 |
 |
Hi the following PhD studentship is available in Edinburgh. Please reply to [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Mark. -----Original Message----- From: Nick Watson [mailto:[log in to unmask]] ECAS Centenary PhD Research Studentship in Disability Studies The Department of Nursing Studies, The University of Edinburgh, in collaboration with ECAS, invite applications for a studentship to explore physically impaired peoples¹ experiences of healthcare. The studentship will cover fees, research expenses and a subsistence allowance of £8,300 per annum. Candidates require a good first degree in either sociology, social policy, anthropology, nursing or other related subject. Disabled applicants are encouraged to apply. Informal enquiries may be made to Dr Nick Watson on 0131 650 3895, email [log in to unmask] The studentship will be available from October 2002. ECAS Centenary PhD Research Studentship in Disability Studies Physically Impaired People¹s Experiences of Healthcare There has been little research into the experiences of people with a physical impairment in the health care setting. The role of the health service in the UK has traditionally been focused on the diagnosis and treatment of illness and, more latterly, the prevention of illness. Consequently, the health services and their staff have tended to view the problems faced by disabled people from a medical perspective. People with a physical impairment may be seen as the product of their impairment and any treatment that they receive will be influenced by that impairment, regardless of whether the impairment is relevant to the situation. The understanding of disability as a social category or a political issue has not been well developed. Much Government policy is delivered to disabled people through the health service. This has lead to the development of segregated services such as residential homes, workshops and long stay institutions. Having a physical impairment does not mean that an individual is necessarily ill or in need of care. Many within the Disabled People¹s Movement have suggested that this focus has cast disabled people into the role of dependent and is disempowering. Disabled people are seen as having needs rather than entitlements. There is also evidence to suggest that services for disabled people are accorded relatively low priority. Disabled people are not seen as a priority when it comes to prevention especially breast screening and heart disease. Breast screening machines are inaccessible to many disabled women for example. There is some evidence to suggest that DO NOT RESUCITATE notices are inappropriately displayed on disabled people¹s health records without prior consultation. This relationship between people with a physical impairment and the healthcare services is, however, complicated. In the same way that disabled people should not be homogenised, so health professionals should not be treated as a single grouping. There is a need to examine different practices in different settings, looking at examples of good practice. Disabled people are also active social agents and are able to challenge such assumptions as those outlined above. Indeed, ignoring the fact that disabled people are social agents may be as disempowering as the medicalisation of disability. What is needed is an exploration of the experiences of disabled people as they access a variety of healthcare settings. This investigation forms the basis of this research studentship. Research questions that might be addressed include: How are health services experienced by disabled people in relation to type of impairment, gender, ethnicity, age, social class and geographical location? How does having a physical impairment impact on mundane, day to day interactions with healthcare professionals? What has been the impact of joint working arrangements between health, social work, and housing agencies for disabled people? How effective are community based services for disabled people? What are the main features of the relations between medical professionals, nurses, professionals allied to medicine, other support services such as medical social workers and disabled people? The studentship will cover fees, research expenses and a subsistence allowance of £8,300 per annum. Candidates require a good first degree, or equivalent, in either sociology, social policy, anthropology, nursing or other related subject. A knowledge of disability studies would be an advantage. Disabled applicants are encouraged to apply. A letter of application plus a full cv should be sent to: Ms Linda Dick , Department of Nursing Studies, The University of Edinburgh, 31 Buccleuch Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9JT The closing date for applications is Friday, 7th June 2002 ________________End of message______________________ Archives and tools for the Disability-Research Discussion List are now located at: www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page.