Brief Biography

Ruth Freeman trained at Queen’s University, Belfast and at the University of London. Prior to her appointment to the Chair of Dental Public Health Research at the Dental Health Services Research Unit she worked at University College, London and was Professor of Dental Public Health at Queen’s University, Belfast. She has researched and published in the areas of behavioural sciences, oral health promotion and oral health inequalities.

Qualifications

• BDS
• PhD
• MSc
• MMedSc
• DDPH RCS(Eng)
• FFPH RCP(UK)

Research Interests

Ruth's current research interests include theoretical and practical dimensions of health disparities in socially excluded groups.

Recent Publications

2012

1. Turner, S., Chambers, S.A., and Freeman, R. (2012) Measuring dental anxiety in children with complex and additional support needs using the modified child dental anxiety scale (faces) (MCDASf). Journal of Disability and Oral Health 13: 3-10. [Reference Manager 3995]

2011

1. Abdelghany, A., Nolan, A., and Freeman, R. Treating patients with dry mouth: general dental practitioners' knowledge, attitudes, and clinical management. British Dental Journal 211: E21 Published on-line DOI: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2011.966 [Reference Manager 3954] Also abstract, summary, and commentary in British Dental Journal 211: 474-475.
2. Coles, E., Chan, K., Collins, J., Humphris, G.M., Richards, D., Williams, B., and Freeman, R. Decayed and missing teeth and oral health-related factors: predicting depression in homeless people. Journal of Psychosomatic Research 71: 108-112 DOI:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2011.01.004 [RefManager 3924]
3. Gorter, R.C. and Freeman, R. Burnout and engagement in relation with job demands and resources among dental staff in Northern Ireland. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology. 39: 87-95 doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2010.00568.x. [Reference Manager 3911]
4. Smith, P.A., Themessl-Huber, M., Akbar, T., Richards, D., and Freeman, R. What motivates dentists to work in prisons? A qualitative exploration. British Denal Journal Accepted [Reference Manager 3929]
5. Wanyonyi, K.L., Themessl-Huber, M., Humphris, G., and Freeman, R. A systematic review and meta-analysis of face-to-face communication of tailored health messages: Implications for practice. Patient Education and Counseling 85: 348-355 DOI:10.1016/j.pec.2011.02.006 [Reference Manager 3914]
6. Yuan, S. and Freeman, R. Can social support in the guise of an oral health education intervention promote mother-infant bonding in Chinese mothers and their infants? Health Education Journal 70(1): 57-66. doi:10.1177/0017896910366186 [Reference Manager 3872]

2010

1. Esa, R., Savithri, V., Humphris, G.M., and Freeman, R. The releationship between dental anxiety and dental decay experience in antenatal mothers. European Journal of Oral Sciences 118: 59-65. [RefManager 3897]
2. Freeman, R, Whelton, H.P., and Gibson, B. Toothbrushing rules: power dynamics and toothbrushihg in children. Social Science and Dentistry 1(1): 37-47. [Reference Manager 3871]
3. McKie, A.E., Crowe, A., McCombes, W., Freeman, R. Dental nurses as trainers and assessors: vocational dental trainer attitudes. European Journal of Dental Education 14(4):235-246. [Reference Manager 3934]
4. Smith, P.A., Freeman, R. Remembering and repeating childhood dental treatment experiences: parents, their children, and barriers to dental care. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 20: 50-58. Also published on-line in advance of print. (Accessed 20th October 2009 at: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/fulltext/122648821/HTMLSTART) DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-263X.2009.01004.x [Reference Manager 3889]
5. Themessl-Huber, M., Freeman, R., Humphris, G., MacGillivray, S., Terzi, N. Empirical evidence of the relationship between parental and child dental fear: A structured review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 20: 83-101. [Reference Manager 3888]

2009

1. Freeman, R. Invited Commentary "Health promotion and the randomised controlled trial: a square peg in a round hole. BMC Oral Health 9: 1 doi:10.1186/1472-6831/9/1 [Reference Manager 3821]
2. Freeman, R. Safeguarding the vulnerable child: the role of primary care dentistry in Safeguarding Children in Primary Care (Taylor,J.; Themessl-Huber,M. Eds.) Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London [Reference Manager 3802]
3. Freeman, R. and Ismail, A. Assessing Patients' Health Behaviours pp113-127in Pitts, N.B. (Editor) Detection, Assessment, Diagnosis, and Monitoring of Caries. (Series: Monographs in Oral Science)
4. Freeman, R. and Oliver, M. Do school break-time policies influence child dental health and snacking behaviours? An evaluation of a primary school programme. British Dental Journal 206: 619-625 [Reference Manager 3701].
5. Howard, K.E. and Freeman, R. An evaluation of the PALS after treatment modelling intervention to reduce dental anxiety in child dental patients. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 19: 233-242.(DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-263X.2009.00977.x) [Reference Manager 3820]
6. Smith, P.A. and Freeman, R. Living in a sweetie culture: Scottish parents' difficulties in maintaining their children's oral health. Health Education Journal 68(4): 255-265. DOI: 10.1177/0017896909349277 [RefManager 3771]
7. Viinikangas, A., Lahti, S., Tolvanen, M., Freeman, R., Humphris, G.M., and Joukamaa, M. Dental anxiety and alexithymia: gender differences. Acta Odontologica Scandinavia 67(1): 13-18. [RefManager 3760]

