Sonya MacVicar
Sonya MacVicar

Dr Sonya MacVicar

Associate Professor

 0131 455 2441

  S.MacVicar@napier.ac.uk

  

Biography

Dr Sonya MacVicar is registered with the NMC as an adult nurse, midwife, nurse tutor and independent prescriber with an extensive clinical career spanning a variety of senior roles in the fields of midwifery and neonatal nursing.
Sonya completed her MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice (neonatal) in 2011. She undertook her clinical research doctoral studies as a practitioner researcher conducting a mixed method study using behaviour change theory to develop and pilot an intervention supporting breastfeeding for the substance exposed mother and baby. The study was nominated for NMAHP award for doctoral studies exhibiting originality of ideas which have the potential for significant impact on practice.
Sonya entered academia in 2016 as a lecturer and researcher within the area of maternal and neonatal health and well-being. Her educational remit includes programme leadership roles within advanced nurse practitioner preparation, neonatal nurse development, independent prescribing, midwifery practice and supervision of doctoral and master's level students.
Sonya's research interests include the impact of substance use disorder in pregnancy and neonatal abstinence syndrome. She has published extensively in this area and as part of an international collaboration developed a novel research Core Outcome Set for infants at risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal. Her current pedagogical research includes neonatal education in low resource countries, development of advanced practice roles and the impact of independent nurse prescribing.
Sonya's expertise and professional standing withing the neonatal community is recognised by committee and advisory group representation on national government and educational bodies. Sonya has been commissioned as the midwifery and neonatal advisory consultant for the 2020 BBC drama 'The Nest'.

School

Research Groups

Themes

Research Areas

Esteem

Advisory panels and expert committees or witness

  • Royal College Midwives: Research Strategy Development ( Scotland ) Expert Working Group
  • Tommy's Preterm birth charity
  • NHS Health Scotland: ReHIP project
  • Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health: National Neonatal Programme Board

 

Conference Organising Activity

  • Conference panel chair
  • Newborn Vietnam Neonatal Education Conference (panel chair)
  • Edinburgh Napier University Learning, Teaching and Research conference. Poster presentation of Attitudes of healthcare professional towards substance use disorders in maternity setting. Edinburgh, UK.
  • NHS Lothian NMAHPP Conference. Oral presentation of Intervention supporting breastfeeding for the substance exposed mother and baby. Edinburgh, UK.
  • HESAV Midwifery Conference. Oral presentation and workshop of Diversity and approach to perinatal risks in vulnerable groups. Lausanne, Switzerland.
  • Edinburgh Napier University Learning, Teaching and Research conference. Oral presentation of Development and feasibility of clinical intervention to support breastfeeding in substance dependency. Edinburgh, UK.
  • Robert Gordon University doctoral student conference. Poster presentation of Supporting breastfeeding establishment among socially disadvantaged women. Aberdeen , UK. (Best poster,2nd prize winner)
  • Reason 21st Annual Neonatal Conference. Oral presentation of IBriS Study: Randomised Controlled Trial. Warwick University, UK. (shortlisted top 3 conference presentations)
  • Doctoral Midwifery Research Society. Poster presentation of Intervention supporting breastfeeding in substance dependency in pregnancy.- University of West Scotland, Ayr UK.
  • Scottish Neonatal Nurses Group annual conference. Oral presentation of Intervention supporting breastfeeding for infant at risk of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Paisley, UK.
  • Robert Gordon University doctoral student conference. Poster presentation of The effectiveness and maternal satisfaction of interventions supporting the establishment of breastfeeding for women from disadvantaged groups. Aberdeen, UK.

 

External Examining/Validations

  • University of Manchester

 

Fellowships and Awards

  • Fellow Higher Education Academy
  • Shortlisted for the 'Originality of Doctoral Research' award at the 2017 Scottish NMAHP Research Awards.
  • Doctoral Research Studentship for NMAHP. Robert Gordon University & NHS Grampian

 

Invited Speaker

  • The Royal Society of Medicine: Invited speaker ' Non-pharmacological management of neonatal abstinence syndrome'. London, UK.
  • Perinatal and Neonatal Endowment Fund Research Forum: Invited speaker 'IBriS study- recommendations for practice'. NHS Grampian, Aberdeen.
  • Robert Gordon University Research Series Seminars: Invited speaker 'Clinical Academic Careers'. Aberdeen, UK.

 

Membership of Professional Body

  • Neonatal Nurse Association
  • Staff and Educational Development Association
  • Scottish Neonatal Nurses Group

 

Research Degree External Examining

  • External examiner: MRes -Understanding prospective fathers’ attitudes towards infant feeding and exploring their role in the infant feeding experience.

