I am a Chartered Psychologist within the Division of Health Psychology of the British Psychological Society and a Visiting Fellow at the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust. I sit on the Executive Committee of the National Cancer Research Institute ECR Forum and co-facilitate the professional sub-group ‘Bereavement & Loss’ of the CHAIN- NHS Networks. I have expertise in various qualitative research methods and in synthesising qualitative research.
I have developed research interest in the area of life-limiting conditions across the lifespan patient and family responses to treatment and impact of community/ healthcare support on their illness management and wellbeing. My projects are aligned with my vision of enhancing patient care and wellbeing through work with family members and health professionals. My work interfaces with frontline NHS clinicians and community organisations and has been supported by links with academics services allied to health and PPIE Forums. After finishing my PhD at Loughborough University I took up postdoctoral work in London. Before joining University of Leicester I was a Senior Lecturer in Psychology in Lincoln.
Improving access to medical services and information for newly diagnosed elderly patients with cancer in rural settings (PI) £18596.65 Charity Funds (2019)
Implications of health literacy on accessibility and engagement with nutrition information in cancer patients and their support networks (Consultant; CO-I) £170.000 Macmillan (2019)
Early Career Conference Bursary British Psychological Society £500 (2019)
European Congress of Psychology Grants Scheme £495 (2019)
Transforming trans students ‘experiences (PI) £1092.28 Learning and Teaching Innovation Fund (2018)
Early Career Conference Bursary British Psychological Society £250 (2018)
The psychological and physical wellbeing of cancer carers: how much do we (not) care? (PI) £3000 British Psychological Society (2017)
Grant to support the set-up of an international clinical psychology fieldwork Foundation Fund £900 (2017)
Award to attend the EORTC QOL Conference European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Belgium £500 (2012)
Dimensions of health-related quality of life among short-and long-term breast cancer survivors: a participatory perspective European Social Fund (PhD) £22000
Peer-reviewed publications
Jeffery, T., Postavaru, G., Matei, R. & Meizel, K. (2021). ‘I have had to stop singing because I can't take the pain’: experiences of voice, ability, and loss in singers with hypermobility spectrum disorders, Journal of Voice
Postavaru, G., Myers, B., Ahmed, T., Lewins, D., Brown, R. & Swaby, H. (2021). A study protocol to explore and improve access to medical services and information for recently diagnosed elderly patients with cancer in rural settings, International Journal of Surgery Protocols
Postavaru, G., Swaby, H. & Swaby, R. (2020). A meta-ethnographic study of fathers experiences of caring for a child with a life-limiting illness, Palliative Medicine
Cormack, J., Rowell, K. & Postavaru, G. (2020) Self-determination theory as a theoretical framework fora responsive approach to child-feeding, Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Postavaru, G. (2018). A meta-ethnography of parents experiences of their childrens life-limiting conditions. Qualitative Research in Psychology
Cormack, J., Postavaru, G. & Basten, G. (2018). Analyzing qualitative minigroup data using thematic analysis. SAGE Research Methods Cases. SAGE Publications. Online ISBN: 9781526444875
Cormack, J., Postavaru, G. & Basten, G. (2018). Using the minigroup to refine the methodology for a qualitative research project exploring parents experiences of picky eating. SAGE Research Methods Cases in Psychology. SAGE Publications. Online ISBN: 9781526441171
Marczak, M & Postavaru, G. (2018). A case of interpretative phenomenological analysis of experiences with the Buddy Group. SAGE Research Methods Cases. SAGE Publications. Online ISBN: 9781526439321
Postavaru, G. (2017). Sensitive peer-reviewed research: how to make ethics less biased and improve participation for women diagnosed with cancer. SAGE Research Methods Cases. SAGE Publications. Online ISBN: 9781526422637
Postavaru, G. & Marczak, M. (2017). A thematic analysis of interviews with breast cancer women. SAGE Research Methods Cases. SAGE Publications. Online ISBN: 9781473992733
Marczak, M & Postavaru, G. (2017). Using thematic analysis to research the consequences of adolescent cyberbullying. SAGE Research Methods Cases. SAGE Publications. Online ISBN: 9781473992719
Cox, T., Postavaru, G., Munir, F., Hassard, J. & MacLennan, S. (2017). Cancer survivorship, cancer-related PTSD and positive change: A narrative overview. In: Cooper, C.L. & Quick J.C. (eds). The Handbook of Stress & Health: A Guide to Research & Practice. Wiley-Blackwell, pp.472-484, ISBN: 9781118993774
Van den Akker, O., Postavaru, G. & Purewal, S. (2016). Maternal psychosocial consequences of twins and multiple births following assisted and natural conception: A meta-analysis. Reproductive BioMedicine Online
Postavaru, G. & Cramer, D. (2016). A case of methodological premises underlying literature reviews. SAGE Research Methods Cases. SAGE Publications. Online ISBN: 9781473949867
Postavaru, G. (2014). A participatory research approach: Designing research with vulnerable women. SAGE Research Methods Cases. SAGE Publications. Online ISBN: 9781473945715
2021-2024: Member of the Executive Committee of the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) ECR Forum
2021-ongoing: Early Career Researcher National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) ECR Forum (partially funded by a grant by the Wates Family Enterprise Trust)
February 2021-May 2022: Visiting Research Fellow United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
July 2020-ongoing: Co-facilitator of the Bereavement & Loss Sub-Group CHAIN NHS - Contact Help Advice and Information Network
February 2019- February 2021 Honorary Researcher United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust Haematology Department
2017: Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (reference number: PR130419)
2016: The British Psychological Society (CPsychol Division of Health Psychology membership number 402742)
2020; 2021: the CPD European Course in Psycho-Oncology organised by Semper Onlus Oncological Institute Ancona Italy [invited lecturer]
2021: Using meta-ethnography in palliative medicine research. SAGE Research Methods Video: Medicine and Health [invited Video].
2021: The role of family members in receiving and breaking bad news about a cancer diagnosis. The 22nd National Conference of Palliative Care Romania October 21-23 [invited workshop]
2021: Fathers’ role in the palliative care of children with life-limiting diagnoses. The 22nd National Conference of Palliative Care Romania October 21-23 [guest speaker]
Postavaru et al. (03/2021). ‘‘F*** what the doctors tell you’’: Mistrust and disempowerment in fathers of children with life limiting conditions. 2021 Qualitative Health Research Network Conference UCL
Postavaru G. (03/2021). ""Living in a collapsed time: present and future as accounted by parents of children diagnosed with life-limiting conditions"". Chronic Living quality vitality and health in the 21st century: an international conference University of Copenhagen Denmark
Postavaru et al. (07/2019).’Cancer carers as : evidence from two qualitative research projects’. Russian Psychological Society 16th European Congress of Psychology Moscow
Postavaru et al. (11/2018). ‘: Carers’ psychological and physical wellbeing throughout the cancer journey’. The 2018 NCRI Conference Glasgow
Postavaru G. (09/2018). Parents’ experiences of their children’s life-limiting conditions: a meta-ethnography The Martin House Research Centre 1st Biennial Research Conference University of York