Dr Tom Crocker
Associate Professor in Stroke Care
ORCID 0000-0001-7450-3143
Tom is an applied health researcher at the Academic Unit for Ageing and Stroke Research (ASR). He has substantial experience in qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods for applied health research, with particular expertise in complex intervention development and evaluation and evidence synthesis. His research interests include the organisation and delivery of post-stroke care, life after stroke, ageing and frailty, care homes, and inequalities.
Tom’s first degree was an MA(Hons) in economics from the University of Edinburgh. He subsequently studied for an MSc at the University of Leeds where he received a distinction in multidisciplinary informatics (specialising in healthcare). Tom won funding to conduct a follow-on PhD, awarded in 2011, which used an ethnographically informed case study approach with process modelling to explore the way renal anaemia management is organised and provided in local systems and how this impacts on clinical performance. Tom joined ASR following his PhD where he led or collaborated on a large number of projects and grant applications.
His first-author publications have been cited in multiple clinical guidelines, including the Royal College of Physicians’ National clinical guideline for stroke, and other highly cited publications. Tom has won awards including the Elizabeth Brown prize for best platform presentation at the British Geriatrics Society spring conference 2023; the Society for Research in Rehabilitation prize for stroke rehabilitation research at the UK Stroke Forum 2019; best poster in the Information Provision to Patients section at UK Stroke Forum 2018; and recognition for patient, carer and public involvement at the UK Stroke Forum 2015.
Research interests:
Tom provides a leadership role within the ASR for systematic reviews and have managed multiple teams of researchers. He is first author of the Cochrane review of information provision for stroke survivors and their carers, and the Cochrane review of physical rehabilitation for older people in long‐term care. Tom has led systematic reviews into the validity of proxy rating of the WHO brief quality-of-life measure across cultures and the relationship between frailty and quality of life measures. Most recently, he led a large mixed-methods evidence synthesis of community-based complex interventions to sustain independence in older people using network meta-analysis, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme and published in the BMJ.
Tom has substantial experience in the development and evaluation of complex interventions. This includes a major role in the design, implementation and refinement of a self-management intervention (New Start) to enhance the quality of life of stroke survivors and their carers in the longer term (LoTS-2-Care programme), jointly designing the subsequent process evaluation embedded in a cluster-randomised feasibility trial. Additionally, the FORECAST study has recently co-produced an intervention to improve conversations about recovery after stroke, following on from Louisa Burton’s PhD in this area, which used a range of research methods including an ethnographic study in two stroke rehabilitation wards.
Recent Funding Awarded
Crocker TF, Burton L, Mahmood F. Developing approaches to collaborating with the South Asian community to develop stroke research priorities. Research England 2024/25 Participatory Research Fund £15,134.90, 01/10/2024-31/03/2025.
Todd O, Burton L, Bates S, Forster A, Crocker T. Development of an intervention to improve provision of information about recovery on the stroke unit. Leeds Hospitals Charity £90,333.00; 01/08/2023-31/07/2024.
Goodwin V, Whitney J, Cockroft E, Frost J, Crocker T, Hamilton F, Del Din S, Lamb S, Lyndon H, Hulme C, Clegg A, Creanor S, Sanders T. Digital and Remote Enhancements for the Assessment and Management of older people living with frailty (DREAM) NIHR Programme Development Grant £149,463.00; 01/01/2022-31/03/2023.
Clegg A, Crocker T, Ensor J, Forster A, Gladman J, Riley R. Community-based complex interventions to sustain independence in older people, stratified by frailty: a systematic review and network meta-analysis NIHR HTA £336,901.03; 01/04/2020-31/03/2022.
Recent Publications
Forster A, Ozer S, Johansson JF, Moreau L, Airlie J, Patel A, Mead G, Fitzsimons CF, Copsey B, Yaziji N, Shannon R, Hall J, Clarke DJ, Welsh A, Morton S, Barrett B, Carter G, Gibson S, English C, Crocker TF, Burton L, Horrocks J, Mossabir R, Hartley S, Lawton R, Romeo R, Lam N, Holloway I, Birch K, Day F, Farrin AJ. Development and evaluation of strategies to reduce sedentary behaviour in stroke survivors and improve outcomes: the RECREATE research programme including pilot cRCT. Programme Grants for Applied Research 2026;14(14). https://doi.org/10.3310/GJAF0918
Burton LJ, Crocker TF, Todd O, Bates S, Forster A. Coproducing an intervention to support stroke unit staff to provide information about recovery to patients and carers. PEC Innovation 2026;9:100483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecinn.2026.100483
Burton LJ, Crocker T, Coventry P, Hill L, Walsh A, Myers E, Speed M, Akanuwe J, Forster A. Exploring how hospital based green spaces support stroke rehabilitation: A mixed methods multiple case study protocol. PLoS One 2026;21(6), e0350763. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0350763
Brown L, Antcliff D, Clegg A, Grice A, Schofield P, Suleman A, Williams A, Harrison N, Kime N, Wright A, Lam N, Howdon D, Tebaldi D, Mossabir R, Hallas S, Crocker TF, Forster A. Developing the evidence and associated service models to improve pain management in older people living with frailty: a synopsis of the POPPY mixed method, co-design study. Health and Social Care Delivery Research 2026;14(18):1-42. https://doi.org/10.3310/gjlb4820
Burton LJ, Forster A, Johnson J, Crocker TF, Clarke DJ. Using the Behaviour Change Wheel to develop an intervention to improve conversations about recovery on the stroke unit. PLoS ONE 2025. 20(1):e0317087.
