Download Title of project: Optimising quality of life (QoL) and coping for

Title of project:
Optimising quality of life (QoL) and coping for patients and carers in relation to cancers with
poor prognosis
Director of Studies: Dr Peter Branney, Senior Lecturer in Social Psychology
Second Supervisor: Dr Laura Ashley, Senior Lecturer in Psychology
Overview of project
In the treatment and care of cancers with poor prognosis, the challenge is to identify ways of
optimising patients’ quality of life. During this PhD, the student will draw on health psychology
theories and use a range of innovative qualitative and quantitative methods to explore patients’ and
carers experiences of a cancer with poor survival, and when and how they cope and how care could
support such coping. The student has the scope to choose the cancer, depending on their interests
and experiences.
Link to NHS Priorities
Creating the conditions for positive ‘patient experiences’ is one of the five goals in the NHS Outcomes
Framework (Department of Health, 2012). The challenge of ensuring patients’ quality of life is
particularly acute for cancers with low survival rates, where patients face their mortality, invasive
medical procedures and bodily decline. The National Cancer Survivorship Initiative (2013) argues
that while patients’ experiences are improving, there are challenges in care that can be overcome
through holistic, personalised care and pre-(re)habilitation to support patients in the identification of
their needs and ways of meeting them.
Link to Faculty Research Themes
This PhD would cut across the wellbeing and engagement themes of the Institute for Health &
Wellbeing, which houses a range of disciplines within a single unit to inspire new thinking and
understanding about the big health problems affecting individuals, communities and nations. Using
health psychology theories as a framework (e.g. self-regulation model of illness), the PhD would aim
to optimise quality of life in the care of a vulnerable group.
Outline of project including proposed timescales
After identifying a particular cancer on which to focus, the PhD would entail:
1.
2.
3.
Systematic review of qualitative research of accounts of treatment and care for the cancer
and patients’ coping strategies and experiences;
A mixed-methods (e.g. questionnaire and photo-diary) study, using the self-regulation
model of illness as a framework, to investigate patient and carer accounts of their cancer,
coping and quality of life;
A longitudinal interview study, following patients and carers over 3 months to explore the
development, use and evolution of their coping strategies.
References
Department of Health. (2012). The NHS Outcomes Framework 2013/14. London: Department of
Health.
National Cancer Survivorship Initiative. (2013). Living with and beyond cancer: taking action to
improve outcomes. London: Department of Health.
Further information
To apply you must be eligible for NHS Continuing Professional Development (CPD) funding and have
the support of your line manager in writing. General enquiries should be directed by email to the
Faculty Research Director [email protected] to discuss the project further please contact
the Director of Studies https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/research/peter-branney.htm
Applications should be made on line here
http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/research-studentships-andfees-only-bursaries/