(MRC DTP) Developing the evidence base for the prevention of oral mucositis in patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Oral mucositis is characterised by painful ulcers of the mouth and is a side effect of some cancer treatments. Typically, it can affect over 75% of high risk patients (Scully, 2006) causing severe pain and difficulty with eating and drinking that may necessitate pain relief treatment and nasogastric or intravenous feeding. Patients most at risk of developing mucositis are those undergoing high dose chemotherapy or head and neck radiotherapy. Mucositis is therefore a condition that can have a substantial impact on quality of life and further compounds the suffering of cancer patients. Added to this, immunosuppressed patients are at risk of further serious complications as a result of infection of the mucosa such as bacteraemia and sepsis, which can be life-threatening. At present, there is no known standard of care for the prevention of oral mucositis. Therefore, patients receive different treatments with uncertain levels of effectiveness and it is important to establish the evidence base around how best to prevent patients undergoing chemotherapy and head and neck radiotherapy from developing mucositis. A programme of work is ongoing to develop this evidence base (Riley et al., 2016; Riley et al., 2016; Riley et al., 2017); this PhD project would contribute by conducting systematic reviews and by investigating what evidence is used in clinical practice.
Aims:
To establish the effectiveness of laser and other light therapy for the prevention of oral mucositis
To establish the effectiveness of another intervention for the prevention of oral mucositis
To investigate what guidelines/evidence is used in oncology departments across the UK for the prevention of oral mucositis
To understand to what extent guidelines in use reflect the evidence base

Methods:
This project will use established gold standard systematic review methods to conduct two Cochrane systematic reviews. Following this, a national survey will be conducted to establish what guidelines or evidence is in use in oncology departments across nationally. This project may utilise mixed methods and involve the development of a survey and qualitative methods to better understand the reasons that clinicians use the guidelines or evidence that they use. This may also be an opportunity to understand more about potential barriers to the implementation of future guidelines in this area. The final part of the project will involve the critical appraisal of the guidelines currently in use and this will have a particular focus on understanding how accurately and completely in-use guidelines reflect the evidence base.

Entry Requirements:
Applicants must have obtained, or be about to obtain, at least an upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.

UK applicants interested in this project should make direct contact with the Primary Supervisor to arrange to discuss the project further as soon as possible. International applicants (including EU nationals) must ensure they meet the academic eligibility criteria (including English Language) as outlined before contacting potential supervisors to express an interest in their project. Eligibility can be checked via the University Country Specific information page (https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/international/country-specific-information/).

If your country is not listed you must contact the Doctoral Academy Admissions Team providing a detailed CV (to include academic qualifications – stating degree classification(s) and dates awarded) and relevant transcripts.

Following the review of your qualifications and with support from potential supervisor(s), you will be informed whether you can submit a formal online application.

To be considered for this project you MUST submit a formal online application form - full details on how to apply can be found on the MRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) website www.manchester.ac.uk/mrcdtpstudentships