Dr. Harith Eranga Yapa

Senior Lecturer Gr. II in Nursing

PhD (QUT, Australia), BSc Nursing (Hons; USJ), AFHEA (UK), RN

Nursing
Faculty of Health Sciences
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Contact:

Colombo Regional Center, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.

Office: 112881355, Ext: 355

E-mail: heyap@ou.ac.lk

Web: https://lk.linkedin.com/pub/harith-eranga-yapa/6a/205/b82


I obtained BSc in Nursing (special) degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura with a Second Class Upper Division in 2011 and proceeded to the Queensland University of Technology, Australia for postgraduate studies in 2017. My PhD focused on examining contributing factors to health-related quality of life in people with chronic kidney disease in Sri Lanka. I completed my PhD in 2021. I joined the Open University of Sri Lanka as a Temporary Demonstrator in 2012 and was selected as a Lecturer (Probationary) in Nursing in 2013. Currently, I serve as a senior lecturer in the Department of Nursing at the Open University of Sri Lanka and have nearly a decade of teaching and research experience. My research focuses on enhancing patient outcomes through practice improvement in the field of renal nursing and chronic condition management. My research interests mainly lie in chronic illnesses, patient report outcome measures, and mixed-methods designs.

Professional Qualifications

Registered Nurse (RN) in the Sri Lanka Nursing Council (Reg. No. 08470)

Areas of Specialization:

Renal Nursing, Renal Palliative Care Nursing, Mixed Methods Research

Research interests:

Renal nursing, Renal palliative care nursing, Critical care nursing, Chronic kidney disease, Patient reported outcome measures, Mixed methods designs

Affiliations:
  1. Associate Fellow in Higher Education Academy. The United Kingdom
  2. Member- Renal Society of Australasia
  3. Registered Nurse (RN) in the Sri Lanka Nursing Council (Reg. No. 08470)
  4. Executive Committee Member- Graduate Nurses’ Foundation
Course Coordination:

BSc Hons in Nursing Degree Programme

NGU5303 Research Methods in Nursing

NGU5207 Critical Care Nursing

MSc in Nursing Degree Programme

NGP9306 Statistics for Evidence Based Nursing Practice

NGE9201 Nursing Master Orientation Seminar

Awards:
Scholarships
  • Financial assistance from University Grants Commission (UGC) to university teachers for higher studies-2016
  • Financial assistance for postgraduate studies: The Open University of Sri Lanka
  • HDR Tuition Fee Sponsorship, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia
Awards and Travel grants
  • Best Paper – Research Award – Exploring the impact of chronic kidney disease at various grades along its trajectory, Renal Society of Australasia Annual Conference, Melbourne, Australia. 18th-20th June 2021.
  • Queensland University of Technology (QUT) IHBI Publication Research Award-2019 – The relationship between chronic kidney disease, symptoms and health-related quality of life: A systematic review.
  • The Editor’s Choice for Journal of Renal Care issue 2/2020 – The relationship between chronic kidney disease, symptoms and health-related quality of life: A systematic review.
  • QUT Chronic Conditions Management (CCM) HDR Travel Grant-2019 to attend the Renal Society of Australasia Annual Conference, Auckland, New Zealand. 27th-29th June 2019.
  • QUT Chronic Conditions Management (CCM) HDR Travel Grant-2018 to undertake data collection of the PhD study in Sri Lanka
Researches:
International conference presentations
  1. H.E. Yapa, L. Purtell, S. Chambers and A. Bonner. (2021) ‘Factors influencing health-related quality of life in people with chronic kidney disease’, Proceedings of Renal Society of Australasia Annual Conference, Melbourne, Australia. 18th-20th June.
  2. H.E. Yapa, S. Chambers, L. Purtell and A. Bonner. (2021) ‘Exploring the impact of chronic kidney disease at various grades along its trajectory’, Proceedings of Renal Society of Australasia Annual Conference, Melbourne, Australia. 18th-20th June.
  3. H.E. Yapa, S. Chambers, L. Purtell, A. Bonner (2019) ‘Comparing health-related quality of life across different stages of chronic kidney disease’, Proceedings of Renal Society of Australasia Annual Conference, Auckland, New Zealand. 27th-29th June.
  4. H.E. Yapa, S. Chambers, L. Purtell, A. Bonner (2019) ‘Comparing symptom burden across different stages of chronic kidney disease’, Proceedings of Renal Society of Australasia Annual Conference, Auckland, New Zealand. 27th-29th June.
  5. H.E. Yapa, S. Chambers, L. Purtell, A. Bonner (2019) ‘Chronic kidney disease in Sri Lanka: Demographic and clinical profile’, Proceedings of Renal Society of Australasia Annual Conference, Auckland, New Zealand. 27th-29th June.

