Dr Fiona Muirhead

Senior Lecturer

Physical Activity for Health

Personal statement

My background is in Exercise and Health Psychology (MSc, PhD) and my research interests are mainly focussed around investigating behaviour change, particularly in hard to reach populations. I have recently completed a University of Strathclyde Chancellor's Fellowship, which focussed on designing, developing and evaluating lifestyle interventions for youth with special health needs. 

I am involved in an externally funded grant 'We-Belong: Wearables for Better Mental Health in Children and Adolescents' in partnership with collaborators at Haukeland University Hospital and Bergen Health Trust.  

I am also in the supervisory team for 2 PhD studentships and 1 MRes studentship;

First/primary/lead supervisor:

1) PhD project title: Development of a digital intervention to increase physical activity in adults with intellectual disabilities.

 2) MRes Project title: Co-creation of a combined physical activity, pain education and behaviour change intervention to increase free-living physical activity and health related quality of life in people living with persistent pain.

Second supervisor:

3) PhD Project title: Developing a Digital Self-Management tool for People with Chronic Pain. This project aims to facilitate the development of a digital self-management tool using co-design activities to help people with Chronic Pain better manage their symptoms at home leading to an improved Quality of Life (QoL).

Before moving to the University of Strathclyde, I was a Research Associate at the University of Glasgow. I worked on a variety of studies with individuals with intellectual disabilities, including an RCT, which examined the effectiveness of a walking intervention (Walk Well) with adults with intellectual disabilities. Walk Well was a multi- disciplinary study which involved collaborations from the University of Glasgow, University of Strathclyde, University of Edinburgh and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. 

I have also played a key role in the evaluation of national physical activity programmes. For example, the Fit for Girls programme (funded by sportscotland and the Youth Sport Trust), which aimed to increase physical activity in adolescent girls across schools in Scotland. I also led the evaluation of the Venture Trust Next Steps programme, an outdoor education programme for female offenders.    

 

Publications

A qualitative study of adults who switched to active commuting during the COVID-19 lockdowns
Mitchell Adam, Mitchell Fiona, Harrington Deirdre
Journal of Sport Sciences Vol 40, pp. 1-39 (2022)
https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2022.2125766
Letting the world see through your eyes : using photovoice to explore the role of technology in physical activity for adolescents living with type 1 diabetes
Morrow Diane, Kirk Alison, Muirhead Fiona, Lennon Marilyn
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol 19 (2022)
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19106315
Development and feasibility testing of a physical activity intervention for youth with anxiety and depression : a study protocol
Kodal Arne, Muirhead Fiona, Reilly John J, Wergeland Gro Janne H, Thorsen Paul Joachim Bloch, Bovim Lars Peder, Elgen Irene Bircow
Pilot and Feasibility Studies Vol 8 (2022)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-022-01010-6
Using social media to understand adults' experiences of physical activity as a child living with type 1 diabetes
Morrow Diane, Lennon Marilyn, Kirk Alison, Muirhead Fiona
Practical Diabetes Vol 38, pp. 8-13 (2021)
https://doi.org/10.1002/pdi.2335
Exploring osteoporosis sufferers knowledge on sedentary behaviour in the management of their disease
Grady Caera L, Muirhead Fiona, Skelton Dawn A, Mavroeidi Alexandra
Journal of Frailty, Sarcopenia & Falls Vol 6, pp. 36-42 (2021)
https://doi.org/10.22540/JFSF-06-036
Negotiating cancer preventative health behaviours and adapting to motherhood : the role of technology in supporting positive health behaviours
Notley Caitlin, Ward Emma, Kassianos Angelos P, Kurti Allison, Muirhead Fiona, Nostikasari Dian, Payton Jamie, Spears Claire Adams
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-being Vol 15 (2020)
https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2020.1811533

More publications

Projects

We-Belong: Wearables for Better Mental Health in Children and Adolescents
Muirhead, Fiona (Co-investigator) Kodal, Arne (Principal Investigator) Elgen, Irene Bircow (Co-investigator) Bjørgaas, Hanne-Marit (Co-investigator) Reinhardt, Georg (Co-investigator) Kristiansen, Hege (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2023 - 01-Jan-2025
Incentivised smoking cessation for tobacco treatment resistant diabetics
Muirhead, Fiona (Principal Investigator)
01-Jan-2017 - 31-Jan-2019
Project HATCH – Staying Healthy AfTer Childbirth A cross-national study to support smoking abstinence and inter-related cancer-prevention behaviours among postpartum women
Muirhead, Fiona (Principal Investigator)
Project HATCH – Staying Healthy AfTer Childbirth A cross-national study to support smoking abstinence and inter-related cancer-prevention behaviours among postpartum women
01-Jan-2017 - 31-Jan-2018
Feasibility study to inform the development of interventions to prevent weight gain
Muirhead, Fiona (Principal Investigator)
Feasibility study to inform the development of interventions to prevent weight gain in young adults with learning disabilities
01-Jan-2015 - 30-Jan-2016
Development and feasibility/pilot testing of an intervention to support active lifestyles in youth with Type 1 diabetes. The ActivPals programme
Muirhead, Fiona (Fellow) Kirk, Alison (Principal Investigator) Reilly, John (Co-investigator)
01-Jan-2015 - 31-Jan-2016
A Feasibility study to inform the development of interventions to prevent weight gain in young adults with learning disabilities
Muirhead, Fiona (Principal Investigator) Melville, Craig (Co-investigator) Jahoda, Andrew (Co-investigator) Hankey, Catherine (Co-investigator) Matthews, Lynsay (Co-investigator) Murray, Heather (Co-investigator)
This study aims to assess the feasibility of recruiting and retaining young adults with mild-moderate learning disabilities as they transition from school to adulthood. The feasibility of collecting physical activity and dietary information will also be assessed.
01-Jan-2014 - 31-Jan-2016

More projects