Caroline Fryer

Research Interests

Applied Ethics Clinical Education Health Health education and promotion Physiotherapy

Teaching Strengths

Technology-enhanced learning
Cultural competency
Research informed teaching
Practical class teaching

Dr Caroline Fryer

Senior Research Fellow

School of Public Health

College of Health

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

My current roles at Adelaide University are Project Manager for the SHAPE HTA MRFF-funded project led by Prof Tracy Merlin, and Research Coordinator for the Healthy Choices MRFF-funded project led by Prof Susan Hillier. Healthy Choices has been successfully transitioned from research investigation to a free health coaching service for people with chronic health conditions, delivered by Adelaide University students through AU Health Clinics.
 
I enjoy bringing the diversity of my experience and expertise to generate positive impact for teams and projects. My career has spanned from clinical physiotherapy practice across multiple sectors and regions, to teaching next generations of allied health professionals using innovative education practices. My collaborative research practice addresses important issues for clients and clinicians in health ethics, cultural competency, environmental physiotherapy, evidence-based practice, and rehabilitation. I also work as a consultant supporting research in other industry sectors. 
 

Communication in healthcare,Improving healthcare and health outcomes for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds,Ethics in physiotherapy,Patient-centred rehabilitation

Date Position Institution name
2024 - ongoing Senior Research Fellow University of South Australia
2013 - 2022 Senior lecturer - Physiotherapy University of South Australia

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2024 Teaching Award Innovation Award - Allied Health and Human Performance University of South Australia Australia -

Date Institution name Country Title
2017 - 2019 University of South Australia Australia Graduate Diploma in Education Studies (Digital Learning)
2008 - 2012 University of South Australia Australia PhD Health Sciences
2006 - 2007 University of Newcastle Australia Australia Graduate Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology
1992 - 1996 University of South Australia Australia Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy (Honours 1)

Date Title Institution Country
2022 - 2022 Project101x: Introduction to Project Management University of Adelaide Australia

