Degree type
PhD
Closing date
1 June 2024
Campus
Launceston
Citizenship requirement
Domestic
About the research project
Over 8.2 million patients present to Australian Emergency Departments (EDs) each year, but care delivery can vary. Only 60% of care is in line with evidence- or consensus-based guidelines, 30% causes some form of waste or low value care, and 10% is harmful. Implementation science is the study of methods to promote the systematic uptake of research and evidence-informed practices (interventions, programs, innovations) into routine practice, improving the quality and effectiveness of health services and care. It seeks to understand influences on healthcare professional and organisational behaviour and determine the best ways for evidence-informed interventions to become standard care. Implementation science is a global emergency medicine research priority.
The Implementing clinical Pathways for Acute Care in Tasmania (IMPACT) project aims to improve care in Tasmanian EDs by embedding implementation science principles in health care systems and developing strategies to increase uptake of acute clinical pathways and reduce variations in care. This project will focus on using implementation science to understand variations in care and develop targeted implementation strategies to improve ED care outcomes. The PhD topic will be co-developed with the candidate – potential topics include but are not limited to:
- Understanding the implementation of ED clinical pathways across different patient groups
- Co-designing and developing clinical pathways and implementation support strategies, such as audit and feedback
- Evaluating strategies to improve evidence-informed practice
- Developing and evaluating an implementation science laboratory (teams of researchers and clinicians) to drive system-based improvements
We are seeking to develop future research leaders in implementation science with a strong commitment to healthcare quality and safety improvement. This project will suit an applicant with prior clinical training (medicine, nursing or allied health), as well as experience in implementation science, psychology, public health, medicine, health sciences, human factors, design methods, data sciences or a health-related field.
Primary Supervisor
Meet Dr Damhnat McCannFunding
Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:
- a living allowance stipend of $32,192 per annum (2024 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
- a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
- a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)
If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.
As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.
Other funding opportunities and fees
For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees of undertaking a research degree, please visit our Scholarships and fees on research degrees page.
Eligibility
Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.
Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.
Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:
- Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus
Selection Criteria
The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.
Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:
- Medical, nursing or allied health qualification
Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:
- Experience in implementation science, psychology, public health, medicine, health sciences, human factors, design methods, data sciences or a health-related field
Application process
- Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
- Contact Dr Damhnat McCann to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
- In your application:
- Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
- Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
- Apply prior to 1 June 2024.
Full details of the application process can be found under the 'How to apply' section of the Research Degrees website.
Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.
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