New PhD studentship offered within the Dental Public Health Research Group

PhD Studentship

Unit of Dental Public Health, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield

Project title

Decision aids in paediatric dental sedation: helping children choose what is right for them.

Supervisors

Dr Sarah Baker (main supervisor), Dr Sondos Albadri (Liverpool University), Dr Zoe Marshman, Professor Helen Rodd.

Project

Applications are invited from graduates with a social science background to undertake a PhD in the field of paediatric dental sedation. The 3-year PhD studentship is being funded by the Society for the Advancement of Anaesthesia in Dentistry (SAAD; http://www.saad.org.uk), following a successful joint application made by Sheffield and Liverpool Dental Schools. The funding will cover living expenses, project running costs and tuition fees. The student will be registered for their PhD with the University of Sheffield but will be required to travel to Liverpool and Manchester Dental Hospitals on occasions.

The project is a prospective mixed method study utilising both qualitative and quantitative techniques to develop and evaluate a patient decision aid for children and young people who are making a choice about the need for, and type of dental sedation. The proposed research will take a psychosocial approach and focuses on information-giving and decision-making for children and young people with their parents. The project seeks to develop, and evaluate evidence-based decision aids for use in paediatric dental sedation, which should have wide application and a positive impact on patient experiences. The studentship offers an exciting opportunity to pursue multi-disciplinary research in a clinical environment and builds on an existing research theme within Sheffield Dental School.

www.shef.ac.uk/dentalschool/research/groups/dph

Entry requirements

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree in a social science and ideally a post-graduate qualification in a related subject area. Applicants must be able to communicate effectively with children and young people.

Enquires

Interested candidates should in the first instance contact Dr Sarah Baker, Health Psychologist and Senior Lecturer in Psychology, School of Clinical Dentistry s.r.baker@sheffield.ac.uk

How to apply:

Please complete a University Postgraduate Research Application form and provide at least two references.
To download the application form please visit: www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/online.

Please clearly state the prospective main supervisor in the respective box and select 'Medicine' as the department

Closing date:

15 January, 2012