Dr Melody Carter, Dr Paul Hazell
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
About the Project
Research at the University of Worcester
The Institute of Health and Society at the University of Worcester is offering a new PhD studentship in the field of living with long-term conditions. Research at the University of Worcester has grown significantly over the last 10 years. Worcester was the most improved University in the UK based on Research Fortnight’s ‘Research Power’ measure, reflecting a more than four-fold increase in the number of staff submitted compared to RAE 2008 and a commensurate increase in the quality of the research. The Institute of Health and Society brings together academics and researchers from across a wide range of disciplines but with a shared focus of enhancing the health and well-being of society through its education and research.
This PhD studentship represents a unique and exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of arts-based methods in applied health research (Fraser and al Sayah, 2011). The successful candidate will be responsible for developing the detail of this proposal further and will work closely with the supervisory team to select appropriate methods of participant-generated digital photography. We anticipate that the successful candidate will have knowledge and understanding of the relevant health care context or conditions for which this method will have a practical application.
About this PhD Project
More than 15 million people in England live with a long-term physical or mental health condition (LTC) and this figure is expected to rise (DH 2012, The Kings Fund, 2018). Long-term conditions can adversely impact on the well-being and quality of life of those affected, as well as those living with, supporting and / or caring for them (McCullagh et al 2005). Given this growing population, there is an increasing emphasis on supporting individuals to ‘live well’ with LTCs (Sternberg & Furness, 2017). Further research is needed to develop in-depth understandings of the experience of living with LTCs, how to capture and translate these experiences with others including healthcare professionals, family and / or carers, with a view to developing new ways to support people and families affected by LTCs.
This fully funded PhD studentship provides the opportunity to conduct research in this exciting, emerging field, working with colleagues drawn from both the Institute of Health and Society and the Institute of the Arts. We are seeking a motivated individual who has successfully achieved a 2:1 honours degree or higher, or University approved equivalent in a health related or social science subject.
Studying at the University of Worcester
The Research School will be a focal point for all our research students. It provides:
• day-to-day support for our students, both administrative and practical, through our dedicated team Research Student Study Space with both PCs and laptop docking station
• comprehensive Researcher Development Programme for students and their supervisors
• a programme of student-led conferences and seminars
Supervisory Team:
• Director of Studies: Dr Melody Carter [Email Address Removed]
• Co-Supervisors: Elaine Walklet and Dr Paul Hazell
Funding Notes
Details of the studentship
During the period of your studentship you will receive the following:
• a tax free bursary of £14,553 for a period of 3 years
• a fee-waiver for 4 years
• a laptop
• use of the Research Student Study Space in Research School
• access to the Research Student Support Scheme to cover costs and expenses related to your research
References
• Department of Health. (2012). Report. Long-term conditions compendium of Information: 3rd edition. London: Author
• Fraser, K. D., & al Sayah, F. (2011). Arts-based methods in health research: A systematic review of the literature. Arts & Health, 3(2), 110-145
• McCullagh, E., Brigstocke, G., Donaldson, N. & Kalra, L. (2005). Determinants of caregiving burden and quality of life in caregivers of stroke patients. Stroke, 36(10), 2181-2186.
• Stenberg, N. & Furness, P. J. (2017). Living well with a long-term condition: service users’ perspectives of a self-management intervention. Qualitative Health Research, 27(4), 547558.
• The King’s Fund (2018). Long-term conditions and multi-morbidity [online]. Available from:
https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/projects/time-think-differently/trends-disease-and-disability-long-term-conditions-multi-morbidity