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PROJECT DETAILS
Full-time: 3 years
Start date: October 2022
Engagement with digital health behaviour change interventions (DBCI) is considered important for their effectiveness. A positive association between engagement with digital health technologies and several health behaviours such as physical activity has been observed.
However, despite the widespread availability of digital health technologies, like mHealth apps, retention rates are still low and evidence is lacking as to what dimensions of engagement are most strongly associated with intervention effectiveness. Furthermore, there is emerging evidence that there may be a ‘digital divide’ in the sense that digital technologies (and therefore interventions) are mostly designed for individuals with a higher SES, but the individuals with the most to gain are often not included with that group.
Therefore, research is needed to advance our understanding of how best to design digital health behaviour change interventions that are capable of sustaining engagement. Building on previous research conducted by the primary supervisor investigating the current methods used to measure engagement with mHealth tools, this PhD aims to:
- Develop a consensus framework for the measurement and reporting of mHealth engagement during DBCI
- Assess what dimensions of engagement (e.g. attention, interest, affect, amount, duration, frequency, depth) are most strongly associated with intervention effectiveness (both short term and long term and across study populations e.g. older adults, low SES)
- Establish a benchmark for the optimal dose of engagement across different kinds of digital health behaviour change interventions. This would involve assessing the effectiveness of different dimensions of engagement, and their interaction, and suggest threshold effects
- Whether the context of use influences engagement with DBCI.
SUPERVISORS
Primary supervisor: Dr James Sanders
Secondary supervisors: Dr David Maidment, Dr Panos Balatsoukas, Dr Andrew Kingsnorth
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Our entry requirements are listed using standard UK undergraduate degree classifications i.e. first-class honours, upper second-class honours and lower second-class honours.
Entry requirements for United Kingdom
Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in Sport and Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology, Human Biology, Behavioural Science or a related subject.
A relevant Master’s degree and/or experience in one or more of the following will be an advantage: Exercise as medicine, physical activity and health, sport and exercise science, wearable technology, behavioural medicine and health psychology.
English language requirements
Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.
Find out more about research degree funding
HOW TO APPLY
All applications should be made online. Under programme name, select 'Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences'. Please quote the advertised reference number SSEHS/JSND in your application. To avoid delays in processing your application please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents.
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