Studentships

PhD Studentship, School of Community Based Medicine, University of Manchester

Exploring health professionals' personal models and the relationship 
with patient outcomes

Dr Chris Bundy & Dr Chris Dickens

The School of Community Based Medicine invites applications for a  prestigious three-year PhD studentship starting in January 2009. The studentship is open to UK/EU nationals only due to the nature of the funding and will attract an annual tax-free stipend of £12, 940 in addition to covering tuition fees. Funding is provided through CLAHRC (The Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care).

The aim of the study is to explore whether the personal models of illness (PMs) held by health practitioners are associated with consultation styles (Person Centred Consultation), patient management strategies or patient outcomes (changes in health status).

During the project we hope to establish and test a series of hypotheses that will contribute to our understanding of PMs in complex care management.

This is a largely observational study using the Self-Regulatory model (SRM) as a theoretical framework for examining the PMs of health professionals with responsibility for managing patients with complex/co-morbid conditions in their case load. A taxonomy of PMs will be identified and tested against care management strategies and patient outcomes.

Stage I will test the suitability of the Illness Representation or self Regulatory Model for this group by systematically surveying participants, both patients with co-morbid conditions and clinicians managing them. In addition data will be collected using the IPQ(R) to determine if it is suitable for stage II.

Stage II will observe and code patterns of beliefs and behaviours in relation to complex care management and examine the relationship between Health Professionals PMs and patient PMs as well as examining the degree of congruence between professionals' and patients' PMs and patient outcomes.

The study results will be used to conduct a fully powered RCT of an intervention to train clinicians to identify and work with patients' personal models of illness.

This project would suit a health psychologist wanting to work in an academic or NHS setting as well as someone wishing to use mixed methodology approaches to tackle applied health research. Candidates should hold a minimum upper second honours degree (or equivalent) in psychology or a related subject. Experience of SPSS would also be beneficial.

Interested candidates should submit a CV and detailed covering letter outlining their suitability for the project to Dr Chris Bundy at christine.bundy@manchester.ac.uk. Contact details for two academic or professional referees should also be provided.

Applications will be welcomed up to and including Friday 7 November 2008

For further details on the project please contact Dr Bundy at the address above.

http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/staff/ChristineBundy

 PhD position in the psychology of elderly healthcare robotics

This position is part of a large project aiming to develop robots for use in healthcare. The research team includes robotic engineers, computer scientists, and psychology and health specialists from The University of Auckland, New Zealand, and from the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Republic of Korea.

The PhD involves studying the psychological factors that are important to the acceptance of healthcare robots, and experimental studies to assess the impact of robots on psychological and health outcomes. The PhD will be supervised by Dr Elizabeth Broadbent and co-supervised by Dr Bruce MacDonald.

This position is funded by a grant from the Foundation of Research Science and Technology for three years which includes a NZ$26000 yearly stipend plus fees and NZ$3000 for research expenses per annum for three years. The position is based at The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

For more information or to submit an application please email: Dr Elizabeth Broadbent, Department of Psychological Medicine, e.broadbent@auckland.ac.nz. Applications should include a cover letter stating your interest in the topic, an academic transcript, CV and contact details of two referees. The successful candidate should have a Masters or Honours degree in Psychology, preferably with a specialisation in health and/or an interest in robotics.

Elizabeth Broadbent, PhD
Lecturer in Health Psychology
Department of Psychological Medicine
Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
The University of Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand.
Phone +64 9 373 7599 ex 86756
fax +64 9 373 7013

 Funded PhD  Studentship available

Applications are sought for a PhD studentship to conduct a qualitative study of professional and organisational issues in tissue banking (collection and storage for biomedical research of tissue specimens removed during medical procedures).  The project will involve fieldwork, including interviews and observations, mainly based in hospitals in the UK.  This is a very exciting and timely project where there is a great deal of international and EU interest, and opportunities for travel are likely.

We are seeking applications from individuals who have a sound background in the social sciences (e.g. sociology, psychology, organisation studies, social studies of science) or who have a sound background in a relevant clinical area (e.g. nursing) or scientific background (e.g. biological sciences) and have insight into social science method and theory.  Candidates will ideally be educated to MSc level though candidates with a good honours first degree and some experience of research will be considered.

The studentship will be under the supervision of Professor Mary Dixon-Woods, and will involve collaboration with researchers in and outside Leicester, ensuring a rich research environment at the interface of social science, clinical practice, and the life sciences.

This studentship, funded by the Medical Research Council, will cover full fees for UK/EU students, a research training support grant and conference allowance, and a stipend (tax-free) of £12,940 per annum. The studentship is available to candidates who can demonstrate a relevant connection to the United Kingdom. For further details on eligibility please check here:
http://www.mrc.ac.uk/Careers/Studentships/Fundingstudents/Eligibility/index.htm

For informal discussion, please contact Mary Dixon-Woods: md11@le.ac.uk; tel +441162297262
http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/health-sciences/extranet/resources-for-staff/staff-profiles/staff-member-2/mary-dixon-woods-1

Applicants should send a statement of interest (no more than 1 page) and a CV with details of two referees to md11@le.ac.uk or post to:

Mary Dixon-Woods
Professor of Medical Sociology
Social Science Research Group
Department of Health Sciences
2nd Floor, Adrian Building,
University of Leicester,
University Road,
Leicester LE1 7RH

Unit of Behavioural Medicine, UCL

T+ Study Ph.D. Studentship

Location:  Charles Bell House, 67-73 Riding House Street, London W1W 7EJ

Post:   Ph.D. Studentship, Full-time, 36.5 hours per week

Stipend: £15,000 per annum, plus fees

Funding: The Department of Health has funded this studentship to accompany a large grant that has been awarded to the Unit

Description:

Telehealth (exchange of data between patient and health care professional) has become an increasingly important aspect in health care. This studentship is to assess participants with diabetes attitudes to the use of telehealth technology, its impact on their self management behaviour and clinical impact.  It is planned to use both quantitative and qualitative methods to capture; perceived severity of symptoms, participant-reported quality of life, psychological well being, increases in self-care behaviours, self-efficacy and empowerment as well as attitudes to and levels of use of telehealth. 

Requirements:

Essential - minimum of a 2.1 undergraduate degree
Desirable - MSc degree

Applications:

Please send a covering letter together with a CV including the contact details of two referees to: Professor Stanton Newman, Centre for Behavioural Sciences, UCL, Charles Bell House, 67-73 Riding House Street, London W1W 7EJ 

The closing date for applications is Friday, 24th October 2008.  Interviews will be held on Thursday 6th November.