Overview

Kitty is a PenARC funded PhD student currently assessing the methodological challenges faced by researcher’s conducting Cluster Randomised Trials in a school-based setting. The PhD will focus on aspects of design, conduct and data analysis for evaluating school-based interventions to improve mental health and wellbeing in pupils. The aim of this PhD is to review the characteristics of recent cluster randomised controlled trials, identify current methodological challenges in the area and develop and compare statistical approaches for addressing these.

Kitty’s supervisory team is made up of Dr Obioha Ukoumunne (main supervisor), Dr Michael Nunns, Dr ZhiMin Xiao and Professor Tamsin Ford. 

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences
• MRes Health Science Research (Translational Cardiovascular Medicine)

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Research

Research interests

Kitty is interested in methodological challenges faced by researcher’s, particularly on study design, conduct and data analysis. She is particularly interested in physical health interventions for improve wellbeing and health in schools. Her previous research has focused on cardiac risk in the general population and in the young.

Research projects

• Cluster randomised trials for evaluating school-based interventions to improve physical health, mental health and behavioural outcomes in pupils

Links

• Characteristics and practices of school-based cluster randomised controlled trials for improving health outcomes in pupils in the UK: a systematic review protocol
• Sample size practices in external pilot trials within health care research: a protocol for a methodological review
• Protocol: systematic review of the characteristics, design and analysis methods of school-based cluster randomised controlled trials for improving health outcomes in pupils in the UK

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Publications

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