Dr Jennifer Dunn, Our people, University of Otago, Christchurch, University of Otago, New Zealand

Senior Research Fellow

MPhil(Massey) PhD(Otago)

Jennifer is a registered physiotherapist who has worked in the field of spinal cord injury rehabilitation for over 25 years.

She continues to combine a clinical role with her current academic position. The combination of these two positions ensures that clinical relevance is maintained in her research.

Research interests

Spinal cord injury
Upper limb reconstructive surgery for people with tetraplegia
Management of chronic orthopaedic conditions and total joint arthroplasty
Rehabilitation outcomes and measurement

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Publications

Sinnott Jerram, K. A., Dunn, J., Smaill, R., & Middleton, J. (2023). A mixed methods approach as a channel to interpret outcomes research and lived experience enquiry of upper extremity elective surgery for tetraplegia. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 13, 394. doi: 10.3390/jpm13030394

Martin, R. A., Johns, J. K., Hackney, J. J., Bourke, J. A., Young, T. J., Nunnerley, J. L., Snell, D. L., Derrett, S., & Dunn, J. A. (2023). Early opportunities to explore occupational identity change: Qualitative study of return-to-work experiences after stroke. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 55, jrm00363. doi: 10.2340/jrm.v55.4825

Martin, R., Johns, J., Hackney, J., Bourke, J., Young, T., & Dunn, J. (2022). 'What am I, what am I doing?' A qualitative study about changing occupational identity and return-to-work experiences after stroke. International Journal of Stroke, 17(2, Suppl.), (pp. 28-29). doi: 10.1177/17474930221115601

Martin, R., Hackney, J., Nunnerley, J., Snell, D., Derrett, S., Johns, J., & Dunn, J. (2022). How realist research approaches support equitable service development for people following stroke: An early intervention vocational service exemplar. International Journal of Stroke, 17(2, Suppl.), (pp. 14). doi: 10.1177/17474930221115601

Dunn, J., Martin, R., Snell, D., Nunnerley, J., Bourke, J., Hackney, J., … Derrett, S. (2022). Early intervention vocational rehabilitation in neurological injuries study (EVocS). International Journal of Stroke, 17(2, Suppl.), (pp. 10). doi: 10.1177/17474930221115601

Dunn, J., & Wangdell, J. (2021). Improving upper limb function. In J. Reznik & J. Simmons (Eds.), Rehabilitation in spinal cord injuries. (pp. 273-297). Chatswood, Australia: Elsevier.

Chapter in Book - Research

Goodman, G., Dunn, J., & Bryden, A. (2020). Outcomes, assessment, and research in assistive technology. In L. Gitlow & K. Flecky (Eds.), Assistive technologies and environmental interventions in healthcare: An integrated approach. (pp. 71-91). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Blackwell.

Chapter in Book - Research

Journal - Research Article

Dunn, J. A., Martin, R. A., Hackney, J. J., Nunnerley, J. L., Snell, D. L., Bourke, J. A., … Derrett, S. (2022). Developing a conceptual framework for early intervention vocational rehabilitation for people following spinal cord injury. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s10926-022-10060-9

Journal - Research Article

Jerram, K. A. S., Dunn, J. A., Smaill, R. P., & Middleton, J. W. (2022). Clinical utility of patient-reported outcome measures used for tendon and nerve transfers for tetraplegia in New Zealand. Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsg.2022.10.005

Journal - Research Article

Martin, R. A., Nunnerley, J. L., Young, T., Hall, A., Snell, D. L., Hackney, J. J., Bourke, J. A., Derrett, S., & Dunn, J. A. (2022). Vocational wayfinding following spinal cord injury: In what contexts, how and why does early intervention vocational rehabilitation work? Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 56(3), 243-254. doi: 10.3233/JVR-221189

Journal - Research Article

Nunnerley, J. L., Glinsky, J. V., Dunn, J. A., Stavric, V. A., Haber, A., Denis, S., … Harvey, L. A. (2022). Developing spinal cord injury physiotherapy clinical practice guidelines: A qualitative study to determine how physiotherapists and people living with spinal cord injury use evidence. Spinal Cord. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1038/s41393-022-00867-x