Year Citation
2026 McMullen-Roach, S., Fryer, C., Banwell, H. A., Pham, K., Hiscock, E., van Kessel, G., & Phillips, A. (2026). Development and evaluation of ‘Learning-Bytes’: a mixed methods study of e-learning modules for clinical educator development in allied health professions. BMC Medical Education, 26(1), 13 pages.
DOI
2025 Li, L. S. K., Fryer, C. E., Chi, L., & Boucaut, R. (2025). Physiotherapy and planetary health: a scoping review. European Journal of Physiotherapy, 27(1), 20-30.
DOI Scopus10 WoS10
2025 van Kessel, G., Mackintosh, S., Murray, C. M., Guerin, M., Fryer, C. E., & Stanley, M. (2025). Empowerment through choice: the interplay of choice and control after spinal cord or brain injury. Disability and Rehabilitation, 47(14), 3613-3620.
DOI Scopus2 WoS2 Europe PMC1
2024 Chi, L., Boucaut, R., Li, L. S. K., Fryer, C. E., & Kumar, S. (2024). Australian physiotherapists' knowledge and views on the relationship between climate change, health, and physiotherapy. Physiotherapy Research International, 29(2), 10 pages.
DOI Scopus8 WoS11 Europe PMC5
2024 McEvoy, M., Fryer, C., Ward, E., & Kumar, S. (2024). Telehealth usability in a university student physiotherapy clinic during COVID-19. Musculoskeletal Care, 22(2), 8 pages.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC2
2023 Karran, E. L., Fryer, C. E., Middleton, J. W., & Moseley, G. L. (2023). Pain and pain management experiences following spinal cord injury - a mixed methods study of Australian community-dwelling adults. Disability and Rehabilitation, 45(3), 455-468.
DOI Scopus13 WoS14 Europe PMC10
2023 Sturm, A., Edwards, I., Fryer, C. E., & Roth, R. (2023). (Almost) 50 shades of an ethical situation - international physiotherapists' experiences of everyday ethics: a qualitative analysis. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 39(2), 351-368.
DOI Scopus11 WoS14 Europe PMC11
2022 Serrada, I., Fryer, C., Hordacre, B., & Hillier, S. (2022). Can body awareness training improve recovery following stroke: a study to assess feasibility and preliminary efficacy. Clinical Rehabilitation, 36(5), 650-659.
DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC5
2022 Ong, E. K. M., Fryer, C., Graham, K., & Causby, R. S. (2022). Investigating the experience of receiving podiatry care in a tertiary care hospital clinic for people with diabetes related foot ulcers. Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, 15(1), 11 pages.
DOI Scopus9 WoS9 Europe PMC6
2022 Murray, C. M., Weeks, S., van Kessel, G., Guerin, M., Watkins, E., Mackintosh, S., . . . Stanley, M. (2022). Perspectives of choice and control in daily life for people following brain injury: A qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis. Health Expectations, 25(6), 2709-2725.
DOI Scopus9 WoS8 Europe PMC7
2022 Karran, E. L., Fryer, C. E., Middleton, J. W., & Moseley, G. L. (2022). Exploring the Social Determinants of Health Outcomes for Adults with Low Back Pain or Spinal Cord Injury and Persistent Pain: A Mixed Methods Study. Journal of Pain, 23(9), 1461-1479.
DOI Scopus30 WoS31 Europe PMC23
2022 Raj, S. E., Mackintosh, S., Kernot, J., Fryer, C., & Stanley, M. (2022). Development and feasibility testing of an evidence-based occupational therapy program for adults with both Down syndrome and dementia. Journal of Policy and Practice in Intellectual Disabilities, 19(4), 396-407.
DOI
2022 Van Kessel, G., Fryer, C., Flynn, B., Ferrar, K., & Roush, S. (2022). A Review of the Effectiveness of Training in Changing Allied Health Student Clinical Practice Cultural Competence Skills. INTERNET JOURNAL OF ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES AND PRACTICE, 20(1), 17 pages.
WoS2
2021 Fryer, C., Edney, S., & van Kessel, G. (2021). An interactive teaching module for increasing undergraduate physiotherapy students' cultural competence: a quantitative survey. Physiotherapy Research International, 26(1, article no. e1880), 1-9.
DOI Scopus8 WoS7 Europe PMC5
2021 Raj, S. E., Mackintosh, S., Fryer, C., & Stanley, M. (2021). Home-based occupational therapy for adults with dementia and their informal caregivers: a systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(1, article no. 7501205060), 1-27.
DOI Scopus12 WoS12 Europe PMC5
2021 Fryer, C., Sturm, A., Roth, R., & Edwards, I. (2021). Scarcity of resources and inequity in access are frequently reported ethical issues for physiotherapists internationally: an observational study. BMC Medical Ethics, 22(1), 16 pages.
DOI Scopus16 WoS13 Europe PMC10
2020 Raj, S., Stanley, M., Mackintosh, S., & Fryer, C. (2020). Scope of occupational therapy practice for adults with both Down syndrome and dementia: a cross-sectional survey. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 67(3), 218-228.
DOI Scopus9 WoS7 Europe PMC3
2020 McEvoy, M., Luker, J., Fryer, C., & Lewis, L. K. (2020). Changes in physiotherapists' perceptions of evidence-based practice after a year in the workforce: a mixed-methods study. PLoS ONE, 15(12), 15 pages.
DOI Scopus16 WoS15 Europe PMC9
2019 Phillips, A. C., Mackintosh, S. F., Gibbs, C., Ng, L., & Fryer, C. E. (2019). A comparison of electronic and paper-based clinical skills assessment: Systematic review. Medical Teacher, 41(10), 1151-1159.
DOI Scopus6 WoS5 Europe PMC2
2019 Te, M., Blackstock, F., Fryer, C., Gardner, P., Geary, L., Kuys, S., . . . Chipchase, L. (2019). Predictors of self-perceived cultural responsiveness in entry-level physiotherapy students in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. BMC medical education, 19(1), 1-10.
DOI Scopus13 WoS14 Europe PMC8
2019 Delany, C., Edwards, I., & Fryer, C. (2019). How physiotherapists perceive, interpret, and respond to the ethical dimensions of practice: a qualitative study. Physiotherapy theory and practice, 35(6), 663-676.
DOI Scopus20 WoS16 Europe PMC13
2017 Lynch, E., Luker, J., Cadilhac, D., Fryer, C., & Hillier, S. (2017). A qualitative study using the Theoretical Domains Framework to investigate why patients were or were not assessed for rehabilitation after stroke. Clinical Rehabilitation, 31(7), 966-977.
DOI Scopus22 WoS22 Europe PMC18
2017 Causby, R. S., McDonnell, M. N., Reed, L., Fryer, C. E., & Hillier, S. L. (2017). A qualitative evaluation of scalpel skill teaching of podiatry students. Journal of foot and ankle research, 10(21), 1-14.
DOI Scopus8 WoS5 Europe PMC4
2016 Fryer, C., Luker, J., Mcdonnell, M., & Hillier, S. (2016). Self management programmes for quality of life in people with stroke. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2016(8), CD010442-1-CD010442-75.
DOI Scopus98 WoS191 Europe PMC129
2016 Fryer, C. E., Luker, J. A., McDonnell, M. N., & Hillier, S. L. (2016). Self-management programs for quality of life in people with stroke. Stroke, 47(12), 266-267.
DOI Scopus23 WoS17 Europe PMC15
2016 Raj, S., Stanley, M., Mackintosh, S., & Fryer, C. (2016). Home-based occupational therapy for adults with Down syndrome: A systematic review. Journal of intellectual disability research, 60(7-8), 723.
DOI
2015 Lynch, E. A., Luker, J. A., Cadilhac, D. A., Fryer, C. E., & Hillier, S. L. (2015). What prevents acute Stroke Unit clinicians from assessing the rehabilitation requirements of every patient with stroke?. International Journal of Stroke, 10(3), 28.
2015 Lynch, E. A., Luker, J. A., Cadilhac, D. A., Fryer, C. E., & Hillier, S. L. (2015). Why aren't all patients with stroke on Australian acute stroke units considered for rehabilitation?. International Journal of Stroke, 10(S2), 178.
DOI
2015 Lynch, E., Luker, J. A., Cadilhac, D. A., Fryer, C. E., & Hillier, S. L. (2015). Improving rehabilitation assessment and referral practices for patients with stroke in Australia. A mixed methods cluster-randomized implementation trial. International Journal of Stroke, 10(S2), 178.
WoS1
2015 Delany, C., Fryer, C., & Van Kessel, G. (2015). An ethical approach to health promotion in physiotherapy practice. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 26(3), 255-262.
DOI Scopus9 WoS8 Europe PMC6
2013 Fryer, C. E., Luker, J. A., McDonnell, M. N., & Hillier, S. L. (2013). Self-management programs for quality of life in people with stroke. Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2013(3), 1-9.
DOI Scopus118
2013 Fryer, C. E., Mackintosh, S. F., Stanley, M. J., & Crichton, J. A. (2013). 'I understand all the major things': how older people with limited English proficiency decide their need for a professional interpreter during health care after stroke. Ethnicity and health, 18(6), 610-625.
DOI Scopus31 WoS20 Europe PMC18
2012 Fryer, C. E., Mackintosh, S. F. H., Stanley, M. J., & Crichton, J. A. (2012). Qualitative studies using in-depth interviews with older people from multiple language groups : methodological systematic review. Journal of advanced nursing, 68(1), 22-35.
DOI Scopus29 WoS26 Europe PMC11
2011 Fryer, C., Mackintosh, S., Batchelor, F., Hill, K., & Said, C. (2011). The effect of limited English proficiency on falls risk and falls prevention after stroke. Age and ageing, 41(1), 104-107.
DOI Scopus12 WoS11 Europe PMC10
2009 Mackintosh, S., Fryer, C., & Hill, K. (2009). Telephone and face-to-face interviews generate similar falls circumstances information from community-dwelling adults with stroke. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 33(3), 295-296.
DOI Scopus4 WoS3 Europe PMC5
2008 Guerin, M., Mackintosh, S., & Fryer, C. (2008). Exercise class participation among residents in low-level residential aged care could be enhanced: a qualitative study. Australian journal of physiotherapy, 54(2), 111-117.
DOI Scopus29 WoS24 Europe PMC15
2007 Mackintosh, S. F. H., Fryer, C. E., & Sutherland, M. (2007). For falls sake: Older carers' perceptions of falls and falls risk factors. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice, 5(3), 9 pages.
WoS12
2006 Mackintosh, S., Datson, N., & Fryer, C. (2006). A balance screening tool for older people: Reliability and validity. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 13(12), 558-561.
DOI Scopus9 WoS11

