PhD Scholarship with Graduate Teaching Assistantship (Chiropractic)

PhD Scholarship with Graduate Teaching Assistantship (Chiropractic)

Full time, Fixed Term

Qualification type: PhD

Location: Bournemouth

Funding for: UK students

Funding amount:

The Royal College of Chiropractors and Health Sciences University have jointly funded a PhD scholarship with associated Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) position and are seeking applications from outstanding doctoral candidates with clear potential to excel as academic teachers and researchers in the field of chiropractic. The PhD scholarship with GTA is a three-year fixed-term position.

Students undertake a PhD on a 0.8 FTE basis alongside a 0.2 FTE teaching contract. Remuneration consists of a PhD stipend of £15,539 per annum (0.8 of the standard UKRI rate), plus a salary of £5,582. In addition, PhD tuition fees will be covered.

Closing date: 18^th August 2024

Health Sciences University is a specialist health sciences institution and registered charity, established in 1965, dedicated to providing excellent education, clinical care and applied research. Based in Bournemouth, our campus is in an attractive setting, just a few minutes’ walk from the beach.  Building on its proud heritage, the Health Sciences University is on an exciting journey of transformation and growth. We provide a vibrant and positive inter-professional learning and practice environment, within a caring and inclusive community.

Choosing to undertake your PhD with us means you’ll experience the many benefits of being part of a specialist health sciences university. We train a wide range of health-related professionals and, uniquely, provide multiple clinical services. Our students have access to highly specialised on-site facilities, such as our Integrated Rehabilitation Centre and Open Upright MRI, within which a range of health-related research is embedded. Our specialised and experienced staff will become your supervisory team and support your research, training and academic development.

More info: https://www.aecc.ac.uk/course/research-degree-phd/

About the role

PhD Scholarship

PhD project title: Exploring behavioural change skills to support health promotion activity in the UK chiropractic profession.

Supervisors:

Professor David Newell

Dr Alister Du Rose

Dr Humaira Khan

Background: Health promotion is vital in contemporary healthcare, focusing on proactive strategies to improve health outcomes through lifestyle changes and chronic disease prevention. It enhances individual and community well-being, reduces healthcare costs, and eases the burden on healthcare systems. Traditionally, UK chiropractic care has focused on neuromusculoskeletal disorders, but chiropractors increasingly recognize their role in health promotion.

Studies in the UK have shown that chiropractors feel responsible for health promotion and impact preventative care in key risk factors prioritised by the government. Recent research suggests that professions, such as chiropractic, can effectively encourage health behaviour changes due to their holistic approach and strong therapeutic relationships with patients.

Integrating health promotion into chiropractic practice helps with addressing broader health factors beyond immediate musculoskeletal issues, potentially reducing long-term healthcare burdens and costs. However, many chiropractic professionals lack knowledge and skills in evidence-based behavioural change approaches.

Effective health promotion in chiropractic care can leverage behavioural change theories considering various factors. Chiropractors need skills to assess readiness to change, set realistic goals, and provide ongoing support using techniques like motivational interviewing and goal setting. Integrating health promotion and behavioural change knowledge in UK chiropractic care could significantly improve patient health and disease prevention, contributing to a healthier society and sustainable healthcare system.

Aims: The project will investigate the following key issues:

• Better understanding of current practices across the profession including contemporary health behaviour change techniques.
• An exploration of current practice involving a wide cohort of stakeholders including the professional bodies and associations, educators, practitioners and patients.

• A comprehensive review of undergraduate training and postgraduate training opportunities.
• Co-creation of CPD resources for chiropractors and evaluation of educational interventions.

Methods: The project will consist of three parts: 1) a systematic review of the present knowledge and use of health promotional approaches in the chiropractic profession; 2) a survey of registered chiropractors to explore the use, knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of providing health promotion activities in the UK profession; and 3) the creation and evaluation of health promotion CPD material contextualised to chiropractic care.

About the person

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Reporting to the Head of the HSU School of Chiropractic, example duties that the GTA may undertake include:

a) Attendance at relevant training and induction sessions.
b) Satisfactory unit delivery including both teaching and assessment.
c) Engagement with assessment boards and programme team meetings.
d) Satisfactory peer observation of teaching.
e) Positive teacher/subject/course evaluations.
f) Develop examples of good practice adopted by others.
g) Positive learning outcomes as evidenced by such things as retention and pass rates, student prizes and projects.

Performance:

The Scholar’s performance will be carefully supported and enhanced in both research and teaching.  With the appropriate guidance, support, and training, the Scholar will have the opportunity to grow and excel as a teacher. Teaching activities may be tailored to align with the Scholar’s personal strengths, such as their subject knowledge. If, despite comprehensive support and training, the Scholar’s teaching does not meet the required standard, the Scholar may be withdrawn from teaching duties and the Scholarship will be reviewed.

As a PhD student, the Scholar will undergo an annual review to ensure satisfactory academic progress, which will be considered separately from their performance as a GTA. Regarding PhD progression, Scholars are expected to balance their teaching responsibilities without requesting extensions or suspensions based on their teaching load. If a Scholar is not making satisfactory academic progress according to University Regulations, their Scholarship will be reviewed and could be withdrawn.

Enquiries: Professor David Newell, dnewell@aecc.ac.uk

Application website: https://www.aecc.ac.uk/course/research-degree-phd/

Job description and person specification here

Closing date: 18^th August 2024

Interviews: TBC

We welcome applications from all sections of the community and value diversity in our workforce. Applications from people from black and minority ethnic groups, which are underrepresented in our workforce are particularly welcomed.