Exploring the correlates and benefits of specialist referral in asthma: an analysis of routine datasets

The overarching aim is to investigate socioeconomic disparities in asthma, COPD and interstitial lung disease healthcare outcomes within Northern Ireland, and to assess potential disparities in asthma biologic prescription rates across the UK. This project aims to build on existing infrastructure in Northern Ireland, and to create new linked datasets within the UK.

Socioeconomic disparities in respiratory healthcare outcomes have been reported in several countries however an investigation of this issue has yet to be undertaken in Northern Ireland, despite the higher levels of poverty reported in the country when compared to the rest of the UK. This project aims to address this research gap among all patients with respiratory disease, and also aims to explore whether there are any disparities in who is referred to asthma specialists. This is important as these doctors can prescribe biologic therapies, which have been shown to be highly effective in reducing asthma symptoms and flare-ups. The benefits of these biologic therapies in reducing corticosteroid medication side-effects will be investigated during the PhD, which will help answer the crucial question of whether patients with poorly controlled asthma should be offered biologic therapy at an earlier stage in their treatment pathway. After exploring these issues in Northern Ireland, this study will then aim to replicate this analysis in England with a view to expanding to Scotland and Wales at a later date. The student will gain experience in a variety of methodologies including conducting systematic reviews and performing statistical analysis.  

CONTEXT

The successful candidate will work in a highly interdisciplinary environment as part of a vibrant cohort of HDR UK-funded PhD students, with outstanding networking opportunities with fellow students and colleagues located across the 4 nations of the UK. HDR UK’s mission is to unite the UK’s health data to enable discoveries that improve people’s lives. Its 20-year vision is for large-scale data and advanced analytics to benefit every patient interaction, clinical trial, and biomedical discovery and to enhance public health.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS 

You must hold or expect to get an upper second class honours degree from a university in the UK or Ireland, or qualifications and experience considered by the University as equivalent to that standard. Candidates who already hold a doctoral degree, or who have registered on a PhD for one year (or part-time equivalent) or not eligible.  

Essential attributes:

• A strong quantitative background and desire to apply these techniques to healthcare
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Evidence of independent research skills relevant to the project
• Strong motivation
• Good time management
• Demonstrable ability to work independently as part of a distributed team

Desirable attributes:

• Programming experience in Stata / R / Python etc.
• Previous research experience with healthcare datasets or electronic health records.

English Language Requirements:

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required. *Taken within the last 2 years.

International students wishing to apply to Queen's University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen's University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.