The development and testing of a behaviour change intervention to promote healthy living in those with peripheral arterial disease and/or abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Supervisors:

• Professor Athanasios Thanos Saratzis
• Dr Tom Withers
• Professor Charlotte Edwardson

Project: 

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are two of the deadliest artery health problems worldwide. Two in ten people over 65 have PAD and one in a hundred have AAA worldwide in most countries, including the UK. Those with PAD or AAA have the highest-risk of heart-attacks, strokes, dementia, leg-amputations, and mental-health problems, amongst people with established cardiovascular disease. Certain medications, exercise, and better diet are strongly recommended to prevent these problems. Unfortunately, though, the vast majority of people with PAD or AAA are not treated with the right medications or offered support to change their lifestyle. This is the main challenge PAD or AAA sufferers face when it comes to their healthcare, in the UK and globally. This PhD studentship will help address this as part of the wider CIRCULIFE study. 

The final objectives of the PhD will be developed between the successful applicant and supervisory team (Professor Saratzis (NIHR Research Professor of Vascular Surgery), Dr Withers (Associate Professor of Behaviour Change and Vascular Sciences) and Professor Edwardson (Professor in Sedentary Behaviour and Health)). The PhD will aim to develop an intervention which aims to support those with PAD and or AAA to live a healthy life. 

Smoking, diet, lack of exercise, high blood-pressure are some of the main issues that lead to people getting PAD or AAA. Identical medications and lifestyle help are therefore, advised for both conditions. The research group the successful applicant will be joining has previously developed two relevant interventions one for AAA the CRISP intervention (Withers et al. 2024) and one for PAD the CHABLIS intervention (Watson et al., 2022). These interventions will be used as the starting point for the development of the CIRCULIFE intervention with input from patients and healthcare professionals.

This studentship is an opportunity for the successful applicant to gain experience in the development of a complex behaviour change intervention in both secondary and primary care. 

References:

Withers TM, Greaves CJ, Bown MJ et al. A feasibility study of the CRISP intervention; a cardiovascular risk reduction intervention in patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm [version 2; peer review: 2 approved, 2 approved with reservations, 1 not approved]. NIHR Open Res 2024, 4:34 (https://doi.org/10.3310/nihropenres.13596.2)

Watson E, Bridgwood B, Saha P, Bown M, Benson R, Lawrence V, Le Boutillier C, Lasserson D, Messeder S, Saratzis A. A Community and Hospital cAre Bundle to improve the medical treatment of severe cLaudIcation and critical limb iSchaemia (CHABLIS). NIHR Open Res. 2022 Nov 28;2:58. doi: 10.3310/nihropenres.13341.1. PMID: 37881303; PMCID: PMC10593312.

Informal enquires are welcome, please contact:
Professor Athanasios Thanos Saratzis; as875@leicester.ac.uk & Dr Tom Withers; tmw24@leicester.ac.uk

Please refer to the application advice below and apply using the link at the bottom of the page.