Professor Thomas O'Dowd
Fellow Emeritus, Public Health & Primary Care
Biography
Following vocational training in general practice in Ireland, I joined the University of Wales College of Medicine (1980 - 86) as a lecturer and subsequently the University of Nottingham (1986 - 1993 as a senior lecturer and was a partner in local general practices. I was appointed to the Chair of General Practice in Trinity College in 1993.
I have lectured at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and been involved in curriculum change and design and postgraduate research supervision. I was Chairman of the Education Committee of the Medical Council that led to the current professionalisation of medical education in Ireland. I am a practising GP in West Tallaght with a GMS list and practice from a health centre that was built on foot of research by me and my colleagues.
Publications and Further Research Outputs
Peer-Reviewed Publications
Susan M Smith , Gráinne Cousins , Barbara Clyne , Shane Allwright and Tom O'Dowd , Shared care across the interface between primary and specialty care in management of long term conditions, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, February, 2017
Ni Shuilleabhain, Barry, J., Kelly, A., O'Kelly, F., Darker, C., & O'Dowd, T. , Alcohol consumption in pregnancy: results from the general practice setting, Irish Journal of Medical Science, 183, (2), 2014, p231 - 240
O'Dowd T., Depression and multimorbidity in psychiatry and primary care., J Clin Psychiatry, 75, (11), 2014, pe1319-20
Teljeur C, Tyrrell E, Kelly A, O'Dowd T, Thomas S., Getting a handle on the general practice workforce in Ireland., Irish Journal of Medical Science, 182, (2), 2014, p207 - 213
O'Shea B, Ladewig EL, Kelly A, Reulbach U, O'Dowd T, Weighing children : parents agree but GPs conflicted, Archives of Disease in Childhood, 0, (0), 2014, p1 - 3
Reulbach, U., Ladewig, E.L., Nixon, E., O'Moore, M., Williams, J. & O'Dowd, T.C., Weight, body image and bullying in 9-year-old children., Journal of Pediatrics & Child Health, 49, (4), 2013, pE288 - E293
Reulbach U, Ladewig EL, Nixon E, O'Moore M, Williams J, O'Dowd T, Weight, body image and bullying in 9-year-old children., Journal of paediatrics and child health, Mar 27 [Epub], 2013
Teljeur, C., Smith, SM, Paul, G., Kelly, A., O'Dowd, T., Multimorbidity in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes, European Journal of General Practice, 19, 2013, p17 - 22
Kelly D, O'Dowd T, Reulbach U, Use of folic acid supplements and risk of cleft lip and palate in infants: a population-based cohort study, British Journal Of General Practice, 62, (600), 2012, p466 - 472
Smith SS, Soubhi H, Fortin M, Hudon C, O'Dowd T, Managing patients with multimorbidity : systematic review of interventions in primary care and community settings, British Medical Journal, 345, (e5205), 2012, p1 - 10
Smith SM, Soubhi H, Fortin M, Hudon C, O'Dowd T, Cochrane review of Interventions to improve outcomes for patients with multimorbidity , Cochrane database of systematic reviews, Apr 18, (4), 2012
O'Kelly, Smith SM, Lane S, Teljeur C, O'Dowd T, Chronic respiratory disease and multimorbidity: Prevalence and impact in a general practice setting , Respiratory Medicine, 105, 2011, p236 - 242
Keogh, k., Smith, S., White, P., McGilloway, S., Kelly, A., Gibeney, J., O'Dowd, T., A psychological family intervention for poorly controlled type 2 diabetes: a randomised controlled trial of a psychological, family-based intervention delivered in the home, American Journal of Family Care, 17, (2), 2011, p105 - 113
Teljeur C, Kelly A, O'Dowd T, Spatial Variation in General Medical Services Income in Dublin General Practitioners, International Journal of Family Medicine, 2011, (971231), 2011, p1 - 5
Smith SM, Paul G, Kelly A, Whitford DL, O'Shea E, O'Dowd T, Peer support for patients with type 2 diabetes: cluster randomised controlled trial., BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 342, 2011, pd715
Teljeur, C., O'Dowd, D., Thomas, S., Kelly, A., The distribution of GPs in Ireland in relation to deprivation, Health and Place, 16, 2010, p1077 - 1083
Teljeur C, Thomas S, O'Kelly FD, O'Dowd T, General practitioner workforce planning: assessment of four policy directions, BMC Health Services Research, 10, (148), 2010
