Leanne McDonald profile picture

Dr Leanne McDonald

Lecturer in Psychology
School of Human and Social Sciences
Leanne.mcdonald@uwl.ac.uk

Leanne gained a First Class BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of West London in 2014, followed by an MSc with distinction in Health Psychology from the same university in 2015. During her MSc, she investigated the effectiveness of a positive psychology intervention on trainee community pharmacists, in collaboration with the University of Bath and University College London.

Leanne received a PhD in Optometry and Visual Science from City, University of London in 2019, which focused on investigating the cognitive and emotional processes involved in the management of chronic open-angle glaucoma.

Her teaching covers both undergraduate and postgraduate study. Leanne’s main areas of expertise are health psychology and the social aspects of ill health. Leanne is particularly interested in adaptation to chronic illness, illness perceptions, health myth acceptance and treatment seeking. Leanne is also part of a team at UWL exploring the psychological characteristics of virtual reality experiences.

  • Qualifications

    BSc (University of West London), MSc (University of West London), PhD (City, University of London)

Teaching

I have a PhD in Optometry and Visual Science from City, University of London (2019), which focused on investigating the cognitive and emotional processes involved in the management of chronic open-angle glaucoma. My teaching covers both undergraduate and postgraduate study. My main areas of expertise are health psychology and the social aspects of ill health. I am particularly interested in adaptation to chronic illness, illness perceptions, health myth acceptance and treatment seeking.

Research

  • Research and publications

    Publications

    McDonald, L., Chang, L., Turnbull, P. & Crabb D.P. (2019) Taking the Strain? The Impact of Glaucoma on Patient’s Informal Caregivers. Eye; 34: 197-120. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41433-019-0688-4

    Enoch, J., McDonald, L., Jones, L., Jones, P. R., Crabb, D. P. (2019) Evaluating Whether Sight is the Most Important Sense. JAMA Ophthalmology; 137(11): 1317-1320. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2019.3537

    McDonald, L., Boodhna, T., Ajtony, C., Turnbull, P., Bourne, R. R. A. & Crabb, D. P. (2019) Illness Perceptions in People Newly Diagnosed with Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension. British Journal of Ophthalmology:  http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2018-313781

    McDonald, L., Glen, F. C., Taylor, D. J. & Crabb, D., P. (2017) Self-Monitoring Symptoms in Glaucoma: A Feasibility Study of a Web-Based Diary Tool. Journal of Ophthalmology; Article ID: 8452840: 8 pages. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/8452840

  • Conferences

    United Kingdom and Éire Glaucoma Society (UKÉGS) – City, University of London 2018 – London, England – Poster Presentation
    Taking the strain? The impact of glaucoma on patient’s informal caregivers.
    Leanne McDonald, Lydia Chang, Paula Turnbull, David P. Crabb

    British Congress of Optometry and Vision Science (BCOVS) – Anglia Ruskin University 2018 – Cambridge, England – Oral Presentation
    Taking the strain? The impact of glaucoma on patient’s informal caregivers.​
    Leanne McDonald, Lydia Chang, Paula Turnbull, David P. Crabb

    The Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2018 – Honolulu, Hawaii, USA – Poster Presentation
    Taking the strain? The impact of glaucoma on patient’s informal caregivers.​
    Leanne McDonald, Lydia Chang, Paula Turnbull, David P. Crabb

    The School of Health Sciences Doctoral Research Conference – City, University of London 2018 – London, England – Oral Presentation
    Taking the strain? The impact of glaucoma on patient’s informal caregivers.​
    Leanne McDonald, Lydia Chang, Paula Turnbull, David P. Crabb

    British Congress of Optometry and Vision Science (BCOVS) – University of Plymouth 2017 – Plymouth, England – Oral Presentation
    Illness Perceptions in People Newly Diagnosed with Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension.​
    Leanne McDonald, Trishal Boodhna, Csilla Ajtony, Rupert R. A. Bourne, David P. Crabb

    United Kingdom and Éire Glaucoma Society (UKÉGS) 2016 – Cheltenham, England – Oral PresentationIllness Perceptions in People Newly Diagnosed with Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension.
    Leanne McDonald, Trishal Boodhna, Csilla Ajtony, Rupert R. A. Bourne, David P. Crabb

    The Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2016 – Seattle, Washington, USA – Poster Presentation
    Self-Monitoring Symptoms in Glaucoma: A Feasibility Study of a Web-Based Diary Tool​
    Leanne McDonald, Fiona C. Glen, Deanna J. Taylor, David P. Crabb

    The Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2016 – Seattle, Washington, USA – Poster Presentation
    Illness Perceptions in People Newly Diagnosed with Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension.​
    Csilla Ajtony, Leanne McDonald, Trishal Boodhna, Rupert R. A. Bourne, David P. Crabb

    The School of Health Sciences Doctoral Research Conference – City, University of London 2016 – London, England – Oral Presentation
    Illness Perceptions in People Newly Diagnosed with Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension.​
    Leanne McDonald,Trishal Boodhna, Csilla Ajtony, Rupert R. A. Bourne, David P. Crabb

    European Glaucoma Society Congress (EGS) 2016 – Prague, Czech Republic – Poster Presentation
    Illness Perceptions in People Newly Diagnosed with Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension.​
    Csilla Ajtony, Leanne McDonald, Trishal Boodhna, Rupert R. A. Bourne, David P. Crabb

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