Raff Calitri&refresh | The Medical School

Dr Raff Calitri

Trial Manager/ Research Fellow

r.calitri@exeter.ac.uk

01392 726 047

Smeall building JS03

Smeall Building, University of Exeter, St Luke's Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK

Overview

Raff is a an experienced Trial Manager. He joined the Medical School in 2010 and has honed his trial management skills through involvement in a number of important RCTs, including:

i) the ReTrain trial - a pilot, feasibility trial of a community-based physical activity rehabilitation training programme for stroke survivors (CI Prof Sarah Dean)

ii) the SPA trial - a pilot, feasibility trial of singing groups for people with post stroke aphasia (CI Dr Mark Tarrant)

iii) the ESTEEM trial - a definitive, cluster RCT of telephone triage in General Practice (CI Prof John Campbell)

iv) the ERICA trial - a definitive cluster RCT of electronic risk assessment tools for cancer (CI Prof Willie Hamilton). The trial is currently ongoing. Please see the trial website for more information (http://www.theericatrial.co.uk/)

Raff holds a PhD in Social Psychology. In addition to his expertise in project management and designing and delivering randomised controlled trial, he also has significant experience conducting research in group and inter-group relations. He is currently working as a researcher on an NIHR funded programme grant - PROGROUP (joint Co-Is Prof Jon Pinkey (Plymouth) and Dr Mark Tarrant (Exeter) - which seeks to improve outcomes for patients with severe obesity through the optimisation of group processes in Tier 3 weight managment programmes. We will create a novel, group-based lifestyle behaviour change programme and subject it to a randomised controlled trial in order to test its clinical and cost-effectiveness (https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/primarycare/obesity/progroup).

Raff supports undergraduate and post graduate teaching at Exeter where he delivers seminars, small-group teaching, and project supervision on topics related to trial management, pilot/feasibility trials, research ethics, and issues involved in medical device trials, group processes in health research intervention. He is also co-supervisor for two PhD students:

Alex Burns - Uncertainty during potential cancer diagnosis in the ERICA trial (lead supervisor Prof Sarah Dean).

Laura Hollands - How to reduce loneliness in older adults using group interventions. Laura's PhD is a collaboration between the University of Exeter (co-lead supervisor Dr Mark Tarrant) and University of Queensland (co-lead supervisor Prof Cath Haslam).

Raff is also currently involved in an evaluation of the Stroke Association's Hand-in-Hand Peer Support Group programme (co-led by Mark Tarrant; Funded by the Stroke Association); with a key part of this work being an assessment of the group variables (e.g., social identity, group norms, social agency) that are involved in making groups work well for stroke survivors.

Qualifications

PhD Social Psychology

MSc Social & Applied Psychology

BSc (Hons) Cognitive Science

Research

Research interests

Management and Delivery of Randomised Controlled Trials
Pilot Feasibility Trials
Cluster Randomised Controlled Trials
Stroke Rehabilitation
Group and intergroup relations in Health and Wellbeing

Research projects

The SPA Trial (http://clahrc-peninsula.nihr.ac.uk/singing-for-aphasia-spa-trial-information). A pilot feasibility trial of singing groups for people with post-stroke aphasia. We want to know whether singing groups can help improve wellbeing for stroke survivors. Before we can answer that, this pilot feasibility trial answers other important questions - at the end of this research will we have a better understanding of whether we will be able to run this research as a definitive trial. We'll know whether stroke survivors find randomisation and outcome allocation acceptable, we'll know how they found the programme and how easy/difficult it was to complete the outcome measures.

Evaluation of the Stroke Association Hand-in-Hand Peer Support Programme. The stroke Association oversee more than 200 hand-in-hand groups across the country which support more than 4,000 stroke survivors. We'll be helping the Stroke Association understand 'what makes a group good'. Through a questionnaire survey and in-depth qualitative interviews with attendees, we'll start to identify the group processes at play and examining how they relate to group outcomes such as loneliness and wellbeing.

