Dr Kajal Gokal

Kajal obtained her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Aston University, and her PhD from 含羞草视频. Kajal’s PhD research focused on the implementation of a self-managed, physical activity intervention among breast cancer patients during active chemotherapy treatment. The randomised controlled trial found that subjective cognitive function was maintained whilst psychosocial well-being and levels of physical activity improved among female breast cancer patients.

Following the completion of her PhD, Kajal took up a Research Associate position at Coventry University where she worked on a number of NIHR, MRC and CRUK funded projects developing and evaluating digital health interventions. Kajal joined 含羞草视频 as a Senior Research Associate on the Snacktivity project in September 2019.

Kajal’s research focuses on the design, implementation, and evaluation of health-related behaviour change interventions, and providing individuals with the resources to make positive changes to their health and well-being. Kajal has a strong interest in digital behaviour change interventions and self-managed physical activity interventions. Kajal also has an interest in Psycho-oncology which focuses on aspects of cancer that affect the individual’s lifestyle and psychological well-being.

• Gokal, K., Daley, A. J., & Madigan, C. D. (2024). "Fear of raising the problem without a solution": a qualitative study of patients' and healthcare professionals' views regarding the integration of routine support for physical activity within breast cancer care. Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 32(1), 87. DOI: 10.1007/s00520-023-08293-2
• Langworthy, E., Gokal, K., Kettle, V.E., Daley, A.J. Effects of physical activity interventions on physical activity and health outcomes in young people during treatment for cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine 2023. DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2022-001466
• Daley, A.J., Griffin, R.A., Moakes, C.A., Sanders, J.P., Skrybant, M., Ives, N., Maylor, B., Greenfield, S.M., Gokal, K., Parretti, H.M., Biddle, S.J.H., Greaves, C., Maddison, R., Mutrie, N., Esliger, D.W., Sherar, L., Edwardson, C.L., Yates, T., Frew, E., Tearne, S., Jolly, K. Snacktivity™ to promote physical activity and reduce future risk of disease in the population: protocol for a feasibility randomised controlled trial and nested qualitative study. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 2023. DOI: 10.1186/s40814-023-01272-8
• Krouwel, M., Greenfield, S.M., Chalkley, A., Sanders, J.P., Parretti, H.M., Gokal K, et al. (2023) Promoting participation in physical activity through Snacktivity: A qualitative mixed methods study. PLoS ONE 18(9): e0291040. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291040
• Sanders, J.P., Gokal, K., Thomas, J.J., Rawstorn, J.C., Sherar, L.B., Maddison, R., Greaves, C.J., Esliger, D., Daley, A.J. and Snacktivity Investigators, 2023. Development of a Mobile Health Snacktivity™ App to Promote Physical Activity in Inactive Adults (SnackApp): Intervention Mapping and User Testing Study. JMIR Formative Research, 7, p.e41114. DOI: 10.2196/41114
• Madigan, C. D., Graham, H. E., Sturgiss, E., Kettle, V. E., Gokal, K., Biddle, G., Taylor, G., & Daley, A. J. (2022). Effectiveness of weight management interventions for adults delivered in primary care: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 377, e069719. DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2021-069719
• Gokal, K., Amos-Hirst, R., Moakes, C. A., Sanders, J. P., Esliger, D. W., Sherar, L. B., Ives, N., Biddle, S., Edwardson, C., Yates, T., Frew, E., Greaves, C., Greenfield, S. M., Jolly, K., Skrybant, M., Maddison, R., Mutrie, N., Parretti, H. M., & Daley, A. J. (2022). Views of the public about Snacktivity™: a small changes approach to promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour. BMC public health, 22(1), 618. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13050-x
