Oliguria (reduced urine output) may be the first indication of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and an early warning for patient deterioration. The incidence and consequence of AKI is likely to be under-reported. In the UK, over 66,000 suffer a hip fracture annually and are at risk of complications from inadequate fluid monitoring due to frailty and co-morbidities. Around 20% develop AKI within the first 48 hours of admission - associated with delirium, prolonged hospital stay and increased mortality.
Research questions:
1) Is a digitally-enabling device for urine collection acceptable to healthcare staff?
2) Can a digitally-enabling device, measuring urine output, decrease incidence of missed care?
3) Can oliguria detect patients earlier than serum Creatinine-based AKI definitions?
Methods:
WSHFT is an 870-bed acute trust operating across two sites, Worthing and Chichester. This is a mixed methods design.
i) Over 12-months, patients with a fractured hip requiring surgery will be investigated for 72 hours post-operatively with urine output monitored digitally, or per standard practice. The primary outcome is time to AKI using oliguria criteria versus blood creatinine.
ii) A purposive sample of staff will be invited to take part in semi-structured face-to-face interviews to identify staff views on acceptability, barriers, facilitators and optimisation of the intervention.
Dr Martin Whyte is a Clinical Academic and works as a Consultant Physician in Acute and General Medicine and Senior Lecturer at the University of Surrey since 2012. Professor Forni’s main area of interest and expertise is acute kidney injury in which he has published widely. Prof Forni also sits on the national Clinical Reference Group (CRG) for AKI.
This is a three-four year project, commencing in January 2021. Part-time options are also available.
Entry requirements:
Applicants will need an MSc or equivalent, plus Royal College of Nursing registration.
IELTS requirements: 7.0 overall with 6.5 in each band
How to apply:
Applications should be made through the Biosciences and Medicine PhD course page (apply tab): https://www.surrey.ac.uk/postgraduate/biosciences-and-medicine-phd
Potential students should complete a cover letter demonstrating their interest in, and suitability for, the project. We would also like a CV detailing your previous research experience, and two academic references. Please clearly state the studentship title and supervisor on your application.
Continue with Facebook
