Dr Allison Ford

Associate Professor

Institute for Social Marketing University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA

Dr Allison Ford

Contact details

About me

Dr Allison Ford is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling. Specialising in qualitative methods, her research focuses on understanding health behaviours, the impact of marketing on health, evaluating health interventions and providing evidence for policy. She has conducted studies on tobacco prevention, cessation and harm reduction, alcohol use, bereavement from substance use, food marketing, and attitudes towards Covid-19 vaccination. She has a track record of conducting research with disadvantaged populations and leads the Scottish arm and mixed-methods process evaluation of an NIHR-funded RCT exploring e-cigarettes vs usual care for smoking cessation offered at homeless centres. She also leads a package of work on e-cigarettes and emerging nicotine products and their marketing, and a DHSC-funded study exploring women’s access and attitudes to contraception. She has been an investigator of the Youth Tobacco Policy Survey (now the Youth E-cigarettes Policy Survey) since 2013. In June 2022 Allison took over as the University of Stirling lead and Co-Investigator in the NIHR Public Health Policy Research Unit.

Allison sits on the University of Stirling's NHS, Invasive or Clinical Research (NICR) Ethics Committee. Previous roles include: Associate Editor for Nicotine and Tobacco Research; board member for the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Europe; and module co-ordinator for the UK Centre for Tobacco and Alcohol Studies (UKCTAS)/SPECTRUM CPD – Nicotine and Tobacco: Current Issues, Policy and Practice.

Tobacco control, smoking cessation, adolescent smoking, tobacco and e-cigarette marketing, harm reduction, electronic cigarettes, qualitative research, vulnerable groups

Research projects (19)

NIHR Public Health Policy Research Unit
PI: Dr Allison Ford
Funded by: National Institute for Health Research
–

Examining the causal association between alcohol marketing and alcohol-related attitudes and consumption: A longitudinal cohort study with adults in the United Kingdom
PI: Dr Nathan Critchlow
Funded by: Department of Health
–

Youth Response to E-cigarettes and Emerging Nicotine Products
PI: Ms Anne Marie MacKintosh
Funded by: Cancer Research UK
–

Testing the optimal design of health-promoting pack inserts and dissuasive cigarettes
PI: Professor Crawford Moodie
Funded by: Department of Health
–

Improving our understanding of e-cigarette and refill packaging in the UK (E-PACKS): How is it used for product promotion, how is it perceived by consumers, and could it be changed to discourage youth while encouraging adult smokers to quit?
PI: Professor Crawford Moodie
Funded by: Cancer Research UK
–

Understanding the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Women's Access and Attitudes Towards Contraception
PI: Dr Allison Ford
Funded by: Department of Health
–

Ambulance Call-Outs to Drug Overdoses in Scotland: Patterns and Practice
PI: Professor Niamh Fitzgerald
Funded by: Scottish Government
–

Youth Tobacco Policy Survey (YTPS) - Wave 9 (2020)
PI: Ms Anne Marie MacKintosh
Funded by: Cancer Research UK
–

Evaluating Possible Intended and Unintended Consequences of the Implementation
PI:
Funded by: National Institute for Health Research
–

Exploring the Uptake and Use of Electronic Cigarettes Provided to Smokers Accessing Homeless Centres: A feasiblity Study
PI: Dr Allison Ford
Funded by: National Institute for Health Research
–

A Qualitative Study of Factors Influencing Adherence among Pregnant Women Attempting to Stop Smoking with the aid of electronic cigarettes
PI: Professor Michael Ussher
Funded by: Cancer Research UK
–

2019 Nicotine and Tobacco CPD
PI: Dr Allison Ford
Funded by: Delegates - Short Courses
–

Centre for Tobacco Control Research 2015
PI: Ms Anne Marie MacKintosh
Funded by: Cancer Research UK
–

The Uk Centre for Tobacco & Alcohol Studies (UKCTAS)
PI: Dr Allison Ford
Funded by: Medical Research Council
–

Exploring the impact of removing less healthy food from retail checkouts
PI:
Funded by: Department of Health
–

Smoking Prevention in Action: The Smokefree Partnership Coalition
PI:
Funded by: Smoke Free Partnership
–

