Prehabilitation refers to pre-operative interventions aimed at increasing patients' physiological reserve so that they can better withstand the stress of surgery, avoid post-operative complications, and accomplish a faster and optimal post-surgery recovery. Multimodal prehabilitation programmes integrate individualised exercise-based interventions with other components such as nutrition, lifestyle, and psychological support. Conditions such as type 2 diabetes are quite prevalent among cancer patients (e.g., colorectal cancer) increasing the risk of complications during and after the major surgery that is often required. Diabetes can also increase mortality risk. Therefore, the main challenge in this patient group is improving glycaemic control in order to reduce this increased risk of morbidity and mortality.
The aims of this PhD project are (i) to explore the best ways to measure the effects of a new multimodal prehabilitation programme vs. the standard NHS treatment, on body composition, glycaemic control and on cardiopulmonary and neuromuscular function in colorectal cancer patients with type 2 diabetes(ii) to estimate the impact of the programme in reducing recovery time after surgery and possibly also thereby saving NHS costs (iii) to analyse the programme recruitment, adherence, adverse effects and also markers of well-being and Quality of Life during a postsurgery period of up to 12 months.
There are likely to be three main components to this PhD project:
1. A systematic review of the effectiveness of multimodal prehabilitation programmes conducted in cancer patients, including a subgroup analysis for colorectal cancer patients with type 2 diabetes.
2. An intervention study aimed at assessing the effects of a multimodal prehabilitation programme on (i) glycaemic profile (ii) cardiopulmonary function (iii) muscular function (iv) body composition (v) recruitment, adherence, and adverse events in response to the programme and (vi) complication rates and length of post-surgery hospital stay.
3. A long-term follow-up study, over a 12-month post-surgery period aimed to analyse complication rates and markers of wellbeing and Quality of Life.
This doctoral project will enable the student to work closely as an exercise physiologist with clinicians who have a track record of prehabilitation with cancer patients. It is expected that the research will result in high-impact publications and other outputs and will provide the student with a valuable opportunity to continue in this field.
Before submitting your application, you are encouraged to liaise with the Lead Supervisor on the details above.
Find out more: https://docs.gre.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0022/255334/vcs-ehhs-01-21-web-advert-2.pdf
Duration: 3 years Full-Time Study or 6 years Part-Time Study
How to Apply:
Please read this information before making an application. Information on the application process is available at: https://www.gre.ac.uk/research/study/apply/application-process
Applications need to be made online via this link. No other form of application will be considered. Please submit your application under the PhD Human Sciences programme. All applications must include the following information. Applications not containing these documents will not be considered:
• Scholarship Reference Number (VCS-FEHHS-01-21)– included in the personal statement section
• A research proposal related to the subject topic *
• A CV including 2 referees *
• Personal statement outlining the motivation for this PhD and previous research experience
• Academic qualification certificates/transcripts and IELTs/English Language certificate if you are an international applicant or if English is not your first language or you are from a country where English is not the majority spoken language as defined by the UK Border Agency *
*upload to the qualification section of the application form. Attachments must be a PDF format.
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