PhD Study : Attitudes and beliefs to e-cigarette use in smokers and their feasibility as a smoking cessation tool

Summary

In addition to the essential criteria noted below, the Degree (or equivalent) qualification must be in Psychology or a closely related discipline. We will accept applications from candidates who are about to hold

* a minimum of and Upper Second Class Honours (2:1) Degree in Psychology or closely related discipline (or overseas award deemed equivalent via UK NARIC) .

* An additional Desirable criteria that may be applied is holding, being about to hold, a Master's level qualification in Psychology or a closely related discipline.

*You must provide official, final results of qualifications used to meet the academic requirements before the start of the studentship

Background

Smoking accounts for 1 in 6 preventable deaths in Northern Ireland (PHA, 2015) and costs the health trusts £164 million per year. Smoking is a risk factor for a range of chronic health conditions and all-cause mortality (Müezzinler et al., 2015). Smoking cessation has been a targeted health behaviour for a number of years and viewed as key to improving life expectancy and well-being in later life.  Smoking over the last few years has declined in some groups but continues to increase in young adults aged 18-25 years and those from lower income groups.

E-cigarettes are being promoted as a healthy alternative to traditional tobacco smoking, although in a recent systematic review their use was related to fewer quit attempts in smokers (Kalkhoran et al., 2016). In order to design an appropriate smoking cessation tool, using e-cigarettes, it is necessary to gain a better understanding of the attitudes and perceptions of their use among smokers and their acceptability as a smoking cessation tool.

This project will build on current research within the School of Psychology at Ulster on e-cigarette use and address key PFG health targets by having an outcome based approach, addressing an issue that has the potential to promote health and well-being in the population and reduce health inequalities and informing policy and practice around smoking cessation. It will utilise the theory of planned behaviour (Aizen, 1985) as a framework to examine the attitudes and beliefs towards e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool in young adult smokers and to design an appropriate intervention to promote their use in this age group, endorsed by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) (Taylor et al., 2006) as an evidence based way of predicting health related behaviour.

Objectives

To determine perceptions, knowledge and predictors of e-cigarette use in a young adult sample of smokers aged 18-25years.

To determine the acceptability of e-cigarette use as a smoking cessation aid in a young adult sample of smokers aged 18-25years.

To explore the factors that influence intentions to use e-cigarettes and in particular how attitudes towards e-cigarettes, the roles of one’s significant others and the ease or difficulty engaging in the behaviour facilitates or prevents their use in a young adult sample of smokers aged 18-25years

Based on the evidence from these objectives, design an appropriate smoking cessation tool for this group using e-cigarettes as a cessation aid.

Methods

A mixed methods approach will be utilised to gather data on attitudes and perceptions of e-cigarette use in young smokers in Northern Ireland, employing theory of planned behaviour as a framework for the research and intervention design. Focus groups and questionnaire based studies and will aim to determine smokers (and potential consumer) knowledge of aspects of the action of e-cigarette use and their potential benefits as well as to elucidate which factors might facilitate and prevent their use as a smoking cessation tool. This evidence will inform a smoking cessation intervention tailored to this group, using e-cigarettes.

References

Ajzen, I. (1985). From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behavior. In J. Kuhl & J. Beckman (Eds.), Action-control: From cognition to behavior (pp. 11-39). Heidelberg: Springer.

Kalkhoran, S., & Glantz, S. A. (2016). E-cigarettes and smoking cessation in real-world and clinical settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 4(2), 116-128.

Müezzinler, A., Mons, U., Gellert, C., Schöttker, B., Jansen, E., Kee, F., ... & Wolk, A. (2015). Smoking and all-cause mortality in older adults: results from the CHANCES consortium. American journal of preventive medicine, 49(5), e53-e63.

• PHA (2015). Tobacco control Northern Ireland

Taylor, D. T., Bury, M., Campling, N., Carter, S., Garfied, S., Newbould, J., and Rennie, T. (2006). A review of the use of the Health Belief Model (HBM), the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and the Trans-Theoretical Model (TTM) to study and predict health related behaviour change.

Review undertaken on behalf of NICE.

Retrieved from Public health guideline [PH6]

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
• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement

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