UKCTAS CPD Course
PI: Dr Allison Ford
Funded by: Delegates - Short Courses
–

Electronic Cigarette Marketing: Current Research and Policy
PI:
Funded by: Cancer Research UK
–

Process evaluation of the implementation of universal free school meals (FSM)
PI:
Funded by: NHS Health Scotland
–

Outputs (83)

Article

“It has some major knock-on effects”: ambulance clinicians’ experiences of attending alcohol-related call-outs and perceived impact on the Scottish ambulance service (IMPAACT study)

Uny I, Martin JG, Mitchell D, Ford A, Begley A, Howell R, Fitzpatrick D, Mackay D, Lewsey J & Fitzgerald N (2025) “It has some major knock-on effects”: ambulance clinicians’ experiences of attending alcohol-related call-outs and perceived impact on the Scottish ambulance service (IMPAACT study). Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2025.2576804

Article

Exploring how an e-cigarette intervention influenced tobacco smoking behaviour in people accessing homelessness services: findings from the SCeTCH trial process evaluation

Ford A, McMillan L, Soar K, Pesola F, Notley C, Brown R, Ward E, Gardner B, Varley A, Mair C, Lennon J, Brierley J, Edwards A, Mitchell D & Robson D (2025) Exploring how an e-cigarette intervention influenced tobacco smoking behaviour in people accessing homelessness services: findings from the SCeTCH trial process evaluation. International Journal of Drug Policy, 143, Art. No.: 104901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2025.104901

Article

Smoking cessation for people accessing homeless support centres (SCeTCH): comparing the provision of an E-cigarette versus Usual Care in a cluster randomised controlled trial in Great Britain

Dawkins L, Soar K, Pesola F, Ford A, Notley C, Brown R, Ward E, McMillan L, Robson D, Varley A, Mair C, Lennon J, Brierley J, Edwards A & Hajek P (2025) Smoking cessation for people accessing homeless support centres (SCeTCH): comparing the provision of an E-cigarette versus Usual Care in a cluster randomised controlled trial in Great Britain. BMC Medicine, 23, Art. No.: 394. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-025-04167-y

Research Report

Exploring the accessibility of vapes to young people and adults across the UK

Ford A, MacKintosh AM, Morgan A, Best C, Lewis G, Angus K, Mitchell D, Shanthan A, Froguel A & Neve K (2025) Exploring the accessibility of vapes to young people and adults across the UK [VAYPA Study]. Cancer Research UK. London: Cancer Research UK. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/sites/default/files/full_report_-_exploring_the_accessibility_of_vapes_to_young_people_and_adults_across_the_uk.pdf

Conference Paper (unpublished)

A mixed methods process evaluation exploring the mechanisms through which an e-cigarette intervention produced changes in tobacco smoking behaviour among people accessing homelessness services

McMillan L & Ford A (2025) A mixed methods process evaluation exploring the mechanisms through which an e-cigarette intervention produced changes in tobacco smoking behaviour among people accessing homelessness services. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT), New Orleans, USA, 12.03.2025-15.03.2025.

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Understanding the mechanisms through which an e-cigarette intervention produced changes in smoking behaviour among people accessing homelessness services: findings from a mixed methods process evaluation

McMillan L & Ford A (2024) Understanding the mechanisms through which an e-cigarette intervention produced changes in smoking behaviour among people accessing homelessness services: findings from a mixed methods process evaluation. Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA), Newcastle, 13.11.2024-15.11.2024.

Research Report

Testing the optimal design of health-promoting pack inserts and dissuasive cigarettes

Moodie C, Cook M, Sharp C, Hussein N, Best C, Turner S, Angus K, Brose J, Alexandrou G & Ford A (2024) Testing the optimal design of health-promoting pack inserts and dissuasive cigarettes. National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Public Health Policy Research Unit. https://www.phpru.online/assets/uploads/files/testing%20the%20optimal%20design%20of%20health%20promoting%20pack%20inserts.pdf

Policy Document

E-cigarettes and harm reduction: An evidence review

Agrawal S, Angus K, Arnott D, Ashcroft R, Aveyard P, Barry R, Bauld L, Beard E, Benowitz N, Bogdanovica I, Braznell S, Brennan A, Britton J, Brown J & Ford A (2024) E-cigarettes and harm reduction: An evidence review. Royal College of Physicians (RCP). London. https://www.rcp.ac.uk/media/n5skyz1t/e-cigarettes-and-harm-reduction_full-report_updated_0.pdf

Research Report

Improving our understanding of e-cigarette and refill packaging in the UK: How is it used for product promotion and perceived by consumers, to what extent does it comply with product regulations, and could it be used to better protect consumers?

