Dr Claire Fitzsimons
Lecturer in Physical Activity for Health
- Moray House School of Education and Sport, ISPEHS
- University of Edinburgh
Contact details
- Tel: +44 (0)131 651 6049
- Email: claire.fitzsimons@ed.ac.uk
Address
- Street
-
Moray House School of Education and Sport, SL 2.31
- City
- Post code
- EH8 8AQ
Availability
I work part time Tuesday-Thursday
Background
I have a degree in Physiology (2001) and a PhD in Exercise Physiology in Older Adults (2006) from the University of Edinburgh. Upon completion of my PhD I was appointed as the Project Co-ordinator of SPARColl (Scottish Physical Activity Research Collaboration) at the University of Strathclyde (2006-2009) and following this as a Lecturer in Human Movement Sciences (2009-2011).
In 2012 I was appointed as a Chancellor's Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh (2012-2018). My research fellowship was focused on sedentary behaviour in older adults. Time spent sedentary has been linked to diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. My fellowship explored how older people perceive sedentary behaviours, the health risks and testing out possible interventions.
I am currently a Lecturer in Phyiscal Activity for Health in the Phyiscal Activity for Health Research Centre at the University of Edinburgh. I am currently working on a number of research projects with both older adults and stroke survivors to encourage reducing and breaking up sedentary behaviours.
Undergraduate teaching
I teach on the Exercise Prescription for Rehabilitation on the Applied Sports Science programme
Postgraduate teaching
I teach on the MSc Physical Activity for Health.
Physical Activity for Health (MSc/PgDip/PgCert)
Areas of interest for supervision
I supervise student projects with a particular focus on older adults and sedentary behaviour and/or physical activity
Current PhD students supervised
Divya Sivaramakrishnan: Evaluating the health benefits of incorporating yoga into the physical activity plan of older adults, Year 3
Past PhD students supervised
Tessa Strain: Adherence to the current physical activity guidelines in Scotland, graduated July 18
Research summary
My research is focused around supporting adults and clinical populations (particularly stroke survivors) to reduce and break up their sedentary time. I am interested in the development of interventions including perceptions of older adults and stroke survivors on their sedentary behaviours, measurement of sedentary time and how best to feedback to people on the amount of time spent sedentary.
Current research interests
I am currently working on a number of research projects which cluster under the topic of sedentary behaviour: 1. Improving sedentary behaviour and physical activity in community-dwelling older adults: development feasibility testing of a novel technology-supported intervention. Sit Less and Move More: funded by the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government (£299k, Nov17-Feb20), I am a co-investigator on this study which is exploring the development of an intervention to support older Scottish adults to sit less and move more and achieve all components of the current physical activity recommendations. This project is exploring the use of a novel device called an Activator to feedback to study participants on their upright time and steps. 2. Too much sitting in extended bouts in stroke survivors: A qualitative study to inform novel interventions. Funder: Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government. £225k. July 2015 – January 2019 (study paused Dec17-Aug18 ). Principal Investigator: guided by the COM-B model of behaviour change this study is interviewing stroke survivors about their sedentary behaviours to inform the development of future interventions. 3. Development and evaluation of strategies to reduce sedentary behaviour in patients after stroke and improve outcomes. Funder: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grant for Applied Research. £3 Million. October 2017 – September 2024. Co-investigator, co-work package lead. Lead Institution: University of Leeds. This programme of research called RECREATE will develop and rigorously test an intervention which aims to reduce and break up sedentary time after stroke.Past research interests
1. A feasibility study to identify an effective method to provide feedback and remote monitoring on sedentary behaviour in stroke survivors. Funder: Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation, £39k, April 2016-April 2018. Principal Investigator. Lead institution: University of Edinburgh. 2. Seniors USP: Seniors - Understanding Sedentary Patterns. Funder: MRC Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Initiative. £992k. January 2014 – October 2017. Co-investigator, co-work package lead, member of the Dissemination Advisory Group. Lead Institution: Glasgow Caledonian University.Knowledge exchange
1. Intervening on sedentary behaviour in older adults: from results to practice. Funder: University of Glasgow Impact Acceleration Account. £20k. October 2016 – June 2017. Co-investigator. Lead Institution: University of Glasgow.
Affiliated research centres
Current project grants
Too much sitting in extended bouts in stroke survivors: a qualitative study to inform novel interventions. Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government, £225k, July 2015 - January 2019. Principal Investigator
Development and evaluation of strategies to reduce sedentary behaviour in patients after stroke and improve outcomes. Funder: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grant for Applied Research. £3 Million. October 2017 – September 2024. Co-investigator, co-work package lead. Lead Institution: University of Leeds.
