Improving palliative care in residential aged care using telehealth (IMPART)

Summary Residential aged care facilities are important care settings where people live and die, yet the quality of end-of-life care can vary considerably across facilities. To support aged care staff in end-of-life care and discussions, we have developed the IMPART program. The IMPART program is a collaborative, NHMRC-funded trial that aims to improve palliative care in residential aged care using telehealth and staff education. We are seeking a PhD student to evaluate aspects of the implementation of the trial through focus groups and interviews with aged care staff, residents and family members. The PhD student will explore which aspects of the intervention worked well, identify barriers to engagement and contextual factors that impacted the trial. This will offer important insights and inform future trial roll-outs. PhD funding is available for 3 years and can potentially be extended for up to six months.

Project Details

Overview

A full-time graduate research scholarship is available for a suitable PhD candidate with a nursing, medicine or allied health degree. The PhD position is offered by the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) through the University of Melbourne and funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Eligibility

We are seeking a PhD candidate with an interest in research focused on end-of-life care with the capacity to complete this PhD full-time over the next 3-3.5 years. The applicant must hold a Honour’s or Master's degree in nursing, medicine, psychology, allied health or social sciences. They must be an Australian permanent resident or Australian citizen. Completing the PhD will require data collection in residential aged care facilities across Melbourne. Further to this, applicants are required to fulfil eligibility requirements for admission into the PhD program at the University of Melbourne: https://mdhs.unimelb.edu.au/research/research-training.

Benefits

The PhD scholarship is valued at $32,400 per annum and is indexed and tax exempted. This studentship is for 3 years and can potentially be extended for up to six months, subject to satisfactory progress toward timely completion. The successful candidate may be able to apply for additional funds to support their research, for example, computer and professional development opportunities.

About NARI, MARC and the PhD Opportunity

The successful PhD candidate will be enrolled at the University of Melbourne through the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences under supervision of A/Prof Kirsten Moore, Prof Kwang Lim and Dr Katrin Gerber. As the national leader in ageing research, the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) produces evidence, tools and resources to improve the lives of older people. The Melbourne Ageing Research Collaboration (MARC) is a division of NARI and a unique partnership of 19 health, research, aged care and advocacy organisations. This PhD opportunity will join an innovative research program that aims to improve palliative care in residential aged care.

Residential aged care facilities are important care settings where people live and die, yet the quality of end-of-life care can vary considerably across facilities. To support aged care staff in end-of-life care and discussions, we have developed the IMPART program that seeks to reduce avoidable hospitalisation at the end of life by using telehealth and staff education. We are seeking a PhD student to evaluate aspects of the implementation of the IMPART trial through focus groups and interviews with aged care staff, residents and family members. The PhD student will explore which aspects of the intervention worked well, identify barriers to engagement and contextual factors that impacted the trial. This will offer important insights and inform future trial roll-outs.

Application

· Curriculum vitae including publications, if available, or any other significant research outputs

· Cover letter outlining your suitability for the studentship

· Academic transcript showing full grades/marks achieved and any institution grading scale on the official statement;

· If English is not your first language, please provide a certificate/document outlining the completion of English language requirements as per the English proficiency guide https://futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/entry-requirements/language-requirements/graduate-toefl-ielts