Dip Phys(Otago), MHSc(Otago), PhD(Otago)
Email rachelle.martin@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 21 223 3362
Rachelle works as a Lecturer with the Rehabilitation Teaching and Research Unit (RTRU) in the Department of Medicine at the University of Otago, Wellington.
Rachelle is a physiotherapist who has completed her Master of Health Science (endorsed in rehabilitation) in 2014, and her PhD in 2018. Both of these programmes of study were undertaken at the RTRU. She has worked clinically in the area of acquired brain injury in acute and community rehabilitation settings. Alongside her role at the RTRU, Rachelle also works as Research and Knowledge Translation Lead at the Burwood Academy Trust, based in Christchurch.
Rachelle aims to develop equitable health-optimising policies and programmes, enabling people who experience disability to live well across their lifespan. Her research is conducted in a way that supports the development of empowering mana-enhancing health services - acknowledging and building on people’s capabilities and strengths.
Rachelle optimises research real-world impact by ensuring that new evidence and knowledge is directly translated into improved ways of working – often within the process of research itself. She is committed to participatory methods that listen to and enhance the voices of disabled people, ensuring their perspectives influence health-related policy, programme and service delivery decisions, and works in partnership with Māori researchers to ensure kaupapa Māori responsiveness.
Rachelle often use realist review, research or evaluation methods to unpack the ‘black box’ of complex health programmes by developing a theoretically based understanding of ‘what works for who, in which contexts, to what extent, and how?’ As such, her research supports a nuanced understanding of how people are able to (or not) respond to intervention resources and/or programme mechanisms, and how different contexts (i.e. personal, environmental and societal) may impact on equitable health outcomes.
Publications
Fane De Salis, H., Martin, R., Bell, E., & Newton-Howes, G. (2021). A realist evaluation of residential treatment of adults with substance use disorder: Promoting equity by understanding what works for whom. Proceedings of the Achieving Health Equity from Research Conference [Otago Spotlight Series]. Retrieved from https:/events.otago.ac.nz/otagospotlight2021
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
Martin, R. A., Fitzpatrick, A. C., & Levack, W. M. M. (2021). Experiences and perceived effectiveness of carbon-fibre triplanar orthotics for people affected by polio: A qualitative descriptive study. New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, 49(3), 147-155. doi: 10.15619/NZJP/49.3.05
Hay-Smith, J., & Martin, R. (2021). Caring conversations to support continence management after stroke: A participant-informed rapid realist review. Neurourology & Urodynamics, 40(Suppl. 2), (pp. S128-S130). [Full Paper]
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
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
Martin, R. A., Fitzpatrick, A. C., & Levack, W. M. M. (2021). Experiences and perceived effectiveness of carbon-fibre triplanar orthotics for people affected by polio: A qualitative descriptive study. New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, 49(3), 147-155. doi: 10.15619/NZJP/49.3.05
Journal - Research Article
Nunnerley, J. L., Martin, R. A., Aldridge, M., Bourke, J. A., & Simpson, I. (2021). Access to community support workers during hospital admission for people with spinal cord injury: A pilot study. Spinal Cord Series & Cases, 7, 3. doi: 10.1038/s41394-020-00370-6
Journal - Research Article
Martin, R. A., Dickie, B., Skinner, H., Hurring, S., Marshall, R., & Hanger, H. C. (2020). Implementing a 'Safe Recovery' fall prevention program: Refining intervention theory using realist methods. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 39, e259-e270. doi: 10.1111/ajag.12795
Journal - Research Article
Martin, R. A., Graham, F. P., Levack, W. M. M., Taylor, W. J., & Surgenor, L. J. (2020). Exploring how therapeutic horse riding improves health outcomes using a realist framework. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 83(2), 129-139. doi: 10.1177/0308022619865496
Journal - Research Article
Martin, R. A., Taylor, W. J., Surgenor, L. J., Graham, F. P., Levack, W. M. M., & Blampied, N. M. (2020). Evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic horse riding for children and young people experiencing disability: A single-case experimental design study. Disability & Rehabilitation, 42(26), 3734-3743. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2019.1610083
Journal - Research Article
Snell, D. L., Martin, R., Surgenor, L. J., Siegert, R. J., Hay-Smith, E. J. C., Melzer, T. R., Anderson, T. J., & Hooper, G. J. (2020). Wrestling with uncertainty after mild traumatic brain injury: A mixed methods study. Disability & Rehabilitation, 42(14), 1942-1953. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2018.1542461
