John Hughes is an Associate Professor within the School of Medicine and Biosciences, and the Director of Research for the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, UCLH NHS Trust. John graduated with a degree in Health Sciences for Complementary Medicine from the University of Central Lancashire in 2000. He worked as a research assistant before completing a PhD in acupuncture and rheumatoid arthritis at Manchester Metropolitan University, graduating in 2007. He worked within the Department of Health Services Research at the University of Liverpool before taking a post as Research Coordinator at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine in 2011.
John now leads an interdisciplinary programme of mixed methods research centred on patients’ experiences of chronic illness and the alleviation of symptoms using non-pharmacological interventions and self-care approaches. The programme of research has received over one million pounds in funding, and includes awards from the National Institute for Health Research and World Health Organisation. The research has been disseminated in over 50 peer reviewed academic publications.
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Memberships
Society for Research into Higher Education
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Research and publications
Books
Hughes, J.G. & Lloyd-Williams, M. (2008) Psychosocial research. In: Walsh et al, eds. Palliative Medicine. ISBN: 9781437721942
Lloyd-Williams, M. & Hughes, J.G. (2008) Balancing feelings and cognitions. In: Payne et al, eds. Palliative Care Nursing: principles and evidence for practice, 2nd edn. ISBN: 978-0335221813
Journal articles
Hughes, J.G., Leydon, G.M., Watts, S., Hughes, S., Brindle, L.A., Arden-Close, E., Bacon, R., Birch, B., Carballo, L., Plant, H., Moore, C.M., Stuart, B., Yao, G., Lewith, G. & Richardson, A. (2020) A feasibility study of a psycho-educational support intervention for men with prostate cancer on active surveillance. Cancer Reports (in press). Doi.org/10.1002/cnr2.1230
Hughes, J.G., Lewith, G., MacPherson, H., Witt, C., Cummings, M. & Fisher, P. (2019) Assessment of the quality of reporting in studies of acupuncture for patients with cancer using the STRICTA guidelines. Acupuncture in Medicine, 37: 223-227.
Hughes, J., Fisher, P., Espinosa, S., Brinkhaus, B., Fonnebo, V., Rossi, E. & Lewith, G. (2019) Traditional acupuncturists’ views on the World Health Organisation Traditional Medicine ICD-11 codes: A Europe wide mixed methods study. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 25: 49-54.
Hughes, J.G., Cummings, M., Filshie, J., Kassab, S., Leng, G., Mackereth, P., MacPherson, H., de Valois, B. & Fisher, P. (2018) Ensuring model validity in a feasibility study of acupuncture to improve quality of life in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 21: 50-52.
Fisher, P., Hughes, J.G., Carballo, L. & Plant H. (2018) Acupuncture for cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy: Protocol for a programme of research. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 21: 63-69.
Charlesworth, E., Hughes, J.G., Carballo, L. & Plant, H. (2018) Complementary therapy for people with cancer: the patient’s perspective. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 17: 26-32.
Hughes, J.G., Greville-Harris, M., Graham, C., Lewith, G., White, P. & Bishop, F.L. (2017) What trial participants need to know about placebo effects to give informed consent: a survey to establish existing knowledge among patients with back pain. Journal of Medical Ethics, 43: 867-870.
Cheshire, A., Hughes, J., Ridge, D., Panagioti, M., Peters, D., Simon, C. & Lewith, G. (2017) GPs’ perceptions of resilience training: a qualitative study. British Journal of General Practice, 67 (663): e709-e715.
Cheshire, A., Ridge, D., Hughes, J., Peters, D., Panagioti, M., Simon, C. & Lewith, G. (2017) Influences on GP coping and resilience: a qualitative study in primary care. British Journal of General Practice, 67 (659): e428-e436.
Greville-Harris M, Hughes J, Lewith G, Liossi C, White P, Graham C, Bishop FL. Public knowledge about acupuncture: a survey of people with back pain in the UK. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 2016; 29: 164-168.
Hu, X., Hughes, J.G., Fisher, P., Lorenc, A., Purtell, R., Park, A.L. & Robinson, N. (2016) A pragmatic observational feasibility study on integrated treatment for musculoskeletal disorders: design and protocol. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine, 22 (2): 88-95.