• Milton, K., Poole, K., Cross, A., Gasson, S., Gokal, K., Lyons, K., Pulsford, R., & Jones, A. (2022). 'People don't get cancer, families do': Co-development of a social physical activity intervention for people recently affected by a cancer diagnosis. European journal of cancer care, 31(3), e13573. DOI: 10.1111/ecc.13573
• Jones, C., Gibbons, M., Magsamen-Conrad, K., Ulanday, K. T., Watterson, J., Oakley-Girvan, I., Houghton, L. C., & Gokal, K. (2022). "Mother's Health and Well-Being Matters: Is a Mediated Social Cohesion Public Health Intervention Feasible?" American journal of health promotion : AJHP, 36(3), 410–420. DOI: 10.1177/08901171211055317
• Tyldesley-Marshall, N., Greenfield, S. M., Parretti, H. M., Gokal, K., Greaves, C., Jolly, K., Maddison, R., Daley, A. J., & Snacktivity™ Study Team (2022). Snacktivity™ to Promote Physical Activity: a Qualitative Study. International journal of behavioral medicine, 29(5), 553–564. DOI: 10.1007/s12529-021-10040-y
• Oakley-Girvan, I., Watterson, J. L., Jones, C., Houghton, L. C., Gibbons, M. P., Gokal, K., & Magsamen-Conrad, K. (2021). Use of Social Media for Cancer Prevention Through Neighborhood Social Cohesion: Protocol for a Feasibility Study. JMIR research protocols, 10(7), e28147. DOI: 10.2196/28147
• Houghton, L. C., Gibbons, M. P., Shekelle, J., Oakley-Girvan, I., Watterson, J. L., Magsamen-Conrad, K., Jones, C., & Gokal, K. (2021). Free Time For Wellness: a co-designed intervention utilizing social networks to encourage physical activity for cancer prevention among low resourced mothers. BMC public health, 21(1), 1805. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11775-9
• Sanders, J. P., Biddle, S., Gokal, K., Sherar, L. B., Skrybant, M., Parretti, H. M., Ives, N., Yates, T., Mutrie, N., Daley, A. J., & Snacktivity Study Team (2021). 'Snacktivity™' to increase physical activity: Time to try something different? Preventive medicine, 153, 106851. DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106851
• Fulton, E. A., Newby, K., Kwah, K., Schumacher, L., Gokal, K., Jackson, L. J., Naughton, F., Coleman, T., Owen, A., & Brown, K. E. (2021). A digital behaviour change intervention to increase booking and attendance at Stop Smoking Services: the MyWay feasibility RCT. NIHR Journals Library. DOI: 10.3310/phr09050
• Fulton, E., Brown, K., Newby, K., Gokal, K., Kwah, K., Jackson, L., Naughton, F., Schumacher, L. & Coleman, T. (2019). Tailored digital behaviour change intervention with e-referral system to increase attendance at NHS Stop Smoking Services (The MyWay Project): study protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial. .BMJ Open 9, 4, 7 p., e028721. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028721
• Gokal, K., Munir, F., Ahmed, S., Kancherla, K., Wallis, D. (2018). Does walking protect against decline in cognitive functioning among breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy? Results from a small randomised controlled trial. PLoS ONE, 13(11), e0206874. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206874
• Fulton, E., Gokal, K., Griffiths, S., Wild, S. (2018). More than half of adolescent E-Cigarette users had never smoked a cigarette: findings from a study of school children in the UK. Public Health, August. DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2018.04.014
• Gokal, K., Wallis, D., Ahmed, S., Boiangiu, I., Kancherla, K., Munir, F. (2016). Effects of a self-managed home-based walking intervention on psychosocial health outcomes for breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: a randomised controlled trial. Supportive Care in Cancer, ISSN: 0941-4355. DOI: 10.1007/s00520-015-2884-5.
• Gokal, K., Munir, F., Wallis, D., Ahmed, S., Boiangiu, I., Kancherla, K. (2015). Can physical activity help to maintain cognitive functioning and psychosocial well-being among breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy? A randomised controlled trial: study protocol. BMC PUBLIC HEALTH, 15, ISSN: 1471-2458. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-1751-0.