O'Dowd T, Reulbach, McCrory C, Layte R, Chronic illness in 9 year old children in Ireland, 39th Annual Scientific Meeting -SAPC, University of Norwich, July 2010, Society for Academic Primary Care, 2010
Barry, J.M., Darker, C.D., Thomas, D.E., Allwright, S.P., & O'Dowd T. , Primary medical care in Irish prisons, BMC Health Services Research, 10, (74), 2010, p74 - 79
Conor Teljeur, Tom O'Dowd, The feminisation of general practice - crisis or business as usual?, The Lancet, 374, 2009, p1147 - 1147
SW Mercer, SM Smith, S Wyke, T O'Dowd, G Watt, Multimorbidity in primary care: developing the research agenda, Family Practice, 26, 2009, p79 - 80
Williams, J., Greene, S., Doyle, E., Harris, E., Layte, R., McCoy, S., McCrory, C., Murray, A., Nixon, E., O'Dowd, T., O'Moore, M., Quail, A., Smyth, E., Swords, L., Thornton, M., Growing up in Ireland: The lives of 9 year olds, Dublin, The Stationery Office, 2009, 161
Smith S.M., Ferede A. and O'Dowd T., Multimorbidity in younger deprived patients: an exploratory study of research and service implications in general practice, BMC Family Practice , 9, (6), 2008
O'Dowd T, Contentment in general practice - for now, British Journal of General Practice, 58, (546), 2008, p5 - 6
Ni Shuilleabhain A, O'Dowd T, Handy D, Kelly A, Reconfiguring a hospital towards general practice : the case of Peamount, Irish Journal of Medical Science, 2008
Smith, S.M , Allwright, S. , O'Dowd, T., Does sharing care across the primary-specialty interface improve outcomes in chronic disease? A systematic review, American Journal of Managed Care , 14, (4), 2008, p213-224
Karen M Keogh, Patricia White, Susan M Smith, Sinead McGilloway, Tom O'Dowd and James Gibney, Changing illness perceptions in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, a randomised controlled trial of a family-based intervention: protocol and pilot study, BMC Family Practice, 8, (36), 2007, - -
Barry J, O'Dowd T, Investing in alcohol is no longer responsible [letter], British Medical Journal, 334, 2007, p1235 - 1235
Smith SM, Allwright S, O'Dowd T, Effectiveness of shared care across the interface between primary and specialty care in chronic disease management., Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 0, (3), 2007, p1 - 46
Smith S, OʼDowd T. , In response to article on Codeire study., Irish Medical Journal., 100, (2), 2007, p378-9
Keogh K, White P, Smith S, McGilloway S, Gibney J, OʼDowd T., Changing illness perceptions in patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, a randomised controlled trial of a family-based intervention: protocol and pilot study. , BMC Family Practice , 8, (36), 2007
Susan M Smith, Tom O'Dowd, Chronic diseases: what happens when they come in multiples? [Editorial], British Journal of General Practice, 57, (537), 2007, p268 - 270
Paul GM, Smith SM, Whitford D, O'Kelly F, O'Dowd T, Development of a complex intervention to test the effectiveness of peer support in type 2 diabetes, BMC Health Services Research, 7, 2007, p136-
O'Dowd T, The private sector in healthcare : contributing to service but not to research, Irish Journal of Medical Science, 176, 2007, p261 - 265
Gillian M Paul, Susan M Smith, David L Whitford, Eamon O'Shea, Fergus O'Kelly and Tom O'Dowd , Peer support in type 2 diabetes: a randomised controlled trial in primary care with parallel economic and qualitative analyses: pilot study and protocol , Biomed Central Family Practice, 8, (45), 2007
O'Reilly D, O'Neill C, O'Dowd T, Galway K, Gilliland A, Kelly A, Murphy A, Shryane E, Steele K, Bury G. , Patients' attitudes to co-payments for general practitioner services: do they reflect the prevailing system?, Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, 12, (4), 2007, p197-201
Smith SM, Soubhi H, Fortin M, Hudon C, O'Dowd T, Interventions to improve outcomes in patients with multimorbidity in primary care and community settings. (Protocol), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews , 2, 2007
Galway K, Murphy A, O'Reilly D, O'Dowd T, O'Neill C, Shyrane E, Steele K., Kelly, A., Perceived and reported access to the general practitioner: an international comparison of universal access and mixed private/public systems, Irish Medical Journal, 100, (6), 2007, p494 - 497
White P, Smith SM, O'Dowd T., Living with Type 2 diabetes: a family perspective, Diabetic Medicine, 24, (7), 2007, p796 - 801