 

Reviewing

  • Journal of Midwifery
  • British Journal of Midwifery
  • 'Trials' journal
  • Reviewer for JBI Evidence Synthesis
  • International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
  • Reviewer for Birth Journal
  • Reviewer for 'Midwifery'
  • Reviewer for Medicines Journal
  • Reviewer for Maternal and Child Nutrition Journal
  • Reviewer for Journal of Addictions Research
  • Reviewer for OBM Integrative and complementary medicine
  • Journal of Gynaecology and Obstetrics
  • Reviewer for Joanna Briggs Institute Database of systematic reviews and implementation studies

 

Filter by

Date


26 results

Translation and validation of Vietnamese version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R)

Journal Article
MacVicar, S., Jordan, A., Vu, H., Ngoc Tran, H., Greig, Y., Thi Tuyet Nguyen, H., …Hollins Martin, C. J. (in press)
Translation and validation of Vietnamese version of the Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R). Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, https://doi.org/10.1080/02646838.2024.2338176
Background The 10-item Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R) is a quick and easy survey instrument recommended by the International Consortium for Health Outcome Measures a...

Management of stress urinary incontinence associated with perimenopause

Journal Article
Storm, S., & MacVicar, S. (2024)
Management of stress urinary incontinence associated with perimenopause. Journal of Prescribing Practice, 6(2), 68-74. https://doi.org/10.12968/jprp.2024.6.2.68
Pelvic health physiotherapy is recommended as first-line treatment for those with lower urinary tract symptoms and pelvic floor dysfunction. Pelvic health physiotherapists tre...

Antimicrobial treatment of neonatal meningitis

Journal Article
MacVicar, S. (2024)
Antimicrobial treatment of neonatal meningitis. Journal of Prescribing Practice, 6(1), 16-17, 42. https://doi.org/10.12968/jprp.2024.6.1.16
Part two containing answers: https://doi.org/10.12968/jprp.2024.6.1.42

Naloxone hydrochloride for acute opioid events: answers

Journal Article
MacVicar, S. (2023)
Naloxone hydrochloride for acute opioid events: answers. Journal of Prescribing Practice, 5(10), 438. https://doi.org/10.12968/jprp.2023.5.10.438

Naloxone hydrochloride for acute opioid events

Journal Article
MacVicar, S. (2023)
Naloxone hydrochloride for acute opioid events. Journal of Prescribing Practice, 5(10), 410-411. https://doi.org/10.12968/jprp.2023.5.10.410

Neonatal resuscitation: answers

Journal Article
MacVicar, S. (2023)
Neonatal resuscitation: answers. Journal of Prescribing Practice, 5(7), 306. https://doi.org/10.12968/jprp.2023.5.7.306

“It’s no ordinary job”: Factors that influence learning and working for midwifery students placed in continuity models of care

Journal Article
Moncrieff, G., Martin, C. H., Norris, G., & MacVicar, S. (in press)
“It’s no ordinary job”: Factors that influence learning and working for midwifery students placed in continuity models of care. Women and Birth, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2022.09.009
Background Maternity policy and guidelines increasingly recommend or stipulate the increased provision of midwifery continuity of carer as a priority model of care. The scale ...

Consultation in out-of-hours practice: a clinical review of Lyme disease

Journal Article
Brydon, S., & MacVicar, S. (2022)
Consultation in out-of-hours practice: a clinical review of Lyme disease. Journal of Prescribing Practice, 4(9), https://doi.org/10.12968/jprp.2022.4.9.396
In recent times, telephone triage and virtual consultation have been expedited in the out-of-hours urgent primary care setting. This brings challenges concerning gaining a com...

Non-medical prescribing considerations in emergency mental health services

Journal Article
Douglas, K., & MacVicar, S. (2022)
Non-medical prescribing considerations in emergency mental health services. Journal of Prescribing Practice, 4(7), 312-316. https://doi.org/10.12968/jprp.2022.4.7.312
The emergency mental health practitioner's job involves providing immediate care to patients who are suffering a mental health crisis. Independent nurse prescribing supports t...

Narrative review of closed loop automated oxygen systems

Journal Article
Stewart, L., & MacVicar, S. (in press)
Narrative review of closed loop automated oxygen systems. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnn.2022.05.005
Preterm infants frequently require respiratory support with supplemental oxygen but excess and fluctuation of oxygen levels can have adverse effects. Oxygen saturation levels ...

Pre-Napier Funded Projects

  • NHS Grampian Perinatal and Neonatal Endowment fund : IBRIS study: Intervention supporting breastfeeding for substance exposed mother and baby. Total funding £18,900

Current Post Grad projects

Previous Post Grad projects

Non-Napier PhD or MSc by Research supervisions

  • External supervisor-doctoral study