Asthma is the most common chronic condition amongst school-aged children and young people in the UK. Many have multiple triggers that can lead to worsening of symptoms and trigger acute attacks. Commonly reported indoor triggers include dust, pets, and environmental tobacco smoke. Prevalence of allergic sensitisation to pets and house dust mite has increased over recent decades. Managing triggers alongside medication regimens can be challenging for families. This PhD will explore the health beliefs that inform decisions families make about trigger avoidance at home, such as re-homing of pets, creation of smoke-free homes or house dust mite reduction methods. This will form the basis for development of an intervention to facilitate trigger avoidance at home.
I am the current Student Representative on the Advocacy Committee at the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research.
I graduated from the University of Sheffield with a BMedSci (Hons) in Orthoptics and have seven years’ experience as a clinical Orthoptist in the NHS. I have some experience in quantitative and qualitative research methodology, and an interest in improving health-related quality of life. I completed a Master’s in Public Health (distinction) at the University of Edinburgh. During my master’s dissertation I developed an interest in novel familial interventions to improve child and family health, particularly respiratory health.
Publications
Research activity
Posters:
O’Donnell R, Rowa-Dewar N, Lumsdaine C, Swanston L, Lewis G, Amos G. (2019) Developing a harm reduction approach to protect disadvantaged children from second-hand smoke: A qualitative study with parents and practitioners. World Social Marketing Conference 2019. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.20049.48487
Brazier J, Bansback N, Espallargues M, Czoski-Murray C, Phippen G, Carlton J. (2005) Are generic preference-based measures truly generic? The case of visual impairment. 5th iHEA World Congress on Health Economics. Barcelona, Spain, July 2005
Brazier J, Bansback N, Espallargues M, Czoski-Murray C, Phippen G, Carlton J (2005) The relationship between impairment and generic based preference measures, patient valuations and patient life satisfaction, in age related macular degeneration. European Conference on Health Economics, London School of Economics, London 2005
Conference presentations: