Miss Casey Regan

Miss Casey Regan

Research Associate

School of Psychological Sciences (Psychology)

Career Summary

Biography

Casey Regan is an early career Research Associate in the School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Newcastle, with a research focus on health psychology and the integration of mental and physical health care. She holds a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) from the University of Newcastle, awarded in 2019. Her PhD thesis (currently under review) examined implementation support strategies to increase preventive care delivery for chronic disease risk factors in community mental health settings.

Casey is currently involved in several projects targeting men’s mental health, including a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)-funded clinical trial comparing the effectiveness of walk-and-talk therapy with traditional psychotherapy for men experiencing low mood. Her broader research interests include men’s health, paternal perinatal support, innovative models of mental health care, and health behaviour change interventions, reflected in a growing body of multidisciplinary peer-reviewed publications.


Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), University of Newcastle

Keywords

  • Chronic Disease Prevention
  • Digital Health Interventions
  • Health Behaviour Change
  • Health Promotion
  • Health Psychology
  • Implementation Science
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Perinatal Mental Health

Languages

  • English (Mother)

Fields of Research

Code Description Percentage
520304 Health psychology 40
420313 Mental health services 30
420603 Health promotion 30

Professional Experience

UON Appointment

Title Organisation / Department
Research Associate University of Newcastle
School of Psychological Sciences
Australia
Casual Academic University of Newcastle
School of Psychological Sciences
Australia

Academic appointment

Dates Title Organisation / Department
1/3/2024 - 28/2/2025 Research Associate School of Psychological Sciences University of Newcastle
Australia
27/1/2020 - 16/8/2024 Higher Degree Research Student - PhD (Psychology - Science)

Thesis Title: Design and Evaluation of Implementation Support Strategies to Increase Preventive Care Delivery for Chronic Disease Risk Factors in Community-Based Mental Health Settings

School of Psychological Sciences, College of Engineering, Science and Environment, University of Newcastle
Australia

Professional appointment

Dates Title Organisation / Department
2/8/2021 - 7/8/2024 Research Assistant - SMS4dads School of Health Sciences - University of Newcastle
Australia
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Publications

For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.


Journal article (13 outputs)

Year Citation Altmetrics Link
2025 Fletcher R, Regan C, May C, White S, St George J, 'Developing a text message intervention for fathers with partners experiencing perinatal depression or anxiety', JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE AND INFANT PSYCHOLOGY [C1]

Background: Support from fathers to their partners is important to reduce distress in mothers during the perinatal period when conditions such as depression and anxiety can be com... [more]

Background: Support from fathers to their partners is important to reduce distress in mothers during the perinatal period when conditions such as depression and anxiety can be common. The SMS4dads digital platform delivers text messages to fathers but has not previously addressed specific messages to fathers with partners who are experiencing perinatal depression and/or anxiety (PNDA). Aim: To develop messages, in collaboration with experienced parents and clinicians, that are suitable for fathers whose partner is experiencing PNDA. Methods: Messages designed to enhance the quality of partner support for mothers experiencing PNDA were drafted by the SMS4dads team based on suggestions from mothers with lived experience of PNDA. Mothers and fathers with lived experience and expert clinicians rated the messages for importance and understanding. Clinicians additionally rated clinical relevance. Open response comments from parents and clinicians were collated for each message. Re-drafted messages were screened again and checked for literacy level. Results: Forty-one draft messages received a total of 170 ratings from 24 parents and 164 ratings from 32 clinicians. Over three quarters of parents and clinicians agreed or strongly agreed that messages were understandable (parents 85.6%; clinicians 77.4%), important (parents 86.3%; clinicians 86.6%), and 85.5% of clinicians rated the messages as clinically relevant. Comments from clinicians (n = 99) and parents (n = 46) were reviewed and guided message development. Thirty re-drafted messages were screened and 16 edited based on a second round of ratings and comments from parents and clinicians. Conclusion: Messages for fathers whose partners are experiencing depression and anxiety can be developed and evaluated in collaboration with lived experience of parents and clinicians.

DOI 10.1080/02646838.2023.2262506
Citations Scopus - 1Web of Science - 1
Co-authors Jennifer Stgeorge, Richard Fletcher
2025 Dascombe EM, Morgan P, Drew RJ, Regan CP, Turner-McGrievy GM, Young MD, 'Podcasts in Mental, Physical, or Combined Health Interventions for Adults: Scoping Review', Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27 (2025) [C1]
DOI 10.2196/63360
Co-authors Philip Morgan, Ryan Drew, Myles Young
2025 Regan C, Bartlem K, Hollis J, Dray J, Fehily C, Campbell E, Leask S, Leigh L, Orr M, Govindasamy S, Bowman J, 'Evaluation of Co-Developed Strategies to Support Staff of a Mental Health Community Managed Organisation Implement Preventive Care: A Pilot Controlled Trial', Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 36 (2025) [C1]

