Joint PhD Program: Digital health support for multiple chronic conditions

A Joint PhD scholarship is available in Deakin University’s School of Information Technology, Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment and the University of Copenhagen’s Graduate School of Health & Medical Sciences. The PhD student will initiate and conduct research as part of a joint doctoral research project on the topic ’Digital health support for multiple chronic conditions’ led by Prof John Grundy & Prof Trish Livingston (Deakin) and Prof Lene Juel Rasmussen & Prof Finn Kensing (the University of Copenhagen). The successful applicant will be based at the Deakin’s Melbourne Burwood Campus and at University of Copenhagen.

Multiple chronic conditions are an increasing burden for individual patients, their relatives and society at large, particularly for ageing patients. While health care systems in general are organized around dealing with one chronic condition at a time, patients and relatives are faced with complexities that stem from how the diseases, the medications and the treatments interact, and how the conditions change over time.

This joint PhD project will consider the following key research questions:

1. How do patients and relatives cope with multiple chronic conditions?
2. How are clinicians capable of exercising a holistic approach to their treatment?
3. How do current IT resources provide support, how are they perceived by patients and their carers, and how are they related to the care
actions that patients, relatives and clinicians perform?
4. What are some key areas for improvement in IT support, and how may they be integrated into redesigned care actions that patients,
relatives and clinicians may perform to respond better to multiple chronic conditions?

Based on a selection of 3 chronic conditions, e.g. related to heart, cancer, and mental conditions, a systematic literature review will set the basis for further studies. They will consist of a mix of explorative, experimental and interventionist studies within an overall participatory and iterative approach. Ethnographic techniques and prototyping of new digital health resources, including apps, wearables and smart homes, and associated practices will be conducted. This will take place first in protected environments but ultimately in as close to real life situations as possible. Danish and Australian studies will be conducted and compared.

The University of Copenhagen – Deakin University joint PhD program offers research students an unparalleled international experience, working alongside world-class researchers across two continents. Joint degree students spend time working with their supervisors at both universities. As a result, they gain unique exposure to different cultural and scientific environments and substantially increase their employability after graduation. Upon completion of the joint degree program, students receive a dually badged internationally recognised doctoral degree from both institutions.