Dr. Ria Poole
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Behaviour Change
M.Poole@exeter.ac.uk
Overview
Ria is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Health Psychologist specialising in the development and evaluation of complex interventions in public health and the environment. At the University of Exeter, she is working within the Smartline Programme, which encompasses a range of projects focusing on improving digital literacy, health and wellbeing, the environment and social connectivity. Within the Smartline ‘In Residency’ scheme, Ria works with organisations and businesses to design, implement and evaluate their products and services to address health and wellbeing challenges such as social isolation, digital competency and inclusion, and mental health issues.
Ria has worked across many different areas of applied health and environmental research using mixed methods approaches to inform policy and practice. Prior to her present appointment, she was awarded a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship by Cancer Research UK to investigate tobacco and e-cigarette use among young adults. Her previous work includes clinical and community trials research in bipolar disorder (Beating Bipolar and Bipolar Education Programme Cymru), smoking prevention in further education settings (the Filter FE Project), parenting support for teenagers (Building Blocks Study), out-of-hours primary care services, and harm reduction for injecting drug users. Ria was also appointed Programme Manager for the design and implementation of the new undergraduate medical curriculum at Cardiff University (C21), and as a Research Analyst for the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), leading on research development and evaluation in Wales across the domains of food waste and healthy eating, organics markets, household waste and recycling, and sustainability. She has a PhD from the Institute of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences at Cardiff University, and a BSc in Applied Psychology at Cardiff University.
Qualifications
- 2010-2014 PhD, Institute of Psychological Medicine, School of Medicine, Cardiff University
- 2004-2008 BSc Applied Psychology (Class 2:1), Cardiff University
- APMG-International – Managing Successful Programmes Registered Practitioner, Registration Number: MSPR/06552
- APMG-International – PRINCE2 Registered Practitioner, Registration Number: P2R/916745
Research
Research interests
Methodological specialisms:
- Developing and evaluating complex interventions
- Logic models and theory of change
- Meta-ethnography and systematic reviews
- Qualitative research methods
- Mixed methods research
- Programme management and project management
- Process evaluations
- Co-production methods and action research
- Clinical and community trial management
Research topics:
- Digital health applications and digital literacy
- Tobacco and e-cigarette use
- Psychoeducation for bipolar disorder
- Public health interventions
- Community, resilience and sustainability
- Substance use and harm reduction
- Health inequalities and marginalized groups
- Social marketing
- Product and service design and implementation
- Health eating and sustainable food systems
Research projects
- Smartline Programme: a collaborative research and innovation programme led by the University of Exeter in partnership with Coastline Housing, Cornwall Council, South West Academic Health Science Network (SWAHSN) and Volunteer Cornwall, funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Cornwall Council (https://www.smartline.org.uk/)
- Click and Connect Project: a study to understand the feasibility, acceptability and potential impact of a social housing provider’s bespoke online platform on user’s social connectivity (https://www.smartline.org.uk/click-connect)
- Developing a survey tool to assess digital competency and social connectedness (https://www.smartline.org.uk/community)
- Business support: working with various stakeholders including Cornwall Council, housing associations and SMEs in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to design, implement and evaluate complex interventions with a strong digital component to address health and wellbeing challenges such as social isolation, digital competency and inclusion, and mental health (https://www.smartline.org.uk/how-can-we-help)
Publications
Journal articles
External Engagement and Impact
Awards
- Cancer Research UK Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Award, £169,000
- MRC Studentship Award, £40,770
Committee/panel activities
- Active member of the UK Electronic Cigarette Research Forum, contributing to leadership within this field in terms of informing policy and practice
Invited lectures & workshops
- Introduction to Logic Models and Theory of Change, European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter
Media Coverage
- Keynote speech at “Young Art Cornwall” Award Ceremony, Tate St Ives, December 2018
- Artist In Residence at Cardiff University for Cancer Research UK’s “People Behind The Research” Campaign, December 2018
- 30 minute live interview for the Martin Evans Show, BBC Radio Bristol, November 2018