Crocker TC, Lam N, Ensor J, Jordão M, Bajpai R, Bond M, Forster A, Riley R, Andre D, Brundle C, Ellwood A, Green J, Hale M, Morgan J, Patetsini E, Prescott M, Ramiz R, Todd O, Walford R, Gladman J and Clegg A. Community-based complex interventions to sustain independence in older people, stratified by frailty: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Health Technology Assessment 2024;28(48):1-194.
Crocker TF, Jordão M, Lam N, Ramiz R, Mirza L, Patel I, Ellwood A, Patetsini E, Ensor J, Forster A, Clegg A, Gladman J. Development of the Community-based complex Interventions to sustain Independence in Older People (CII-OP) typology: a qualitative synthesis of interventions in randomised controlled trials. Age and Ageing 2024;53:afae102.
Burton L-J, Forster A, Johnson J, Crocker TF, Tyson S, Clarke DJ. What influences provision of information about recovery on stroke units? A focused ethnographic case study. Patient Education and Counseling 2024:108331. doi:
Crocker TF, Ensor J, Lam N, Jordão M, Bajpai R, Bond M, Forster A, Riley R, Andre D, Brundle C, Ellwood A, Green J, Hale M, Mirza L, Morgan J, Patel I, Patetsini E, Prescott M, Ramiz R, Todd O, Walford R, Gladman J, Clegg A. Community based complex interventions to sustain independence in older people: systematic review and network meta-analysis BMJ 2024; 384 :e077764.
Lam N, Green J, Hallas S, Forster A, Crocker TF, Andre D, Ellwood A, Clegg A, Brown L, on behalf of the POPPY Programme Group. Mapping review of pain management programmes and psychological therapies for community-dwelling older people living with pain. European Geriatric Medicine 2023;
Crocker TF, Lam N, Jordão M, Brundle C, Prescott M, Forster A, Ensor J, Gladman J, Clegg A. Risk-of-bias assessment using Cochrane’s revised tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) was useful but challenging and resource-intensive: observations from a systematic review. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 2023;161:39-45.
Forster A, Ozer S, Brindle R. Barnard L, Hardicre N, Crocker TF, Chenery M, Moreau L, Wright A, Burton LJ, Hartley S, Hulme C, Dawkins B, Holloway I, House A, Hewison J, Farrin A, on behalf of the LoTS2Care Programme Team. An intervention to support stroke survivors and their carers in the longer term: results of a cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial (LoTS2Care). Pilot Feasibility Studies 2023;9(40)
Crocker TF, Brown L, Lam N, Wray F, Knapp P, Forster A. Information provision for stroke survivors and their carers: Cochrane review. Stroke 2022;53(7):e269-e270.
Crocker TF, Brown L, Lam N, Wray F, Knapp P, Forster A. Information provision for stroke survivors and their carers. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2021, Issue 11. Art. No.: CD001919.
Forster A, Godfrey M, Green J, McMaster N, Airlie J, Cundill B, Lawton R, Hawkins R, Hulme C, Birch K, Brown L, Cicero R, Crocker T, Dawkins B, Ellard D, Ellwood A, Firth J, Gallagher B, Graham L, Johnson L, Lusambili A, Marti J, McCrorie C, McLellen V, Patel I, Prashar A, Siddiqi N, Trépel D, Wheeler I, Wright A, Young J, Farrin A. Strategies to enhance routine physical activity in care home residents: the REACH research programme including a cluster feasibility RCT. Programme Grants Applied Research 2021;9(9).
Burton L, Forster A, Johnson J, Crocker TF, Tyson SF, Wray F, Clarke DJ. Experiences and views of receiving and delivering information about recovery in acquired neurological conditions: a systematic review of qualitative literature. BMJ Open 2021;11:e045297.
