Dr Claire Pentecost

About me:

Claire is the Programme Manager for IDEAL2 and Exeter Clinical Trials Unit at the Institute of Health Research within The College of Medicine and Health. Claire is responsible for the 7 year Longitudinal Study - collecting information about 'living well' with dementia from people with dementia and their carers and for oversight of the five additional work streams within the programme. http://www.idealproject.org.uk/

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 that cheat by taking growth hormone, and has implemented exercise intervention studies for people with endocrine disorders such as type 2 diabetes at Kings 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 patients 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 mental health by clinician supported patient health behaviour change

This has involved:

Developing implementing and evaluating randomised controlled trials

Clinical Trials methodology

Qualitative research

Process evaluation

Systematic review

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

Health behaviour change

Physical activity and diabetes health

Complex interventions

Clinical Trials methodology

Personal Interests:

Claire completed her PhD at London South Bank University with 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. After her PhD Claire was Senior research Officer at NIHR Prinary Care Research Network for Greater London. Claire now works on the BAcPAc trial with Dr Paul Farrand (Mood Disorders Centre) and Professor Adrian Taylor (Sport and Health Sciences). BAcPAc is a 2 year pilot looking into the feasibility of Psychological Well Being Practitioners supporting an enhanced version of Behavioural Activation for people with depression, and is funded by NPRI-4 (MRC and Partners).

Qualifications:

PhD

BSc Hon

Career:

Senior Research Fellow/Programme Manager, IDEAL-2, REACH: The Centre for Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health. Exeter Clinical Trials Unit

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

Gym Manager, The Harbour Club, London