Applications are invited for this national PhD studentship competition for 3 year awards from individuals with a strong academic record who wish to develop a career in primary care research. Awards will normally be taken up in October 2016/January 2017.

Applicants must have a first degree in a discipline relevant to primary care research and will be expected to complete a PhD during the award period. The academic requirements are at least a 2i honours degree from a UK university or an equivalent standard from an overseas university and a Masters in a relevant subject. Students must be defined as “Home” or “EU” for fee purposes to be eligible to apply for this award. Studentship awards include fees and an annual tax-free stipend normally of £16,000.

The goal of the Cambridge Primary Care Unit (PCU) is to reduce the burden of ill health by identifying and targeting the behaviours that lead to chronic disease, by improving early detection of illness, and by improving the delivery of health services in community settings. We aim to achieve this by delivering research and education at the highest international standards of excellence.

Applications are encouraged to develop their own projects within the remit of the Unit (http://www.phpc.cam.ac.uk/pcu/research/research-overview/) however, the Unit has these suggested projects:

Self-management and emotion-regulation in the context of multimorbidity.
An investigation of i) the strategies used by patients with multiple chronic conditions for managing the practical and emotional aspects of their symptoms, medications and daily lives; ii) the association between individual strategies for managing ill health and their states of mind regarding close relationships (adult attachment). The project, drawing on both qualitative and attachment measures, would suit a student with an interest in the psychology of emotion and health.
Potential supervisor: Dr Robbie Duschinsky, Lecturer in Social Sciences

Very brief interventions for physical activity
Very brief face-to-face interventions for physical activity delivered by healthcare practitioners can potentially be incorporated in routine consultations and applied on a large scale. This project will use qualitative and quantitative methods to develop and evaluate very brief (1-minute) interventions for use in primary care consultations. The question guiding this project is: if a practitioner has only one minute to deliver an intervention for physical activity, what is the best way to use that time?
Potential supervisor: Professor Stephen Sutton, Professor of Behavioural Science

Fear appeals to change health behaviours
‘Fear appeals’ are often used to try to change behaviours such as smoking, unhealthy eating and sedentary behaviour and to encourage people to attend for health checks and cancer screening tests. However, little is known about why some fear appeals are more effective than others. Using a combination of experimental and field studies, this project will investigate the use of striking visual images to enhance the effectiveness of text-based communications.
Potential supervisor: Professor Stephen Sutton, Professor of Behavioural Science

Medical students’ experience of the Dissecting Room
An investigation of first year medical students as they enter the DR and process the experience of full body dissection during their first year at medical school in Cambridge. Research methods potentially include systematic literature review, questionnaires, focus groups and in-depth individual interviews. Would suit a student with a background in Social Science, Psychology, clinical work or biomedical sciences.
Potential supervisors include:
Dr Stephen Barclay, University Senior Lecturer in Palliative Care
Dr Robbie Duschinsky, Lecturer in Social Sciences
Dr Cecilia Brassett, University Clinical Anatomist

Referral to hospice
An investigation of which patients receive hospice care, which do not, and why. Based in several hospices across the eastern region, quantitative and qualitative data collection will involve systematic literature review, review of clinical records, focus group discussion and in-depth individual interviews. Would suit a student with a background in nursing, Social Science or Psychology.
Potential supervisors to include:
Dr Stephen Barclay, University Senior Lecturer in Palliative Care
Dr Robbie Duschinsky, Lecturer in Social Sciences

Stopping cancer treatment towards the end of life
An investigation of decision-making concerning oral anticancer treatment in advanced disease: are decisions to stop made, and if so how, when, why and by whom? These drugs may cost up to £5000 per month and offer only modest survival benefits. Research methods to include case notes reviews, survey of clinicians, Consultant and Specialist Nurse interviews and patient interviews.
Potential supervisors to include:
Dr Stephen Barclay, University Senior Lecturer in Palliative Care
Dr Robbie Duschinsky, Lecturer in Social Sciences
Dr Pippa Corrie, Consultant Oncologist and Associate Lecturer

Applications should be sent to Frances Cater at pcupa@medschl.cam.ac.uk and should include:

• A CV including full details of all University courses taken with date, with grades if available.
• The names and contact details of two academic or clinical referees.
• A covering letter (up to 500 words) explaining why you wish to be considered for this particular studentship, what you will bring to the project and listing any relevant research (and clinical) experience to date.

Closing date: 3rd June 2016