Dr Victoria Salmon
Research Fellow
V.Salmon@exeter.ac.uk
6077
+44 (0) 1392 726077
College House 2.18
College House, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK
Overview
My research focuses on developing, implementing and evaluating complex behaviour change interventions to help people engage in and maintain physical activity and therapeutic exercise for improving health and well-being. I am particularly interested in women's health in and around pregnancy, and the role of physical activity/exercise in prevention and self-management of long term health conditions, such as urinary incontinence and inflammatory arthritis. I have experience in a range of research methods (for example, systematic reviews, intervention development, qualitative research). Public and Patient Involvement (PPI), including stakeholder consultation, is strongly embedded in all my work.
I am a chartered physiotherapist, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. I have previously worked as a clinical physiotherapist, specialising in musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and as a professional adviser at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, supporting physiotherapists in clinical practice and promoting the role of physiotherapists and allied health professionals in the UK health system.
I am joint lead for the South West branch of the Council for Allied Health Professions Research (CAHPR).
Qualifications
- PhD, Health and Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, 2016
- MSc, Physiotherapy, Kings College, University of London, 2004
- BSc (hons) Equine Science, University of Bristol, 2002
Career
- 2017 - present: Joint lead, Council for Allied Health Professions Research (CAHPR), South West region
- 2016 - present: Research Fellow in Women's Health, College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter
- 2015-2016: Research Fellow, 'Physical Activity Works', University of the West of England, Bristol
- 2012-2015: Clinical Doctoral Research Fellow, University of the West of England, Bristol
- 2011-2012: Professional adviser, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, London
- 2004-2011: Physiotherapist, various roles in UK, New Zealand and France
Research group links
Research
Research interests
My main research interests relate to developing, implementing and evaluating complex interventions that enable engagement, and enhance motivation and adherence to physical activity and/or therapeutic exercise to help prevent and/or self-manage long term health conditions.
My interests include
- involving patients, public and other key stakeholders at all stages of intervention development
- improving implementation of existing, evidence-based physical activity/therapeutic exercise interventions (e.g. pelvic floor muscle training)
- designing training and resources to support intervention implementation and delivery
- supporting healthcare and other fitness/exercise professionals to effectively communicate about health promotion and self-management strategies relating to physical activity.
Research experience includes systematic reviews, critical interpretive synthesis, qualitative methods (interviews and focus groups), PPI and stakeholder consultation, person-based and theory-based approaches to intervention development.
Research projects
-
Antenatal Preventative Pelvic Floor Exercises and Localisation (APPEAL) Programme. This multicentre NIHR funded research project aims to reduce the number of women who suffer from urine leakage after birth. The project will develop and test a training intervention and implementation toolkit for midwives to support pregnant women with performing effective pelvic floor muscle training.
- Moving through Motherhood: GW4 funded research project, working with women and stakeholders to develop engaging, accessible resources that combine existing evidence-based physical activity guidelines with the real-life stories of mothers and mums-to-be.
Previous research:
- Exploring communication about physical activity between rheumatology health professionals and people with inflammatory arthritis
- Development of a physical activity self-management intervention for managing fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis