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Laura Jane McCarthy Brings Latest Research to Two High-Profile Conferences
June was a busy and productive month for our HIRH, PhD student Laura-Jane McCarthy. Laura-Jane presented her most recent work, “Navigating Uncharted Waters: A Meta-Ethnography Exploring General Practitioners’ and Women’s Experiences of Perimenopause Consultations in General Practice”, at two major conferences. This study represents the first published paper from her doctoral research and was published on June 3rd, just days before her first conference presentation.
Laura-Jane first presented at the Academic General Practice Ireland conference, held on June 5–6 in the Aula Maxima at University College Cork. Here, she delivered an oral presentation of her published meta-ethnography, which explores the complexities of perimenopause consultations in general practice and highlights the experiences of both women and GPs. It was particularly meaningful to share these findings with an audience that included many familiar colleagues and peers.
In addition to this, Laura-Jane delivered two rapid-fire oral presentations focused on her ongoing and upcoming research. The first, “Women’s Experiences of Shared Decision Making in Perimenopause Consultations in General Practice: A Protocol for a Qualitative Study”, outlines research that aims to explore how women in Ireland experience and engage in decision-making during perimenopause care.
The second, “Delivering Perimenopause Care in General Practice: A Protocol for a Qualitative Exploration of General Practitioners’ Experiences”, focuses on understanding GPs’ perspectives on delivering care in this area. This study is currently in its early stages, with recruitment due to commence shortly. Together, these projects aim to build a comprehensive understanding of perimenopause care from both patient and clinician perspectives.
Later in the month, Laura-Jane presented at the Society for Academic Primary Care (SAPC) conference, held from June 24–26 at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. She delivered a further presentation of her meta-ethnography within a parallel session on women’s maternal and reproductive health. The session brought together a diverse range of research, spanning topics such as endometriosis, HPV screening, and Long-Acting Reversible Contraception, with contributors from Australia, Canada, and the UK.
These presentations reflect the continued progress of Laura-Jane’s doctoral work and her contribution to advancing understanding of perimenopause care within general practice.
