PhD Study : Person-centred practice in the Radiology department: an assessment of current practice

Summary

Background to the project:

Globally, there has been increasing interest in the need to improve the patient experience across all healthcare settings. The World Health Organisation (WHO, 2015) have set out a comprehensive framework appealing to healthcare providers to deliver services in a way that favours the person, rather than the presenting condition. These ideals fit closely with the notion of person-centred practice (McCormack and McCance 2017). In the UK, the Francis report (2013) highlighted major failings in patient care, fortunately Radiographers avoided the scrutiny provided to other healthcare professionals. However, they are still bound to deliver compassionate care to their patients (Blieker et al. 2016, SCoR 2013 and 2014).

A wide variety of people access the radiography department annually making it an environment where the radiography team are under increasing pressure to receive patients, produce a diagnostic image and keep the department running (Booth 2008). To achieve these ends, there is some evidence to suggest that radiography healthcare professionals are inclined to limit their communication with patients (Booth 2008) and label patients in terms of age, gender or nature of their injury, in order to aid judicious decision-making (Struwick 2016). Nevertheless, Hayre et al. (2016) suggest that there is a requirement to ensure that those healthcare professionals working in the radiography department deliver person-centred care and not just process patients through the system.

Aim:

To explore person-centred practice within Radiology departments in Northern Ireland and determine staff perceptions of practice.

Objectives:

1.To explore the relationship between attributes of radiographers  and radiologists, their engagement in care processes and the care environment from a staff perspective.

2.To investigate how the relationships identified from objective 1 are experienced by staff and service users.

3.To psychometrically test the Person-centred Practice Inventory (staff) (PCPIS) in relation to the radiology population.

Design and methods:

A two-stage mixed methods approach will be used. Initially the Person-centred Practice Inventory (staff) (PCPI-S) will be used to measure the presence of staff attitudes and how the management of the radiology department impacts the care delivered. Semi-structured interviews will then be conducted to identify how the relationships identified from objective one were experienced by staff and service users and how this related to service users’ care. This stage has the additional benefit of allowing staff to elaborate on, or explain the quantitative findings from stage one.

Data analysis:

Quantitative data analysis will be undertaken in a number of stages and include testing and managing missing data, normality of distribution, undertaking multivariate data analysis, and exploration of the data using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data will be analysed using Burnard et al. (2008)

Skills required of applicant:

The successful applicant should be from the Allied Health Professional or Nursing background, and be familiar with research processes.  Excellent oral and written communication skills are an essential requirement.

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.

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

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