PhD Study : Reducing face touching as a strategy for suppressing the transmission of COVID-19 and other viruses in care homes 

Summary

The COVID-19 pandemic is caused by a virus but its transmission occurs primarily through human behaviour. While social distancing measures reduce person-to-person transmission, other personal behaviour contributes to infection, primarily contact of the person’s hand with an infected surface (e.g., a door handle or work surface) followed by contact of the hand with the person’s face at a high-risk entry point (i.e., mouth, nose, eyes; WHO, 2020).

We normally touch our eyes, nose or mouth from 10 to 45 times per hour (Kwok & McLaws, 2013), and thus researchers have concluded that face touching is a major pathway for viral infection (e.g., Clack et al., 2017), but not one that has yet received sufficient research attention, despite recent evidence that the virus can survive for 9 hours on human skin and even longer on other surfaces (Hirose et al., 2020). Paradoxically, while the use of facemasks is increasing, wearing masks may actually encourage face touching because of discomfort that ensues.

There are specific locations, such as residential and social care homes, where social distancing is difficult, but infection control is even more important because of the presence of vulnerable elderly residents. While direct care staff may be able to use high-level personal protective equipment, which prevents face-touching (e.g., hoods that cover the entire head), this is not always available or appropriate for other support staff (e.g., administrative and maintenance staff).

This research project will use behavioural monitoring and intervention strategies and also deploy a novel smart technology intervention to have maximal impact on risky unconscious face-touching behaviour. Once this strategy has been shown to work in a lab simulation, field trials will be conducted with support staff in community care settings. Finally, a protocol will be developed to enable this intervention to be rolled out to community-care settings. The novel technology is the Keen bracelet from HabitAware  (USA), a prize-winning device originally developed to increase awareness and then suppress otherwise excessive grooming activities (e.g., hair pulling, nail biting).

The smart bracelet is trained to vibrate when the individual moves their hand prior to a particular act, such as face-touching. It has the capacity to manipulate timing of feedback termination contingent on hand-movement away from the face (to allow for distinguishing between hand-to-face approach from actual hand-to-face contact).  This device  will be used alongside a range of  behavioural training strategies. Initial lab studies in a work-place simulation setting will use single-case experimental designs with individuals (Kazdin, 2011) to see whether the intervention package can eliminate face-touching that otherwise occurs in such settings.

Results of the lab study will inform field trials in social care homes where face touching by support staff going about their normal duties will be assessed prior to and after the introduction of bracelet use along with a behaviour-change support package. The findings of the field trials will in turn inform the development of a staff training protocol that will be designed for use by staff in social and health care settings in both parts of Ireland.

Applications from candidates who hold, or expect to achieve by 15 August, an Upper Second Class Honours (2:1) or a First Class Honours Degree in Psychology from a UK institution (or overseas award deemed to be equivalent via UK NARIC) will be prioritised.

Masters level qualification that includes advanced research methods would be desirable.   

Knowledge of experimental analysis of behaviour and (or) applied behaviour analysis would be desirable.

References will be requested for shortlisted candidates.

AccessNI clearance required

Please note, the successful candidate will be required to obtain AccessNI clearance prior to registration due to the nature of the project.

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.

• A demonstrable interest in the research area associated with the studentship

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