Hughes, J.G., Towler, P., Storey, L., Wheeler, S.L. & Molassiotis, A. (2015) A feasibility study of auricular therapy and self-administered acupressure for insomnia following cancer treatment. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 7 (6): 623-627.
Hughes, J.G., Russell, W., Breckons, M., Richardson, J., Lloyd-Williams, M. & Molassiotis, A. (2014) "I assumed that one was a placebo": exploring the consent process in a sham controlled acupressure trial. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 22: 903-908.
Molassiotis, A., Russell, W., Hughes, J., Breckons, M., Lloyd Williams, M., Richardson, J., Hulme, C., Brearley, S.G., Campbell, M., Garrow, A. & Ryder, W.D. (2014) The effectiveness and cost effectiveness of acupressure for the control and management of chemotherapy-related acute and delayed nausea: a randomised controlled trial. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 47 (1): 12-25.
Hughes, J.G., Russell, W., Breckons, M., Lloyd-Williams, M., Richardson, J. & Molassiotis, A. (2013) “Until the trial is complete you can’t really say whether it helped you or not, can you?”: exploring cancer patients’ perceptions of taking part in a trial of acupressure wristbands. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 13: 260.
Molassiotis, A., Russell, W., Hughes, J., Breckons, M., Lloyd Williams, M., Richardson, J., Hulme, C., Brearley, S.G., Campbell, M., Garrow, A. & Ryder, W.D. (2013) The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of acupressure for the control and management of chemotherapy-related acute and delayed nausea: Assessment of Nausea in Chemotherapy Research (ANCHoR), a randomised controlled trial. Health Technology Assessment, 17: 26.
Berkovitz, S., Bassett, P. & Hughes, J.G. (2013) A randomised, double-blind comparability study of a placebo for Individualised Western Herbal Medicine in adult outpatients. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 21 (3): 195-199.
Hughes, J.G., Gabbay, M., Funnell, E. & Dowrick, C. (2012) Exploratory review of placebo characteristics reported in randomised placebo controlled antidepressant drug trials. Pharmacopsychiatry, 45 (1): 20-27.
Zavery, B., Sandiford, K., Appleton, L., Wong, H. & Hughes, J.G. (2010) Complementary and alternative medicine use amongst oncology patients attending a large cancer centre in England. Progress in Palliative Care, 18 (2): 89-93.
Hughes, J.G. (2009) “When I first started going I was going in on my knees, but I came out and I was skipping”: exploring rheumatoid arthritis patients’ perceptions of receiving treatment with acupuncture. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 17(5-6): 269-273.
Hughes, J.G. (2009) “I cry many times, but nobody sees that”: exploring the impact of rheumatoid arthritis on patients’ lives. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 16 (11): 594-599.
Dowrick, C., Gask, L., Hughes, J., Towey, M., Charles-Jones, H., Peters, S., Salmon, P., Rogers, A. & Morriss, R. (2008) General practitioners’ views on reattribution for patients with medically unexplained symptoms: a questionnaire and qualitative study. BMC Family Practice, 9: 46.
Lloyd-Williams, M. & Hughes, J.G. (2008) The management of anxiety in advanced disease. Progress in Palliative Care, 16 (1): 47-50.
Salmon, P., Peters, S., Clifford, R., Iredale, W., Gask, L., Rogers, A., Dowrick, C., Hughes, J. & Morriss, R. (2007) Why do family practitioners decline training to improve management of medically unexplained symptoms? Journal of General Internal Medicine, 22 (5): 565-71.
Dowrick, C., Hughes, J.G., Hiscock, J.J., Wigglesworth, M. & Walley, T. (2007) Considering the case for an antidepressant drug trial involving temporary deception: a qualitative enquiry of potential participants. BMC Health Services Research, 7: 64.
Hughes, J.G., Goldbart, J., Fairhurst, E. & Knowles, K. (2007) Exploring acupuncturists’ perceptions of treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 15 (2): 101-108.
Sixsmith, J., Griffiths, J., Hughes, J.G., Wren, J., Penfold, S. & Natusch, H. (2006) Accessibility of condoms to young people in Manchester, UK. Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care, 32 (4): 219-225.
Gillibrand, W., Hughes, J.G. & Taylor, J. (2004) Practice nurses’ views of their diabetes care. Practice Nursing, 11 (3): 144-149.
