research; 89: 1230-35.

Patel A, Rodd H, Baker S, Marshman Z, Benson P, Robinson PG. (2010). Are social judgements made by children in relation to orthodontic appliances? Journal of Orthodontics; 37: 93-9.

Brocklehurst P R, Baker, S R, Speight P M. (2010). Primary care clinicians and the detection and referral of potentially malignant disorders in the mouth: A summary of the current evidence. Primary Dental Care, 17, 65-71.

Rodd HD, Barker C, Baker SR, Marshman Z, Robinson PG. (2010). Social judgements made by children in relation to visible incisor trauma. Dental Traumatology, 26, 2-8.

Brocklehurst PR, Baker SR, Speight PM. (2010). Oral cancer screening: what have we learnt and what is there still to achieve? Future Oncology, 6, 299-304.

Baker S R. (2010). Socio-economic position and oral health: distal and proximal indicators. Social Science and Dentistry, 1, 5-10.

Gibson B, Boiko O V, Baker S, Robinson P G, Barlow A, Player T, Locker D. (2010). The everyday impact of dentine sensitivity: personal and functional aspects. Social Science and Dentistry, 1, 11-20.

Boiko OV, Baker SR, Gibson BJ, Locker D, Sufi F, Barlow APS, Robinson PG. (2010). Construction and Validation of the Quality of Life Measure for Dentine Hypersensitivity (DHEQ). Journal of Clinical Periodontology; 37: 973-980.

Brocklehurst P R, Baker S R, Speight P M. (2010). A qualitative study examining the experience of primary care dentists in the detection and management of pre-malignant disease. 1. Factors influencing the screen and the decision to refer. British Dental Journal, 208, E3.

Brocklehurst P R, Baker S R, Speight P M. (2010). A qualitative study examining the experience of primary care dentists in the detection and management of pre-malignant disease. 2. Mechanisms of referral and patient communication. British Dental Journal, 208, E4.

Brocklehurst P R, Baker S R, Speight P M. (2010). Factors which determine the referral of potentially malignant disorders by primary care dentists. Journal of Dentistry; 38: 569-578.

2009

Baker S R. (2009). Applying Andersen’s behavioural model to oral health: What are the contextual factors shaping oral health outcomes? Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 37, 485-494.

Marshman Z, Baker S R, Bradbury J, Hall M J, Rodd H D. (2009). The impact of oral conditions during transition to secondary education. European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, 10, 176-180.

Baker, S. R., Owens, J., Stern, M., Willmot, D. (2009). Coping strategies and social support in the family impact of cleft lip and palate and parent’s adjustment and psychological distress. Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal; 46: 229-36.

Brocklehurst PR. Baker SR, Speight PM. (2009). Factors affecting the referral of potentially malignant lesions from primary dental care: A pilot study in South Yorkshire. Primary Dental Care; 16: 13-18.

2008

Baker, S. R., Gibson, B., Locker, D. (2008). Is the Oral Health Impact Profile measuring up? Investigating the scale's construct validity using structural equation modelling. Community Dentistry Oral Epidemiology, 36, 532-541

Baker, S.R., Pearson, N.K., Robinson, P.G. (2008). Testing the applicability of a conceptual model of oral health in housebound edentulous older people. Community Dentistry Oral Epidemiology, 36, 237-48.

2007

Marshman, Z, Gibson, B, Owen, J, Rodd, H, Mazey, H, Baker, S. R., Benson, P., Robinson, P. G. (2007). Child dental research in 21st century: seen and heard? International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, 17, 320-327.

Baker, S. R. (2007). Testing a conceptual model of oral health: a structural equation modelling approach. Journal of Dental Research, 86, 708-712.

Baker, S. R. (2007). Dispositional optimism and health status, symptoms and behaviours: Assessing idiothetic relationships using a prospective daily diary approach. Psychology and Health, 22, 431-455.

Baker, S. R., Pankhurst, C. L, Robinson, P. G. (2007). Testing relationships between clinical and non-clinical variables in xerostomia: A structural equation model of oral health-related quality of life. Quality of Life Research, 16, 297-308.

Hill S, Dziedzic K, Thomas E, Baker SR, Croft P.. The illness perceptions associated with health and behavioural outcomes in people with musculoskeletal hand problems: findings from the North Staffordshire Osteoarthritis Project [NorStOP]. Rheumatology, 2007; 46: 944-51.

Rodd HD, Clark EL, Stern ML., Baker SR. Failed attendances at hospital dental clinics among young patients with cleft lip and palate. Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal 2007; 44: 92-4.

2006

Baker, S. R., Pankhurst, C. L., Robinson, P. G. (2006). Utility of two oral health-related quality of life measures in xerostomia. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 34, 351-362.

Baker, S. R. (2006). Toward an idiothetic understanding of the role of social problem solving in daily event, mood and health experiences: A prospective daily diary approach. British Journal of Health Psychology, 11, 513-531.

Current PhD students

Recently completed PhD students