Journal - Research Article

Snell, D. L., Johns, J., Dunn, J. A., Nunnerley, J. L., & Singhal, B. (2022). Difficulties capturing co-occurring traumatic brain injury among people with traumatic spinal cord injury: A population-based study. Spinal Cord. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1038/s41393-022-00851-5

Journal - Research Article

Wangdell, J., Hill, B., & Dunn, J. A. (2022). Reproducibility, construct validity and responsiveness of the Tetraplegia Upper Limb Activities Questionnaire, TUAQ: Part 2. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 103, 2296-2302. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2022.05.001

Journal - Research Article

Wangdell, J., Hill, B., & Dunn, J. A. (2022). The development, internal construct and uni-dimensionality of the Tetraplegia Upper Limb Activities Questionnaire, TUAQ: Part 1. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2022.02.024

Journal - Research Article

Dunn, J. A., Hackney, J. J., Martin, R. A., Tietjens, D., Young, T., Bourke, J. A., Snell, D. L., Nunnerley, J. L., … Derrett, S. (2021). Development of a programme theory for early intervention vocational rehabilitation: A realist literature review. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 31, 730-743. doi: 10.1007/s10926-021-10000-z

Journal - Research Article

Dunn, J. A., Koch-Borner, S., Johanson, M. E., & Wangdell, J. (2021). Toward consensus in assessing upper limb muscle strength and pinch and grip strength in people with tetraplegia having upper limb reconstructions. Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, 27(3), 70-82. doi: 10.46292/sci20-00012

Journal - Research Article

Snell, D. L., Dunn, J. A., Jerram, K. A. S., Hsieh, C. J., DeJong, G., & Hooper, G. J. (2021). Associations between comorbidity and quality of life outcomes after total joint replacement. Quality of Life Research, 30, 137-144. doi: 10.1007/s11136-020-02610-6

Journal - Research Article

Snell, D. L., Hackney, J. J., Maggo, J., Martin, R. A., Nunnerley, J. L., Bourke, J. A., … Derrett, S., & Dunn, J. A. (2021). Early vocational rehabilitation after spinal cord injury: A survey of service users. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 55(3), 323-333. doi: 10.3233/JVR-211166

Journal - Research Article

Snell, D. L., Jerram, K. A. S., Dunn, J. A., Hsieh, C. J., DeJong, G., & Hooper, G. J. (2020). Use of rehabilitation after hip and knee replacement in New Zealand: A national survey. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1510), 45-55. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Snell, D. L., Dunn, J. A., Sinnott, K. A., Hsieh, C. J., De Jong, G., & Hooper, G. J. (2019). Joint replacement rehabilitation and the role of funding source. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 51(10), 770-778. doi: 10.2340/16501977-2600

Journal - Research Article

Snell, D. L., Hipango, J., Sinnott, K. A., Dunn, J. A., Rothwell, A., Hsieh, C. J., … Hooper, G. (2018). Rehabilitation after total joint replacement: A scoping study. Disability & Rehabilitation, 40(14), 1718-1731. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2017.1300947

Journal - Research Article

Dunn, J. A., Mohammed, K. D., Beadel, G. P., Rothwell, A. G., & Simcock, J. W. (2017). A comparative outcome study of hamstring versus tibialis anterior and synthetic grafts for deltoid to triceps transfers. Journal of Hand Surgery (Am), 42(10), 833.e1-833.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2017.05.013

Journal - Research Article

Dunn, J. A., Nicholls, J. M., Snell, D. L., & Nunnerley, J. L. (2017). New Zealand wheelchair users' preparedness for emergencies. Australasian Journal of Disaster & Trauma Studies, 21(1), 3-18. Retrieved from http://trauma.massey.ac.nz/index.html

Journal - Research Article

Simcock, J. W., Dunn, J. A., Buckley, N. T., Mohammed, K. D., Beadel, G. P., & Rothwell, A. G. (2017). Identification of patients with cervical SCI suitable for early nerve transfer to achieve hand opening. Spinal Cord, 55, 131-134. doi: 10.1038/sc.2016.128