Background: Mental health community managed organisations (CMOs) are well placed to provide preventive care, including behaviour change conversations to address smoking, nutrition... [more]

Background: Mental health community managed organisations (CMOs) are well placed to provide preventive care, including behaviour change conversations to address smoking, nutrition, alcohol and physical activity (snap). This study evaluates the impact of co-developed preventive care implementation support strategies, including Healthy Conversation Skills (HCS) training on CMO staff attitudes and perceptions relating to preventive care for snap behaviours. Methods: A non-randomised controlled pilot trial was undertaken (October 2021¿May 2022) with two branches of a mental health CMO (n = 1 target; n = 1 control) in NSW, Australia. Target group staff received a three-month implementation support package co-developed by staff and researchers, including HCS training and educational materials. Staff from both groups completed an online survey at baseline and follow-up, reporting barriers and facilitators and perceived individual and organisational ability to provide preventive care for each behaviour. Pre and post HCS training, target staff completed surveys reporting barriers and facilitators to having behaviour change conversations, and competency of using 'open discovery questions' (a key HCS skill). Results: Baseline (n = 27) and follow-up (n = 17) surveys showed mean scores increased for the target group and decreased for the control group for n = 4/8 barrier and facilitator outcomes, and n = 7/8 perceived individual and organisational ability of providing care outcomes. Sixteen target group staff participated in HCS training and surveys, with scores improving for skills (p = 0.0009), beliefs about capabilities (p = 0.0035), intentions (p = 0.0283), participant confidence (p = 0.0043), perceived usefulness (p = 0.004), and competence in using open discovery questions (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: This pilot trial demonstrates the feasibility and potential effectiveness of a co-developed implementation support package at increasing mental health CMO staff capacity to provide preventive care for multiple health behaviours. So What?: This evidence can inform future research trials and health policy aimed at supporting CMO staff in delivering comprehensive preventive care.

DOI 10.1002/hpja.70018
Co-authors Caitlin Fehily, Jenna Hollis, Jenny Bowman, Kate Bartlem
2025 Philpott-Robinson K, Blackwell D, Regan C, Leonard C, Haracz K, Lane AE, Wales K, 'Conflicting Definitions of Self-Regulation in Occupational Therapy: A Scoping Review', PHYSICAL & OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN PEDIATRICS [C1]
DOI 10.1080/01942638.2024.2434468
Co-authors Kylie Wales, Kirsti Haracz, Carl Leonard
2024 Regan C, Dray J, Fehily C, Campbell E, Bartlem K, Orr M, Govindasamy S, Bowman J, 'Co-development of implementation strategies to assist staff of a mental health community managed organisation provide preventive care for health behaviours', HEALTH PROMOTION JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA [C1]

Issue Addressed: People with a mental health condition are at risk of developing chronic physical disease due to smoking tobacco, inadequate nutrition, high alcohol consumption, l... [more]

Issue Addressed: People with a mental health condition are at risk of developing chronic physical disease due to smoking tobacco, inadequate nutrition, high alcohol consumption, low physical activity and poor sleep (SNAPS). Community managed organisations (CMOs) represent an opportune setting to support mental health consumers to improve their health behaviours through providing preventive care. Reporting of methods used to co-develop implementation strategies to assist CMO staff to deliver preventive care for SNAPS are scarce yet warranted. Objectives: This study aims to: (1) describe a co-development workshop involving CMO staff and researchers to identify preferred implementation support strategies to help staff routinely provide preventive care; (2) describe the strategies that emerged from the workshop; and (3) report staff ratings of the workshop on four co-development principles. Methods: A three-hour co-development workshop was conducted on two occasions with staff of one CMO in New South Wales, Australia. Twenty staff participated in the workshops. Results: Participants generated and ranked a total of seven discrete implementation strategies within five categories (training, point of care prompts, guidelines, continuous quality improvement and consumer activation). Training for staff to have difficult conversations about behaviour change was ranked highest in both workshops. Participants rated the workshops positively across four co-development principles. Conclusions: The co-development workshop enabled implementation strategies to be developed within the context in which they were to be delivered and tested, potentially increasing their feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness and impact. So What?: Implementation strategies selected from the workshops will inform a pilot implementation support trial to assist CMO staff to provide preventive care to people with mental health conditions.

