Research conducted in the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period has repeatedly shown that rural residents are less likely than urban dwellers to survive cancer. Reasons for this survival disadvantage are not fully understood. Some studies have suggested that rural dwellers are more likely than urban to be diagnosed at a later stage. Poorer survival could also be a consequence of socio-economic circumstances or of differences in cancer treatment and follow-up care due to patients travelling significant distances to access care. We have extensively explored the relationship between residential geography and cancer outcomes in pre-pandemic datasets and have gained some important insights. First, the North of Scotland Cancer and Residence (NASCAR) project examined diagnosis, treatment and outcome data combined with travel times from home to general practice and hospital for over 12,000 people diagnosed with cancer during 2007-2014. The study found that people living more than one hour from hospital or on an island community were diagnosed more quickly yet were more likely to die within a year of diagnosis than people residing nearer to hospital. The updated NASCAR+ project involving over 20,000 people diagnosed with cancer in Northeast Scotland (2007-2017) found evidence that island-dwellers seemed to receive less secondary care outpatient follow-up following a cancer diagnosis, and that those with a greater travel burden have longer emergency admissions which they are less likely to survive. The Scotland and Residence (SCOTSCAR) study is currently investigating the potential that cancer journeys are affected differently by travel burden in the different geographical regions of Scotland in a cohort of 30,000+ people diagnosed with cancer in Scotland between 2009 and 2019. All this work was conducted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the subsequent impact of a growing reliance on virtual consulting in both primary and secondary care, is completely unknown. It is not known if the interplay between where patients live, and the experience of cancer has been affected.
In this PhD we wish to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected experiences of and outcomes following a cancer diagnosis for people living in different geographical regions in Scotland.
The specific objectives are:
- To conduct a systematic review of the international literature on the interplay between residential geography and the cancer journey, before during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on cancer treatment and follow-up.
- To use qualitative interviews to explore the lived-experiences of people living in different areas of Scotland diagnosed with cancer at different stages during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To update the SCOTSCAR dataset with pandemic and post-pandemic era data and re-explore the relationship between travelling times and cancer outcomes during the three time periods (pre, during, and post-pandemic).
Ideal candidate:
Candidates are required to have a background in a health-related subject such as public health, epidemiology, medical statistics, health data science or medicine. Ideally, they will have been awarded a good MSc in a relevant discipline. The PhD project offers the opportunity to conduct mixed-methods research under the supervision of subject experts within a multidisciplinary academic primary care research group. The candidate will gain experience in several methodologies as they pursue answers to the study objectives. These will include systematic literature reviewing, the conduct and analysis of both a large data linkage project and of patient experience interviews.
Applicants should hold a minimum of a 2:1 UK Honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject. Those with a 2:2 UK Honours degree (or international equivalent) may be considered, provided they have (or are expected to achieve) a Distinction or Commendation at master’s level.
We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities, and are committed to having a diverse, inclusive team.
For further project information please contact Professor Peter Murchie ([Email Address Removed]).
Candidates should contact the lead supervisor to discuss the project in advance of submitting an application, as supervisors will be expected to provide a letter of support for suitable applicants.
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APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
International applicants are eligible to apply for this studentship but will have to find additional funding to cover the difference between overseas and home fees (approximately £14,000 per annum).
- Formal applications can be completed online: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/pgap/login.php
- You should apply for Applied Health Science (PhD) to ensure your application is passed to the correct team for processing.
- Please clearly note the name of the supervisor and exact project title on the application form. If you do not mention the project title and the supervisor on your application, it will not be considered for the studentship.
- Applicants should hold a minimum of a 2:1 UK Honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject. Those with a 2:2 UK Honours degree (or international equivalent) may be considered, provided they have (or are expected to achieve) a Distinction or Commendation at master’s level.
- Your application must include: A personal statement, an up-to-date copy of your academic CV, and clear copies of your educational certificates and transcripts.
- Please note: you DO NOT need to provide a research proposal with this application
- General application enquiries can be made to [Email Address Removed]
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