PhD Study : Fatigue and pain in Fibromyalgia

Apply and key information  

Summary

Introduction.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a prevalent and disabling condition, affecting about approximately 2–-4% of the global adult population worldwide, with unclear pathophysiology and management strategies. Current clinical guidelines and empirical evidence emphasize education/self-management support, regular physical exercise, and psychotherapy. However, outcomes relevant to people with FM are generally unsatisfactory. Chronic pain and fatigue in FM are influenced by a complex network of mutually interacting factors that include physical (dis)ability, psychological resilience and vulnerability, social factors, sleep quality, obesity, and disease activity. The importance of these distinct factors is assumed to differ between individual patients. The strength with which each factor influences pain and fatigue also differs between patients. An online cross sectional study is currently being conducted across Europe investigating these influencing factors for pain and fatigue for a wide range of rheumatic conditions.

The aims of this study are:

To describe factors (physical inactivity, obesity,  sleep problems, inflammatory activity, psychological distress factors)  which influence pain and fatigue in Fibromyalgia

Methods:

1.Systematic review of the current literature around factors which influence chronic pain and fatigue in fibromyalgia

2.Data analysis of European survey data with a specific focus on fibromyalgia to describe factors which influence pain and fatigue in this population.

3.Data analysis of European survey data with a specific focus on UK data across the range of rheumatic conditions.

4.Use of above data above to inform the design of an intervention and test its feasibility in clinical practice

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

Recommended reading

1.Williams DA, Arnold LM. Measures of fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Sleep Scale, and Multiple Ability Self-Report Questionnaire (MASQ). Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) 2011;63:S86–97. doi:10.1002/acr.20531 6 2 Geenen R, Dures E.

2.A biopsychosocial network model of fatigue in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2019;58:v10–21. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kez403

The Doctoral College at Ulster University

Key dates

Submission deadline
Monday 6 February 2023
04:00PM

Interview Date
20th - 22nd March 2023

Preferred student start date
18th September 2023

Applying

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Contact supervisor

Professor Ciara Hughes

Other supervisors