NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care North West Coast: Health Inequalities

2 PhD Studentships

Background

The National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care North West Coast (NIHR CLAHRC NWC) brings together NHS organisations, local authorities and academic leaders from the Universities of Liverpool, Lancaster and Central Lancashire, to accelerate the translation of research findings into service improvements and maximise the potential for applied health research within the partner organisations to improve health and reduce health inequalities.

The key focus of the NIHR CLAHRC NWC’s applied health research and implementation programme is to find effective and innovative ways to tackle health inequalities across the region. The key programme themes are:

•Delivering Personalised Health and Care
•Knowledge Exchange and Effective Implementation
•Evidence Synthesis Collaboration
•Improving Mental Health
•Improving Public Health
•Managing Complex Needs

More details on each theme and further information about NIHR CLAHRC NWC can be found at the website http://www.clahrc-nwc.nihr.ac.uk/index.php

Studentships

The NIHR CLAHRC NWC is now inviting applications for two, full-time (3 years) PhD studentships to start in January 2016 at the University of Central Lancashire.

We are looking for exceptional individuals to fill two PhD studentships which are targeted at reducing health inequalities. Suitable candidates should have at least an upper-second class (or equivalent) undergraduate degree in a relevant health, social care, or pertinent methodological subject. Candidates should also be able to demonstrate the following skills: communication, presentation/writing, IT, time-management and the ability to be self-motivated/work alone.

One topic available is as follows:

The benefits of complex health interventions are frequently assessed by randomised controlled trials (RCT). There is often concern about assessing the effectiveness of these types of interventions using RCT because of concerns such as:

• the generalizability of findings
• the time it takes to get definitive results
• examining how diverse groups may differentially benefit from the intervention
• failure to consider important aspects of organisational implementation
• the implications of findings on the wider community
The latter three issues are important if interventions are to contribute to reducing the health inequality gap rather than further widening it. Cluster randomised controlled trials have traditionally been used to overcome some of these problems but there are many methodological issues with these types of studies and the impact on diverse and wider communities are frequently not considered. Adequately planned feasibility studies and newer methods of evaluation such as stepped wedge designs have been proposed to overcome some of the methodological and implementation issues but these may not reduce the longevity of the evaluation. Furthermore, there is limited evidence on the methodological advantages and limitations of these approaches and the implications for diverse groups and the wider community are not necessarily built into these types of evaluations. This PhD will assess different robust evaluative approaches, how assessments of impact on inequalities and the wider community can be incorporated into these designs and explore the potential for innovative approaches which might address some of the concerns raised by RCT.

Further details of the PhD topics available can be obtained by e-mailing [log in to unmask]

Bursaries will be provided and will incorporate an annual stipend of £14,057 and tuition fees. All applicants need to be UK/EU nationals because of the nature of the funding. EU nationals will require an overall IELTS score of 7.

An application form and further details may be found on the UCLan PhD Studentship web page http://www.uclan.ac.uk/research/study/studentships.php

Deadline for applications: 25th October 2015.

Interviews will take place on the 13th November 2015.

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