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Assoc ProfessorBarbara Coughlan

Emeritus Associate Professor (RTA)

School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems

Orcid identifier0000-0002-6922-8308 (opens in a new tab)⁠
  • Emeritus Associate Professor (RTA)
    School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems
  • 01 716 6441
  • University College Dublin, School of Nursing Midwifery and Health Systems, Health Sciences Centre Belfield Dublin 4

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • PERSONAL AWARD, PRIZE, HONOUR
    Healthcare Initiative/Project: Paper of the Year. (opens in a new tab)⁠
    27 Sep 2019
    The Joint Research Network: Midwives, Nurses, Academics and Students Working Together in a Community of Practice and Research to Enhance Maternal and Infant Health.
  • COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
    HSE Staff Training and Support Work Stream of the Implementation of the National Standards for Bereavement Care Following Pregnancy Loss and Perinatal Death.
    18 Apr 2017 - 30 Jun 2018
    Member
  • COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
    HSE Bereavement Care Standards Development Group
    19 Feb 2014 - 10 Aug 2016
    Member
  • PERSONAL AWARD, PRIZE, HONOUR
    Irish Medical Times Awards Category Research Paper of the Year: Recipients MS Denise McGuinness, Dr Barbara Coughlan, and Professor Michelle Butler.
    1 Jan 2014
    Ms Denise McGuinness, Clinical Midwife Specialist (Lactation) from the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin graduated with a Masters in Research in January 2013 from UCD School Of Nursing and Midwifery and Health Systems. The first paper reporting key findings from her study [ McGuinness D, Coughlan B, Butler M. (2014) An exploration of the experiences of mothers as they suppress lactation following late miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. Evidence Based Midwifery, 12 (2):65-70] was recently awarded Best Research Paper of the Year at the recent Irish Health Care Awards 2014 run by the Irish Medical Times.
  • COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
    Joint Research Network: National Maternity Hospital and University College Dublin (JRN- NMH & UCD)
    1 Jan 2013 - 14 Nov 2017
    Chair
  • COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
    Joint Research Network: National Maternity Hospital and University College Dublin (JRN- NMH & UCD)
    10 Jan 2011
    Member
  • PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
    Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI)
    1 Jan 2005 - 31 Dec 2020
    Chartered Member of the Psychological Society of Ireland (C. Health Psychol.Ps.S.I.)
  • COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
    NMHS Research Degrees Committee
    13 Sep 2004 - 1 Sep 2016
    Member
  • COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
    National Hepatitis C Database Steering Committee
    1 Jul 2004
    Member
  • PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
    Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
    Registered General Nurse
  • PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
    Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland
    Registerd Midwife
  • PROFESSIONAL IMPACT
    Research Culture Research Symposium (opens in a new tab)⁠
    UCD PraXIs Team Hosts Research Symposium. On Tuesday 14th October 2025, the University College Dublin's PraXIs Team held a research symposium at the Charles Institute to share the results from UCD Reclaim / Wellcome Trust-funded research study. The event titled "Creativity, Collaboration & Culture in Research: "Translating Knowledge through Evidence, Design and Community Engagement", brought together PhD students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty members to share their experiences of collaborating on creative and innovative research projects.
  • PROFESSIONAL IMPACT
    Supported Socialisation: Friendship promotes recovery for people with Enduring Mental Illness (opens in a new tab)⁠
    This study impacted people with enduring mental illness (EMI), providing opportunities to participate in ordinary everyday activities and directly to the establishment of similar groups nationally. The research identified Supported Socialising is dependent upon more than a volunteer and that other factors including money contribute to improving social functioning and reducing loneliness. The Minister for Mental Health and the CEO of Health Research Board launched the final report in 2012, garnering media reports nationally and internationally including radio interviews. The research was publis
  • COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
    UCD Human Ethics Committee
    Member
  • PROFESSIONAL IMPACT
    UCD Research Impact Case Study Competition 2021: The Labour Hopscotch Framework: improving outcomes for mother and baby (opens in a new tab)⁠
    To address declining rates of physiological births, midwife Sinead Thompson developed the Labour Hopscotch Framework. Evaluating the LHF, researchers at UCD and the NMH found it empowers women and their nominated birth partners, and improves health outcomes for women and newborns. It has been rolled out by the National Women and Infants Health Programme, and is included in national antenatal education.