University of Exeter Medical School

Laura Hollands

Laura Hollands

PhD Student

 L.Hollands@exeter.ac.uk

 6151

 College House 2.12

 

College House, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK

Overview

Laura is a PhD student, jointly registered with Exeter Medical School and the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland, Australia. She is interested in the design and evaluation of group-based interventions, and in research that promotes the independence and wellbeing of older people and people with chronic conditions. In her PhD, Laura explores how we can manage the social processes that take place in a group setting, and how we can apply this to optimise the delivery of group interventions that aim to prevent loneliness in older people.

Laura completed her undergraduate degree in Medical Science at the University of Exeter, during which she worked on a Stroke Association funded pilot trial of community-based rehabilitation for people with Stroke (ReTrain). Her placement year research project examined fidelity of the ReTrain intervention using video analysis, and her final year research project examined the temporal association between physical activity and mood using ecological momentary assessment. After graduating she worked on an NIHR funded clinical trial at the University of Oxford, examining whether adding Proactive Liaison Psychiatry to the care of older people in acute general medical wards reduces length of hospital stay.

Qualifications

  • BSc (Hons) Medical Science with Professional Training Year (University of Exeter)

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Research

Research interests

Laura is interested in the design and evaluation of group-based interventions, and in research that promotes the independence and wellbeing of older people and people with chronic conditions. Her current PhD research aims to understand how we can optimise the delivery of group-based interventions that target loneliness in older people, by understanding and controlling for the social dynamics that occur in a group setting.

Laura is funded by the QUEX Institute, a joint postgraduate research programme delivered by the Universities of Exeter and Queensland. She is supervised by Dr Mark Tarrant (University of Exeter), Prof Catherine Haslam (University of Queensland), and Dr Raff Calitri (University of Exeter).

Research projects

  • PhD research: Harnessing the potential of community groups to prevent loneliness in older people
  • PROGROUP: ImPROving GROUP treatment for people with severe obesity
  • The CoGS study: Community Groups for Post-Stroke Support.
  • ‘Happy to Share Cards’: A community-based initiative aimed at reducing loneliness and social isolation.

Grants/Funding:

  • 2019: QUEX PhD Studentship (fully funded PhD with research and travel grant)
  • 2019: ESRC Impact Cultivation Fund, application entitled 'Happy to Share Cards: A community-based initiative aimed at reducing loneliness and social isolation' (£1600)
  • 2019: University of Queensland School of Psychology Statistical and Methodology Training Support Scholarship

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Publications

Journal articles

Shepherd A, Pulsford R, Poltawski L, Forster A, Taylor R, Spencer A, Hollands L, James M, Allison R, Norris M, et al (In Press). Physical activity, sleep, and fatigue in community dwelling Stroke Survivors. Scientific Reports
Swancutt D, Tarrant M, Ingram W, Baldrey S, Burns L, Byng R, Calitri R, Creanor S, Dean S, Evans L, et al (2022). A group-based behavioural intervention for weight management (PROGROUP) versus usual care in adults with severe obesity: a feasibility randomised controlled trial protocol. Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 8(1). Abstract.
Hollands L, Calitri R, Warmoth K, Shepherd A, Allison R, Dean S, ReTrain Trial, team (2022). Assessing the fidelity of the independently getting up off the floor (IGO) technique as part of the ReTrain pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial for stroke survivors. Disabil Rehabil, 44(25), 7829-7838. Abstract.  Author URL.
Lamont RA, Calitri R, Mounce LTA, Hollands L, Dean SG, Code C, Sanders A, Tarrant M (2022). Shared social identity and perceived social support among stroke groups during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Relationship with psychosocial health. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 15(1), 172-192. Abstract.
Hollands L, Calitri R, Warmoth K, Shepherd A, Allison R, Dean S (2021). Assessing the fidelity of the independently getting up off the floor (IGO) technique as part of the ReTrain pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial for stroke survivors. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44(25), 7829-7838.
Toynbee M, Walker J, Clay F, Hollands L, van Niekerk M, Harriss E, Sharpe M (2021). The effectiveness of inpatient consultation-liaison psychiatry service models: a systematic review of randomized trials. Gen Hosp Psychiatry, 71, 11-19. Abstract.  Author URL.
Hollands L, Lambert J, Price L, Powell D, Greaves C (2020). Ecological momentary assessment of mood and physical activity in people with depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 271, 293-299.
Dean S, Poltawski L, Forster A, Taylor RS, Spencer A, James M, Allison R, Stevens S, Norris M, Shepherd AI, et al (2018). Community-based Rehabilitation Training after stroke: Results of a pilot randomised controlled trial (ReTrain) investigating acceptability and feasibility. BMJ Open

Conferences

Hollands L, Lambert J, Price L, Greaves C (2018). Ecological momentary assessment of affect and physical activity in people with depression.  Author URL.
Hollands H, Calitri R, Shepherd A, Poltawski L, Norris M, Taylor R, Dean S (2016). The ReTrain trial: Evaluating intervention fidelity via video analysis of the independently getting up off the floor (IGO) technique.  Author URL.

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