Enabling Self-Management of Asthma in Adolescents: Development of an Intervention to Create a Supportive Social Environment

Background to the project:

The UK has among the highest prevalence rates of asthma symptoms in children and adolescents worldwide. Maintaining control of asthma symptoms requires patient self-management, in particular the correct and regular use (adherence) of inhaler medication. Studies suggest that adolescents may struggle with medication self-management. Hospital admissions and school absences due to asthma are common. There is currently no (cost)-effective intervention to support medication adherence among adolescents with asthma. Research does suggest that interventions that create a supportive social environment might be helpful, since adolescents increasingly take responsibility over their treatment (rather than their parents), change their social environment (go to secondary school), and bullying and stigmatizing has been shown to be common and impact adherence and quality of life.

Proposed research and techniques:

The aim of the present PhD project is to develop, together with adolescents and their social network (eg peers, teachers, parents), an intervention to support adolescents with asthma self-management, and to pilot this intervention. The project could include a literature review, qualitative, and quantitative research methods. The PhD student would be embedded in a research group with extensive expertise in treatment adherence research and benefit from fruitful collaborations with clinical experts specialised in paediatric respiratory conditions.

Candidates should contact the lead supervisor to discuss the project in advance of submitting an application, as supervisors will be expected to provide a letter of support for suitable applicants. Please state the name of the supervisor(s) and the title of the project you wish to apply for in the application form. Please also apply for admission to the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Health Sciences to ensure that your application will be sent to the correct school for processing.