The ERICA Trial (http://www.theericatrial.co.uk/). This is a flagship trial for the University of Exeter. Prof Willie Hamilton and his team have created risk assessment tools (RATs) for cancer that provide GPs and patients with an accurate estimate of the risk of cancer when a patient reports symptoms to a GP. In collaboration with Macmillan, these tools have been converted into electronic format (eRATs) and will be embedded into GP IT systems. This is an ambitious trial - the largest of its kind in general practice - and will be recruiting around 530 GP surgeries across England. It has the potential to significantly impact cancer diagnosis in primary care - with an important ambition of helping GPs catch cancer sooner.

Research networks

Exeter Clinical Trials & Support Network
Exeter Clinical Trials Unit
UK Trial Manager Network

Publications

Journal articles

Dean S, Poltawski L, Forster A, Taylor R, Spencer A, James M, Allison R, Stevens S, Norris M, Shepherd A, et al (In Press). Community-based Rehabilitation Training after stroke: protocol of a pilot randomised controlled trial (ReTrain). BMJ Open

Norris M, Poltawski L, Calitri RA, Shepherd A, Dean S (In Press). Hope and despair: a qualitative exploration of the experiences and impact of trial processes in a rehabilitation trial. Trials

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

Tarrant M, Carter M, Dean S, Taylor R, Warren F, Spencer A, Adamson J, Landa P, Code C, Calitri RA, et al (In Press). Singing for People with Aphasia (SPA): a Protocol for a Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial of a Group Singing Intervention to Improve Wellbeing. BMJ Open

Norris M, Poltawski L, Calitri RA, Shepherd A, Dean S (In Press). The acceptability and experience of a functional training programme (ReTrain) in community dwelling stroke survivors in South West England: a qualitative study. BMJ Open

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.

Burns A, Donnelly B, Feyi-Waboso J, Shephard E, Calitri R, Tarrant M, Dean SG (2022). How do electronic risk assessment tools affect the communication and understanding of diagnostic uncertainty in the primary care consultation? a systematic review and thematic synthesis. BMJ Open, 12(6), e060101-e060101. Abstract.

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.

Calitri R, Carter M, Code C, Lamont R, Dean S, Tarrant M (2021). Challenges of Recruiting Patients into Group-Based Stroke Rehabilitation Research: Reflections on Clinician Equipoise Within the Singing for People with Aphasia (SPA) Pilot Trial. Front Psychol, 12 Author URL.

Tarrant M, Lamont RA, Carter M, Dean SG, Spicer S, Sanders A, Calitri R (2021). Measurement of Shared Social Identity in Singing Groups for People with Aphasia. Frontiers in Psychology, 12 Abstract.

Tarrant M, Carter M, Dean S, Taylor R, Warren F, Spencer A, Landa P, Adamson J, Code C, Backhouse A, et al (2021). Singing for people with aphasia (SPA): Results of a pilot feasibility randomised controlled trial of a group singing intervention investigating acceptability and feasibility. BMJ Open Abstract.

Milne-Ives M, Swancutt D, Burns L, Pinkney J, Tarrant M, Calitri R, Chatterjee A, Meinert E (2021). The Effectiveness and Usability of Online, Group-Based Interventions for People with Severe Obesity: Protocol for a Systematic Review. JMIR Res Protoc, 10(6). Abstract. Author URL.

Milne-Ives M, Swancutt D, Burns L, Pinkney J, Tarrant M, Calitri R, Chatterjee A, Meinert E (2020). The Effectiveness and Usability of Online, Group-Based Interventions for People with Severe Obesity: Protocol for a Systematic Review (Preprint). Abstract.

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

Tarrant M, Code C, Carter N, Carter M, Calitri R (2018). Development and progression of group cohesiveness in a singing programme for people with post stroke aphasia: an evaluation study using video analysis. Aphasiology, 32(sup1), 222-223.

Burt J, Campbell J, Abel G, Aboulghate A, Ahmed F, Asprey A, Barry H, Beckwith J, Benson J, Boiko O, et al (2017). Improving patient experience in primary care: a multimethod programme of research on the measurement and improvement of patient experience. Programme Grants for Applied Research, 5(9), 1-452. Abstract.

