Details
Use of smart wearable technology in the general population has increased exponentially in the last 10 years, such that a YouGov poll recently indicated that 35% of adults in the UK wear an activity tracker. The data acquired from these devices is growing in sophistication and offers a huge opportunity for development of biomarkers that can predict health outcomes or reflect changes in response to health interventions. Use of this technology in clinical populations has also increased, in stroke rehabilitation in particular. We have recently undertaken a scoping review of the use of SMART wearable technology in stroke rehabilitation (manuscript in preparation) and found that the large majority of the 139 studies included used very basic inertial sensors (IMU's), were small (65% n = < 30)="" and="" concentrated="" on="" correlating="" wearable="" outcome="" data="" with="" specific="" motor="" impairments="" (e.g.="" mobility,="" upper="" limb="" recovery,="" balance="" and="" falls).="" there="" is="" however="" a="" lack="" of="" research="" investigating="" more="" sophisticated="" activity="" trackers="" and="" the="" link="" between="" wearable="" data="" and="" outcomes="" such="" as="" fatigue,="" social="" participation="" and="" health="" related="" quality="" of="" life,="" which="" are="" of="" exceptional="" importance="" to="" those="" who="" survive="" stroke.="" we="" have="" a="" unique="" opportunity="" to="" evaluate="" use="" of="" more="" sophisticated="" activity="" trackers="" in="" 2="" large="" stroke="" rehabilitation="" clinical="" trials="" (restore="" and="" ricfast)="" in="" order="" to="" further="" our="" understanding="" of="" these="">
The aims of this PhD project are as follows:
1) To investigate whether outcome measures collected from using daily smart wearable activity trackers correlate with self-reported levels of physical activity, fatigue, sleep, social participation, and health related quality of life in people who suffer stroke.
2) To investigate whether exercise (ReSTORe) or fatigue (RICFAST) interventions result in improvements to measures of physical activity as measured using these devices, in addition to clinical measures used as part of these larger clinical trials.
3) To investigate whether use of a smart watch activity tracker, providing real-time participant feedback on activity, does result in increased levels of physical activity amongst stroke survivors, and explore what aspects of feedback are most useful for stroke survivors.
The successful PhD candidate will work alongside academics in Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, the Deep End Research Alliance, the South Yorkshire Digital Health Hub and Good Health Analytics to design and undertake a comprehensive clinical trial of smart wearable activity trackers in stroke rehabilitation. This will enable us to understand how these devices can be used to monitor progress and optimise neurological recovery after stroke.
Entry Requirements:
Candidates must have a first or upper second class honours degree or significant research experience.
How to apply:
Please complete a University Postgraduate Research Application form available here: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/phd/apply/applying. Candidates will be required to complete a declaration form and upload it to their application.
Please clearly state the prospective main supervisor in the respective box and select ‘School of Medicine & Population Health: Neuroscience’ as the department.
Proposed start date - October 2024
For further information on this scheme please see - https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/phd/scholarships/faculty
Funding Notes
The scholarships cover home tuition fees and a tax-free stipend at the UKRI rate (£19,237 for students starting in October 2024), as well as a training and development allowance.
Students worldwide are welcome to apply but will need to fund the overseas fee difference of around £24,000 per year.
References
The Faculty of Health is offering a number of scholarships for the academic year 2024/5 for eligible students. This project is being considered for the Faculty, PGT>PGR and Underrepresented Student scholarship schemes. You do not need to apply more than once as your application will automatically be considered for all scholarships based on your eligibility criteria. Please see below for any additional requirements.
Students worldwide are welcome to apply but will need to fund the overseas fee difference of around £24,000 per year but will not be eligible for the Underrepresented Student scheme.
Additional requirements
PGT>PGR
We are accepting applications from current and past (who have graduated in 2022 & 2023) PGT students from the Faculty of Health.
Underrepresented Student
We are accepting applications for the University of Sheffield Research Scholarships for Black or Black British (of African or Caribbean heritage), Asian or Asian British (of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indian heritage) or multiple ethnic background including one of the ethnicity groups listed above.
The University of Sheffield is committed to increasing opportunities in doctoral research for particular minoritised students who are currently under-represented in our postgraduate research student population.
Candidates will be required to complete a declaration form and upload it to their application. Applicants with overseas fee status are NOT eligible for these awards.