Applicants from a range of disciplines are encouraged to apply for this exciting, innovative and policy relevant PhD being offered in conjunction with the world-leading palliative care research team at the International Observatory on End of Life Care at Lancaster University, supported by Specialist Palliative Care services in Central Lancashire. This PhD studentship enables you to work alongside a strong research team with a large number of PhD students and experience in high quality PhD supervision. You will develop expertise in a range of research approaches including systematically constructed literature reviews, the use of routine data to explore patterns of care, and in-depth qualitative research.
The focus of the PhD is exploring the reasons for why patterns of care usage are different for those who are dying and who are from Asian backgrounds. We know that those whose ethnicity is recorded as Asian or Asian British across Central Lancashire have a different place of death to the population as a whole, with approximately 20% more deaths in hospital. Typically, place of death has been used as a proxy indicator for quality of death, with a policy imperative to move deaths out of hospital settings. It is not known why there are differences in place of death, whether this is important to the quality of care and care experience, and if the needs of those from Asian backgrounds are being met.
Existing evidence from the UK and across the world shows that people from minority ethnic populations experience different patterns of care and place of death, to the majority population. However, much of this work has been from the US, or from London and the South East, or is dated. There is limited qualitative understanding of why these patterns of care might be different, or whether this might meet people’s needs. Understanding ethnicity and its impact on care will have an impact on how care is planned and delivered.
It is proposed that there are three main parts to this PhD, to be shaped in collaboration with the successful applicant and with strong patient and public involvement (PPI).
- A systematically constructed mixed-methods literature review interrogating available quantitative and qualitative evidence on the impact of ethnicity on the place of death and care for those who are dying.
- A quantitative study using routine data to map the patterns of place of death and care for those from minority ethnic populations across Lancashire. This will explore intersectionality, drawing from a range of available data.
- A qualitative study exploring the experiences of those from Asian backgrounds that influence choices around place of care and death. This will take a multi-perspective approach exploring the views of patients, family members and other stakeholders such as clinicians and social care providers.
This work will be underpinned with strong PPI and community engagement, and the partnership with Specialist Palliative Care clinicians and Central Lancashire PEOLC strategy groups will ground this work to enable the production of realistic, operationalizable, recommendations for policy and practice.
Application process: Applications should be made in writing to the lead supervisor, Dr Yakubu Salifu ([Email Address Removed]). You MUST include the following
1. CV (max 2 A4 sides), including details of two academic references
2. A cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the studentship (max 2 A4 sides)
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