Investigating how to optimise current rehabilitation solutions through qualitative research methods and human design thinking at University of Exeter

Project title: Investigating how to optimise current rehabilitation solutions through qualitative research methods and human design thinking

2.48 billion people globally has a need for rehabilitation services. Currently, no social or health systems will be able to respond to the need in scale, which is exacerbated by the lack of sufficient rehabilitation professionals. Rehabilitation 2030 is the WHO’s strategy to improve access & increase provision of high-quality rehabilitation for those who cannot access or actually would prefer a digital solution for their rehabilitation need. Development of innovative digital solutions are at the forefront of this rehabilitation revolution.

Digital health solutions have been identified as a key member of the workforce to support the provision of rehabilitation at scale. However, many are not evaluated for efficacy or designed with the end user through a user centred design methods and are thus unfit for purpose. A recent consumer focused review in one area of digital health tools found only 1/3 had any evaluation of efficacy. Therefore, there is a need to develop solutions to support technology companies to prove efficacy and additional supportive scientific evidence through developing dynamic solutions to evaluating and optimising digital health technology.

Good Boost is a social enterprise that has developed unique digital solutions to support people with musculoskeletal conditions which have been widely adopted in leisure and other community spaces turning them into rehabilitation spaces. As the utility & optimisation of the digital solution evolves there is a clear need to support the product’s development, implementation and wider acceptance through qualitative and quantitative research methods.

This PhD project will investigate how to optimise the current solutions through qualitative research methods & human design thinking as well as investigate the feasibility and potential efficacy. This knowledge will not only support the company but wider dissemination of the knowledge collected will support the digital rehabilitation field. Specifically this studentship will:
Develop the evidence for algorithm-based exercise for digital rehabilitation for people with non-communicable diseases affecting mobility delivered in the community settings. Implement mixed methods research designs to develop & evaluate the feasibility and potential efficacy of the Good Boost algorithm-based exercise recommendations delivered within leisure centre.

This Studentship will be nested within the Rehabilitation theme of the National Institute of Health and Care Research Exeter Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR Exeter BRC), hosted by the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with the University of Exeter and in collaboration with South West NHS organisations. The first of its kind for the South West peninsula, the Centres fundamental objective is to improve health outcomes for patients and the public by translating scientific breakthroughs into potential new treatments, diagnostics & medical technologies.

If English is not your first language, you will need to have achieved at least 7.0 in IELTS and no less than 6.0 in any section by the start of the project.  Alternative tests may be acceptable (http://www.exeter.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/english/).

For eligible students, the studentship will cover Home tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend of at least £18,622 (in alignment with standard Research Council UK rate) for 3.5 years, in addition to funds to support research and training. The student would be based on the St Luke’s campus in the Medical School building in Exeter.

The closing date for applications is midnight on Monday 18 September 2023. 

Interviews will be held virtually at end of September/beginning of October 2023 for a January 2024 start.