Mounce LTA, Barry HE, Calitri R, Henley WE, Campbell J, Roland M, Richards S (2016). Establishing the validity of English GP Patient Survey items evaluating out-of-hours care. BMJ Qual Saf, 25(11), 842-850. Abstract. Author URL.

Holt T, Fletcher E, Warren F, Richards S, Calitri R, Green C (2016). Telephone triage systems in UK general practice: analysis of consultation duration during the index day in a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Br J Gen Pract

Varley A, Warren FC, Richards SH, Calitri R, Chaplin K, Fletcher E, Holt TA, Lattimer V, Murdoch J, Richards DA, et al (2016). The effect of nurses’ preparedness and nurse practitioner status on triage call management in primary care: a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the ESTEEM trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 58, 12-20.

Tan JOA, Calitri R, Bloodworth A, McNamee MJ (2016). Understanding Eating Disorders in Elite Gymnastics: Ethical and Conceptual Challenges. Clin Sports Med, 35(2), 275-292. Abstract. Author URL.

Sansom A, Calitri R, Carter M, Campbell J (2016). Understanding quit decisions in primary care: a qualitative study of older GPs. BMJ Open, 6(2). Abstract. Author URL.

Calitri RA, Warren FC, Wheeler B, Chaplin K, Fletcher E, Murdoch J, Richards SH, Taylor R, Varley A, Campbell JL, et al (2015). Distance from practice moderates the relationship between patient management involving nurse telephone triage consulting and patient satisfaction with care. Journal of Health & Place Abstract.

Warren FC, Calitri R, Fletcher E, Varley A, Holt TA, Lattimer V, Richards D, Richards S, Salisbury C, Taylor RS, et al (2015). Exploring demographic and lifestyle associations with patient experience following telephone triage by a primary care doctor or nurse: secondary analyses from a cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ Qual Saf, 24(9), 572-582. Abstract. Author URL.

Murdoch J, Varley A, Fletcher E, Britten N, Price L, Calitri R, Green C, Lattimer V, Richards SH, Richards DA, et al (2015). Implementing telephone triage in general practice: a process evaluation of a cluster randomised controlled trial. BMC Fam Pract, 16 Abstract. Author URL.

Campbell JL, Fletcher E, Britten N, Green C, Holt T, Lattimer V, Richards DA, Richards SH, Salisbury C, Taylor RS, et al (2015). The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of telephone triage for managing same-day consultation requests in general practice: a cluster randomised controlled trial comparing general practitioner-led and nurse-led management systems with usual care (the ESTEEM trial). Health Technol Assess, 19(13), 1-viii. Abstract. Author URL.

Calitri R, Adams A, Atherton H, Reeve J, Hill NR (2014). Investigating the sustainability of careers in academic primary care: a UK survey. BMC Fam Pract, 15 Abstract. Author URL.

Campbell JL, Fletcher E, Britten N, Green C, Holt TA, Lattimer V, Richards DA, Richards SH, Salisbury C, Calitri R, et al (2014). Telephone triage for management of same-day consultation requests in general practice (the ESTEEM trial): a cluster-randomised controlled trial and cost-consequence analysis. Lancet, 384(9957), 1859-1868.

Tarrant M, Calitri R, Weston D (2012). Social identification structures the effects of perspective taking. Psychol Sci, 23(9), 973-978. Abstract. Author URL.

Calitri R, Pothos EM, Tapper K, Brunstrom JM, Rogers PJ (2010). Cognitive biases to healthy and unhealthy food words predict change in BMI. Obesity (Silver Spring), 18(12), 2282-2287. Abstract. Author URL.

Calitri R, Lowe R, Eves FF, Bennett P (2009). Associations between visual attention, implicit and explicit attitude and behaviour for physical activity. Psychol Health, 24(9), 1105-1123. Abstract. Author URL.

Pothos EM, Tapper K, Calitri R (2009). Cognitive and behavioral correlates of BMI among male and female undergraduate students. Appetite, 52(3), 797-800. Abstract. Author URL.

