EQual

The Edinburgh Applied Qualitative Health Research Group (EQual) is led by Julia Lawton. Their research covers the use of qualitative methods to examine chronic and complex disease.

Research in a Nutshell

EQual are a dedicated team of social scientists specialising in high-quality, applied qualitative research that makes a real difference to people’s health, well being, and quality of life. They use bespoke qualitative methods to:
  • Explore people’s experiences of living with and managing chronic and complex health conditions
  • Inform development of healthcare interventions to better support these individuals
  • Conduct process evaluations of complex healthcare interventions, from pilot studies to full-scale trials
  • Optimise recruitment into clinical trials, especially those from hard-to-reach populations
They have extensive experience working with people of all ages and backgrounds, as well as their healthcare providers. They are especially committed to engaging with seldom-heard communities, ensuring that their research promotes fair and equitable access to healthcare and life-changing technologies.

Key People

NameRole
Julia LawtonEQual Research Group Lead | Personal Chair of Health and Social Science
David RankinResearch Fellow
Ruth HartResearch Fellow
Rachel DlugatchResearch Fellow (Qualitative)
Mia ClossResearch Fellow (Qualitative)

Themes and Keywords

Scientific Themes

Complex Healthcare Interventions; Disease Self-Management; Innovative Health Technologies; Lived Experiences of Chronic Conditions; Sexual and Reproductive Health

Methodology Keywords

Co-Production; Focus Groups; Interviews; Process Evaluation; Qualitative

Projects

  • Understanding and supporting automated insulin delivery use in a diverse population with type 2 diabetes. 
  • Barriers and facilitators to recruitment into the STOPPIT-3 trial: qualitative study. A qualitative evaluation of the Tandem IQ insulin pump and DEXCOM G6 continuous glucose monitoring hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery system (control-IQ) on well being and diabetes management in a socio-demographically diverse group of adults with Type 1 diabetes. 
  • Establishing an Islet Autoantibody Positive Registry for children and adults in the UK: the UK-Islet Antibody registry. 
  • Transforming gestational diabetes management in Scotland to optimise outcomes for mothers and children. 
  • UNBIASED: Understanding Inequalities and Barriers to Accessing Diabetes Technology in Children and Young People with Type 1 Diabetes.

Publications

Publications from this research group can be found on the group lead's Edinburgh Research Explorer page. 

Primary Contact

Julia Lawton

EQual Research Group Lead

Contact details

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