*Application closing date has been extended for this project*
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is the second most common form of dementia. In addition to changes in cognition and functioning, people with DLB also experience symptoms such as visual hallucinations, pronounced fluctuations in cognition, sleep disturbances, and many of motor difficulties classically associated with Parkinson’s disease. There currently is no cure for DLB, and treatments targeting symptoms are limited – in some instances the treatment of one symptom can lead to the exacerbation of other symptoms.
This project aims to determine which symptoms are most important to people with DLB and their caregivers in the investigation of new treatments.
In the first part of the project, the student will facilitate and qualitatively analyse focus group sessions attended by people with DLB and their caregivers. These will invite the groups’ views on which symptoms are the most important to target, and whether the measures used to assess these symptoms accurately and adequately reflect their experiences.
During the second part of the project, the student will design, administer, and analyse a discrete choice experiment (DCE), in which people with DLB and caregivers will be asked to choose between a series of theoretical treatments, each with different characteristics. Analysis of respondents’ choices can allow estimation of the value assigned to each characteristic. The DCE will be completed online by an international group of people with DLB and their caregivers.
The findings from this project will inform the international DLB community design how best to design and conduct trials investigating new DLB treatments.
Funding eligibility: ROI (and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled) status may be eligible for funding. Please review the DfE T&C’s.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
You must hold or expect to get an upper second class honours degree from a university in the UK or Ireland, or qualifications and experience considered by the University as equivalent to that standard. Candidates who already hold a doctoral degree, or who have registered on a PhD for one year (or part-time equivalent) or not eligible.
English Language
Candidates applying from countries where the first language is not English should produce evidence of their competence through a qualification such as IELTS or TOEFL score.
The minimum recommended score for the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science is:
· IELTS score of 6.0 with not less than 5.5 in each of the four component elements of listening, reading, speaking and writing taken within the last 2 years;
· TOEFL score of 80+ (internet basted test), taken within the last 2 years, with minimum component scores of; Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 17);
· A valid Certificate of Proficiency in English grade A or B;
· A valid Certificate of Advanced English grade A; or
· A first or upper second class honours degree from a university based in the UK, Republic of Ireland or other suitably quality assured location in a country deemed by the UK Border Agency to be majority English speaking.
For a list of English Language qualifications also accepted by the School and University please see the following link:
http://www.qub.ac.uk/International/International-students/Applying/English-language-requirements/#English
INTO Queen’s English Language Courses offers both pre-sessional and in-sessional courses in English for academic purposes and study skills. Courses vary in length and full information can be obtained at: https://www.qub.ac.uk/International/International-students/Applying/University-Preparation-Courses/INTOEnglishlanguagecoursesatQueens/
PLEASE NOTE:
This project will involve working with children and/or adults in ‘Regulated Activity’.
The successful applicant will be required to undertake a criminal history check (Enhanced Disclosure check). The project will be conditional on the successful applicant being issued with a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure Certificate.
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