DOI 10.1002/hpja.813
Citations Scopus - 1
Co-authors Kate Bartlem, Jenny Bowman, Caitlin Fehily
2024 Fletcher R, Regan C, StGeorge J, 'Providing clinicians with 'how to' knowledge for technology-based innovation: Introducing the SMS4dads texts', HEALTH PROMOTION JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA, 35, 481-486 (2024) [C1]

Issue Addressed: Male partners are key supports for women in birth preparation and postnatally. Text-messaging can deliver timely information to expectant and new fathers to incre... [more]

Issue Addressed: Male partners are key supports for women in birth preparation and postnatally. Text-messaging can deliver timely information to expectant and new fathers to increase their support of the mother. However, technological innovations in healthcare often fail to be adopted. This study aims to assess the impact of disseminating a 'taster' set of SMS messages to increase clinicians' engagement with the intervention. Methods: Example messages from SMS4dads were delivered to clinicians over a 3-week period and a link provided to an evaluation survey. Agreement to two closed questions was rated on a five-point Likert scale; the frequency of specific recalled messages was calculated for the first open-ended question. Responses to the remaining open-ended questions were analysed with a descriptive thematic approach. Results: A total of 418 participants (female 61.5%) working in health organisations (80.4%), mostly in nursing (33.9%) or midwifery (19.6%) enrolled. Of the 77 (18.4%) participants who provided an evaluation, 96% agreed or strongly agreed that the Professional Taster gave them a better understanding of how to explain the program, and 88% agreed or strongly agreed that they are now more likely to tell parents about the program. Analysis of the remaining two open-ended questions revealed clinicians' concerns for fathers alongside their primary focus on maternal wellbeing. Conclusion: Providing 'how to' knowledge through receiving a sample of the intervention may increase clinicians' acceptance of technological innovation. So What?: Health-promoting digital interventions using text are increasing. Novel tested strategies for gaining buy-in from healthcare staff will be needed.

DOI 10.1002/hpja.778
Citations Scopus - 1Web of Science - 1
Co-authors Richard Fletcher, Jennifer Stgeorge
2024 Fletcher R, Regan C, May C, Rennie A, Ludski K, St George J, 'Developing text-messaging support for fathers after perinatal loss', WOMEN AND BIRTH, 37 (2024) [C1]

Background: Perinatal loss is a devastating occurrence for expecting parents. Although both parents are affected, research on fathers&apos; grief has not resulted in effective sup... [more]

Background: Perinatal loss is a devastating occurrence for expecting parents. Although both parents are affected, research on fathers' grief has not resulted in effective support services for fathers. Aim: To describe a multi-stage co-design process for developing text messaging support for fathers experiencing perinatal loss. Methods: Co-designed text messages were developed in collaboration with a perinatal bereavement organisation, mothers and fathers with lived experience of perinatal loss, and clinicians working with bereaved parents. Bereaved parents responded to a survey about bereaved fathers' information needs (stage 1). A qualitative descriptive data analysis created topics for the generation of text messages (stage 2). Parents with lived experience and clinicians evaluated the messages on importance and clinical fit (stage 3). Messages were revised (stage 4), followed by parent and clinician evaluation and final message revision (stage 5). Findings: There were 959 survey respondents; the majority agreed that support for fathers would have been useful; 539 provided comments. Qualitative analysis created twelve topics within three themes, leading to the generation of 64 text messages. Messages were evaluated by 27 lived experience parents and 19 clinicians as important (91.6%) and understandable (91.3%), and 92.5% of clinicians agreed the messages fitted clinical guidelines. Message revision resulted in 59 messages across three themes. The final evaluation by 12 parents and 14 clinicians led to a final revised set of 52 messages. Conclusion: Text-based support for bereaved fathers can be developed in a co-design process to accord with clinical practice, from topics suggested parents with lived experience.

DOI 10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101594
Co-authors Richard Fletcher, Jennifer Stgeorge
2024 Fletcher R, Forbes F, Dadi AF, Kassa GM, Regan C, Galle A, Beyene A, Liackman R, Temmerman M, 'Effect of male partners' involvement and support on reproductive, maternal and child health and well-being in East Africa: A scoping review', HEALTH SCIENCE REPORTS, 7 (2024) [C1]

Background and Aims: East African countries have high rates of maternal and child mortality and morbidity. Studies have shown that the involvement of male partners in reproductive... [more]

Background and Aims: East African countries have high rates of maternal and child mortality and morbidity. Studies have shown that the involvement of male partners in reproductive health can benefit maternal and child health (MCH). This scoping review aims to provide an overview of the evidence across East Africa that describes male partner involvement and its effect on maternal, reproductive, and child well-being. Methods: Ten databases were searched to identify quantitative data on male's involvement in East Africa. Studies reporting qualitative data, "intention to use" data or only reporting on male partner's education or economic status were excluded. Studies were organized into five a priori categories: antenatal care (ANC), human immunodeficiency virus, breastfeeding, family planning, and intimate partner violence with further categories developed based on studies included. Results: A total of 2787 records were identified; 644 full texts were reviewed, and 96 studies were included in this review. Data were reported on 118,967 mothers/pregnant women and 15,361 male partners. Most of the studies (n = 83) were reported from four countries Ethiopia (n = 49), Kenya (n = 14), Tanzania (n = 12) and Uganda (n = 10). The evidence indicates that male partner involvement and support is associated with improved reproductive, MCH across a wide range of outcomes. However, the studies were heterogeneous, using diverse exposure and outcome measures. Also, male partners' lack of practical and emotional support, and engagement in violent behaviors towards partners, were associated with profound negative impacts on MCH and well-being. Conclusions: The body of evidence, although heterogeneous, provides compelling support for male involvement in reproductive health programs designed to support MCH. To advance research in this field, an agreement is needed on a measure of male partner "involvement." To optimize benefits of male partners' involvement, developing core outcome sets and regional coordination are recommended.

