Postgraduate research opportunities Developing a digital tool to manage cognitive decline among people with prostate cancer during treatment
ApplyKey facts
- Opens: Sunday 31 July 2022
- Deadline: Wednesday 31 August 2022
- Number of places: 1
- Duration: 36 months
- Funding: Home fee, Stipend, Travel costs
Overview
This PhD studentship will facilitate the co-design of a digital tool which will support people with prostate cancer to better manage their cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) symptoms leading to an improved Quality of Life (QoL).Eligibility
You'll be expected to have a 1st or 2:1 UK Honours degree (although a 2:2 would be considered if you have additional experience), or overseas equivalent, in a relevant discipline from a recognised academic institution - ideally in Digital Health, Computer Science, Psychology, Biomedical Science or Health Sciences or related disciplines.
You should be highly motivated to undertake cutting edge research in this field and to engage with a wide variety of stakeholders including people with prostate cancer and families/friends, experts from the NHS and third-sector organisations, and software developers.
Project Details
Cancer treatment-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is increasingly being recognised with studies suggesting that approximately 40% of cancer patients have evidence of CRCI before any treatment, up to 75% may have cognitive decline during treatment, and up to 60% exhibit deterioration in cognition even after completion of therapies. The most common cognitive complaints following various treatments (e.g. chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and drug treatments) are related to executive functioning, processing speed, attention, and memory, all of which can have a severe negative effect on daily functioning and QoL. The majority of research surrounding CRCI has involved people with breast cancer with many other types of cancer being underrepresented. Despite high prevalence rates of prostate cancer, there is little research on CRCI and how to manage these symptoms among this population. There is a need to offer people with prostate cancer a novel way to better manage and enhance their cognition during and following cancer treatments and digital technology may hold the key to this. This PhD in Computer and Information Sciences will be co-supervised by HaSS and will involve mixed methodology and co-design activities with people with prostate cancer to develop a digital tool to help manage CRCI symptoms.
Year 1
Conduct a literature review of interventions designed to improve cognitive functioning among people undergoing and following cancer treatment. Conduct a needs assessment among people with prostate cancer using co-design activities to better understand CRCI, and determine the design and main functionalities of the digital tool. Work will also involve a collaboration with a software developer to create a pilot digital solution based on findings from co-design activities.
Year 2
Development and testing of the pilot digital solution with people with prostate cancer and collect feedback through various methods. This will lead to the development of the refined version of the digital tool.
Year 3
A three-month pilot study with the refined digital tool with people with prostate cancer while collecting data with relevant PROMs and speaking to a proportion of participants to obtain feedback.
Further information
Research fees and stipend for this role have been funded thanks to a philanthropic donation from Strathclyde graduate Leslie Stretch. His generosity is supporting a number of research posts across the University of Strathclyde.
Funding details
The studentship is fully funded to a total value of up to £67,000 across the studentship.
Please note that the studentship covers UK fees only. While non-UK applicants can apply, they need to specify in their documentation how they will fund the difference between the home UK and international fee rates.
While there is no funding in place for opportunities marked "unfunded", there are lots of different options to help you fund postgraduate research. Visit funding your postgraduate research for links to government grants, research councils funding and more, that could be available.
Apply
Number of places: 1
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