Lorna Cassidy
Research Theme: Chronic Illness and Palliative Care
Research Title: HEart faiLure carer support Programme: A feasibility study of the HELP intervention for carers
Research interests: Heart failure, Carers, Psychoeducational interventions, Palliative care, Delivery of Health Care services and Support for carers
Supervisors: Professor Donna Fitzsimons and Dr Loreena Hill
Project Summary
The focus of this research project is to find out what type of supportive intervention works best for carers of patients with heart failure. The aim of the study is to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a six-week psychoeducational intervention that has been developed to meet the needs of carers. The intervention will consist of four support group sessions on various different topics applicable to carers and an information booklet with key advice and information. It is a multi-centre mixed methods study that will be conducted across three health and social care trust areas in Northern Ireland. Through this project we hope to find out what type of intervention carers find most beneficial, and we will use the results to inform the development of a future larger trial.
Conferences:
Oral presentations:
School of Nursing & Midwifery Research and Scholarly Activity Away Day event -December 2018
EuroHeartCare conference at Trinity College in Dublin- June 2018
Poster presentations:
School of Nursing & Midwifery Research Showcase event - December 2018
Heart Failure Congress in Vienna- May 2018
Heart Failure Congress in Athens- May 2019
School of Nursing & Midwifery Research Showcase event- December 2019
Publications:
Cassidy, L , Fitzsimons, D., Hill, L., McGaughey, J., & Greene, E. (2018) Addressing the psycho-educational needs of caregivers of patients with advanced heart failure: a systematic review. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HEART FAILURE (Vol. 20, pp. 153-154). https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.1197
Cassidy, L., Fitzsimons, D., Hill, L., McGaughey, J., & Greene, E. (2018) What works for caregivers in advanced heart failure: a systematic review. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR NURSING (Vol. 17, pp. 7-8). https://doi.org/10.1177/1474515118787764
Cassidy, L. L., Hill, L., & Fitzsimons, D. (2019) Development of a co-designed written resource for carers of patients with heart failure. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HEART FAILURE (Vol. 21, pp. 95-95). https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.1488
Personal Bio
I graduated from QUB in June 2017 with an undergraduate degree in Social Policy with Sociology. Whilst this degree is different to the work I am currently doing, during my final year I worked with a local charity that provided support for young people with congenital heart disease to develop a research proposal. I enjoyed guiding my team throughout this project and it made me realise my interest for research. I was then employed as a research assistant in September 2017 within the School of Nursing & Midwifery. During my time in this role I assisted the research team with developing a supportive intervention for carers of patients with heart failure. I developed and designed a written resource, and also conducted a systematic review into what types of psychoeducational interventions worked best for carers. This led to presenting my findings at two international heart failure conferences. I soon became very passionate about this project and topic, and when the opportunity came up to further develop this study into my PhD project I was delighted.
My Perfect PhD Day
Feeling productive and completing everything on my to-do list!
When I’m not PhDing…
I enjoy keeping fit by going to the gym and running, and socialising with friends!