Pothos EM, Calitri R, Tapper K, Brunstrom JM, Rogers PJ (2009). Comparing measures of cognitive bias relating to eating behaviour. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 23(7), 936-952. Abstract.

Brunstrom JM, Rogers PJ, Pothos EM, Calitri R, Tapper K (2008). Estimating everyday portion size using a 'method of constant stimuli': in a student sample, portion size is predicted by gender, dietary behaviour, and hunger, but not BMI. Appetite, 51(2), 296-301. Abstract. Author URL.

Tendayi Viki G, Calitri R (2008). Infrahuman outgroup or suprahuman ingroup: the role of nationalism and patriotism in the infrahumanization of outgroups. European Journal of Social Psychology, 38(6), 1054-1061. Abstract.

Chapters

Tarrant M, Haslam C, Carter M, Calitri R, Haslam SA (2020). Social Identity Interventions. In (Ed) The Handbook of Behavior Change, Cambridge University Press (CUP), 649-660.

Conferences

Calitri R, Mounce L, Abel G, Campbell J, Spencer A, Medina-Lara A, Pitt M, Shepard E, Warren F, Dean S, et al (2019). Protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial assessing the clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness of electronic risk-assessment tools for cancer for patients in general practice (ERICA). Author URL.

Tarrant M, Carter M, Adamson J, Warren F, Taylor R, Spencer A, Landa P, Code C, Dean S, Calitri R, et al (2018). Singing for People with Aphasia (SPA): results of a pilot randomised controlled trial of a group singing intervention to improve wellbeing. Author URL.

Dean S, Calitri R, Shepherd A, Hollands L, Poltawski L, James M, Allison R, Stevens S, Norris M, Spencer A, et al (2016). Community-based Rehabilitation Training after Stroke (ReTrain): Results of a pilot randomised control trial (RCT). 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.

External Engagement and Impact

Awards

Tarrant, M. (CI), Backhouse, A., Calitri, R., Mounce, L., Dean, S. (2019). Evaluating the Stroke Association’s peer support programme. The Stroke Association; £69,940.

Campbell JL, Calitri R, Salisbury C, Anderson R, Dean S, Richards S, Fitzner G, Warren F, Wellsman J, Chilvers R (2014 - part of team up to Stage 2 application). The changing general practitioner (GP) workforce: the development of policies and strategies for retaining in direct patient care senior GPs and those undertaking a career break. NIHR – HSDR; £426, 863.

Calitri, R. Society of Academic Primary Care Personal Award (2014). Award following election to society's Career Scoping Team for analysis of the sustainability of academic primary care careers £2,000.

Committee/panel activities

Member of the College of Medicine & Helath Research Ethics Committee.

For REC guidance: http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/medicine/research/ethics/

Invited lectures

Calitri, R. & Tarrant, M (2019) Results of the SPA Trial. Presentation at the School of Health Sciences, City University, 11th Novemebr 2019.

Calitri, R. & Fletcher, E. (2019). The ERICA trial. Presentation at the North West London Clinical Research Network Event, St. Mary's Hospital, London, 25th September 2019.

Calitri, R. & Mounce, L (2019) The ERICA trial. Presentation at the South West Community Clinical Research Forum, Exeter Racecourse, 4th March 2019.

Hamilton, W. & Calitri, R. (2018). Cancer diagnostic trials in primary care - ECASS and ERICA. Presentation at Exeter Collaboration for Academic Primary Care (APEx), University of Exeter Medical School, 31st October 2018.

Calitri R & Hollands L (2016) Community-based Rehabilitation Training after Stroke (ReTrain): a pilot randomized control trial (RCT). A study update. Cardiovascular Health Research Group, University of Exeter Medical School, March 2016.

Campbell JL, Calitri R, Sansom A. (2015) Primary Care Workforce Briefing at South West AHSN Primary Care Workforce Sustainability meeting, Exeter Racecourse, 21st May 2015.

Calitri R (2014). Lessons learned from the ESTEEM trial – A trial manager’s experience. Workshop conducted for Exeter Clinical Trials and Support Network, University of Exeter Medical School, May 2014.

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