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Graduate Studies in the Centre for Primary Care and Public Health

The Institute has an active PhD programme with around 12 to 20 PhD and MD students at any one time. Students come from a wide range of disciplines including medicine, osteopathy, physiotherapy, nursing, sociology and statistics. Several of our past and present students have been awarded prestigious fellowships from outside organisations (including the Health Care Consortium, NIHR and the NHS Executive) to study for their doctorates.

For general information and relevant forms relating to graduate studies in the university see:

http://www.smd.qmul.ac.uk/graduatestudies/currentstudents/index.html

The Centre for Primary Care and Public Health has a regular series of Wednesday lunchtime seminars in health research which doctorate students are encouraged to attend.  For details of the current programme see:

http://www.icms.qmul.ac.uk/chs/news_and_events/index.html

In addition to a wide range of research methods training opportunities in the Institute and university as a whole, there is a London-wide, student-run group for postgraduate students doing qualitative research which aims to provide support, help and advice for developing qualitative researchers. Participants are encouraged to interact and share knowledge, skills and experiences, and also to pose problems and questions and present anxieties and uncertainties so that they can be discussed in a friendly environment.  Please contact c.a.rivas@qmul.ac.uk for further information. 

The group has its own independent website which has useful information and links for budding qualitative researchers. http://www.juliabailey.co.uk/QRGroup.aspx

To see details of current PhD and MD students' projects click here

Some recent PhD graduates:

Robert Froud: Interpretation of outcome data in back pain trials
Supervisors: Professors Sandra Eldridge and Martin Underwood
Robert investigated the face validity of different methods for reporting back pain trial outcomes. He undertook a large systematic review of methods that have been used to report past trials, and researched the clinimetric properties of instruments used to assess outcomes in back pain trials. Robert then conducted interviews with clinicians about how they would prefer back pain trials to be reported. This informed a modified Delphi study to facilitate agreement between experts on how future back pain trials should be reported. Clearer, more interpretable trial outcomes will aid doctors, patients and purchasers make better decisions about the treatment and management of back pain.

Adrian Martineau: Influence of vitamin D on the human immmune response to mycobacteria.
Supervisors: Professors Chris Griffiths and Rob Wilkinson
Adrian is investigated the effects of vitamin D on immunity to mycobacteria, the pathogens which cause tuberculosis (TB). His project consisted of laboratory studies to characterise the effects of vitamin D on white blood cells infected with TB bacteria, and a clinical trial to determine whether vitamin D supplementation boosts immunity to mycobacteria in TB contacts (people recently exposed to an infectious case of TB). 

Vahid Ravaghi: Socioeconomic status and oral health; the role of psychological pathways
Supervisors: Professors Sandra Eldridge, Martin Underwood and Valeria Mourinho  
Vahid obtained his undergraduate degree in dentistry from Iran in 2003. He worked as a general dental practitioner for two years from then. He also holds a Masters Degree in “Dental public health” from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry (2006). His PhD thesis investigated the mediation role of psychological factors in the (oral) health gradient using the “reserve capacity” model.

(Alex) Hardip Sohal: Identifying intimate partner violence in different ethnic groups in primary care.
Supervisors: Professors Sandra Eldridge and Gene Feder
Alex examined the evidence for the validity of questions trying to identify intimate partner violence (IPV) in different ethnic groups and assessing whether their validity varies between ethnic groups. She achieved this by undertaking a systematic review of index questions used to identify IPV and a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional survey of four questions (HARK) identifying IPV in a primary care sample. Intimate partner violence (IPV), including physical, sexual and emotional violence, causes short and long term ill-health. Brief questions that can identify women from different ethnic groups experiencing IPV who present in clinical settings are a pre-requisite for an appropriate response from health services to this substantial public health problem. 

The Centre tutor for research students is Clive Seale

Administrative queries about research student matters can be directed to Jan Whalley

The Centre for Primary Care and Public Health is part of the Blizard Institute within the medical school.  The Institute postgraduate tutor is Paul Allen 

For information for PhD and MD supervisors and students click here