Journal - Research Article
Bourke, J. A., Catherwood, V. J., Nunnerley, J., Martin, R. A., Levack, W. M. M., Thompson, B. L., & Acland, R. H. (2019). Using cannabis for pain management after spinal cord injury: A qualitative study. Spinal Cord Series & Cases, 5, 82. doi: 10.1038/s41394-019-0227-3
Journal - Research Article
Kayes, N. M., Martin, R. A., Bright, F. A., Kersten, P., & Pollock, A. (2019). Optimising the real-world impact of rehabilitation reviews: Increasing the relevance and usability of systematic reviews in rehabilitation. European Journal of Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine, 55(3), 331-341. doi: 10.23736/s1973-9087.19.05793-9
Journal - Research Article
Levack, W. M., Martin, R. A., Graham, F. P., & Hay-Smith, E. J. (2019). Compared to what? An analysis of the management of control groups in Cochrane reviews in neurorehabilitation. European Journal of Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine, 55(3), 353-363. doi: 10.23736/s1973-9087.19.05795-2
Journal - Research Article
Martin, R. A., Graham, F. P., Taylor, W. J., & Levack, W. M. M. (2018). Mechanisms of change for children participating in therapeutic horse riding: A grounded theory. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 38(5), 510-526. doi: 10.1080/01942638.2017.1400492
Journal - Research Article
Snell, D. L., Martin, R., Macleod, A. D., Surgenor, L. J., Siegert, R. J., Hay-Smith, E. J. C., Melzer, T., Hooper, G. J., & Anderson, T. (2018). Untangling chronic pain and post-concussion symptoms: The significance of depression. Brain Injury, 32(5), 583-592. doi: 10.1080/02699052.2018.1432894
Journal - Research Article
Snell, D. L., Martin, R., Surgenor, L. J., Siegert, R. J., & Hay-Smith, E. J. C. (2017). What's wrong with me? Seeking a coherent understanding of recovery after mild traumatic brain injury. Disability & Rehabilitation, 39(19), 1968-1975. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2016.1213895
Journal - Research Article
Martin, R., Levack, W. M. M., & Sinnott, K. A. (2015). Life goals and social identity in people with severe acquired brain injury: An interpretative phenomenological analysis. Disability & Rehabilitation, 37(14), 1234-1241. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2014.961653
Journal - Research Article
Graham, F., Sinnott, K. A., Snell, D. L., Martin, R., & Freeman, C. (2013). A more “normal” life: Residents', family, staff, and managers' experience of active support at a residential facility for people with physical and intellectual impairments. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 38(3), 256-264. doi: 10.3109/13668250.2013.805738
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
Martin, R., Aldridge, M., & Nunnerley, J. (2020). NZ Spinal Cord Impairment Action Plan: How well did it work? Spinal Network News, 23(2), 11-13.
Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles
Hay-Smith, J., & Martin, R. (2021). Caring conversations to support continence management after stroke: A participant-informed rapid realist review. Neurourology & Urodynamics, 40(Suppl. 2), (pp. S128-S130). [Full Paper]
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper
Fane De Salis, H., Martin, R., Bell, E., & Newton-Howes, G. (2021). A realist evaluation of residential treatment of adults with substance use disorder: Promoting equity by understanding what works for whom. Proceedings of the Achieving Health Equity from Research Conference [Otago Spotlight Series]. Retrieved from https:/events.otago.ac.nz/otagospotlight2021
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Nunnerley, J., Martin, R., Bourke, J., Shahtahmasebi, Z., Snell, D., & Dunn, J. (2019). Developing a framework for spinal cord injury (SCI) peer support. Proceedings of the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Annual Scientific Meeting. O8. Retrieved from https://www2.asia-spinalinjury.org/meetings/2019/guide/program/sessions/detail.iphtml?id=926
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Martin, R., Graham, F., Levack, W., Taylor, W., & Surgenor, L. (2018). Therapeutic horse riding: A context facilitating learning and flourishing for children with disability. Proceedings of the 12th World Congress of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM). Retrieved from https://isprm2018.com
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Martin, R., Taylor, W., Graham, F., Surgenor, L., & Levack, W. (2018). What works for which riders, and to what extent? Evaluating the effectiveness of a New Zealand therapeutic riding intervention using a single-case experimental design. Proceedings of the 12th World Congress of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM). Retrieved from https://isprm2018.com