Year Citation
2017 Raj, S., Stanley, M., Mackintosh, S., & Fryer, C. (2017). The scope of home-based occupational therapy for adults with both Down syndrome and dementia: a cross-sectional survey. In BRITISH JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Vol. 80 (pp. 19-20). SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD.
2013 Fryer, C., Mackintosh, S., Stanley, M., & Crichton, J. (2013). 'No ambulance, you bring me': How older people with limited English proficiency access emergency healthcare after stroke. In INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STROKE Vol. 8 (pp. 19). WILEY-BLACKWELL.
2008 De Jonge, J., Mackintosh, S. F. H., & Fryer, C. E. (2008). A systematic review of evidence of the effectiveness on human anatomy teaching models used in tertiary education. In Health Sciences Conference 2007 (pp. 46-62). Australia: University of South Australia.

Year Citation
2016 Fryer, C., Delaney, C., & Edwards, I. (2016). A novel narrative approach to analysing ethical issues for physiotherapists. Poster session presented at the meeting of International journal of qualitative methods. Canada: University of Alberta.
DOI
2015 Fryer, C. E., Luker, J. A., Mcdonnell, M. N., & Hillier, S. L. (2015). Self management programmes for quality of life in people with stroke. Poster session presented at the meeting of International Journal of Stroke. Toronto, Canada: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
DOI WoS1

  • Healthy Choices, MRFF - Clinical Trials and Registries, 01/07/2024 - 31/05/2026

Programs I'm associated with

  • IBPZ - Bachelor of Physiotherapy

Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
2015 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Home-based occupational therapy for adults with both Down syndrome and dementia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Sujatha Raj

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