Qualitative Research Fellow (STEPFORWARD)

The trial starts with an internal pilot study within which an embedded qualitative process evaluation will run to understand the acceptability of the intervention and trial processes. During the pilot study the postholder will interview trial consenters and decliners to capture their experience of the trial, and with staff to identify barriers and facilitators to recruitment. The postholder will use the data to inform and amend the recruitment strategy as required. The postholder will also conduct interviews with participants after the prosthesis is fitted to understand engagement and prosthesis use.

During the main part of the trial, as part of the SWAT, the postholder will complete semi-structured interviews with site staff and participants to explore the acceptability of using AI technology during recruitment. Towards the end of the trial the postholder will use surveys and interviews with staff to develop an implementation plan using Normalisation Process Theory (NPT).

The Research Fellow will be responsible for all data collection and analysis, with input from the wider team on analysis and interpretation of the findings. There may also be opportunity to support other elements of the trial and gain experience working with clinical quantitative data sets.

The continuation of funding to the full trial is dependent on recruitment to the pilot study, so the post will be offered to July 2027 in the first instance. With successful recruitment the post will be extended until 31 December 2029.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities of the post

• Writing research protocols and seeking/gaining ethical and related approvals
• Setting up and undertaking interviews with patients and staff.
• Maintaining relevant records on recruitment to the study
• Collecting qualitative research data using semi-structured interviews
• Leading the analysis, interpretation and write up of qualitative material in conjunction with the research team.
• Facilitating the engagement of clinicians at sites
• Liaison with Institute of Clinical and Applied Health Research (ICAHR), Hull Health Trials Unit (HHTU), and the School of Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences (SERS)
• Contributing to other research activities as required
• Liaising with other members of the research team and collaborators so as to facilitate successful team working and delivery of the programme
• Organising and attending team meetings as required
• Preparation of reports for team and other meetings and for NIHR, as well as abstracts for conferences and papers for publications
• The post holder will be expected to attend courses provided by the university designed to aid their professional development.
• Liaison with and assisting NHS and other clinical collaborators regarding study set up, recruitment and conduct
• Liaising with the NIHR Clinical Research Network to upload accruals.

Please note that a DBS check is required for this position.

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