Moodie C, Jones D, Angus K, MacKintosh AM, Ford A, O’Donnell R, Hunt K, Mitchell D, Alexandrou G, Stead M, Neve K, Champion T, Froguel A & Davies A (2023) Improving our understanding of e-cigarette and refill packaging in the UK: How is it used for product promotion and perceived by consumers, to what extent does it comply with product regulations, and could it be used to better protect consumers?. Cancer Research UK. London. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/sites/default/files/moodie_et_al._2023_improving_our_understanding_of_e-cigarette_and_refill_packaging_in_the_uk.pdf

Article

Evaluating the effectiveness of e-cigarettes compared with usual care for smoking cessation when offered to smokers at homeless centres: Protocol for a multi-centre cluster-randomized controlled trial in Great Britain

Cox S, Bauld L, Brown R, Carlise M, Ford A, Hajek P, Li J, Notley C, Parrott S, Pesola F, Robson D, Soar K, Tyler A, Ward E & Dawkins L (2022) Evaluating the effectiveness of e-cigarettes compared with usual care for smoking cessation when offered to smokers at homeless centres: Protocol for a multi-centre cluster-randomized controlled trial in Great Britain. Addiction, 117 (7), pp. 2096-2107. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15851

Article

Intended and unintended consequences of the implementation of minimum unit pricing of alcohol in Scotland: a natural experiment

So V, Millard AD, Katikireddi SV, Forsyth R, Allstaff S, Deluca P, Drummond C, Ford A, Eadie D, Fitzgerald N, Graham L, Hilton S, Ludbrook A, McCartney G & Stead M (2021) Intended and unintended consequences of the implementation of minimum unit pricing of alcohol in Scotland: a natural experiment. Public Health Research, 9 (11), pp. 1-210. https://doi.org/10.3310/phr09110

Article

Youth perceptions of brand variant names on standardised cigarette packs, and responses to replacing these with numbers: A focus group study in Britain

Mitchell D, Moodie C, Ford A, MacKintosh AM, Critchlow N & Bauld L (2021) Youth perceptions of brand variant names on standardised cigarette packs, and responses to replacing these with numbers: A focus group study in Britain [Numbered packs for tobacco]. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2021.1902479

Article

Initial views and experiences of vaping in prisons: a qualitative study with people in custody preparing for the imminent implementation of Scotland's prison smokefree policy

Brown A, O'Donnell R, Eadie D, Purves R, Sweeting H, Ford A, Bauld L & Hunt K (2021) Initial views and experiences of vaping in prisons: a qualitative study with people in custody preparing for the imminent implementation of Scotland's prison smokefree policy. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 23 (3), pp. 543-549. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntaa088

Research Report

E-cigarette marketing in the UK: evidence from adult and youth surveys and policy compliance studies

Stead M, Hitchman SC, Angus K, Aleyan S, Ford A, MacKintosh AM, Purves R, Mitchell D, Hammond D, Fong GT, Driezen P, Reid J, Craig L, Chung-Hall J & Cummings KM (2021) E-cigarette marketing in the UK: evidence from adult and youth surveys and policy compliance studies. Cancer Research UK. London. https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/sites/default/files/e-cigarette_marketing_in_the_uk_fullreport_march_2021.pdf

Article

A Qualitative Study of Factors Influencing Adherence Among Pregnant Women Taking Part in a Trial of E-cigarettes for Smoking Cessation

Ford A, Uny I, Lowes J, Naughton F, Cooper S, Coleman T, Hajek P, Przulj D, Myers Smith K, Bauld L, Sinclair L, Walton R, Clark M & Ussher M (2021) A Qualitative Study of Factors Influencing Adherence Among Pregnant Women Taking Part in a Trial of E-cigarettes for Smoking Cessation. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (2), Art. No.: 430. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020430

