Medical School

Piumika Sooriyaarachchi

RELEASE Research Officer
General Practice Clinical Unit

Piumika Sooriyaarachchi is the Postdoctoral Research Fellow for RELEASE: REdressing Long-tErm Antidepressant uSE in general practice project at the General Practice Clinical Unit.

She recently completed her PhD at the Queensland University of Technology, where she conducted extensive research on shift workers' health issues, specifically focusing on metabolic syndrome and weight gain.

Her research interests encompass a wide range of fields, including the epidemiology of non-communicable diseases, obesity, occupational health, nutrition, weight management, and body composition. She has over 5 years of research experience, in conducting various types of studies, including clinical trials, cross-sectional studies, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and qualitative research projects.

Researcher biography

Publications

2023

  • Sooriyaarachchi P, Jeyakumar DT, Francis TV, Jayawardena R. Well-being and addictive behaviors during COVID-19 among Sri Lankan adults: results from an online survey. Minerva Psychiatry 2023;64:195-202. DOI: 10.23736/S2724-6612.21.02290-9
  • Jayawardena R, Weerasinghe K, Sooriyaarachchi P, Hills AP. Effect of the beta-alanine supplementation in sports: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Med Sport 2023;76:260-71. DOI: 10.23736/S0025-7826.23.04276-X
  • Sooriyaarachchi, P., & Jayawardena, R. (2023). Impact of the economic crisis on food consumption of Sri Lankans: An online cross-sectional survey. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 102786. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2023.102786
  • Jayawardena, R., Kodithuwakku, W., & Sooriyaarachchi, P. (2023). The impact of the Sri Lankan economic crisis on medication adherence: An online cross-sectional survey. Dialogues in Health, 100137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dialog.2023.100137
  • Jayawardena, R., Majeed, S., Sooriyaarachchi, P., Abeywarn, U., Ranaweera, P. (2023) The effects of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) supplementation in nausea and vomiting during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-023-06925-w
  • Swarnamali H, Francis TV, Sooriyaarachchi P, Jayawardena R. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Sri Lanka: A national level survey. International Journal of Health Sciences. 2023;17(1):3-11.

2022

  • Sooriyaarachchi, P., Jayawardena, R., Pavey, T. and King, N.A., 2022. The effect of Shift work on body composition: a comparative cross-sectional study among healthcare workers. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. (https://doi.org/10.1097/jom.0000000000002692)
  • Sooriyaarachchi, P., Jayawardena, R., Pavey, T., & King, N. A. (2022). Shift work and the risk for metabolic syndrome among healthcare workers: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Obesity Reviews, e13489. (https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13489)
  • Sooriyaarachchi, P., Jayawardena, R., Pavey, T., & King, N. Shift work and the risk of metabolic syndrome among healthcare workers: a comparative cross-sectional study. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 10-1097. (doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002544)
  • Sooriyaarachchi, P., Jayawardena, R., Pavey, T., & King, N. A. (2022). Meal replacement as a weight loss strategy for night shift workers with obesity: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, 23(1), 1-10. (https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-022-06784-x)
  • Sooriyaarachchi, P., Francis, T. V., & Jayawardena, R. (2022). Fruit and vegetable consumption during the COVID-19 lockdown in Sri Lanka: an online survey. Nutrire, 47(2), 1-9. (https://doi.org/10.1186/s41110-022-00161-z)
  • Francis, T.V., Sooriyaarachchi, P. and Jayawardena, R. (2022). Usage of nutritional supplements to improve immunity during the COVID-19 pandemic: An online survey. Clinical Nutrition Open Science, 43, 6-19. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutos.2022.04.003)
  • Gamage, M., Sooriyaarachchi, P., Francis, T. and Jayawardena, R., 2022. Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on meat or equivalent consumption behavior among Sri Lankan adults: a cross-sectional study. Journal of Ideas in Health, 5(3), pp.730-738. (https://doi.org/10.47108/jidhealth.Vol5.Iss3.240)
  • Gamage, M., Sooriyaarachchi, P., Francis, T., Jayawardena, R. (2022). 'Changes in Snack Food Intake during COVID-19 Lockdown: An Online Survey in Sri Lanka', International Journal of Nutrition Sciences, (), pp. (https://dx.doi.org/10.30476/ijns.2022.96388.1197)
  • Sooriyaarachchi, P., Jeyakumar, D. T., Francis, T. V., & Jayawardena, R. (2022). Well-being and addictive behaviours during COVID-19 among Sri Lankan adults: Results from an online survey. Minerva Psychiatry. (In press)

