Dr Clodagh Toomey, Prof N Kennedy
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
About the Project
Effectiveness of a supervised group exercise and education programme for hip and knee osteoarthritis comparing face-to-face vs. online delivery in the Irish healthcare setting.
About the Project:
The IMPACT project, “Implementation of Osteoarthritis Clinical Guidelines Together” is seeking applicants for a PhD studentship commencing November 2020. IMPACT is a four-year project with research funding amounting to over €700,000 from a Health Research Board Emerging Investigator Award. IMPACT will partner with Good Life with Arthritis Denmark (GLA:D®) International Network to implement clinical guidelines for hip and knee osteoarthritis in an Irish healthcare context.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of disability among Irish adults and the fastest growing health problem in the world, which results in significant mobility limitations, poor quality of life and high occurrence of sick leave. Best evidence (over 60 RCTs, European and international guidelines) suggests that OA is amenable to prevention and early treatment through exercise. Despite this, there has been a failure to implement this approach as a first line treatment strategy. The primary aim of the IMPACT project is to research the implementation of an evidence-based education and exercise programme for hip and knee OA (Good Life with osteoArthritis from Denmark; GLA:D) in Ireland. This will be carried out using a participatory health research paradigm involving key stakeholders and end-users.
PhD Project:
The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that many physiotherapy practices across the globe have restricted or ceased face-to-face consultations and instead shifted towards telehealth, in order to safeguard the health of both patients and staff. The role of this PhD will be to evaluate if online delivery of a group exercise and education programme for hip and knee osteoarthritis is effective in reducing self-reported symptoms and pain and improving quality of life at 3- and 12-months follow-up, compared with conventional face-to-face programme delivery. There will also be an opportunity to compare findings within the GLA:D international network. The research project will be hosted by the University’s Health Research Institute within the School of Allied Health, providing an excellent research community for peer support, networking and training.
Candidates must be highly motivated and have excellent research, writing, and communication skills, skills in quantitative and/or qualitative research methodologies, and some project management skills. PhD candidates will be expected to engage with practitioners and clinicians regularly, including carrying out fidelity checks and other implementation indicators. Candidates will have at least a 2.1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline e.g. Physiotherapy, other Allied Health professional, Health Promotion, Sport Science.
Contact: Supervisors for this project are Dr. Clodagh Toomey (Primary Investigator) and Prof. Norelee Kennedy. Applicants should submit a detailed cover letter and a full Curriculum Vitae (including two references) to Dr. Clodagh Toomey, at [Email Address Removed] before the closing date on October 23rd 2020 at 17.00 hours (Irish Standard Time). Informal enquiries are welcome via email.
Funding Notes
The studentship includes a tax-free annual stipend of €18,000 plus annual fees (EU student rate only), for 4 years from November 2020 (start date negotiable). If a suitable candidate from outside the EU is recommended after interview, they will be required to supplement their fees directly or through additional grant application.
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