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Contact Details

Email
sarah.rhodes@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position
Lecturer
Qualifications
BSc(Hons) (Northumbria) PhD
Research summary
Cardio-respiratory physiotherapy and long-term conditions
Teaching
I have been involved in physiotherapy undergraduate teaching since 2016. This includes clinical education in an inpatient setting, creation and delivery of labs and lectures, as well as paper coordination responsibilities.
Memberships
  • Life member of Physiotherapy New Zealand (PNZ)
  • Secretary of the PNZ cardio-respiratory special interest group
  • Member of PNZ Otago branch
  • Allied Health representative on the Executive Committee of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) NZ branch
  • Treasurer of TSANZ NZ branch
Clinical
My background is as a cardio-respiratory physiotherapist. I have worked in a number of different clinical settings, including ICU and surgical wards, as well as rehabilitation units.

Research

I am a cardio-respiratory physiotherapist and early career researcher.

My research is broadly focused on better health outcomes for long term conditions particularly in the primary care space. My areas of interest are long COVID and sleep disordered breathing.

My research seeks to understand the lived experience of those with these conditions and explore cost effective person-centred solutions for management of these conditions.

Current research projects

  • Exploring experiences of returning to exercise or sport following recovery from long COVID: a qualitative study.
  • Evaluation of a long COVID pilot clinic in primary care.
  • Exploring experiences of those living with long COVID in accessing primary care.
  • Health providers’ experiences of managing patients with long COVID in primary care.

Completed research projects

  • The perspectives and experiences of physiotherapists on implementing self-management support in inpatient hospital settings.
  • Awareness, knowledge, and management of long COVID amongst a cohort of primary care-based physiotherapists in New Zealand: a survey of current practice.
  • The use of exercise and motivational text messaging to support physical activity behaviour change in an adult population with obstructive sleep apnoea.
  • Physical activity behaviour and barriers to activity in adults at high risk of obstructive sleep apnoea.
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