The group is pleased to welcome Alison Maciver, who will be joining us to study for her PhD.
Alison joined the group at the beginning of October and will be investigating ‘Social Engagement in Inflammatory Arthritis’. She holds an MSc in Advanced Practice and joins us remotely from the Western Isles.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I qualified as a registered nurse in 2005 and worked within a community setting at NHS Western Isles for a number of years before specialising in Rheumatology in 2011. During this time period I undertook a postgraduate diploma in long term conditions and then most recently I completed an MSc in Advanced Practice and qualified as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner. I enjoy working within the speciality of rheumatology; the advances within the field in terms of therapeutics and management of patients over the past number of years has greatly improved patients' trajectories and outcomes. It is a great privilege to work alongside patients supporting them and helping them to manage their disease.
What will you be working on with the Epi Group?
The PhD project I will be working on is titled 'social engagement in inflammatory arthritis.' Through my clinical practice I am aware that social engagement is a challenging issue for many patients and is an area that requires further research. Individuals with inflammatory arthritis are at higher risk of social isolation and we know that positive social engagement behaviours are associated with better health outcomes. The PhD will be looking at developing an instrument which can measure social engagement in individuals with inflammatory arthritis. This will allow us to quantify levels of social engagement in this population and gain further insight into the issues patients face in this area of their lives.
Why did you choose Aberdeen?
I saw the PhD advertised and the topic really appealed to me. The location was also a big factor along with the quality of the research and expertise of the department at the Aberdeen Centre for Arthritis & Musculoskeletal Health. I am really delighted that I am getting the opportunity to join such a fantastic team.
Are you currently involved in any other research?
I have been working as a research nurse on a project looking at the impact of COVID-19 on care home workers with the University of the Highlands & Islands. This has been really interesting study which has sought to understand the stress and coping experiences of healthcare workers within the care home setting during the pandemic. The results should be published in the near future.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
In my spare time I like to get out and about hillwalking or mountain biking. I also enjoy visiting the many beautiful beaches I am surrounded by here in the Western Isles.
Alison joined the group in October 2021 and will be investigating ‘Social Engagement in Inflammatory Arthritis’. She holds an MSc in Advanced Practice and joins us remotely from the Western Isles.