2021

  • Jayawardena, R., Sooriyaarachchi, P., Kagawa, M., Hills, A. P., & King, N. A. (2021). Methods to develop figure rating scales (FRS): A systematic review. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 15(3), 687-693. (https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2021.03.026)
  • Jayawardena, R., & Sooriyaarachchi, P. (2021). The inside story of fruits; exploring the truth behind conventional theories. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 15(6), 102085  (https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2021.03.020)
  • Jayawardena, R., Sooriyaarachchi, P., & Misra, A. (2021). Abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome in South Asians: prevention and management. Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism, 16(6), 339-349. (https://doi.org/10.1080/17446651.2021.1982381)
  • Sooriyaarachchi, P., Francis, T. V., King, N., & Jayawardena, R. (2021). Increased physical inactivity and weight gain during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka: An online cross-sectional survey. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 15(4), 102185 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2021.06.022)
  • Sooriyaarachchi, P., Jayawardena, R., Pavey, T., & King, N. (2021). Shift work and body composition: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Minerva Endocrinology. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34060732. (https://doi.org/10.23736/s2724-6507.21.03534-x)
  • Sooriyaarachchi, P., Jeyakumar, D. T., King, N., & Jayawardena, R. (2021). Impact of vitamin D deficiency on COVID-19. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN. 44, 372-378. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2021.05.011)

2020

  • Jayawardena, R., Jeyakumar, D. T., Gamage, M., Sooriyaarachchi, P, & Hills, A. P. (2020). Fruit and vegetable consumption among South Asians: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 14(6), 1791-1800 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2020.09.004)
  • Jayawardena, R., Sooriyaarachchi, P, Chourdakis, M., Jeewandara, C., & Ranasinghe, P. (2020). Enhancing immunity in viral infections, with special emphasis on COVID-19: A review. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 14(4), 367-382 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2020.04.015)
  • Jayawardena, R., Sooriyaarachchi, P., Chourdakis, M., Jeewandara, C., & Ranasinghe, P. (2020). Response to the letter of L. Santacroce regarding the article “Enhancing immunity in viral infections, with special emphasis on COVID-19: A review” (Jayawardena et al.). Diabetes &   Metabolic Syndrome, 14(5), 839. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2020.06.017)
  • Jayawardena R, Sooriyaarachchi P, Ranasinghe P, Perera A, Hills, AP. (2020) Availability and composition of weight‐loss supplements in Sri Lanka. Nutrition & Dietetics, 77(2), 247-252. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6511685/)

2019

  • Jayawardena R, Sooriyaarachchi P, Punchihewa P, Lokunarangoda N, Pathirana AK. (2019). Effects of "plate model" as a part of dietary intervention for rehabilitation following myocardial infarction: a randomized controlled trial. Cardiovascular Diagnosis and Therapy, 9(2):179-188. (IF=2.006) (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1747-0080.12501)

2018

  • Sooriyaarachchi P, Sandika AL, Madawanarachchi N. (2018). Coastal community resilience level of Tsunami prone area: a case study in Sri Lanka. Procedia Engineering. 2018 Dec 31; 212:683-90 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877705818301061)
  • Sooriyaarachchi P, Abeywickrama LM, Sandika AL. (2018). Identifying Farmers’ Practices on Disposal of Empty Agrochemical Containers: A Case Study on Container Management Program of CropLife Sri Lanka-2017. Agricultural Extension Journal (AEXTJ), (02): 101-105 (http://www.aextj.com/index.php/aextj/article/view/157)

2017

  • Dayarathne HMPM, Abeysekara WCSM, Sooriyaarachchi P, Sandika AL. (2017). Identification of Drivers and Barriers of Women Entrepreneurs: A case study in Floriculture Industry. Saudi Journal of  Business and Management Studies, 2(10):891-897. (http://scholarsmepub.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/SJBMS-210891-897.pdf)