Honorary Visiting Fellow

Email: ms2591@medschl.cam.ac.uk | Office: East Forvie Building | ORCID

Background

Markus is a General Practitioner, post-doctoral researcher and part of the Palliative and End of Life Care Group at the Primary Care Unit, University of Cambridge. Before moving to Cambridge, he completed a DPhil at the University of Oxford investigating the optimisation of advance care planning (ACP) in heart failure. Further, he has clinical experience in palliative medicine, is involved with the MPhil programme at the Department of Public Health and Primary Care and contributes to medical student teaching. Publications arising from his DPhil have gained national and international interest.

Research Interests

His current research is concerned with improving the quality of life of patients suffering from severe heart failure. ACP can improve quality of life in heart failure but most patients miss out on ACP. Together with patients, carers, clinicians, researchers and commissioners, he has developed a new way, i.e. a complex behaviourally informed intervention, to improve ACP in heart failure. Early findings from qualitative studies and workshops show that there is a strong demand from patients and clinicians to make use of these tools. Now, Markus wants to test how acceptable and effective this new approach is for a more diverse and larger number of participants. So, he is preparing an application for a programme of research.

Teaching

As a MSc Supervisor, he                                                                                                                                   

• Supervised MSc students from Centre for Evidence Based Health Care, University of Oxford, pre and dissertation stage, assisting in the selection of appropriate research topics and methodologies
• Guided students through the MSc programme, giving feedback on course work, and reviewing drafts of the thesis before final submission

Additional Information

His research is supported  by an advisory group of patients with heart failure and members of the public. They are involved in writing funding applications, developing research documents, recruitment approaches, developing the intervention and helping sharing of the findings.

Selected Publications

Schichtel M, Wee B, Perera R, et al. Effect of Behavior Change Techniques Targeting Clinicians to Improve Advance Care Planning in Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Annals of Behavioral Medicine 2020 doi: 10.1093/abm/kaaa075

National Institute for Health Research. Advance care plans improve quality of life for heart failure patients. NIHR SIGNAL 2020;12th February 2020 doi: 10.3310/signal-000878

National Institute for Health Research. Routine engagement in end of life planning can improve health outcomes for people with heart failure. NIHR SIGNAL 2019;30 July 2019 doi: 10.3310/signal-000801

Schichtel M, Wee B, Perera R, Onakpoya I, Albury C, Barber S. (2019) Clinician-targeted interventions to improve advance care planning in heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Heart; doi: 10.1136/heartjnl-2019-314758

Schichtel M, Wee B, MacArtney JI, Collins S. (2019) Clinician barriers and facilitators to heart failure advance care plans: a systematic literature review and qualitative evidence synthesis. BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care; doi:10.1136/ bmjspcare-2018-001747

Schichtel M, Rose P, Sellers C. (2013). Educational interventions for primary health care professionals to promote the early diagnosis of cancer: a systematic review. Education for Primary Care; 24,4.pp.21-39.

Merriman, H., Schichtel M. (2011).A guide to preparation for appraisal and revalidation for sessional GPs. Education for Primary Care; 22, 2: pp.113-11.

Schichtel M. (2010). Core-competence skills in e-mentoring for medical educators: A conceptual exploration. Medical Teacher; 32: pp. 248 -262.

Schichtel M. (2009).A conceptual description of e-mentoring scenarios in General Practice Specialist Training; Education for Primary Care; 20, pp. 1-5.

Schichtel M. (2008).Core-competence skills in e-mentoring for GP educators. Cardiff: Department of Medical and Dental Education, Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff University.

Schichtel M., Brown, T., Rajapaksa, S., and Isles, M. (2008). Application of e-learning in medical education. The e-cycle of reflective practice; Prague: AMEE conference proceedings. Abstr 4XPS, p. 132.