Caroline Smith

I am an academic speech and language therapist and postgraduate researcher with a particular interest in dysphagia (swallowing difficulties). My PhD aims to develop a service to facilitate primary care healthcare professionals to proactively identify dysphagia in older adults and provide initial advice and support. My research adopts realist, qualitative and co-design methods, underpinned by behavioural science, in order to define and address the behavioural determinants to healthcare professionals identifying and supporting older adults with dysphagia. I have previously worked on a mixed-methods study investigating the safety and acceptably of switching people with Parkinson’s from tablet to liquid formulations of their medication, from the perspectives of people with Parkinson’s, their carers and healthcare professionals.

Development of a behaviour change intervention for screening and management of oropharyngeal dysphagia in primary care - University of Leicester PhD studentship (2021-24)

CompreHensive geriAtRician-led MEdication Review (CHARMER) (Research Associate) - NIHR PGfAR (2020-21)

Generating the evidence for safely and acceptably switching people with Parkinson’s to liquid formulations (Research associate) - EIRA Research and Development Grant (2020-2021)