Overview
Jessica Bollen is a Trial Manager/ Postdoctoral Research Fellow working in the Clinical Trials Unit (CTU) at the University of Exeter. Prior to this she was an Associate Research Fellow in the Primary Care Group working on the REtirement in ACTion (REACT) project. http://www.bath.ac.uk/health/research/projects/retirement-in-action/ This is a multi-centre randomised control trial (Bath/ Bristol, Birmingham and Devon) to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a group, community based physical exercise programme for people who are beginning to show signs of mobility related disability. This study has now colcluded, with results due out early 2020.
With an undergraduate degree in Human Biology and Sport and Exercise Science, Jessica has a keen interest in the human body, how it functions and the changes that can be brought about by exercise, aging, diseases and disabilities. Through working in gyms specialising in rehabilitation, an area of particular interest, Jessica was intrigued by individual’s attitudes to rehabilitation programs and their outcome expectations. This lead her to apply for the PhD she competed in February 2017. The end result was to create a valid and reliable questionnaire for stroke survivors to determine which individuals may be having particular problems conducting their rehabilitation programs and therefore, possibly not obtaining the outcome in terms of recovery they may like to achieve. More recently she has become interested in physical frailty and how this can be assessed in a clinical setting.
Qualifications
- PhD in Medical Studies (2017) with the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
- CYQ gym instructor level 2 (2013)
- BSc Joint Honours, Human Biology and Sport and Exercise Science (2011)
Links
Research
Research interests
Broad Research Specialisms
- Psychometrics
- Questionnaire development
- Adherence
- Rehabilitation
- Physical activity & health
- Frailty
Research Positions
For her PhD Jessica researched adherence to exercise based rehabilitation programmes in individuals who have had a stroke. The eventual outcome is that a questionnaire will be created which is psychometrically sound.
A mixed method approach has been used in developing this questionnaire; interviews and focus groups were conducted with stroke survivors, exercise professionals and, physiotherapists resulting in items for the questionnaire. The subsequent data from the completed questionnaires will undergo Rasch analysis in addition to other statistical tests to assess the validity and reliability of the measure.
In her 2014-2015 Associate Research Fellow role in the Mental Health Group Jessica researched inflammation responses and the effect they may have on cognition and information processing. In addition to this she is also supporting Leanne Trick a PhD student, aiding with recruitment and administration on a project looking at the role of worry and rumination in predicting depression in people with coronary heart disease.
Following this she was an Associate Research Fellow on the REtirement in ACTion (REACT) study which is a multi-centre (Bath/ Bristol, Birmingham and Devon) randomised control trial. This study is looking at the efficacy and cost effectiveness of a comunity group based exercise programme for people over the age of 65 who may be beginning to experience mobility related disability and having some difficulities with getting in and out of low chairs and climing stairs. During this role she developed a keen interest in frailty, how to assess it, and ways to establish if a patient is frail/ becoming frail, and how this could be feasibly measured in a clinical setting. the REACT study is now closed and the findings will be published shortly.
Currently she is a Trial Manager/ Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Clinical Trials Unit at Exeter, working on a study looking to improve Self Efficacy for people diagnoised with dementia (SHAPE), and another study evaluating the effectivness of one-stage and two-stage revision surgery for prosthetic knee infection (MIKROBE).
Research projects
- Clinical Trials Unit- Management of Infected Knee Replacements-Obtaining Best Evidence (MIKROBE)
- Clinical Trials Unit-Self-management and HeAlth Promotion in early-stage dementia with E-learning for carers (SHAPE)
- Primary Care Group- The REtirement in ACTion (REACT) study
- Mental Health Group- The role of perseverative negative thinking in predicting depression in people with coronary heart disease: A prospective cohort study.
- PhD with the PAtH Group- Developing a Stroke Rehabilitation Exercise Adherence Measure (StREAM). A self-report tool assessing the likelihood of adherence.
Grants/funding
- University of Exeter Annual Fund grant (£15,000 over a three year period)
- PhD Studentship
Publications
Key publications | Publications by category | Publications by year
Publications by category
Journal articles
Stathi A, Withall J, Greaves CJ, Thompson JL, Taylor G, Medina-Lara A, Green C, Bilzon J, Gray S, Johansen-Berg H, et al (2018). A community-based physical activity intervention to prevent mobility-related disability for retired older people (REtirement in ACTion (REACT)): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
Trials,
19(1).
