Macmillan Cancer Support Funded PhD Studentship: To investigate the wider community and economic impact of multidimensional CR interventions in supporting people to live well with and after their cancer

Applications are invited for a College of Human & Health Sciences and Macmillan Cancer Support funded PhD studentship in Cancer Rehabilitation (Health Economics).

Globally, concern for cancer rehabilitation (CR) has grown in light of rising cancer incidence and survivorship and recognition of the challenges of living with long term and late effects of cancer and its treatments. In the UK, it is estimated that one in three people will develop cancer, and for some tumour sites, five year survival now exceeds 50%.

CR interventions aim to reduce the impact of disabling conditions arising from cancer and its treatment by restoring functional ability, promoting independence and fostering adaptation. Whilst there is burgeoning evidence of the effectiveness of exercise interventions, there is increasing need for evidence-based multidimensional CR interventions. There remain opportunities to redesign clinical pathways in order to ensure that all people affected by cancer are given the opportunity to maximise their potential to live well. However, this is likely to increase demand on services which are already at capacity. Therefore, ensuring services not only centre around the needs of people with cancer and improved health outcomes, but also provide ‘value for money’ is a necessary consideration.

The aim of this studentship is to investigate the wider community and economic impact of multidimensional CR interventions in supporting people to live well with and after their cancer. We expect it to inform larger research projects and lay down a path for further interdisciplinary empirical work in this important field nationally and internationally in terms of developing and testing culturally appropriate, complex CR interventions and economic evaluation.

The supervisory team will be led by Dr Tessa Watts, Associate Professor in the Department of Nursing (http://www.swansea.ac.uk/staff/human-and-health-sciences/allstaff/t.watts/), and Professor Deborah Fitzsimmons in the Swansea Centre for Health Economics (http://www.swansea.ac.uk/staff/human-and-health-sciences/allstaff/d.fitzsimmons/). The successful candidate will be based in the College of Human and Health Sciences at Swansea University.

The successful candidate is expected to start their PhD studentship in January 2017.

Eligibility

Candidates should hold a 2.1 or above at undergraduate level in a relevant discipline, and/or a Master’s degree in Social Science, Psychology or Health. Subject backgrounds considered include Applied Social Sciences or Social Research, Psychology, Health Economics, Health Professions (e.g. Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy) or Public Health.

The applicant must have:

Good fundamental research skills (usually through obtaining a Master’s degree in a relevant subject, or having experience in conducting research and/or evaluation in health or a related area)
Strong quantitative and qualitative skills
Experience of literature reviewing
Excellent interpersonal skills
Good project management skills and the ability to self –direct the planning and management of work.
Experience of working with patients and members of the public.
Desirable criteria:

A driving licence and access to own transport
The ability to speak Welsh
The successful candidate will be required to undertake a DBS clearance.

Due to funding restrictions, this studentship is open to UK/EU students only.