Nigel Groome Studentship: Alcohol consumption in mid-life: intervention co-production and evaluation

Alcohol consumption is a risk factor for global disease burden contributing to a range of significant physical and mental health harms. Evidence now suggests that many people in mid-life and older adulthood are drinking at levels that may harm their health. However, there is a lack of research on the determinants of alcohol related harms in many specific subgroups of the population.

This PhD programme will explore factors that contribute to increased alcohol consumption within a predefined populatiion of interest to the student (e.g. mid-life women; older adults; people with mental health conditions; specific occupations; military personnel; people who are neurodivergent). The research will identify factors that prevent help seeking and behavior change, and will co-develop targeted interventions suitable for the given population. This will begin with scooping work and co-production with the target group in year one and work towards an intervention feasibility trial in year three.

Supervised by Dr Emma Davies and Dr Jenny Seddon, the studentship will involve primary research to inform intervention development and evaluation.

In our research group, we place a high value on co-production and we would expect the studentship to engage with the target group in a meaningful way, for example through a public advisory group. We use systematic frameworks for intervention development, such as the Behaviour Change Wheel, to guide our intervention development work.

There is an additional requirement to undertake up to 6 hours undergraduate teaching/week during semesters and to participate in a teaching skills course without further remuneration.

For further information, contact Dr Emma Davies edavies@brookes.ac.uk 

Complete applications should include a proposed project proposal (max 1000 words) including background, aims and an outline methodology. Applicants can liaise with Dr Davies and Dr Seddon when developing their proposal.