Journal - Research Article

Dunn, J. A., Hay-Smith, E. J., Keeling, S., & Sinnott, K. A. (2016). Decision-making about upper limb tendon transfer surgery by people with tetraplegia for more than 10 years. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 97(6, Suppl. 2), S88-S96. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2015.09.026

Journal - Research Article

Dunn, J. A., Sinnott, K. A., Rothwell, A. G., Mohammed, K. D., & Simcock, J. W. (2016). Tendon transfer surgery for people with tetraplegia: An overview. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 97(6, Suppl. 2), S75-S80. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2016.01.034

Journal - Research Article

Koch-Borner, S., Dunn, J. A., Fridén, J., & Wangdell, J. (2016). Rehabilitation after posterior deltoid to triceps transfer in tetraplegia. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 97(6, Suppl. 2), S126-S135. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2016.01.037

Journal - Research Article

Nunnerley, J., Dunn, J., McPherson, K., Hooper, G., & Woodfield, T. (2016). Return to work for severely injured survivors of the Christchurch earthquake: Influences in the first 2 years. Disability & Rehabilitation, 38(10), 987-993. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2015.1070299

Journal - Research Article

Rolfson, O., Chenok, K. E., Bohm, E., Lübbeke, A., Denissen, G., Dunn, J., … the Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Working Group of the International Society of Arthroplasty Registries. (2016). Patient-reported outcome measures in arthroplasty registries: Report of the Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Working Group of the International Society of Arthroplasty Registries: Part I: Overview and rationale for patient-reported outcome measures. Acta Orthopaedica, 87(eSuppl. 362), 3-8. doi: 10.1080/17453674.2016.1181815

Journal - Research Article

Sinnott, K. A., Dunn, J. A., Wangdell, J., Johanson, M. E., Hall, A. S., & Post, M. W. (2016). Measurement of outcomes of upper limb reconstructive surgery for tetraplegia. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 97(6, Suppl. 2), S169-S181. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2015.10.110

Journal - Research Article

Snell, D. L., Siegert, R. J., Surgenor, L. J., Dunn, J. A., & Hooper, G. J. (2016). Evaluating quality of life outcomes following joint replacement: Psychometric evaluation of a short form of the WHOQOL-Bref. Quality of Life Research, 25, 51-61. doi: 10.1007/s11136-015-1044-1

Journal - Research Article

Middleton, J. W., Piccenna, L., Gruen, R. L., Williams, S., Creasey, G., Dunlop, S., … Dunn, J. A., … Bragge, P. (2015). Developing a spinal cord injury research strategy using a structured process of evidence review and stakeholder dialogue. Part III: Outcomes. Spinal Cord, 53, 729-737. doi: 10.1038/sc.2015.87

Journal - Research Article

Nunnerley, J., Dunn, J., McPherson, K., Hooper, G., & Woodfield, T. (2015). Participation and quality of life outcomes among individuals with earthquake-related physical disability: A systematic review. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 47, 385-393. doi: 10.2340/16501977-1965

Journal - Research Article

Dunn, J. A., Rothwell, A. G., Mohammed, K. D., & Sinnott, K. A. (2014). The effects of aging on upper limb tendon transfers in patients with tetraplegia. Journal of Hand Surgery (Am), 39(2), 317-323. doi: 10.1016/j.jhsa.2013.11.037

Journal - Research Article

Mohammed, K., & Dunn, J. A. (2014). Shoulder pain in tetraplegia. Orthopaedics & Trauma, 28(1), 27-32. doi: 10.1016/j.mporth.2014.01.001

Journal - Research Article

Sinnott, K. A., Dunn, J. A., Rothwell, A. G., Hall, A. S., & Post, M. W. M. (2014). The development of the NZ-based International Upper Limb Surgery Registry. Spinal Cord, 52(8), 611-615. doi: 10.1038/sc.2014.57

Journal - Research Article

Dunn, J. A., Hay-Smith, E. J. C., Whitehead, L. C., & Keeling, S. (2013). Liminality and decision making for upper limb surgery in tetraplegia: A grounded theory. Disability & Rehabilitation, 35(15), 1293-1301. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2012.727945