Improving sedentary behaviour and physical activity in community-dwelling older adults: development and feasibility testing of a novel technology-supported intervention. Funder: Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government. £299k. November 2017 – February 2020. Co-investigator. Lead Institution: University of Glasgow
Past project grants
A feasibility study to identify an effective method to provide feedback and remote monitoring on sedentary behaviour in stroke survivors. Edinburgh and Lothians Health Foundation, £40k April 2016 - September 2017, Principal Investigator
Seniors USP (Understanding Sedentary Patterns). Medical Research Council, £985k, March 2014- July 2018, co-investigator
ESRC Impact Award, University of Glasgow in collaboration with Paths for All to develop sedentary behaviour information resources specific to older people. October 2016-March 2017, co-investigator
Institute for Academic Development, University of Edinburgh, £3,690, Co-investigator to develop interdisciplinary research and teaching in ‘Medicine & Science in Sport & PA’ 2014-2015
Proof of concept trial for the Vibrotactile activPAL™ (VTaP™) as a means to feedback on sedentary behaviour, Strathclyde Links, University of Strathclyde, £9,000, January 2010 – October 2010, co-principal investigator
The feasibility of a pedometer-based walking programme in combination with a physical activity consultation in Scottish adults aged 65 years and over in a primary care setting, Chief Scientist Office, Scottish Government, £130,358 and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde R&D £27,124, Nov 2008-December 2010, co-investigator
Single Campus Project – Smart Move?, University of Strathclyde Dragon’s Den, £14,000, June 2008, co-investigator
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Online toolkit - Move your way during the working at home day
Research output: › Digital or Visual Products (Published) -
End of project full report - Are we working (too) comfortably?: Collaborating with The Scottish Government to support their workforce to reduce desk-time whilst working at home
Research output: › Other report (Published) -
Short end of project report: Are we working (too) comfortably?: Collaborating with The Scottish Government to support their workforce to reduce desk-time whilst working at home
Research output: › Other report (Published) -
Leaflet detailing the Move Your Way During Working at Home Day toolkit
Research output: › Digital or Visual Products (Published) -
"Are we working (too) comfortably?”: Understanding the nature of and factors associated with sedentary behaviour when working in the home environment
(1 page)
In:
Occupational Health Science
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41542-022-00128-6
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Are we working (too) comfortably? Developing an evidence-based toolkit to support desk-based employees to reduce sedentary behaviour while working at home
Research output: Contribution to Conference › Other (Published) -
Are we working (too) comfortably?: An evidence-based Toolkit to support desk-based employees to reduce sedentary behaviour while working at home
Research output: Contribution to Conference › Poster (Published) -
Exploring the perspectives of people with stroke, caregivers and healthcare professionals on the design and delivery of a mHealth adaptive physical activity intervention: A qualitative study protocol
In:
HRB Open Research
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12688/hrbopenres.13506.1
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Can activity monitors accurately determine sedentary periods and sleep times in less active populations? Comparison of approaches in the RECREATE feasibility study in stroke survivors
Research output: Contribution to Conference › Abstract (E-pub ahead of print) -
What works to reduce sedentary behavior in the office, and could these intervention components transfer to the home working environment?: A rapid review and transferability appraisal
In:
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, vol. 4, pp. 954639
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.954639
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Review article (Published) -
Systematic review of process evaluations of interventions in trials investigating sedentary behaviour in adults
In:
BMJ Open, vol. 12
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053945
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Prototyping a digital intervention to reduce sitting in University of Edinburgh staff while working at home
Research output: Contribution to Conference › Poster (Published) -
Interventions for reducing sedentary behavior in people with stroke
(2 pages)
In:
Stroke, vol. 52, pp. e846-e847
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.121.036589
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Comment/debate (Published) -
Sitting as a moral practice: Older adults’ accounts from qualitative interviews on sedentary behaviours
(19 pages)
In:
Sociology of Health & Illness, vol. 43, pp. 2102-2120
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.13383
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
A qualitative study of sedentary behaviours in stroke survivors: non-participant observations and interviews with stroke service staff in stroke units and community services
In:
Disability and rehabilitation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2021.1955307
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Interventions for reducing sedentary behaviour in people with stroke
(110 pages)
In:
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, vol. 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012996.pub2
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
A systematic review and meta-analysis of non-workplace interventions to reduce time spend in sedentary in adults
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.05.27.21256673
Research output: › Preprint (Published) -
A co-production approach guided by the behaviour change wheel to develop an intervention for reducing sedentary behaviour after stroke
(13 pages)
In:
Pilot and Feasibility Studies, vol. 6
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-020-00667-1
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Stroke survivors' perceptions of their sedentary behaviours three months after stroke
(14 pages)
In:
Disability and rehabilitation, vol. N/A, pp. 1-13
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2020.1768304
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Factors influencing sedentary behaviours after stroke: Findings from qualitative observations and interviews with stroke survivors and their caregivers
In:
BMC Public Health, vol. 20, pp. 1-15
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09113-6
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published)