Abstract:
A community-based physical activity intervention to prevent mobility-related disability for retired older people (REtirement in ACTion (REACT)): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND: the REtirement in ACTion (REACT) study is a multi-centre, pragmatic, two-arm, parallel-group randomised controlled trial (RCT) with an internal pilot phase. It aims to test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a community, group-based physical activity intervention for reducing, or reversing, the progression of functional limitations in older people who are at high risk of mobility-related disability. METHODS/DESIGN: a sample of 768 sedentary, community-dwelling, older people aged 65 years and over with functional limitations, but who are still ambulatory (scores between 4 and 9 out of 12 in the Short Physical Performance Battery test (SPPB)) will be randomised to receive either the REACT intervention, delivered over a period of 12 months by trained facilitators, or a minimal control intervention. The REACT study incorporates comprehensive process and economic evaluation and a nested sub-study which will test the hypothesis that the REACT intervention will slow the rate of brain atrophy and of decline in cognitive function assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Outcome data will be collected at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 months for the main study, with MRI sub-study data collected at baseline, 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome analysis (SPPB score at 24 months) will be undertaken blinded to group allocation. Primary comparative analyses will be on an intention-to-treat (ITT) basis with due emphasis placed on confidence intervals. DISCUSSION: REACT represents the first large-scale, pragmatic, community-based trial in the UK to target the non-disabled but high-risk segment of the older population with an intervention to reduce mobility-related disability. A programme that can successfully engage this population in sufficient activity to improve strength, aerobic capacity, coordination and balance would have a major impact on sustaining health and independence. REACT is also the first study of its kind to conduct a full economic and comprehensive process evaluation alongside the RCT. If effective and cost-effective, the REACT intervention has strong potential to be implemented widely in the UK and elsewhere. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN, ID: ISRCTN45627165. Retrospectively registered on 13 June 2016. Trial sponsor: University of Bath. Protocol Version 1.5.
Abstract.
Author URL.
Full text.
Dickens CM, Bollen J, Trick L, Llewellyn D (2017). The effects of acute inflammation on cognitive functioning and emotional processing in humans: a systematic review of experimental studies.
Journal of Psychosomatic Research Full text.
Bollen JC, Dean SG, Siegert RJ, Howe TE, Goodwin VA (2014). A systematic review of measures of self-reported adherence to unsupervised home-based rehabilitation exercise programmes, and their psychometric properties.
BMJ Open,
4(6).
Abstract:
A systematic review of measures of self-reported adherence to unsupervised home-based rehabilitation exercise programmes, and their psychometric properties.
Adherence is an important factor contributing to the effectiveness of exercise-based rehabilitation. However, there appears to be a lack of reliable, validated measures to assess self-reported adherence to prescribed but unsupervised home-based rehabilitation exercises.
Abstract.
Author URL.
Full text.
Publications by year
2018
Stathi A, Withall J, Greaves CJ, Thompson JL, Taylor G, Medina-Lara A, Green C, Bilzon J, Gray S, Johansen-Berg H, et al (2018). A community-based physical activity intervention to prevent mobility-related disability for retired older people (REtirement in ACTion (REACT)): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
Trials,
19(1).
Abstract:
A community-based physical activity intervention to prevent mobility-related disability for retired older people (REtirement in ACTion (REACT)): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND: the REtirement in ACTion (REACT) study is a multi-centre, pragmatic, two-arm, parallel-group randomised controlled trial (RCT) with an internal pilot phase. It aims to test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a community, group-based physical activity intervention for reducing, or reversing, the progression of functional limitations in older people who are at high risk of mobility-related disability. METHODS/DESIGN: a sample of 768 sedentary, community-dwelling, older people aged 65 years and over with functional limitations, but who are still ambulatory (scores between 4 and 9 out of 12 in the Short Physical Performance Battery test (SPPB)) will be randomised to receive either the REACT intervention, delivered over a period of 12 months by trained facilitators, or a minimal control intervention. The REACT study incorporates comprehensive process and economic evaluation and a nested sub-study which will test the hypothesis that the REACT intervention will slow the rate of brain atrophy and of decline in cognitive function assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Outcome data will be collected at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 months for the main study, with MRI sub-study data collected at baseline, 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome analysis (SPPB score at 24 months) will be undertaken blinded to group allocation. Primary comparative analyses will be on an intention-to-treat (ITT) basis with due emphasis placed on confidence intervals. DISCUSSION: REACT represents the first large-scale, pragmatic, community-based trial in the UK to target the non-disabled but high-risk segment of the older population with an intervention to reduce mobility-related disability. A programme that can successfully engage this population in sufficient activity to improve strength, aerobic capacity, coordination and balance would have a major impact on sustaining health and independence. REACT is also the first study of its kind to conduct a full economic and comprehensive process evaluation alongside the RCT. If effective and cost-effective, the REACT intervention has strong potential to be implemented widely in the UK and elsewhere. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN, ID: ISRCTN45627165. Retrospectively registered on 13 June 2016. Trial sponsor: University of Bath. Protocol Version 1.5.
Abstract.
Author URL.
Full text.
2017
Dickens CM, Bollen J, Trick L, Llewellyn D (2017). The effects of acute inflammation on cognitive functioning and emotional processing in humans: a systematic review of experimental studies.
Journal of Psychosomatic Research Full text.
2014
Bollen JC, Dean SG, Siegert RJ, Howe TE, Goodwin VA (2014). A systematic review of measures of self-reported adherence to unsupervised home-based rehabilitation exercise programmes, and their psychometric properties.
BMJ Open,
4(6).
Abstract:
A systematic review of measures of self-reported adherence to unsupervised home-based rehabilitation exercise programmes, and their psychometric properties.
Adherence is an important factor contributing to the effectiveness of exercise-based rehabilitation. However, there appears to be a lack of reliable, validated measures to assess self-reported adherence to prescribed but unsupervised home-based rehabilitation exercises.
Abstract.
Author URL.
Full text.
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