Health Sciences
Ross Evans
PhD student
Profile
Biography
Ross is a PhD student within the Epidemiology and Cancer Statistics Group (ECSG) in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York, after previously completing his MSc in Nutrition in Practice and BSc (Hons) in Nutrition from Leeds Beckett University. Ross also currently works within the Paediatric Dietetic service at Leeds General Infirmary.
The aim of Ross’ PhD is to undertake a health needs assessment of those living with and beyond blood cancer by examining the role of modifiable (i.e., dietary intake, physical activity levels, alcohol consumption) and non-modifiable risk factors on physical health status, and how these health needs can be met in clinical and/or public health settings - identifying assets to health and determining priorities.
The PhD follows on from Ross’s Masters degree project which explored modifiable lifestyle-related risk factors of remission blood cancer survivors versus their general population equivalents, for which he won the Dean's Prize for Excellence in Nutrition during his time at Leeds Beckett University.
Qualifications
- MSc in Nutrition in Practice (Leeds Beckett University, 2022)
- BSc (Hons) in Nutrition (Leeds Beckett University, 2021)
Research
Overview
Research interests
- Dietary intake assessment and analysis.
- Physical health needs of those living with and beyond blood cancer.
- Health needs assessments (HNA)
Blood cancer survival rates have increased significantly over the last couple of decades. Given the often invasive, cytotoxic, and radiative properties of treatment therapies, there has been an increased focus on the longer-term implications on the health status of those living with and beyond blood cancer.
Though these factors are considered non-modifiable risk factors to the development of post-treatment comorbidities and have implications to physical health status; controllable or modifiable risk factors - such as poorer dietary intake and other lifestyle-related behaviours (i.e., excessive alcohol consumption, lower physical activity levels) - may also impact upon physical health status.
The proposed PhD will use an interdisciplinary and mixed methods approach to undertake a health needs assessment, using both quantitative & qualitative methods, to identify health needs of this population; collecting new data from participants and existing data from the Haematological Malignancy Research Network (HMRN).
The project will then hopefully identify the health needs of this population group, assets available to support these health needs, and how findings can be used to inform future effective planning, development, and implementation of health services/interventions to improve outcomes for those living with and beyond blood cancer.
Research group(s)
External activities
Memberships
Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) with the Association for Nutrition (AfN) (2021-present)