Publications in Indexed Journals

  1. H.E. Yapa, L. Purtell, S. Chambers and A. Bonner. (2022). Factors influencing health-related quality of life in people with chronic kidney disease: A structural equation modelling approach. Journal of Clinical Nursing Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16422
  2. H.E. Yapa, L. Purtell, S. Chambers and A. Bonner. (2021). Alterations in symptoms and health-related quality of life as kidney function deteriorates: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Clinical Nursing 30(11-12), 1787– 1796. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15738
  3. H.E. Yapa, L. Purtell, S. Chambers and A. Bonner. (2020). The relationship between chronic kidney disease, symptoms and health-related quality of life: A systematic review. Journal of Renal Care 46(2), 74– 84. https://doi.org/10.1111/jorc.12303
  4. B.M.C.R. Wimalasiri-Yapa, H.E. Yapa, X. Huang, L.M. Hafner, T.J. Kenna and F.D. Frentiu. (2020). Zika virus and arthritis/arthralgia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Viruses 12(10), 1137. https://doi.org/10.3390/v12101137
Local conference presentations
  1. H.S.L. Gamage, B.M.L.K. Thilakarathne, S.M.P. Gayani, H.E. Yapa and P.W.G.D.P. Samarasekara. (2016). ‘Experiences of close relatives of adult patients admitted to an intensive care unit: A qualitative study’, Proceedings of Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 17th -18th November.
  2. P.N. Sanjeewani, P.M.K. Indika, K.P.S. Karunasena, H.E. Yapa and P.W.G.D.P Samarasekara. (2015). ‘Knowledge and Practices of Intensive Care Nurses on Enteral Nutrition Care’, Proceedings of Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 19th -20th November.
  3. H.E. Yapa, and A.V.P. Madhavi (2014). ‘Effectiveness of the programme of Diploma in Nursing at OUSL: Diplomates’ perspective’, Proceedings of Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 27th -28th November.
  4. D. P. Dimbulagedara, K. J. N. M. B. R. Jayathilaka, A. V. P. Madhavi and H. E. Yapa (2014) ‘Knowledge and Practices among School Children on Dengue Prevention’, Proceedings of Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 27th -28th November.
  5. B. A. D. Prabodika, I. T. V. Kumari, R. S. Weragoda, H. E. Yapa and B. S. S. De Silva (2014) ‘Ventilator Associated Pneumonia: Nurses’ perspective’, Proceedings of Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 27th -28th November.
  6. C.K. Kandauda, B.S.S. De Silva, H.EYapa (2013) ‘Knowledge and Attitudes among Nurses’ related to Professional Nurses’ Associations in Sri Lanka’, Proceedings of Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 27th -28th November.
  7. H.E. Yapa, W.A.A. Wijayasiri (2012) ‘Knowledge on Dengue fever among undergraduates’, Proceedings of Annual Academic Sessions, The Open University of Sri Lanka, 19th-20th September.
Research Supervisions:

BSc Hons in Nursing Degree Programme

Supervision of undergraduate research projects

MSc in Nursing Degree Programme

Supervision of postgraduate research projects

Supervision of postgraduate research projects (Independent study)

Publications:
  1. H.E. Yapa & E.M.S. Bandara (2016) “Have an Apple or a Pear and what has Metabolic Syndrome got to do with it?” The Open Quarterly Magazine, Published by The Open University of Sri Lanka.  ISSN 2478-0413
The Open University of Sri Lanka
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