PhD Study : Design, usability test and evaluate a digital health application to facilitate social eating and promote health-related quality of life for patients with head and neck cancer and their families

Summary

Background: Eating with others, or social eating provides a rich and varied experience for people. Therefore, missing out on the opportunities and benefits that eating with others provides, presents patients and family members at risk of isolation, loneliness, and subsequently reduced health-realted quality of life (HRQOL). Following treatment for head and neck cancer (HNC), up to 90% of patients have difficulties eating and drinking.  Patients report feeling self-conscious, a lack of understanding from others, and can also feel shame and embarrassment when eating in front of others. Given the remarkable impact of HNC on social eating, content for a social eating interventions “Eating with Others” has been developed which is family-centred and incorporates psychosocial and behavioural strategies. Digitalisation of this family-centred, self-management social eating intervention could enhance responsiveness, tailoring to individual family situations and promote reach.

Aim

Adapt, usability test and evaluate a digital self-management “Eating with Others” healthcare application to promote social eating and HRQOL for patients with HNC and their families.

Objectives

1. Adapt the  self-management “Eating with Others” resource into a  digital healthcare application to promote social eating and HRQOL for patients  with HNC and their families.
2. Test the acceptability  and adoption of the “Eating with Others” digital healthcare application.
3. Evaluate  the effectiveness of the “Eating with Others” digital healthcare application on  increased engagement with social eating and HRQOL for patients with HNC and  their families.

Methods: Adaption of the digital healthcare application will be informed by the Person-based approach (Yardley et al. 2015), which has been successfully used to develop effective and acceptable digital healthcare interventions.

This 5-phase project will: 1) review the literature on HNC patients and family members utilisation of digital self-management interventions, 2)  adapt the “Eating with Others” resource into a digital healthcare application, 3) refine the digital “Eating with Others” prototype using ‘think aloud’ interviews, 4) test usability and adoption and 5) evaluate effectiveness in a pilot randomised controlled trial to promote social eating and HRQOL, using valiated questionnaires and multi-biometric user experience testing equipment.

Please note that a copy of this project summary should be uploaded as ‘research proposal’ as part of your application.

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.

• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain

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
• Relevant professional qualification and/or a Degree in a Health or Health related area

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

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 £19,237 (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