Identifying population groups at high risk of severe COVID-19 health outcomes is crucial to target appropriate public health interventions, including vaccination programmes, now and in the future. People with intellectual disabilities are at considerably increased risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, including hospitalisations and death, but the transmission routes of such risks within households, congregate care and residential care settings remain unclear.
People with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities may experience greater COVID-19 risks due to existing health, social and economic inequalities, compounding both the exposure and susceptibility to COVID-19 viral infections and severe outcomes. Increased COVID-19 risks may be linked to disabled people experiencing greater difficulties in understanding and/or complying with social distancing measures. Greater vulnerability to COVID-19 outcomes may also arise from higher rates of co-morbidities, including hypertension, diabetes, chronic heart disease and conditions relating to respiratory and immune systems. In addition, disabled people are more likely to live in residential or other congregate care settings, with close contacts with caregivers, health professionals and other residents, increasing the risks of transmission of COVID-19 infections.
This studentship aims to assess the role played by household conditions in COVID-19 infection risks and progression to severe COVID-19 outcomes among people with intellectual and physical disabilities in Scotland. COVID-19 risks will be estimated using survival models applied to an unprecedented national data collection covering the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021. Using record linkage across multiple sources, the data collection combines: (a) individual self-reported information on disability status and other socioeconomic variables from 2011 Census; (b) innovative residential information derived from Ordnance Survey and (c) electronic health records from Public Health Scotland’s COVID-19 Research Database, including information on laboratory testing, hospitalisations and mortality, as well as primary care data on pre-existing health conditions.
Eligibility:
Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Applicants will have a first degree (undergraduate) at 2:1 or above in an appropriate discipline including, but not limited to: social sciences, statistics, or health-related discipline (e.g. nursing).
- Applicants can have a Masters degree in similar disciplines, however this is not a requirement.
- Applicants will be able to demonstrate quantitative research skills appropriate to their level of qualification.
- Applicants will have a demonstrable interest and appreciation of the barriers faced by people with disabilities and the challenges of using administrative data.
- Applicants can study part-time or full-time.
Selection Process:
Applications will be ranked by an internal institutional selection panel, and you will be notified if you have been shortlisted for interview on or around 28 April 2023. Interviews will take place on Thursday 4th May 2023 and Friday 5th May 2023.
This studentship award is subject to the successful candidate securing admission to a PhD programme within the University of Glasgow. The successful candidate will be invited to apply for admission to the relevant PhD programme.
If you are interested in applying to the listed PhD studentship, please visit the site below, select the PhD studentship your are interested in and follow the further instructions provided under the "How to Apply" section.
https://www.sgsss.ac.uk/studentships/current-opportunities/
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