PhD Study : Fidelity assessment of the Walking fOR Health (WORtH) intervention to increase activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in people with severe mental illness

Summary

The PhD student will work alongside the research team (funded by Horizon2020 Cross-border Healthcare Intervention Trials in Ireland Network (CHITIN)) to test the feasibility of a Walking fOR Health (WORtH) intervention to increase activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in people with severe mental illness (SMI).  The research will address the urgent need to improve the physical health and well-being of people with SMI as indicated in national guidelines (https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mediacentre/adultswithsmi.aspx).

The student will be responsible for developing a framework to assess fidelity of the WORtH intervention. The Medical Research Council guidelines have recommended evaluating treatment fidelity in complex interventions (Craig et al. 2008). Fidelity has been defined as the degree to which an intervention is implemented as intended. There are several sets of guidance which inform methods of assessing fidelity e.g. the National Institutes of Health Behavior Change Consortium (NIHBCC) guidance (Bellg et al, 2004), the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) reporting guidelines (Hoffmann et al, 2014), and recent review papers (Borelli et al, 2011; Toomey et al, 2014; O’Shea et al, 2016). However these guidelines need to be translated into a methodological framework that can be used to assess fidelity of clinical trials within the area of SMI.

Procedures: The intervention will be delivered by clinical staff in Northern and Western Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts in Northern Ireland (NI) and in County Louth Mental Health Services, a border county in the Republic of Ireland (ROI). The intervention will a 17-week programme. Currently there is no manualised training for this programme and so it will be a key responsibility of the PhD student to develop this manual (in collaboration with the research team) as well as develop the fidelity check lists that could be used in the feasibility trial. Appropriate fidelity guidance will be reviewed to develop a methodological framework. We anticipate that a combination of strategies or methods will be used to enhance, establish, and ensure fidelity (eg, intervention manuals) and to assess or monitor it (eg, direct observations). The Borrelli (2011) checklist, based on the best practice guidelines and recommendations (Bellg et al. 2004) may also be used. Outcomes: The development of a framework to assess fidelity of the (WORtH) intervention with respect to intervention training and intervention delivery (both enactment and receipt). References Bellg et al. Health Psychol . 2004;23:443–451 Borrelli, B. J Public Health Dent. 2011;71(suppl 1):S52–S63.–294. Craig P et al. BMJ. 2008 Sep 29;337:a1655. Hoffmann et al. BMJ . 2014;348:g1687. O’Shea O et al. (2016). Physical Therapy Reviews, 21 (3-6). pp. 207-214. Toomey et al. Man Ther . 2014;20:287.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

Institute of Mental Health Sciences funded PhD