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Biography

I graduated as a physiotherapist from the University of Nottingham in 1999 and completed my MSc in Continuing Professional Development in 2012. My work has taken me to the far flung corners of the world such as Nepal, East Timor, Afghanistan, Egypt and Iraq. I have learnt over the years to be a creative and flexible practitioner and improvise with whatever resources are at hand. After returning to the UK, I worked as a community physiotherapist on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset. It was this work which sparked my interest and enthusiasm in helping older people remain active with the view of adding health to years, not just life.

Research

Older Peoples’ Adherence to Community Based Group Exercise Programmes: A Multiple Case Study

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory diseases and diabetes account for almost two thirds of deaths globally. Maintaining a physically active lifestyle across the life course reduces the risk of developing NCDs. However, approximately 50% of those who commence an exercise programme drop out after the first six months. Community based exercise programmes (CBEP) such as group exercise classes, have however, been shown to be one means of increasing physical activity levels for older people. The main aim of this study is to examine the factors which contribute to older people’s initial attendance and long-term adherence to CBEP using a multiple case study approach. Understanding why and how people maintain engagement in CBEP has important public health implications, contributing to the prevention of NCDs.

Journal Articles

Theses

Posters

  • Farrance, Tsofliou, F. and Clark, C., 2015. Evaluating the Views of Participants and Adherence Rates of Community Based Group Exercise Interventions: A Mixed Methods Systematic Review. In: World Confederation of Physical Therapy Congress, Singapore.
  • Farrance, Tsofliou, F. and Clark, C., 2015. Understanding the Views of Older People in Adhering to Community Based Group Exercise Interventions: A Qualitative Systematic Review. In: World Confederation of Physical Therapy Congress, Singapore.

Profile of Teaching PG

  • Systematic Review Master Class
  • Impact Workshop
  • The Effective Researcher - 2nd Year

Profile of Teaching UG

  • Exploring Evidence to Guide Professional Practice
  • Research for Physiotherapy Practice
  • Community Rehabilitation
  • Physiotherapy Portfolio Unit 2
  • Physiotherapy Portfolio Unit 5
  • Service Improvement Project
  • Skills for Therapy Practice
  • Service Improvement Project
  • Innovations
  • Physiotherapy Portfolio Unit 4

Grants

  • Ageing Well Photo Exhibition (British Society of Gerontology, 25 Jun 2016). In Progress
  • Active Ageing Throughout the Lifespan: A Photographic Exhibition (British Society of Gerontology, 06 Apr 2016). Awarded

Internal Responsibilities

  • Faculty Research Seminar Series Coordinator, Faculty Research Seminar Series
  • Deputy Chair, REF Impact Subcommittee

Public Engagement & Outreach Activities

  • NHS training event for Bournemouth and Poole Community Rehabilitation Teams. May 2018. Real life community-based group exercise programmes: what keeps people coming back for more?
  • Cafe Scientifique. May 2018. Keeping your fingers crossed for a healthy old age?
  • Ageing Well Photo Exhibition
  • Rotary Club Presentation: 'Physical Activity and Social Engagement'
  • Inservice training presentation: The preliminary doctoral reserach findings were presented to a local Dorsest NHS Integrated Community Rehabilitation Team

Conference Presentations

  • "Do Not Go Gentle" - Gerontology and a Good Old Age, Real life community-based group exercise programmes: what keeps people coming back for more?, 05 Jul 2017, Swansea, Wales
  • CELebrate 2017 Conference, “It was all in your voice”: Student perceptions of alternative feedback models – a qualitative literature review, 13 Jun 2017, Bournemouth, England
  • Bournemouth University Postgraduate Conference, Older Peoples' Adherence to Exercise Programmes: “Everyone’s so kind and jolly, it boosts my spirits.”, 08 Mar 2016, Bournemouth
  • Bournemouth University Postgraduate Conference, Older People’s Adherence to Exercise Programmes: “Everyone’s so kind and jolly, it boosts my spirits.”, 08 Mar 2016, Bournemouth
  • European Public Health Conference, Tackling the Invisible Burden of Physical Inactivity in Older People: A Multiple Case Study from the UK, 2014-2015, 14 Oct 2015, Milan
  • Just Good Medicine: The role of physical activity in the prevention and management of long term conditions, Community Based Group Exercise Programmes: Personalising the Approach to Physical Activity, 22 Sep 2015, Loughborough
  • Occupational Science Europe International Conference, Older Peoples' Adherence to Community Based Exercise Programmes: A Humanising Perspective, 03 Sep 2015, Bournemouth
  • Bournemouth University Postgraduate Conference, Understanding the views of older people in adhering to community based group exercise interventions: A qualitative systematic review, 20 Jan 2015, Bournemouth

Qualifications

  • BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy (The University of Nottingham, 1999)
  • MSc in Physiotherapy (The University of Nottingham, 2012)
  • PhD in Faculty of Health and Social Sciences (Bournemouth University, 2016)
  • PGCE in Education Practice (Bournemouth University, 2017)

Memberships

  • Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), Member,
  • Higher Education Academy, Senior Fellow,
The data on this page was last updated at 04:06 on July 22, 2019.