Exploring the role of emotional wellbeing and health information delivery in uptake and engagement with enhanced rapid urinary tract infection testing

Project Overview:  

Project Overview:  

Accurate and rapid diagnosis of urinary tract infections (UTIs) is problematic: recent microbiological research has demonstrated that up to 58% of UTIs are missed by standard tests. As a result of testing inaccuracy, there has been a recent call to action to develop new rapid and expanded testing methods which can be used ‘on the day’, within a clinic, and can be supplemented by patient reported outcome measures including quality of life and patient experience(s) of symptoms (Brubaker et al., 2023; Harding et al., 2022). Research is needed which aligns novel UTI testing approaches with patient-centred assessment of core physiological and psychosocial clinical outcomes.

Specific aims are as follows:

1. To facilitate a major clinical trial of UTI samples and biobanking of UTI samples, analysed using novel testing modalities, with results benchmarked against the patient reported outcome measures (see the RUTISS and RUTIIQ measures developed by our team). This will be undertaken in close collaboration with Serox and Live UTI Free.

2. To investigate patient attitudes towards UTI testing/analysis and assess the impact of emotional wellbeing, fear-based emotional states and quality of life on testing uptake, adherence and willingness.

3. To develop and trial patient- and clinician-focused clinical/information resources about UTI diagnostic testing which will use behaviour change and health-psychology informed language and information delivery to enhance shared-decision making and reduce testing avoidance. 

4. To work with 'big data' held by our collaborative partner and/or NHS databases to assess the impact of psychosocial factors on UTI outcomes and comorbid conditions.  

• Applicants should hold or expect to gain a minimum of an MSc in Psychology or equivalent in a related field. Candidates performing at Merit or Distinction level at MSc will be preferred.

• Applicants should have strong skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods and a willingness to develop expertise in urinary tract infection research, qualitative interviewing and clinical trials management. Candidates without pre-existing clinical trials management experience, who demonstrate effective research or project management skills, will be considered.

• Candidates returning to education will be welcomed (e.g. after working in healthcare settings).

• Applicants should have strong interpersonal abilities, such that they can work closely with people with UTI, clinicians, and stakeholders.

• Due to funding restrictions, this studentship is only open to UK-based applicants or home students.