2008

1. Freeman R. Communicating with children and parents :  recommendations for a child-parent-centred approach for paediatric dentistry. European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry 9(Suppl 1):16-22. [RefManager 3728]
2. Freeman R. Editorial:  Reforming NHS dentistry - Equitable distribution of affordable dental services is still possible. British Medical Journal 336: 102-103. doi: 10.1136/bmj.39456.440822.80 [RefManager 3775]
3. Freeman, R. and Stevens, A. Nursing caries and buying time: an emerging theory of prolonged bottle feeding. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 36(5): 425-433. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0528.2007.00417.x. [RefManager 3725]
4. Gorter, R. C. and Freeman, R. E. Dentist-assistant communication style: perceived gender differences in The Netherlands and Northern Ireland. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 33: 131-140 [Reference Manager 3842]
5. Gorter RC, Freeman R, Hammen S, Murtomaa H, Blinkhorn A, Humphris GM. Psychological stress and health in undergraduate dental students:  fifth year outcomes compared with first year baseline results from five European dental schools. European Journal of Dental Education 12: 61-68. [RefManager 3746]
6. Nunn J, Freeman R, Anderson E, Carneiro LC, Carneiro, MS, Formicola, A., Frezel ,R., Kayitenkore, J., Luhanga, C., Molina ,G., Morio ,I., Nartey, N.O., Ngom, P.I., de Lima Navarro, M.F., Segura, A., Oliver, S., Thompson, S., Wandera, M., and Yazdanie, N. Inequalities in Access to Education and Health Care. European Journal of Dental Education 12(Suppl 1): 30-39. [RefManager 3736]
7. Versloot, J., Hall-Scullin, E., Veerkamp, J.S., and Freeman, R. Dental discomfort questionnaire:  its use with children with a learning disability. Special Care in Dentistry 28: 140-144. [RefManager 3741]
8. Yuan S, Freeman R, Lahti S, Lloyd-Williams F, Humphris GM. Some psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale with cross validation. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 6: 22 - Published on-line 25th March 2008   doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-6-22(22). [RefManager 3743]

2007

1. Collins, J. and Freeman, R. (2007) Homeless in North and West Belfast: an oral health needs assessment. British Dental Journal - Published online: 18 May 2007 | doi:10.1038/bdj.2007.473.
2. Freeman, R. (2007) A fearful child attends: a psychoanalytic explanation of children's responses to dental treatment. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 17: 407-418. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-263X.2007.00871.x
3. Freeman, R., Gorter, R. C., McWilliams, C., and McWilliams, S. (2007) A qualitative exploration of the role of gender, ethnicity, and clinical experience upon dental students' interpersonal skills when interacting with dental nurses. European Journal of Dental Education 11: 168-176.
4. Freeman, R., Clarke, H. M. M., and Humphris, G. M. (2007) Conversion tables for the Corah and Modified Dental Anxiety Scales. Community Dental Health 24: 49-54.
5. Freeman, R., McWilliams, C., Gorter, R. C., and Williams, S. (2007) Dental students interacting with dental nurses: an investigation of the role of gender and ethnicity in inter-professional communication and working styles. British Dental Journal 202: 91-96
6. Freeman, R. (2006) Checklist for skills in the identification and behavioural management of the dentally anxious adult and child patient. in Essential skills for dentists. (ed. Mossey, P.A. et al.) 131-149 Oxford University Press. [RM ID: 3699]
7. Freeman, R. and Humphris, G. M. (2006) Communicating in Dental Practice: Stress-Free Dentistry and Improved Patient Care. Quintessence Publishing Co Ltd. [RM ID: 3710]
8. Freeman, R., Linden, G., James, J., and Briggs, J. (2006) Oral health. Chapter 19: 227-235 In: (Yarnell, J.W. editor) Epidemiology and prevention - A systems-based approach. Oxford University Press. (ISBN-13: 978-0-19-853014-5). [RM ID: 3700]
9. Howard, K. E. and Freeman, R. E. Reliability and validity of a faces version of the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry 17: 281-288 [Reference Manager 3848].
10. Viinikangas A, Lahti S, Yuan S, Pietilä I, Freeman R, Humphris G. Evaluating a single dental anxiety question in Finnish adults. Acta Odontologica Scandinavica 65(4): 236-240.
11. Yuan, S., Kerr, G., Salmon, K., Speedy, P., and Freeman, R. Evaluating a community-based dental registration programme for pre-school children residing in areas of high social deprivation. European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry. 8: 55-61.

2006

1. Gorter RC, Bleeker JC, Freeman R. (2006) Dental nurses on perceived gender differences in their dentist's communication and interaction style.British Dental Journal 201: 159-164.
2. Humphris GM, Clarke HMM, Freeman R.(2006) Does completing a dental anxiety questionnaire increase anxiety? A randomised controlled trial in general dental practice. British Dental Journal 201: 33-35.
3. Lazenbatt A, Freeman R.(2006) Recognizing and reporting child physical abuse: a survey of primary healthcare professionals. Journal of Advanced Nursing 56: 227-236.