PhD Studentship - Reducing Electronic Documentation Burden in Social Care

Project Supervisors: Dr Muhammad Faisal, Dr Natasha Alvarado, Professor Rebecca Randell

Project Description:

There is rapid growth in the use of technology in social care, with increased requirements for electronic documentation. In healthcare, the burden of electronic records on clinicians and the potential for technology to lead to new risks in clinical workflows and patient harm is gaining recognition, but this topic has yet to be explored in social care. In this project, you will work with partners in adult social care to understand how and in what contexts electronic records impact documentation burden, before exploring how new technologies, including artificial intelligence-based tools, can support decision making and reduce documentation burden in social care.  

This PhD will involve interviewing key stakeholders in adult social care to elicit their ideas concerning how electronic records impact documentation burden and how these issues might be addressed, as well as observing documentation practice in real-time. Combining your findings with evidence from the literature about what does and does not work, you will collaborate with stakeholders to co-design and evaluate possible solutions. This may include exploring how solutions developed for healthcare can be adapted for the social care context. It is hoped that this research will result in actionable guidance and standards for reducing documentation burden in social care.  At the beginning of the PhD, you will agree the details of the project in collaboration with key stakeholders within North Yorkshire Council. 

Based within the Centre for Digital Innovations in Health & Social Care.  You will be benefit from full access to the researcher development sessions organised by the Centre, including writing retreats, away days, training, and associated events. You will also spend time at the Wolfson Centre for Applied Health Research, a collaboration between the Universities of Bradford and Leeds and Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, where you will get to network with researchers from the NIHR Yorkshire & Humber Patient Safety Research Collaboration and the NIHR Yorkshire & Humber Applied Research Collaboration. You will have access to researcher development sessions organised by the University and White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership (WRDTP).   

The studentship is for up to 4 years full time, to allow you to either spend time at the beginning of the PhD as a ‘researcher in residence’ within the Council, undertaking exploratory research to further develop the research question, and/or spend time at the end of the PhD working with the Council putting your research into practice. This PhD can also be undertaken part-time. 

Eligibility: 

You should hold a first degree equivalent to at least a UK upper second class honours degree, or suitable postgraduate degree in computer science, human factors, psychology, social science or a health or social care related subject. You will be enthusiastic, organised and motivated with experience in, or knowledge of, health or social care services.

Funding notes:

This PhD scholarship is available for home students only. The scholarship will attract an annual tax-free stipend of £19,237 and will cover the tuition fees.

Funding for:

UK Students

Enquiries email name and address:  

For informal enquiries, please contact research@bradford.ac.uk

How to apply:

Potential candidates should apply directly online through the online application portal.

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