Megan Morgan
Endometriosis and chronic pain
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Supervisors:
Email: gp20969@bristol.ac.uk Twitter: @MMorgan969 |
Project Summary:
In my PhD project I will be co-researching alongside individuals with Endometriosis into the ways digital technology is currently being used to manage chronic pain associated with the condition. One in 10 people with uteruses have Endometriosis, yet it typically takes 8 years on average to receive a diagnosis from the onset of symptoms. Major symptoms include dysmenorrhoea (painful periods), dyspareunia (painful intercourse) and pelvic pain. There can also be gastrointestinal (digestive system) and urinary (bladder) symptoms. Despite its common prevalence and debilitating symptoms, Endometriosis is a historically under-researched condition with little available in terms of treatment and symptom management. Though few digital tools exist created specifically for Endometriosis, this research aims to understand which digital interventions individuals are engaging with to support diagnosis, management or education. It will then aim to facilitate the co-design of a novel intervention to help with Endometriosis diagnosis, management or education.
General Profile:
For my Undergraduate MEng I studied Design Engineering at the University of Nottingham. This provided a broad mechanical engineering education with additional insight into designing for human interaction. My personal experiences with healthcare systems and technologies led me to focus my individual project ‘Creating a tool to assist with colonoscopies and reduce the problem of looping’. Through this, I became passionate about the ways in which technology can improve the diagnosis and management of all kinds of health conditions.
Before starting this PhD I worked at We The Curious and was inspired by their inclusive and diverse approach to science and education. I was a part of the Diverse Participation group as well as Action Accessibility, pushing to continually improve accessibility. During this time I became increasingly passionate about inclusivity and co-production and I hope to bring that into my future research.