Journal articles(conference abstracts)
Hughes, J., Kostanjsek, N., Espinosa, S., Lewith, G. & Fisher, P. (2017) Europe-wide pilot field testing the Traditional Medicine (TM) Chapter of the ICD-11. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 17 (Suppl 1): 61.
Cheshire, A., Ridge, D., Hughes, J., Peters, D., Panagioti, M., Simon, C. & Lewith, G. (2017) The personal is political: influences on GP coping and resilience. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 17 (Suppl 1): 78.
Fisher, P., Hughes, J., Mendoza, A., MacPherson, H., Witt, C., Filshie, J. & Lewith, G. (2017) A feasibility study of Acupuncture to improve quality of life and fatigue in cancer patients undergoing Radiotherapy Treatment (ART). BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 17 (Suppl 1): 157.
Hughes, J., Fisher, P., Kostanjsek, N., Espinosa, S., Brinkhaus, B., Fonnebo, V., Rossi, E. & Lewith, G. (2016) Europe-wide feasibility study of World Health Organisation traditional medicine ICD-11 codes. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 8 (4): 591-592.
Hu, X., Hughes, J.G., Fisher, P., Lorenc, A. & Robinson, N. (2015) A pragmatic observational feasibility study on integrative treatment for musculoskeletal disorders: quantitative results. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 7 (6): 680.
Fisher, P. & Hughes, J. (2015) Ensuring model validity in a feasibility study of acupuncture to improve quality of life and fatigue in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment (ART study). European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 7 (Suppl 1): 6.
Hu, X., Hughes, J.G., Fisher, P., Lorenc, A., Purtell, R., Park, A.L. & Robinson, N. (2015) Integrative treatment for musculoskeletal disorders: A mixed methods study. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 7 (Suppl 1): 9.
Fisher, P. & Hughes, J. (2015) Adherence to STandards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture (STRICTA) guidelines in studies of acupuncture for patient with cancer. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 7 (Suppl 1): 36-37.
Fisher, P. & Hughes, J. (2014) Ensuring Model Validity in a Programme of Research to Develop and Evaluate a Nurse-Delivered Acupuncture Intervention for Patients with Cancer. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 20 (5): A125-A126.
Hu, X., Lorenc, A., Hughes, J., Fisher, P. & Robinson, N. (2014) Integrative medicine for musculoskeletal disorders: a qualitative study of pathways to treatment and patients expectations. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 6: 610-611.
Hughes, J.G. (2013) Meta-synthesis of Qualitative Studies on East Asian Medicine Patient-Practitioner Relationships. Forschende Komplementarmedizin: Research in Complementary Medicine, 20 (Suppl 1): 7.
Fisher, P., Jacobs, J. & Hughes, J. (2013) Polypharmacy and multimorbidity: implications for integrative medicine research. Forschende Komplementarmedizin: Research in Complementary Medicine, 20 (Suppl 1): 21.
Hughes, J.G., Russell, W., Breckons, M., Lloyd-Williams, M., Richardson, J. & Molassiotis, A. (2013) “Until the trial is complete you can’t really say whether it helped you or not can you”: exploring cancer patients’ perceptions of taking part in a trial of acupressure wristbands. Forschende Komplementarmedizin: Research in Complementary Medicine, 20 (Suppl 1): 25.
Berkovitz, S., Hughes, J.G. & Bassett, P. (2013) A randomised, double-blind comparability study of a placebo for Individualised Western Herbal Medicine in adult outpatients. Forschende Komplementarmedizin: Research in Complementary Medicine, 20 (Suppl 1): 53.
Hu, X., Hughes, J.G., Fisher, P., Lorenc, A., Purtell, R., Park, A.L. & Robinson, N. (2013) Feasibility study of integrated treatment on musculoskeletal disorders (FIT): a protocol. Forschende Komplementarmedizin: Research in Complementary Medicine, 20 (Suppl 1): 77.
Hughes, J.G., Molassiotis, A., Russell, W., Breckons, M., Lloyd-Williams, M. & Richardson, J. (2012) The effectiveness and cost effectiveness of acupressure for chemotherapy-related nausea. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 12 (Suppl 1): O4.
