Duration: 3 years full-time.
Topic: Pain science education in physiotherapy.
This PhD research programme will investigate pain science education within undergraduate and graduate entry physiotherapy curricula on the island of Ireland. The main aims of this research are to:
- Systematically map pain science education within undergraduate and graduate entry physiotherapy curricula;
- Engage with stakeholders: students, academics, clinicians and people living with pain to identify key topics to be included in physiotherapy curricula;
- Identify core elements of undergraduate and graduate entry pain education and make recommendations for their inclusion in physiotherapy curricula.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to gain experience in various research methods such as: systematic reviews, content analysis and curriculum mapping, Delphi surveys and Focus groups.
Candidates will be supported by a ‘Research Studies Panel’ including experienced physiotherapy academics and educationalists from within the UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science and UCD Teaching & Learning.
This research opportunity may be of interest to anyone who has successfully completed an undergraduate degree in physiotherapy and who has an interest in pain and/or physiotherapy education.
Annual benefits: €12,000 (tax free) stipend, 50% PhD student fees concession (currently worth ~ €3,675.00 ), and €1,000 research costs per annum. Candidates will be enabled to undertake some limited paid clinical/private work of their own during this time.
Informal enquiries: Please contact Assoc. Prof. Dr Brona Fullen (Supervisor) or Asst. Prof. Dr Keith Smart (Co-supervisor) at (opens in a new window)brona.fullen@ucd.ie and (opens in a new window)k.smart@ucd.ie.
Application details: Application deadline, with curriculum vitae, by 20th June 2022 (to commence in September 2022).