Members of the Research Centre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life (CIHRQoL) are psychologists with expertise in health psychology, clinical psychology, methodology and quantitative and qualitative analysis. Our research focuses on the development of effective interventions and the identification of valid and reliable outcome measures.

Members of CIHRQoL have a wealth of research experience in modelling the psychosocial factors that are associated with quality of life (QoL); using this information to develop interventions and examine their feasibility; and evaluating these interventions in terms of their effectiveness. We recognise that the ability to determine the effectiveness of an intervention is governed by the appropriateness of the outcome measures that are used to assess QoL. Yet, QoL is a complex phenomenon, and so our research experience and methodological and statistical expertise in the development and evaluation of outcome measures ensures that CIHRQoL is extremely well-placed to develop outcome measures and advise on discriminating between existing outcome measures.

To date, our research has focused on people with persistent physical symptoms (pain, cough, breathlessness) and medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke and among people receiving palliative care. Recognising the impact of long-term illness on not only the person with the illness but also on those who care for them, our research is also concerned with improving the QoL of family members and with the QoL of health professionals.

Our research has also focused on mental health constructs including the measurement and modelling of psychological trauma, psychosis, addiction and related constructs using a range of methodological and statistical approaches.

We work in close collaboration with a number of health professionals across the HSC Trusts in Northern Ireland and in health care settings and universities across the world. Members of the Centre have attracted funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Marie Curie, Health Foundation, Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke, the local R&D Office and local HSC Trusts.