Dr Claire Pentecost

About me:

Claire is a NIHR Three Schools Dementia research fellow working on understanding how to provide well-being focussed support to people who receive a diagnosis of dementia. 

She was previously the Programme Manager for IDEAL2, responsible for delivering the large Longitudinal cohort Study and for oversight of the five additional work streams within the programme to understand 'living well' for people with dementia and their carers  http://www.idealproject.org.uk/

Clare produced a play with people with dementia and carers The World Turned Upside Down: A Play with a Purpose now freely available on YouTube. It has helped raise awareness of the impact of communication challenges experienced by people with dementia and their families. It was featured on local BBC TV News and Radio broadcasts.   

Claire has had a varied career as a trial manager, personal trainer and researcher. Claire was the project manager for an EU and Olympic Committee-funded study to catch athletes who cheat by taking growth hormone, and has implemented exercise intervention studies for people with endocrine disorders such as type 2 diabetes at King's College London. Claire undertook her PhD: ‘Factors affecting uptake and adherence to exercise referral for people with chronic conditions’ at London South Bank University.

Claire moved to the University of Exeter in 2012 to manage and run a pilot Randomised controlled trial working on an intervention for people with depression that combined Behavioral Activation with Physical Activity for people referred to NHS mental health services. Claire then worked for the Complex Interventions Research Group on ESSENCE – a project to tackle the lack of an evidence base in the work nurses do to meet patient's essential care needs. In this role, Claire managed the work to secure a Development Grant from the National Institute of Health Research and carry out a systematic review and qualitative synthesis, a qualitative study, and stakeholder engagement.

Broad research specialisms

Claire’s research had predominantly involved the development and evaluation of complex interventions to improve physical and/or mental health by clinician supported patient health behaviour change

This has involved:

Co-production and PPI

Realist approaches to evaluation and review

Developing implementing and evaluating randomised controlled trials

Clinical Trials

Qualitative research

Process evaluation

Systematic review and qualitative synthesis

Patient and Public Involvement

Trial management

Claire is a Dignity and Respect Advisor and can be contacted by email c.pentecost@exeter.ac.uk, or phone 01392 72 4653 Monday-Friday during normal working hours.

Twitter: @ClairePentecost

Interests:

Health Services Research

Realist approaches

Health behaviour change

Physical activity and diabetes health

Complex interventions

Personal Interests:

Claire completed her PhD at London South Bank University supervised by Professor Ann Taket and Dr Jo Bowtell. Claire’s PhD research investigated the reasons for the differences in uptake and adherence to exercise referral services amongst people with chronic conditions. 

Qualifications:

PhD

BSc Hon

Career:

Senior Research Fellow/NIHR Fellow Understanding how practitioners can best support people with mild-to-moderate dementia to use My Life Today, The Centre for Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health.

Senior Research Fellow/Programme Manager, IDEAL-2, INCLUDE, IDEAL-CDI REACH: The Centre for Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health. 

Research Fellow/Trial Manager, (INTERTREAD, MODULATE, IMPULSE) Exeter Clinical Trials Unit

Research Fellow/Trial Manager, (ESSENCE) Complex Interventions Research Group, University of Exeter

Research Fellow/Trial Manager, (BAcPAc) Psychology, University of Exeter

Senior Research Officer/Deputy manager, NIHR Prinary Care Research Network of Greater London

Research Fellow, Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Kings College London

Research fellow/Trial Manager, GH-2000, Guys and St Thomas Hospital Trust

Manager, The Harbour Club, London