Research Fellow
Ralph is a Research Fellow at the Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes (ACBRD), established in 2010 as a partnership for better health between Diabetes Victoria and Deakin University. He has completed a program of PhD research in health psychology at Deakin University, has a Master’s degree in exercise physiology from Victoria University and a Post-graduate Certificate in public health from University of London.
Ralph is currently collaborating with Diabetes Victoria on a project to review the behaviour change content for a type 2 diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease prevention program, Life! – Australia’s largest prevention program.
His principle research interests focus on health behaviours in type 2 diabetes, person-centred care, personality and approaches for tailoring health behaviour change interventions. Ralph also has a strong interest in the experiences of people with diabetes in primary care regarding weight management discussions, language and the effectiveness of behaviour change techniques.
In 2023, Ralph completed his PhD investigating the relationship between personality, the performance of health behaviours and weight management indicators. He has also researched the impact of resistance training in chronic heart failure. Ralph also has industry experience working in research management, local government and rehabilitation.
Ralph’s peer-reviewed publications
- Geerling R, Anglim J, Kothe EJ, Schram MT, Holmes-Truscott E, Speight J. Relationships between personality, emotional well-being, self-efficacy and weight management among adults with type 2 diabetes: Results from a cross-sectional survey. PloS One. 2023;18(10):e0292553
- Geerling R, Holmes-Truscott E, Kothe E, Speight J. “If I’ve got to walk up that hill, I don’t struggle…, I go harder”: A qualitative study exploring perceptions of the role of personality in weight management among adults with type 2 diabetes. 2023 (pre-print)
- Geerling R, Kothe EJ, Anglim J, Emerson C, Holmes-Truscott E, Speight J. Personality and weight management in adults with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review. Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare. 2022;3:1044005
- Geerling R, Gray SM, Holmes‐Truscott E, Speight J. ‘I need someone to believe in me and walk the journey with me’: A qualitative analysis of preferred approaches to weight management discussions in clinical care among adults with type 2 diabetes. Diabetic Medicine. 2022;39(3):e14790
- Geerling R, Gray SM, Holmes-Truscott E, Speight J. Constructive weight management discussions: Fiv e considerations to guide consultations with adults with type 2 diabetes. Journal of Diabetes Nursing. 2022;26(4)
- Geerling R, Browne JL, Holmes-Truscott E, Furler J, Speight J, Mosely K. Positive reinforcement by general practitioners is associated with greater physical activity in adults with type 2 diabetes. BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care. 2019;7(1):e000701
- Patterson JA, Selig SE, Toia D, Geerling RH, Bamroongsuk V and Hare DL. Comparing methods for prescribing exercise for individuals with chronic heart failure. Journal of Exercise Physiology. 2005; 8:4
- Williams, AD, Selig, SE, Hare, DL, Hayes, A, Krum, H, Patterson, J, Geerling RH, Toia, D and Carey, MF. Reduced exercise tolerance in chronic heart failure may be related to factors other than impaired skeletal muscle oxidative capacity. Journal of Cardiac Failure, 2004; 10(2): 141-48
- Selig SE, Carey MF, Menzies DG, Patterson J, Geerling RH, Williams AD, Bamroongsuk V, Toia D, Krum H, Hare DL. Moderate-intensity resistance exercise training in patients with chronic heart failure improves strength, endurance, heart rate variability and forearm blood flow. Journal of Cardiac Failure, 2004; 10(1): 21-30
- Selig SE, Carey MF, Menzies DG, Patterson J, Geerling RH, Williams AD, Bamroongsuk V, Toia D, Krum H and Hare DL. Reliability of isokinetic strength and aerobic power testing for patients with chronic heart failure. Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention, 2002; 22(4): 282-9
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