Article

A cluster feasibility trial to explore the uptake and use of e-cigarettes versus usual care offered to smokers attending homeless centres in Great Britain

Dawkins L, Bauld L, Ford A, Robson D, Hajek P, Parrott S, Best C, Li J, Tyler A, Uny I & Cox S (2020) A cluster feasibility trial to explore the uptake and use of e-cigarettes versus usual care offered to smokers attending homeless centres in Great Britain. PLoS ONE, 15 (10), Art. No.: e0240968. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0240968

Article

Impact of a ban on the open display of tobacco products in retail outlets on never smoking youth in the UK: findings from a repeat cross-sectional survey before, during and after implementation

Ford A, MacKintosh AM, Moodie C, Kuipers M, Hastings G & Bauld L (2020) Impact of a ban on the open display of tobacco products in retail outlets on never smoking youth in the UK: findings from a repeat cross-sectional survey before, during and after implementation. Tobacco Control, 29 (3), pp. 282-288. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2018-054831

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Youth response to e-cigarette marketing in the UK from 2014 to 2016

Ford A, MacKintosh AM, Bauld L & Hastings G (2019) Youth response to e-cigarette marketing in the UK from 2014 to 2016. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) Europe 19th Annual Conference, Oslo, Norway, 12.09.2019-14.09.2019.

Article

Evaluating possible intended and unintended consequences of the implementation of alcohol minimum unit pricing (MUP) in Scotland: a natural experiment protocol

Katikireddi SV, Beeston C, Millard AD, Forsyth R, Deluca P, Drummond C, Eadie D, Graham L, Hilton S, Ludbrook A, McCartney G, Phillips T, Stead M, Ford A, Bond L & Leyland A (2019) Evaluating possible intended and unintended consequences of the implementation of alcohol minimum unit pricing (MUP) in Scotland: a natural experiment protocol. BMJ Open, 9 (6), Art. No.: e028482. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028482

Conference Paper (published)

Young people’s responses to standardised packaging one year after full implementation in the UK: a qualitative study

Ford A, MacKintosh AM & Moodie C (2019) Young people’s responses to standardised packaging one year after full implementation in the UK: a qualitative study. In: SRNT: 25th Anniversary - Abstracts. Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) 25th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, USA, 20.02.2019-23.02.2019. SRNT, p. 122. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.srnt.org/resource/resmgr/SRNT19_Abstracts.pdf

Conference Paper (published)

Feasibility and acceptability of e-cigarettes as an aid to quitting smoking among lung cancer patients: a pilot study

Ford A, Sinclair L, McKell J, Harrow S, Macphee J, Morrison A & Bauld L (2018) Feasibility and acceptability of e-cigarettes as an aid to quitting smoking among lung cancer patients: a pilot study. In: 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health Abstract Book. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 16 (Supplement 1) 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health, Cape Town, South Africa, 07.03.2018-09.03.2018. Heraklion, Crete, Greece: International Society for the Prevention of Tobacco Induced Diseases, p. A512. https://doi.org/10.18332/tid/84428

Conference Paper (published)

Point of sale display ban in Scotland: retailers' views of the effects on customer transactions, sales, youth and feelings about selling tobacco

Stead M, Eadie D, Purves R, Haw S, Pierce J, Amos A, Best C & Ford A (2018) Point of sale display ban in Scotland: retailers' views of the effects on customer transactions, sales, youth and feelings about selling tobacco. In: 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health Abstract Book. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 16 (Supplement 1) 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health, Cape Town, South Africa, 07.03.2018-09.03.2018. Heraklion, Crete, Greece: International Society for the Prevention of Tobacco Induced Diseases, p. A184. https://doi.org/10.18332/tid/84248

Conference Paper (published)

The impact of a tobacco point-of-sale display ban on youth in the United Kingdom: findings from a repeat cross-sectional survey pre-, mid- and post-implementation

Ford A, MacKintosh AM, Moodie C, Hastings G & Bauld L (2018) The impact of a tobacco point-of-sale display ban on youth in the United Kingdom: findings from a repeat cross-sectional survey pre-, mid- and post-implementation. In: 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health Abstract Book. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 16 (Supplement 1) 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health, Cape Town, South Africa, 07.03.2018-09.03.2018. Heraklion, Crete, Greece: International Society for the Prevention of Tobacco Induced Diseases, p. A539. https://doi.org/10.18332/tid/84517