Ni Shuilleabhain A, O'Kelly M, O'Kelly F, O'Dowd T, Limited options: a report on GP access to services, Irish Journal of Medical Science, 176, (1), 2007, p27 - 32
Smith SM, Allwright S, O'Dowd T, Effectiveness of shared care across the interface between primary and secondary care in chronic disease management, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 3, (36), 2007
O'Dowd T, Healthcare research : The role of the private sector, 47th Graves lecture, Royal College of Physicians in Ireland, May 23rd , 2007
O'Reilly D, Thompson DJ, Murphy AW, Bury G, Gilliland A, Kelly A, O'Dowd T, Steele K., Socio-economic gradients in self-reported health in Ireland and Northern Ireland, Irish Journal of Medical Science, 175, (3), 2006, p43 - 51
Smith SM, White P, Whitford DL, Handy D, O'Dowd T, Consensus on Diabetes Management in Primary Care, Irish Medical Journal, 99, (8), 2006, p236 - 238
O'Dowd TC, McNamara K, Kelly A, O'Kelly F, Out-of-hours co-operatives: General practitioner satisfaction with governance and working arrangements, European Journal of General Practice, 12, 2006, p15 - 18
S. Smith, J. Long, J. Deady, F. O'Keeffe, D. Handy and T. O'Dowd, Adapting developing country epidemiological assessment techniques to improve the quality of health needs assessments in developed countries, BMC Health Services Research, 5, 2005, p32
P. White, S.M. Smith, T. O'Dowd, The role of the family in adult chronic illness: A review of the literature on type 2 diabetes, Irish Journal of Psychology (Special Issue), 26, (1-2), 2005, p9 - 15
Smith SM, Allwright S, Byrne M, Brazier H, O'Dowd T, Murphy AW, International variations in the generation of the evidence base for primary care, European Journal of General Practice, 11, (1), 2005, p33 - 34
P. Finucane and T. O'Dowd, Working and training as an intern: a national survey of Irish interns, Medical Teacher, 27, (2), 2005, p107 - 113
P. White, S.M. Smith, T. O'Dowd, The role of the family in adult chronic illness: A review of the literature on type 2 diabetes, Irish Journal of Psychology (Special Issue), 26, (1-2), 2005, p9 - 15
Smith SM, Allwrght S, Byrne M, Brazier H, O'Dowd T, Murphy A. , The inverse care law in primary care research: an analysis of international variations in the generation of the evidence base for primary care, European Journal of General Practice, 11, 2005, p33 - 34
Smith SM, O'Dowd T. Whitford D, Can a peer-care model improve diabetes outcomes, Diabetes Voice, 50, (4), 2005, p20 - 21
Smith SM, Allwright S, O'Dowd T, Effectiveness of shared care across the primary-specialty care interface in chronic disease management (Protocol for a Cochrane Review), The Cochrane Library, (3), 2004
Effectiveness of shared care across the primary-speciality care interface in chronic disease management (Protocol for a Cochrane Review) in, The Cochrane Library, Issue 3 2004, Chichester, UK, John Wiley & Sons, 2004, [Smith SM, Allwright S, O'Dowd T]
Finucane P, O'Dowd T, The career plans of Irish interns: results of a national survey, Irish Medical Journal, 97, (5), 2004, p149 - 149
Bradley F, Smith M, Long J, O'Dowd T, Reported frequency of domestic violence: cross sectional survey of women attending general practice, British Medical Journal, 324, 2002, p271 - 274
O'Brien S, Sinclair H, Soni S, O"Dowd T, Thomas D, Trends in alcohol consumption in undergraduate third level students: 1992-1999, Irish Journal of Medical Science, 170, (4), 2001, p224 - 227
Taylor R, McAvoy B, O'Dowd T, General Practice Medicine, Elsevier, 2001
Connolly D. and O'Dowd, T.,, The impact of the different disabilities arising from head injury on the primary caregiver, The British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 64, (1), 2001, p41 - 46
O'Dowd T, Jewelll D, Men's Health, Oxford University Press, 1998
Gilliland AEW, Sinclair H, Cupples ME, McSweeney M, Mac Auley D, O'Dowd TC, Stress and morale in general practice: a comparison of two healthcare systems, British Journal of General Practice, 48, 1998, p1663 - 1667
Hollywood B, O'Dowd TC, Female urinary incontinence: another common chronic illness (Editorial), British Journal of General Practice, (November), 1998, p1727 - 1728
Lawlor R, O'Dowd T, The oral contraceptive pill - the experience and educational needs of Irish women, Irish Medical Journal, 90, (8), 1997, p296 - 297
