University of Southampton

Faculty Member, School of Health Sciences

Senior Lecturer. Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy

About

My research focuses on improving rehabilitation services provided to people with rheumatological and musculoskeletal conditions.  I am interested in promoting well informed evidence based interventions that are  effective.  I am currently working within and leading teams of clinical and academic health care professionals researching:
1. The clinical effectiveness of stretching and resistive exerices for people with rheumatoid arthritis affecting their hands -the SARAH Trial funded by the National Institute of Health Research  (http://www.hta.ac.uk/project/1721.asp?src=alr) 
2. The development and design of a randomized controlled trial into the effectiveness of static splinting for thumb based osteoarthritis  - the START study funded by Arthritis Research UK
3. The continuing professional development needs of nurses and allied health professionals working in musculoskeletal services – funded by Arthritis Research UK
4. The educational needs of nurses, allied health professionals (AHPs) and associate health and social care practitioners working in musculoskeletal disease – funded by Arthritis Research UK
5. A systematic review of the effectiveness of interphalangeal joint implants in the arthritic hand – funded by Ascension Orthopedics USA

My research interests include: i) examining the clinical effectiveness of interventions provided to people with musculoskeletal disease ii) outcome measurement in rheumatology and musculoskeletal rehabilitation iii) Patient education within musculoskeletal/rheumatology services and strategies to enhance and improve services to people with lower literacy levels.     

I lead on undergraduate research teaching within the Faculty of Health Sciences and offer Masters and doctoral supervision.  All of my research work is cross disciplinary and I work within research teams of nurses, therapists, rheumatologists, surgeons, engineers, sociologists and patient and lay representatives.  I have established research links with the universities of Keele, Warwick, Salford, and Bristol and a wide network of UK based rheumatology, therapy and nursing clinicians involved in the development of our clinically applied research projects.   

I am always keen to hear of opportunities of working with other researchers and students interested in taking up doctoral studies in my areas of interest.   

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