Dr D Bunn, Prof Fiona Poland, Dr L Hooper
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
This is an exciting opportunity for a health professional with a Masters Degree to undertake a fully funded PhD to support people with dementia living in care homes to drink well, preventing dehydration and the ill health associated with it. The aims of the PhD are:
1. To establish the prevalence of dehydration amongst (i) older people in general, and (ii) those living with dementia in particular, who are residing in hospital, care home and community settings. A systematic review.
2. To explore why care home residents living with dementia may be reluctant to drink, or refuse drinks altogether and the challenges these decisions pose for care staff. A qualitative study.
3. To develop a care pathway decision model for care staff when caring for residents living with dementia who are reluctant or refusing drinks. A feasibility study.
4. An underpinning theme for the PhD is for the student to adopt an inclusive approach by working alongside residents, care staff and family carers throughout.
This mixed methods study, using both qualitative and quantitative methods will enable the student to develop expertise in a number of methods, including systematic reviewing, qualitative observational methods, semi-structured and structured interviewing techniques, qualitative and quantitative data analysis, and development of a feasibility study. The student will be supervised by a team with shared expertise in hydration care, care home research, qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
At the UEA, the PhD student will join a vibrant research team, and their PhD project will contribute to, and benefit from, other related research projects in dementia and hydration care, in an exciting research environment.
Research outputs from this project will include publication of scientific manuscripts, national collaborations, and dissemination to stakeholders, including international conference participation.
For more information on the supervisor for this project, please go here: https://people.uea.ac.uk/d_bunn
This is a PhD programme.
The start date of the project is 1 October 2020.
The mode of study is full-time. The studentship length is 3 years. Please note, 3-year studentships have a (non-funded) 1-year ‘registration only’ period.
Entry requirements
Acceptable first degree (please indicate acceptable first degree subject areas in a human sciences degree, e.g. a health-related degree, Psychology.
The standard minimum entry requirement is 2:1 and Master’s degree in a related topic area or equivalent research experience.
NB: The successful applicant will also be expected to meet the following two requirements:
(i) Satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check.
(ii) An ability to travel to, and work in care homes in Norfolk & Suffolk, UK.
Funding Notes
This PhD project is a fully funded studentship, funded jointly by UEA and the NHS South Norfolk CCG. These studentships are funded for 3 years and comprise of Home/EU fees, a stipend of £15,285 and £1000 per annum to support research training.
References
i). Bunn D, Jimoh F, Howard S, Hooper L. Increasing Fluid Intake and Reducing Dehydration Risk in Older People Living in Long-Term Care : A Systematic Review. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2015; 16: 101–13
ii). Bunn D, Abdelhamid A, Copley M, et al. Effectiveness of interventions to indirectly support food and drink intake in people with dementia: Eating and Drinking Well IN dementiA (EDWINA) systematic review. BMC Geriatrics 2016; 16(1): 1-18.
iii). Hooper L, Bunn D, Jimoh FO, Fairweather-Tait SJ. Water-loss dehydration and aging. Mechanisms of Ageing and Development 2014; 136(1): 50-8.
iv). Hooper L, Bunn DK, Downing A, et al. Which Frail Older People Are Dehydrated? the UK DRIE Study. Journals of Gerontology - Series A Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 2016; 71(10): 1341-7.
v). Natalwala A, Potluri R, Uppal H, Heun R. Reasons for Hospital Admissions in Dementia Patients in Birmingham, UK, during 2002–2007. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders 2008; 26(6): 499-505.
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