Journal - Research Article

Dunn, J. A., Hay-Smith, E. J. C., Whitehead, L. C., & Keeling, S. (2012). Issues influencing the decision to have upper limb surgery for people with tetraplegia. Spinal Cord, 50, 844-847. doi: 10.1038/sc.2012.58

Journal - Research Article

Dunn, J. A., Hay-Smith, E. J. C., Whitehead, L. C., Keeling, S., & Rothwell, A. G. (2010). Upper limb reconstructive surgery uptake for persons with tetraplegia in New Zealand: A retrospective case review 2001-2005. Spinal Cord, 48(11), 832-837. doi: 10.1038/sc.2010.15

Journal - Research Article

Dunn, J., Sinnott, K. A., Nunnerley, J., & Scheuringer, M. (2009). Utilisation of patient perspective to validate clinical measures of outcome following spinal cord injury. Disability & Rehabilitation, 31(12), 967-975. doi: 10.1080/09638280802358407

Journal - Research Article

Dunn, J. A., Sinnott, K. A., Bryden, A. M., Connolly, S. J., & Rothwell, A. G. (2008). Measurement issues related to upper limb interventions in persons who have tetraplegia. Hand Clinics, 24(2), 161-168. doi: 10.1016/j.hcl.2008.01.005

Journal - Research Article

Sinnott, K. A., Dunn, J. A., & Rothwell, A. G. (2004). Use of the ICF conceptual framework to interpret hand function outcomes following tendon transfer surgery for tetraplegia. Spinal Cord, 42(7), 396-400.

Journal - Research Article

Rothwell, A., Sinnott, A., Mohammed, K. D., Dunn, J. A., & Sinclair, S. (2003). Upper limb surgery for tetraplegia: A 10-year re-review of hand function. Journal of Hand Surgery (Am), 28A, 489-497.

Journal - Research Article

Dunn, J., Martin, R. A., Hackney, J. J., Nunnerley, J. L., Snell, D., Bourke, J. A., … Derrett, S. (2021). Early vocational rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury: A research protocol using realist synthesis and interviews to understand how and why it works. BMJ Open, 11, e048753. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-048753

Journal - Research Other

Jerram, K. A. S., Dunn, J. A., Smaill, R. P., & Middleton, J. W. (2019). Using mixed methods to better appreciate the life impact of upper limb reconstruction surgeries for tetraplegia in New Zealand: A study protocol. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation International, 4, 1-6. doi: 10.15761/PMRR.1000194

Journal - Research Other

Dunn, J. (2011). [Commentary on the article Influence of a locomotor training approach on walking speed and distance in people with chronic spinal cord injury: A randomised clinical trial]. New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, 39(1), 47.

Journal - Research Other

Rolfson, O., Bohm, E., Franklin, P., Lyman, S., Denissen, G., Dawson, J., Dunn, J., … Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Working Group of the International Society of Arthroplasty Registries. (2016). Patient-reported outcome measures in arthroplasty registries: Report of the Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Working Group of the International Society of Arthroplasty Registries: Part II: Recommendations for selection, administration, and analysis. Acta Orthopaedica, 87(eSuppl. 362), 9-23. doi: 10.1080/17453674.2016.1181816

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Rolfson, O., Wissig, S., van Maasakkers, L., Stowell, C., Ackerman, I., Ayers, D., … Dunn, J., … Franklin, P. D. (2016). Defining an international Standard Set of outcome measures for patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis: Consensus of the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis Working Group. Arthritis Care & Research, 68(11), 1631-1639. doi: 10.1002/acr.22868

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Bohm, E. R., Kirby, S., Trepman, E., Hallstrom, B. R., Rolfson, O., Wilkinson, J. M., … Dunn, J., … Navarro, R. A. (2021). Collection and reporting of patient-reported outcome measures in arthroplasty registries: Multinational survey and recommendations. Clinical Orthopaedics & Related Research, 479, (pp. 2151-2166). doi: 10.1097/corr.0000000000001852