Scaling-up Sustainable Models of Community Interventions and Outcomes for CVD Health Promotion and prevention

This PhD project is part of a larger project on Scaling up Packages of Interventions for Cardiovascular disease prevention in selected sites in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa (SPICES Project). SPICES is a 5-year implementation project (January 2017- December 2021) funded by the European Commission through the Horizon2020 funding Action to implement and evaluate a comprehensive CVD prevention program in five diverse settings: a rural & semi-urban community in a low-income country (Uganda), middle income (South Africa) and vulnerable groups in three high-income countries (Belgium, France and United Kingdom) as well as to identify and compare the barriers and facilitators across study contexts. The SPICES Consortium comprise of 6 Universities - University of Antwerp in Belgium, Makerere University in Uganda, University of Manchester and Nottingham Trent University in the UK, Brest University in France and University of Limpopo in South Africa.

NTU School of Social Sciences, is responsible for the Work Packages of Health Promotion & Prevention; and Dissemination of the Project. The main activities under the health promotion work package are to provide a framework for local people to work as equal partners with service providers; co-development of culturally appropriate reference materials for CVD prevention; translation of existing literature to the local language; and support supervision of CHWs in delivering CVD health promotion relevant to the local context. While the dissemination work package is to define target groups, key messages, media channels and responsibilities for effective dissemination and communication of the project activities. Measurable criteria of the dissemination efforts shall be selected to effectively evaluate each dissemination activity.

The aim of this project is therefore twofold:
1. to critically explore the use of community engagement models in the production of materials and interventions for CVD health promotion and prevention in a range of settings as per the SPICES project; and
2. to enhance our understanding of what are sustainable interventions and outcomes from the different perspectives of communities, policy makers, and practitioners in order to bring about effective lifestyle change and long term reduction in CVD rates.

The nature of the research requires a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches be used to gather a range of data including locally held statistics, as well as the use of community engagement research approaches to co-produce knowledge and interventions and translate that knowledge into actions. It is expected that the applicant will tailor the research design to the project aims and objectives as these are refined and developed in the early stages of the study and with agreement from the SPICES consortium.

The PhD researcher’s skills profile will be enhanced by an extensive 3-year doctoral training programme encompassing discipline-specific and generic scientific skills. Specifically, you will be supported in developing a professional skills profile that encompasses proficiency in multidisciplinary research, advanced approaches to analyse complex data, and scientific writing and publication. Funding is available to support your attendance of national meetings and international conferences, providing opportunities to disseminate project results and build a network to support your post-doctoral career development. As a member of the School of Social Sciences, you will belong to an active and diverse research community that spans our College of Business, Law and Social Sciences.

The studentships will be expected to commence in 2018.

Specific qualifications/subject areas required of the applicants for this project:
Applicants are expected to be highly motivated individuals with strong academic research profiles, and in receipt of in receipt of a UK 1st Class / 2.1 Bachelor’s degree (or UK equivalent according to NARIC) and /or UK Master’s degree with a minimum of a merit/commendation in public health or a multidisciplinary related subject area.