O'Dowd T, Sinclair H, Ensuring anonymity in general practice surveys, Family Practice, 13, (2), 1996, p217 - 218
O'Dowd TC, West RR, Winterburn P, Hewlins M, Evaluation of a rapid diagnostic test for bacterial vaginosis, British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 103, 1996, p366 - 370
Skelton A, Murphy E, Murphy R, O'Dowd TC, Patients' views of low back pain and its management in general practice, British Journal of General Practice, 46, 1996, p153 - 156
McDonald PS, O'Dowd TC, Standen P, The work of Balint revisited, Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 13, (1), 1996, p36 - 38
O'Dowd TC, Parker S, Patient perceptions of the management of vaginal symptoms in general practice, British Journal of General Practice, 46, 1996, p415 - 418
O'Dowd TC, Bacterial vaginosis: the case for treatment, The Practitioner, 239, 1995, p538 - 541
Kurti LG, O'Dowd TC, Dying of non-malignant diseases in general practice, Journal of Palliative Care, 11, (3), 1995, p25 - 31
Skelton A, Murphy E, Murphy R, O'Dowd TC, Patient education for low back pain in general practice, Patient Education and Counselling, 25, 1995, p329 - 334
Skelton A, Murphy E, Murphy R, O'Dowd TC, General practitioner perceptions of low back pain patients, Family Practice, 12, (1), 1995, p44 - 48
O'Dowd TC, Bourne N, Inventing a new diagnostic test for vaginal infection, British Medical Journal, 309, 1994, p40 - 42
McDonald P, O'Dowd TC, The Heartsink Patient: A preliminary study, Family Practice, 8, (2), 1991, p112 - 116
McDonald PS, O'Dowd TC, The Heartsink Patient: A preliminary study, Family Practice, 8, (2), 1991, p112 - 116
Venables TL, Akhtar W, Campbell LM, Fox Y, O'Dowd TC, Low dose felodipine with low dose metroprolol as once daily antihypertensive therapy, British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 29, 1990, p628 - 629
Harvard Davis R, O'Dowd TC, Holmes W, Smail J, Slack RCB, A comparative double-blind randomised study of single dose Fosfomycin Trometamol with Trimethoprim in the treatment of urinary tract infections in general practice, Chemotherapy, 36, (Supp 1), 1990, p34 - 46
Wilson AD, Jones S, O'Dowd TC, Survey of Practice Reports, Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 39, 1989, p250 - 252
O'Dowd TC, Dangers of steam inhalations: case report, Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 39, 1989, p258 - 258
Pill R, O'Dowd TC, Management of cystitis: the patient's viewpoint, Family Practice, 51, 1988, p24 - 28
O'Dowd TC, Five years of heartsink patients in general practice, British Medical Journal, 297, (6647), 1988, p528 - 530
West RR, O'Dowd TC, Prevalence of Gardnerella vaginalis: an estimate, British Medical Journal, 296, 1988, p1163 - 1164
O'Dowd TC, West RR, Clinical prediction of Gardnerella vaginalis in general practice, Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 37, 1987, p59 - 61
O'Dowd TC, Pill R, Smail JE, Davis RH, The irritable urethral syndrome: a two years follow-up study in general practice, British Medical Journal, 292, 1986, p30 - 32
O'Dowd TC, Lavis R, West RR, Sideroom prediction of urinary tract infections in general practice, The Practitioner, 230, 1986, p655 - 658
O'Dowd TC, West RR, Ribeiro CD, Smail JE, Munro JA, Vaginitis in a general practice with special reference to Gardnerella vaginalis, British Medical Journal, 292, 1986, p1640 - 1642
O'Dowd TC, Munro JA, Parton D., Chlamydia trachomatis infection in women: a case for more action?, Lancet, i, 1985, p1215 - 1216
O'Dowd TC, Ribeiro CD, Munro J, West RR, Howells CHL, The urethral syndrome - a self limiting illness., British Medical Journal, 288, 1984, p1349 - 1352
O'Dowd TC, Smail JE, West RR., Clinical judgement in the management of frequency and dysuria in general practice., British Medical Journal, 288, 1984, p1347 - 1349
O'Dowd TC, Ribeiro CD, Smail JE, Menday AP, Howells CHL, A comparative study of Pivmecillinam/Pivampicillin and Amoxycillin/Clavulaniate in urinary infections in general practice, Current Medical Research and Opinion, 9, (5), 1984, p310 - 314
Leadbetter S, O'Dowd TC, A possible screening test for familial pseudohyperkalaemia, Lancet, 0, (ii), 1982, p103 - 104
O'Dowd, TC, A study of hospital discharge letters, Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 31, (231), 1981, p628 - 628
Non-Peer-Reviewed Publications
