PhD Study : Exploring communication with the gender diverse community in radiography departments

Summary

Background:

Radiographers are required by law to ask their patients about their biological sex characteristics, check identity and to check their Last Menstrual Period (LMP) to rule out the possibility of pregnancy. This is to keep the patients safe from ionising radiation. For individuals that have a different gender than their gender assignment made at birth, this can be a difficult experience and lead to poor care. To ensure all patients receive the best care from radiographers, it is important to think about the way we speak to people, using inclusive language, while keeping them safe. Radiographers often don’t know how best to talk to people from the gender diverse community as there are many different terms and definitions. This can impact their ability to communication.

The aim of the project is to work with people from the gender diverse community to consider ways to improve communication in imaging departments in Northern Ireland for this population.

Methods:

This will be done by first asking radiographers and patients what this experience is like for them now. This will be by survey and either interviews or focus groups. Secondly, we will look at how we can learn from what is happening now and improve it for the future. We will do this by looking at what we found with the gender diverse community. We will then develop a small-scale project to see if the changes we want to see in imaging departments would work in a real world department in Northern Ireland.

Impact:

We hope that this project would support radiographers and patients from gender diverse communities communicate with each other. We hope this would improve the care received by all people that attend imaging departments.

AccessNI clearance required

Please note, the successful candidate will be required to obtain AccessNI clearance prior to registration due to the nature of the project.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Masters at 65%
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living