Project title: The role of partner support in chronic disease outcomes

Primary supervisor: Dr Veronica Lamarche

Second supervisor: Dr Elia Valentini

University: University of Essex, Department of Psychology

SeNSS Pathway: Psychology

Collaborative partner: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT)

Collaborative partner supervisor: Dr Tania Gudu, Department of Rheumatology, ESNEFT

Degree structure: either a three-year PhD programme (+3), or a one-year Masters degree, followed by a three-year PhD programme (1+3). If you are applying for the 1+3, you will take an MSc Research Methods in Psychology

Project background

In the UK, patient care and disease management are typically treated as individual concerns rather than recognising that disease management is a social process. This project offers an exciting opportunity to develop and test a comprehensive account of how partner interactions impact chronic disease, with immediate relevance to chronic disease management and care of arthritis patients. Patient reported outcomes are important measures in management of inflammatory arthritis, but they are inherently subjective, and may be influenced by social factors overlooked in clinical contexts (e.g., social support). There is often a large discordance between patient and physician global assessments of disease activity in inflammatory arthritis, which impacts treatment decisions, patient satisfaction and compliance. An overreliance on physiological predictors of patient global assessments means that important social information (e.g., interactions with partners) which may contribute to patient-physician discordance have been overlooked. Shifting to a bio-psycho-social model approach which includes understanding the impact of social contexts should contribute to a better disease management.

 

Project aims and objectives

This exciting PhD project aims to examine how daily interactions between partners influence patient-reported disease outcomes and may account for discrepancies between patient and physician global assessments of disease activity in inflammatory arthritis. Specific objectives include:

  1. Synthesizing the current evidence regarding associations between partner support and patient reported outcomes among arthritis patients.

  2. Examining daily associations between partner interactions and patient reported outcomes.

  3. Examining longitudinal associations between daily partner interactions and patient reported disease outcomes, and the over-time patient-physician discordance on global assessments.

  4. Identifying the similarities and differences in how partner interactions patient-physician assessments across different types of inflammatory arthritis.

  5. Piloting possible psycho-social interventions to improve patient reported disease outcomes.

Training opportunities

A comprehensive package of training will be agreed in consultation with the supervisors. Elements of training will be provided by the supervisors, University of Essex, ESNEFT, and by other providers. This scholarship provides an exciting opportunity for a student to advance psychological theory on the social processes impacting patient reported outcomes in inflammatory arthritis and contribute to improved patient care. The student will work closely with hospital staff and adult patients with inflammatory arthritis. This will provide invaluable experience for a researcher keen to develop a career working within or in collaboration with NHS settings.

 

Essential and/or desirable attributes/skills

A high-calibre graduate with a Bachelors or Masters degree in Psychology or closely related discipline, excellent interpersonal skills, and enthusiasm for developing strong statistical skills was sought.


Residential eligibility

Home or international students are eligible for a fully-funded award (fees will be paid, and they receive a stipend/salary).

How to apply for this studentship

This competition is now closed.