Darker C, Martin CM, O'Dowd TC, O'Kelly F, O'Kelly M, O'Shea B, A national survey of chronic disease management in Irish general practice, Dublin, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, TCD, June, 2011, p1 - 71
O'Kelly F, O'Kelly M, Ni Shuilleabhain A, O'Dowd T, A national Census of Irish General Practice Training Programmes 1997 - 2003, Dublin, Irish College of general Practitioners, September, 2008, 1, 31
O'Dowd T, O'Kelly M, O'Kelly F, Structure of General Practice in Ireland 1982-2005, Dublin, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin and Irish College of General Pr, May, 2006
Paul G, Smith SM, Whitford D, O'Dowd T., Can a peer-care model improve diabetes outcomes?, Diabetes Voice, 50, (4), 2005, p20 - 21
O'Dowd T, O'Keeffe F, Men and their health - a primary care initiative, Dublin, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Trinity College Dublin, September, 2004
Barry J, Sinclair H, Kelly A, O'Loughlin R, Handy D, O'Dowd, Inequalities in health in Ireland - hard facts, Dublin, Department of Community Health & General Practice Trinity College, 2001, 1, 88
The ritual of antenatal care in, editor(s)Anderson D , Overspending in the NHS, London, Social Affairs Unit, 2000, pp13 - 18, [O'Dowd TC]
Murphy AM, McSweeney M, O'Dowd TC, Bury G, Shannon W, Bradley CP, Using email for abstracts submitted for a conference was unexpectedly labour intensive (Letter), British Medical Journal, 317, (7157), 1998, p543 - 543
O'Dowd T, Sinclair H, McSweeney M, Stress and morale in general practice in the Republic of Ireland, Dublin, Irish College of General Practitioners, February, 1997, 1, 40
O'Dowd T, Review of Implementing GP fundholding: wild card or winning hand?, by Glennerster H, Matsaganis M, Owens P, Hancock S , British Medical Journal, 314, (10th May), 1997, p1425
O'Dowd T, Evidence from the trenches, Review of Sense and sensibility in healthcare, by Marinker M (editor) , Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 90, (July), 1997, p409-410
Evaluation of surgical diathermy units, Health Equipment Information DHSS, UK, DHSS, 1985, pp139 - 139, [O'Dowd TC]
Research Expertise
Description
My research has covered medical education and many aspects of patient welfare and healthcare delivery including inequalities, workforce planning and chronic diseases and I have published widely in Irish and international peer reviewed journals (https://tcdlocalportal.tcd.ie/pls/webapps/cerif.cerif_cv.display_cv?p_cv_id=728). I am currently a member of the study team of the National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland (Growing up in Ireland) which is studying the lives of 18,000 children. I led Trinity College's successful application for the Health Research Board funded Centre on Primary Care Research with RCSI and Queen's University Belfast I have served on a number of national and international editorial boards and committees. Contact details: Department of Public Health and Primary Care Trinity College Centre for Health Sciences Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Incorporating the National Children's Hospital Tallaght, Dublin 24, Ireland Telephone: +353 (0)1 8961087 Fax: +353 (0)1 4031211 Email: todowd@tcd.ieProjects
- Title
- Growing Up in Ireland
- Summary
- 2 longitudinal studies of 10,000 9 month and 8,500 9 year olds. See Growingup.ie for further details
- Funding Agency
- Office of Minister for Children
- Date From
- 2006
- Date To
- 2013
- Title
- Vulnerable groups in Primary Care
- Summary
- Primary care research centre with 3 workstreams - the one involving Trinity is in chronic disease.
- Funding Agency
- Health Research Board
- Date From
- 2007
- Date To
- 2016
- Title
- Gene environment interactions in children
- Funding Agency
- Health Research Board
- Date From
- Dec 2010
- Date To
- Dec 2013
- Title
- Obesity in childhood : primary care study
- Funding Agency
- National Children's Research Centre Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin, Dublin 12
- Date From
- 01/10/11
- Date To
- 2013
Recognition
Awards and Honours
47th Robert Graves Lecturer
ICGP Foundation Lecturer
Memberships
Elected to Council of Irish College of General Practitioners
Council of the Medical Defence Union
European General Practitioner Research Workshop
Society of Academic Primary Care
Association of University Departments of General Practice in Ireland