Hughes, J.G., Molassiotis, A., Russell, W., Breckons, M., Lloyd-Williams, M, Richardson, J. (2012) The effectiveness and cost effectiveness of acupressure for chemotherapy-related nausea. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 16 (Suppl 1): S7.
Hu, X., Hughes, J., Fisher, P., Lorenc, A. & Robinson, N. (2012) A pragmatic observational cohort study to evaluate treatments for musculoskeletal disorders provided by the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 4: e355.
Hughes, J.G. (2008) Acupuncture for rheumatoid arthritis and the impact of acupuncturist affiliation to a traditional or western theoretical framework: exploring the perceptions of acupuncturists and patients. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 14 (1) S39.
Dowrick, C., Hughes, J.G., Whiting, D., Hiscock, J.J., Wigglesworth, M. & Walley, T. (2007) Deception in research: considering the case for balanced placebo designs in trials of antidepressant medication. Family Medicine, 39 (Suppl 1).
Hughes, J.G., Goldbart, J., Fairhurst, E. & Knowles, K. (2004) Rheumatoid arthritis patients’ perceptions of receiving treatment with acupuncture: Findings from preliminary interviews. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 12 (2-3): 150.
Hughes, J.G., Goldbart, J., Fairhurst, E. & Knowles, K. (2003) The intended therapeutic effect of acupuncture for rheumatoid arthritis (RA): findings from preliminary interviews. Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 8 (1): 143.
Hughes, J.G., Goldbart, J., Fairhurst, E. & Knowles, K. (2003) The intended therapeutic effect of the treatment acupuncturists administer for rheumatoid arthritis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 11(3): 198-199.
Gillibrand, W., Hughes, J., Taylor, J. & Gibbon, B. (2002) An exploration into practice nurses’ perceptions of diabetes care in the community. Diabetic Medicine, 19 (Suppl 2): 95.
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Conferences
November 2019. Federation of Holistic Therapists Conference, London, UK, (keynote).
2017. International Congress on Complementary Medicine Research, Berlin, Germany.
2017. Traditional Chinese Medicine Kongress, Rothenburg, Germany.
2016. Traditional Chinese Medicine Kongress, Rothenburg, Germany.
2016. CAMSTRAND, Warwick, UK.
2015. Traditional Chinese Medicine Kongress, Rothenburg, Germany.
2015. CAMSTRAND, London, UK.
2015. European Congress for Integrative Medicine, Copenhagen Denmark.
2013. International Congress on Complementary Medicine Research, London, UK.
2012. European Oncology Nursing Society, Geneva, Switzerland.
2012. International Congress on Complementary Medicine Research, Portland, USA.
2012. CAMSTRAND, Cardiff, UK.
2011. British Academy of Western Medical Acupuncture Annual Conference, Liverpool, UK (keynote).
2011. International Congress on Complementary Medicine Research, Chengdu, China.
2011. Alternative and Complementary Health Research Network conference, Manchester, UK.
2010. Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists Annual Conference, Northampton, UK (keynote).
2010. International Congress on Complementary Medicine Research, Tromsø, Norway.
2010. Academic Palliative and Supportive Care Studies Conference, Liverpool, UK.
2009. Acupuncture Research Resource Centre’s Acupuncture Research Symposia, London, UK (keynote).
2009. The Society for Academic Primary Care Northern Conference, Kendal, UK.
2009. Alternative and Complementary Health Research Network conference, York, UK.
2006. North American Primary Care Research Group Annual Meeting, Tucson, USA.
2006. Annual Conference of the UK Federation of Primary Care Research Organisations, Liverpool, UK.
2004. CAMSTRAND, Southampton, UK.
2004. Alternative and Complementary Health Research Network conference, Nottingham, UK.
2003. CAMSTRAND, Southampton, UK.
2001. Diabetes U.K. Annual Professional Conference, Glasgow, UK
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Research degree supervision
Principal Supervisor
Exploring the experiences of cancer patients receiving Cognitive Behavioural Therapy treatment: a qualitative study. Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University. (Sonia Lopes)
Exploring Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University. (Catherine Clark) - awarded 2019
Autogenic training for women experiencing chronic pain: A grounded theory study. Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Canterbury University. (Catherine Porter) - awarded 2015
