Nigel Groome Studentship: Co-development of an Exercise Intervention to Improve Occupational Health and Wellbeing of the Paramedic Workforce

3 Year, full-time funded PhD Studentship

Eligibility: Home UK/EU

Bursary p.a.: Bursary equivalent to UKRI national minimum stipend plus fees (2025/26 bursary rate is £20,780)

Fees and Bench fees: will be met by the University for the 3 years of the funded Studentship.

Closing date: Thursday 27 March 2025

Start Date: September / October 2025    

Requirements:

Applicants should have a first or upper second-class honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or acceptable equivalent qualification. EU Applicants must have a valid IELTS Academic test certificate (or equivalent) with an overall minimum score of 6.5 to 7.0 and no score below 6.0 issued in the last 2 years by an approved test centre.

The studentship requires you to undertake the equivalent of up to 6 hrs teaching per week on average, during semester time, and to include preparation and marking (but no more than 20 hrs per week), and to participate in a teaching skills course without further remuneration.    

Project Description: 

Paramedics are at extra injury risk due to manual handling compared to other NHS staff. NHS data identifies ambulance staff as the professionally qualified clinical staff group with the highest rates of sickness absence from back and musculoskeletal injuries. More than training in manual handling skills is required to reduce injury rates in workers regularly required to undertake manual handling tasks. Physical exercise training improves the workability index of healthcare workers, however, there has yet to be an established practice for the role and benefits of exercise in the paramedic workforce in the UK.

The proposed project aims to: 1) identify current practices and intervention approaches to reduce musculoskeletal injury risk in paramedics, 2) co-develop an exercise intervention for paramedics through an iterative process utilising a range of PPI activities with relevant stakeholders, and 3) assess the feasibility and acceptability of the co-developed intervention.

We encourage applicants from a paramedic or health care professional background looking to move into research, or a candidate with a background in Sport and Exercise Science and related fields. Experience with qualitative research methods would be an advantage but not essential.

To address the project aims it is anticipated the successful candidate would conduct the following programme of research:

1) A systematic review of current evidence of interventions to reduce MSK injuries and improve paramedics' physical preparedness.

2) Iterative co-development of an exercise intervention with relevant stakeholders using focus groups or interviews and a qualitative survey to explore the physical tasks required in the role, views on the role of physical health and fitness, perceived barriers to exercise and preferences on exercise type and delivery.

3) A single-arm feasibility and acceptability trial of the co-developed intervention with practicing paramedics.

To apply, contact hls-applications@brookes.ac.uk for details.

Applications should include a project proposal (max 1000 words) including background, aims and an outline methodology. Applicants can liaise with the named supervisor when developing their proposal.

Director of Studies: Dr Sam Thrower

Supervisors: Dr Gregory Walsh, Dr Andrew Freeman-May, Dr Saldiam Barillas

Project Contact: Dr Gregory Walsh: gwalsh@brookes.ac.uk

Part time MPhil/PhD study exceptionally considered.

Advertised on a competitive basis.

Interviews anticipated online, early May 2025. 

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