Evaluating the efficacy and effective promotion of cognitive-behavioural strategies to prevent lapse and relapse to smoking (NaughtonU17SF)

Project: Annually around 100,000 people die in the UK and 6 million worldwide due to smoking. One-third of smokers attempt to quit every year in the UK, though most relapse after just a few months. Smoking any cigarettes early on in a quit attempt (‘lapse’) is strongly related to a later return to smoking (‘relapse’) and environmental and context-based cues to smoke have a profound influence on this, by causing ‘cue-induced’ cravings.1 The use of cognitive-behavioural strategies to avoid or cope with such cravings (e.g. self-talk or avoiding other smokers) can be effective, but little is known about which strategies are effective, why and for whom.

The aims of this doctoral project are to: (1) design a research proposal; (2) review the literature on cognitive-behavioural lapse prevention strategies (3) identify effective lapse prevention strategies through primary research or secondary analysis (4) design and undertake a pilot study to investigate how effective lapse prevention strategies can be promoted (5) undergo research skills training, personal and career development. Depending on interests and experience, the project would provide opportunities to undertake a systematic review, statistical analyses of observational data, within-participant data collection e.g. Ecological Momentary Assessment,2 and experimental research e.g. developing and evaluating an Ecological Momentary Intervention.3

Training Programme: Evidence synthesis, quantitative methods and statistical analysis including within-participant approaches, experimental evaluation, writing for publication, thesis preparation, dissemination, and personal and career development.

Outputs: Thesis, publications, evidence to inform practice and a future evaluation study and funding application.

We are seeking a student with a good first degree (at least 2:1) and preferably a Masters in a related topic area (e.g., health psychology, public health, social science, research methods) or equivalent research experience. The student will have an interest in behaviour change, relevant research methods and data analysis, and will be committed and self-directed.

Deadline for applications: 31st July 2018

For more information on the supervisor for this project, please go here: www.uea.ac.uk/health-sciences/people/profile/f-naughton
Type of programme: PhD.
Start date of project: Flexible.
Mode of study: Full time or part time.

Entry requirements: This project is suitable for someone with a good first degree (at least 2:1) and preferably a Masters in a related topic area (e.g., health psychology, public health, social science, research methods) or equivalent research experience. The student will have an interest in behaviour change, relevant research methods and data analysis, and will be committed and self-directed.