Forster A, Ozer S, Crocker T F, House A, Hewison J, Roberts E, Dickerson J, Carter G, Hulme C, Fay M, Richardson G, Wright A, McKevitt C, McEachan R, Foy R, Barnard L, Moreau L, Prashar A, Clarke D, Hardicre N, Holloway I, Brindle R, Hall J, Burton L, Atkinson R, Hawkins R J, Brown L, Cornwall N, Dawkins B, Meads D, Schmitt L, Fletcher M, Speed M, Grenfell K, Hartley S, Young J & Farrin A. Longer-term health and social care strategies for stroke survivors and their carers: the LoTS2Care research programme including cluster feasibility RCT. Programme Grants for Applied Research Volume 2021;9(3).
Crocker TF, Clegg A, Riley RD, Lam N, Bajpai R, Jordão M, Patetsini E, Ramiz R, Ensor J, Forster A, Gladman JRF. Community-based complex interventions to sustain independence in older people, stratified by frailty: a protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMJ Open 2021;11(2):e045637.
Hall JF, Crocker TF, Clarke DJ. Forster A. Supporting carers of stroke survivors to reduce carer burden: development of the Preparing is Caring intervention using Intervention Mapping. BMC Public Health 2019;19:1408;
Crocker TF, Ozer S, Brown L, Hall J, Forster A. Non‐pharmacological interventions for longer‐term stroke survivors or their carers: an overview of Cochrane Reviews. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2019; Issue 4. Art. No.: CD013317.
Crocker TF, Brown L, Clegg A, Farley K, Franklin M, Simpkins S. Young J. Quality of life is substantially worse for community-dwelling older people living with frailty: systematic review and meta-analysis. Quality of Life Research 2019;28:2041–2056
Hardicre NK, Crocker TF, Wright A, Burton LJ, Ozer S, Atkinson R, House A, Hewison J, McKevitt C, Forster A, Farrin AJ & on behalf of the LoTS2Care Programme Management Group. An intervention to support stroke survivors and their carers in the longer term (LoTS2Care): study protocol for the process evaluation of a cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial. Trials 2018;19(1):368.
Forster A, Crocker T, Wright A, Barnard L, Ozer S, Atkinson R, Hardicre NK, House A, Hewison J, McKevitt C, Farrin AJ and on behalf of the LoTS2Care Programme Management Group. An intervention to support stroke survivors and their carers in the longer term (LoTS2Care): study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial. Trials (2018) 19(1):317.
Hardicre NK, Crocker TF, Wright A, Burton LJ, Ozer S, Atkinson R, et al. An intervention to support stroke survivors and their carers in the longer term (LoTS2Care): study protocol for the process evaluation of a cluster randomised controlled feasibility trial. Trials 2018;19(1):368.
Brown L, Forster A, Young J, Crocker T, Benham A, Langhorne P, Day Hospital Group. Medical day hospital care for older people versus alternative forms of care. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015;6. Art. No.: CD001730.
Crocker TF, Smith JK, Skevington SM. Family and professionals underestimate quality of life across diverse cultures and health conditions: Systematic review. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 2015;68(5):584-595.
Crocker T, Young J, Forster A, Brown L, Ozer S, Greenwood DC. The effect of physical rehabilitation on activities of daily living in older residents of long-term care facilities: systematic review with meta-analysis. Age Ageing 2013;42(6):682-8.
Crocker T, Forster A, Young J, Brown L, Ozer S, Smith J, Green J, Hardy J, Burns E, Glidewell E, Greenwood DC. Physical rehabilitation for older people in long-term care. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews CD004294 2013;
Conference Presentations/Published:
Crocker TF, Lam N, Ensor J, Jordão M, Bajpai R, Bond M, Forster A, Riley R, Gladman J, Clegg A; complex interventions review team. Community-based complex interventions to sustain independence in older people: systematic review and network meta-analysis. Presented at the British Geriatrics Society Spring Conference 2023. May 17-19: Edinburgh, UK. Winner of the Elizabeth Brown Prize for the best scientific platform presentation.
Crocker TF, Jordão M, Lam N, Ellwood A, Mirza L, Patel I, Patetsini, E, Ramiz R, Forster A, Clegg A, Gladman J; complex interventions review team. A typology of community-based complex interventions to sustain independence in older people. Presented at the British Geriatrics Society Spring Conference 2023. May 17-19: Edinburgh, UK.
Forster A, Dickerson J, Hall J, Crocker T, House A, Hewison J, MacEachan R, McKevitt C, Foy R, Farrin A. Development and evaluation of strategies to provide longer-term health and social care for stroke survivors and their carers International Journal of Stroke 2014;9:250.