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Martin, R. A., Levack, W. M. M., Graham, F. P., Taylor, W. J., & Surgenor, L. J. (2017). Putting context in place: Therapeutic landscape experiences of child riders involved in a therapeutic horse riding intervention. Proceedings of the New Zealand Rehabilitation Conference: Making an Impact: Putting Knowledge to Work in Rehabilitation. Retrieved from http://www.nzrehabconference2017.co.nz/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Martin, R., Graham, F., Taylor, W., Levack, W., & Surgenor, L. (2017). Keeping complexity appropriately complex: A critical realist approach to evaluating rehabilitation interventions. Proceedings of the University of Otago Student Research Symposium: Te Wānaka Rakahau: Ākoka. (pp. 55-56). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/graduate-research/scholarships/otago643219.html
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Martin, R., Taylor, W. J., Graham, F. P., Levack, W. M., & Surgenor, L. J. (2017). Keeping complexity appropriately complex: A critical realist approach to evaluating rehabilitation interventions. Proceedings of the International Realist Conference. (pp. 7). Retrieved from https://realist2017.org
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Snell, D., Martin, R., Surgenor, L., Hay-Smith, J., Hooper, G., Melzer, T., Siegert, R., & Anderson, T. (2016). Mild traumatic brain injury and chronic pain: Using mixed methods to explore unique and overlapping phenomenology. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 97(10), (pp. e2-e3). doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2016.08.004
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Bourke, J., Catherwood, V., Nunnerley, J., Martin, R., Lennox Thompson, B., & Acland, R. (2019, August). Using cannabis as a pain management strategy for people with spinal cord injury. Poster session presented at the 26th Australia New Zealand Spinal Cord Society (ANZSCoS) Annual Scientific Meeting, Melbourne, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Martin, R., Nunnerley, J., Shahtahmasebi, Z., Bourke, J., Snell, D., & Dunn, J. (2018, September). The development of a peer support framework in New Zealand. Poster session presented at the 57th International Spinal Cord Society (ISCoS) and 25th Australia New Zealand Spinal Cord Society (ANZSCoS) Combined Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney, Australia.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Martin, R. (2019, May). Using a single-case experimental design to evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic horse riding for children and young people experiencing. Verbal presentation at the Australian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment (ASSBI) and New Zealand Rehabilitation Association (NZRA) Inaugural Trans-Tasman Conference, Wellington, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Martin, R. (2017, November). The importance of place: Meaningful participation experiences of child riders involved in therapeutic horse riding intervention. Verbal presentation at the Disability Matters Conference, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Martin, R. (2016, August). Horses for courses: Strengths and challenges of single-case research designs in evaluating the effectiveness of complex rehabilitation interventions. Verbal presentation at the Postgraduate Research Student Symposium, Wellington, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Graham, F., Sinnott, K. A., Snell, D. L., Martin, R., & Freeman, C. (2013, March). A more normal life: Residents', family, staff and managers' experience of Active Support at a residential facility for people with physical and intellectual impairments. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Rehabilitation Conference: Connecting, Living, Rebuilding, Nelson, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Martin, R., Nunnerley, J., & Caldwell, J. (2020). Peer support provided to people with newly acquired SCI in NZ: A transnational research project summary report. (pp. 1-12). Christchurch, New Zealand: Burwood Academy of Independent Living (BAIL). Retrieved from http://www.communityresearch.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/formidable/8/Summary-Report-PSEvaluation-June2020.pdf
Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report
Martin, R., Nunnerley, J., Aldridge, M., & Bourke, J. (2020). New Zealand Spinal Cord Impairment Action Plan (2014-2019): Final evaluation report. (pp. 1-18). Christchurch, New Zealand: Burwood Academy of Independent Living. Retrieved from https://www.burwood.org.nz/sci-action-plan-evaluation/
Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report
Martin, R., & Nunnerley, J. (2018). Peer support for people with spinal cord injury in New Zealand. (pp. 1-13). Christchurch, New Zealand: Burwood Academy of Independent Living (BAIL). Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/12648
Working Paper; Discussion Paper; Technical Report