Presentation / Talk

E-cigarettes and lung cancer patients: smoking cessation during chemotherapy treatment

McKell J, Ford A, Sinclair L, Harrow S, MacPhee J, Morrison A & Bauld L (2017) E-cigarettes and lung cancer patients: smoking cessation during chemotherapy treatment. 13th UK Society for Behavioural Medicine (UKSBM) Annual Scientific Meeting: Working together for healthy living: Multidisciplinary behavioural medicine, Liverpool, 13.12.2017-14.12.2017. https://www.kc-jones.co.uk/files/uploads/1513682026.pdf

Book Chapter

The impact of a substance-related death

Ford A, McKell J, Templeton L & Valentine C (2017) The impact of a substance-related death. In: Valentine C (ed.) Families Bereaved by Alcohol or Drugs. Explorations in Mental Health. London: Routledge, pp. 43-66. https://www.routledge.com/Families-Bereaved-by-Alcohol-or-Drugs-Research-on-Experiences-Coping/Valentine/p/book/9781138947085

Book Chapter

Managing stigma

Walter T & Ford A (2017) Managing stigma. In: Valentine C (ed.) Families Bereaved by Alcohol or Drugs: Research on Experiences, Coping and Support. Explorations in Mental Health. London: Routledge, pp. 67-89. https://www.crcpress.com/Families-Bereaved-by-Alcohol-or-Drugs-Research-on-Experiences-Coping-and/Valentine/p/book/9781138947085

Article

Barriers to and facilitators of smoking cessation in pregnancy and following childbirth: literature review and qualitative study

Bauld L, Graham H, Sinclair L, Flemming K, Naughton F, Ford A, McKell J, McCaughan D, Hopewell S, Angus K, Eadie D & Tappin D (2017) Barriers to and facilitators of smoking cessation in pregnancy and following childbirth: literature review and qualitative study. Health Technology Assessment, 21 (36), pp. 1-158. https://doi.org/10.3310/hta21360

Research Report

Process evaluation of the implementation of Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) for P1 to P3: Research with Schools and Local Authorities

Eadie D, Ford A, Stead M, Chambers S, Boydell N, Moore L & Anderson A (2016) Process evaluation of the implementation of Universal Free School Meals (UFSM) for P1 to P3: Research with Schools and Local Authorities. NHS Health Scotland. Edinburgh. http://www.healthscotland.scot/media/1309/universal-free-school-meals-main-report_march-2016.pdf

Conference Paper (published)

The barriers and facilitators to smoking cessation during pregnancy from the perspectives of both pregnant women and their partners: a synthesis of qualitative studies and evidence from exploratory interviews

Ford AJ, Sinclair LA, Flemming K, McKell J, Angus K, Mccaughan D, Graham H & Bauld L (2015) The barriers and facilitators to smoking cessation during pregnancy from the perspectives of both pregnant women and their partners: a synthesis of qualitative studies and evidence from exploratory interviews. In: SRNT-Europe 16th Annual Conference Programme and Proceedings Book. SRNT-Europe 16th Annual Conference, Maastricht, The Netherlands, 10.09.2015-12.09.2015. Utrecht, The Netherlands: NNVT - Nederlands Netwerk voor Tabaksonderzoek, p. 118. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.srnt.org/resource/resmgr/srnt_europe/SRNTE2015Programme.pdf

Conference Paper (unpublished)

Female perceptions of cigarette design: a qualitative study

Ford A, Moodie C & MacKintosh AM (2014) Female perceptions of cigarette design: a qualitative study. SRNT Europe, Santiago de Compostela, 18.09.2014-20.09.2014. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.srnt.org/resource/resmgr/srnt_europe/SRNTE2014Programme.pdf

Research Report

The packaging of tobacco products

Ford A (2012) The packaging of tobacco products. Cancer Research UK. The Centre for Tobacco Control Research. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/prod_consump/groups/cr_common/@nre/@new/@pre/documents/generalcontent/cr_086687.pdf

Research programmes

Research centres/groups

Research themes