Dr Patricia Smith
Senior Lecturer
Physiotherapy in community based rehabilitation and community engagement; Research in diabetes and chronic long-term conditions including exercise and physical activity models of practice.
Department of Allied and Public Health , School of Health Sport and Bioscience
As a physiotherapist and qualitative researcher, I currently teach public health and community engagement practices linking physiotherapy and public health. I currently research diabetes and chronic long-term conditions, including exercise and physical activity models of practice. I host the annual diabetes conference at UEL and run diabetes workshops/cafes in Newham.
Qualifications
- BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
- MSc Neurological Physiotherapy
- Post Graduate Diploma Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
- PhD - Community Based Rehabilitation
Areas Of Interest
- Community Based Rehabilitation
- Qualitative Research Methodologies
- Cultural Competency in Practice
OVERVIEW
I am the director of the Diabetes Research Group (DRG) at UEL. The DRG is an interdisciplinary sub-group of the Clinical Research Group focusing on the personal, social, cultural and health impacts of diabetes worldwide. It brings together diverse perspectives on one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases of our time.
I am a physiotherapist by background and have worked in health for more than 35 years. I have taught professional health sciences (physiotherapy) and research methods for over two decades. I have worked on community physiotherapy projects in Jamaica, mainly with families living with disabled children, and on community-based projects in the UK, including diabetic groups and migrant groups, in the London Borough of Newham.
My book, Disability and Culture: an International and Inter-professional Perspective, published in 2015, considers how disability is culturally placed and contextualised in different societies. My current research interests are in diabetes and chronic long-term conditions self-help strategies.
RESEARCH GROUPS
- The Clinical Research Group - University of East London Institute for Connected Communities (ICC)
MOST RECENT RESEARCH
Diabetes and Long-term Impact. Data collected from the diabetes conference 2025 entitled “Diabetes Prevention Within Neighbourhoods and Local Communities: Impact on Long Term Conditions”.
MODULES
- Essential Research Methods and Statistics for Health Sciences - L3
- Understanding Clinical Practice - L3
- Research Methods - L7
- Supervise L6 dissertations
- Supervise Taught Masters projects – L7
- Supervise MRes and PhD Students
EXTERNAL ROLES
- External Examiner, University of the West Indies - School of Physical Therapy 2009-2015 & 2018 - 2022
- External Examiner for the Advanced Physiotherapy Practice Programme - Plymouth University, UK 2017 – 2021
- External Examiner for PhD dissertation, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 2019 to 2025.
- Community Outreach – Working with the diabetes groups in Newham in collaboration with the NHS North-East London PCN, 2021 – present.
INDUSTRY LINKS
- Faith Research Network Mission in collaboration with NHIR & ACRIP.
- NHS North-East London PCN
PUBLICATIONS
Visit the UEL research repository to view a full list of publications.
Publications
Browse past publications by year.
Full publications list
Visit the research repository to view a full list of publications
- Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life of Stroke Survivors in Southeast Communities in Nigeria International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 21 (Art. 1116). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21091116
- The Impact of Stroke on the Quality of Life (QOL) of Stroke Survivors in the Southeast (SE) Communities of Nigeria: A Qualitative Study Disabilities. 2 (3), pp. 501-515. https://doi.org/10.3390/disabilities2030036