DOI 10.1002/hsr2.2269
Citations Scopus - 3
Co-authors Richard Fletcher
2023 Fletcher R, Regan C, May C, White S, St George J, 'Equipping fathers to support distressed mothers: What do mothers want fathers to know and do?', HEALTH PROMOTION JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA, 34, 683-690 (2023) [C1]
DOI 10.1002/hpja.758
Citations Scopus - 3Web of Science - 3
Co-authors Jennifer Stgeorge, Richard Fletcher
2023 Fletcher R, Regan C, Dizon J, Leigh L, 'Understanding Attrition in Text-Based Health Promotion for Fathers: Survival Analysis', JMIR FORMATIVE RESEARCH, 7 (2023) [C1]
DOI 10.2196/44924
Citations Scopus - 4Web of Science - 2
Co-authors Richard Fletcher
2023 Fletcher R, Regan C, Leigh L, Dizon J, Deering A, 'Online mental health screening for rural fathers over the perinatal period', AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, 31, 796-804 (2023) [C1]
DOI 10.1111/ajr.12997
Citations Scopus - 2
Co-authors Richard Fletcher
2023 Regan C, Bartlem K, Fehily C, Campbell E, Lecathelinais C, Doherty E, Wolfenden L, Clancy R, Fogarty M, Conrad A, Bowman J, 'Evaluation of an implementation support package to increase community mental health clinicians’ routine delivery of preventive care for multiple health behaviours: a non-randomised controlled trial', Implementation Science Communications, 4 (2023) [C1]
DOI 10.1186/s43058-023-00509-0
Co-authors Luke Wolfenden, Kate Bartlem, Jenny Bowman, Richard Clancy, Caitlin Fehily, Agatha Conrad
2022 Regan C, Fehily C, Campbell E, Bowman J, Faulkner J, Oldmeadow C, Bartlem K, 'Clustering of chronic disease risks among people accessing community mental health services', PREVENTIVE MEDICINE REPORTS, 28 (2022) [C1]
DOI 10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101870
Citations Scopus - 5Web of Science - 3
Co-authors Christopher Oldmeadow, Caitlin Fehily, Kate Bartlem, Jenny Bowman
Show 10 more journal articles

Preprint (2 outputs)

Year Citation Altmetrics Link
2024 Dascombe EM, Morgan PJ, Drew RJ, Regan CP, Turner-McGrievy GM, Young MD, 'Podcasts in Mental, Physical, or Combined Health Interventions for Adults: Scoping Review (Preprint)' (2024)
DOI 10.2196/preprints.63360
Co-authors Ryan Drew, Philip Morgan, Myles Young
2022 Fletcher R, Regan C, Dizon J, Leigh L, 'Understanding Attrition in Text-Based Health Promotion for Fathers: Survival Analysis (Preprint)' (2022)
DOI 10.2196/preprints.44924
Co-authors Richard Fletcher
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Research Supervision

Number of supervisions

Completed0
Current2

Current Supervision

Commenced Level of Study Research Title Program Supervisor Type
2024 PhD A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Men’s Engagement in Walk-and-Talk Therapy Compared to Usual Care PhD (Psychology - Science), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle Co-Supervisor
2024 PhD Engaging Men in Therapy: Examining How Men’s Preferences Relate to Engagement and Clinical Outcomes in Indoor Compared to Outdoor Psychotherapy. PhD (Clinical Psychology), College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle Co-Supervisor
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Miss Casey Regan

Positions

Research Associate
Active Living and Learning Research Program
School of Psychological Sciences
College of Engineering, Science and Environment

Casual Research Assistant
Active Living and Learning Research Program
School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing

Casual Academic
Active Living and Learning Research Program
School of Psychological Sciences
College of Engineering, Science and Environment

Focus area

Psychology

Contact Details

Email casey.regan@newcastle.edu.au
Phone (02) 4055 0218

Office

Room W102
Building Behavioural Sciences Building (W)
Location Callaghan
University Drive
Callaghan, NSW 2308
Australia
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