Understanding disparities in healthcare among children and carers from different backgrounds in the context of chronic disease management

Applications are invited for a 3-year PhD studentship at Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

Asthma is common in childhood. In the UK, asthma affects one in 11 children.¹ Despite high standards of healthcare driven by NICE guidance, many children still suffer from poorly controlled asthma.² ³ ⁴ which results in reduced quality of life and increased demands on healthcare services⁵. The development of personalised treatment strategies are effective in managing certain conditions, however there is a risk that these advances could leave behind communities who already experience ethnic health inequalities.

This project will utilise a range of methodologies including systematic review, service evaluation, qualitative methodologies and digital storytelling. In using these approaches, the student will aim to understand disparities in healthcare among children/carers from different backgrounds (mainly regarding ethnicity) within the context of chronic disease management. This will largely be within the area of children’s asthma although may also include other disease areas. The project will also look at standard disease management as well as novel approaches such as personalised medicine.

The student will gain a solid understanding of health services research and the project will offer a range of training opportunities. The successful candidate will gain a range of research skills including undertaking systematic reviews, qualitative methodologies, digital storytelling, experience of study design and the ethical approvals process, and writing for publication. This should provide the successful candidate with critical skills and substantial experience to make them a highly competitive candidate for a postdoctoral research position.

Applicants for this 3-year studentship starting in January 2023 should possess a minimum of a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (or equivalent) in Psychology, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Sciences or similar. Informal enquiries should be direct to Dr Elaney Youssef ([Email Address Removed]).

In order to apply please visit the University of Brighton portal: https://evsipr.brighton.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login?process=siw_ipp_app_crs you will need to create an account and then select the project labelled U3 Understanding disparities in healthcare  . Please contact the BSMS Doctoral and Research Officer ([Email Address Removed]) with any queries.