PhD Study : An assessment of podiatrists' clinical interpretation of medical images and diagnostic accuracy with the aid of eye tracking technology

Summary

With continuing long-term fiscal restraint, NHS staff need to maximise the contributions of the entire workforce, design innovative ways of delivering services that enhance the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of services. Most hospitals in the UK now share the task of x-ray image reporting between the radiographers and radiologists. More recently, the newly developed role of the advanced Allied Health professional (AHP) and Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) adds to this innovative practice whereby Advanced Allied Health Practitioner (AAP’s) are undertaking specialist training under supported and governed systems of work. This enables them to undertake preliminary clinical evaluation and clinical reporting whilst working in the multi-disciplinary team. With appropriate skills development, they can make first line interpretation of images in support of patient management.

Whilst advanced podiatrists will have had radiation protection IRMER training to assist in on-going patient management, there is a lack of training in the interpretation of images. With the development of a regional diabetic foot service in Northern Ireland this added skill is even more important as this multi-disciplinary podiatry led team will have high risk cases loads dealing with foot conditions which will require accurate, immediate diagnosis and management to prevent life and limb threatening events. Advanced podiatrists are also involved in multidisciplinary teams working in the fields of muscoskeletal disorders, again the need for accurate and timely diagnosis of the imaging is imperative in the management of their case load.

Despite all these advances in team working and delivery of services, there is limited development of online teaching/educational tools to support these new innovative staff roles.

Aim:

To test the feasibility of an educational training tool to enhance clinician’s ability to clinically evaluate medical images.

Objectives:

To test the feasibility of a training platform using expert informed search strategies mediated using Tobii eye tracking videos of experts and a web-based interactive educational tool.

To assess the impact and effectiveness of the digital training platform on participant performance.

Methods:

Search strategies using experienced reporters will be combined to develop an optimal search strategy training tool which will use a series of questions, diagrams and prompts to guide the user to systematically search the image and form a diagnosis.

An educational programme will be developed using videos of expert’s eye gazes and voice recording during image interpretation with the aid of the search strategy training tool. 100 Podiatry clinicians will be recruited and randomised to use this training platform or not. They will interpret a series of digital medical images whilst thinking aloud to give insight into the subject’s cognitive processes whilst image viewing.

The Tobii Eye Tracking device will be used to non-invasively and unobtrusively track participant eye movement patterns. Pre and post intervention data will determine effectiveness of the training platform. Ethical approval will be sought from Office of Research Ethics Committee (OREC).

Data analysis:

Data will be categorised and any statistically significant differences will be determined between the different age groups and expert groups using Chi-Square and/or t-tests.

This PhD project would suit an Allied Health Practitioner OR a computer science graduate with appropriate knowledge of research processes. Ideally the successful student should have experience of working in the NHS.

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
• Clearly defined research proposal detailing background, research questions, aims and methodology
• A demonstrable interest in the research area associated with the studentship

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.

• First Class Honours (1st) Degree
• Masters at 65%
• Practice-based research experience and/or dissemination
• Sound understanding of subject area as evidenced by a comprehensive research proposal
• 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