Research Associate on PROTECTOR study (Qualitative)

The role

We are seeking to appoint a new member of the QuinteT team to undertake the qualitative components of the PROTECTOR project, which aims to establish the current evidence and best-practice in tobacco-cessation among patients undergoing vascular and cardiothoracic surgery. Tobacco-smoking is the single biggest cause of predictable death worldwide. Patients undergoing vascular and cardiothoracic surgery have a high prevalence of tobacco smoking. The PROTECTOR project aims to investigate current best evidence and practice, alongside the experience and specific needs of patients and clinicians, to optimise tobacco-cessation. 

What will you be doing?

This post is for a researcher to work on the qualitative components of the study which will entail: 1) qualitative interviews with patients who smoke tobacco who are awaiting or recovering from cardiothoracic or vascular surgery; 2) focus groups with healthcare professionals who care for patients during this process, and 3) capturing audio-recordings of discussions between patients and professionals in the lead up to surgery. We envisage that this project will inform the development and evaluation of a tailormade, accessible, and acceptable intervention for perioperative tobacco-cessation, the potential future implementation of which could benefit tens of thousands of patients by providing improved perioperative health and fewer postoperative complications after surgery. The results will be distributed through collaboration with the wider research community.

In this role you will be:

• Applying for ethical approval
• Liaising with the patient advisory group (PAG)
• Conducting interviews and focus groups with patients, carers and clinicians
• Collecting audio-recordings from clinicians’ consultations with patients in the lead up to surgery
• Analysing the qualitative findings from the above data sources
• Preparing written outputs of the findings
• Keeping detailed records of recruitment, data collection, and manage data in line with ethical approval
• Engaging with the wider study team and the Quintet team, including attending team meetings 

You should apply if

You have relevant training in and experience of undertaking qualitative interviews (ideally in a health setting), ability to use initiative, and apply creativity, to solve problems that are encountered in the research context, and ability to organise your own time and work, to meet deadlines, and manage competing priorities.  This would suit someone with experience or an interest in behaviour change and or smoking cessation but this is not essential. 

Additional information

Contract type: Open-ended with fixed funding until 30/06/24

Work pattern: Part time/ 0.5 FTE

Shift pattern: 17.5 hours per week 

This advert will close at 23:59 GMT on 11/04/2023

For informal queries please contact: Ava Lorenc ava.lorenc@bristol.ac.uk  

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