Help with EOI for PhD

[psychstudent90]

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Hi everyone,

I am currently in the process of filling out an EOI (expression of interest) form for a PhD research program in psycho-oncology. The researchers involved have recently published a paper on clinical pathways for the screening, assessment and and management of anxiety and depression in adult cancer patients in routine cancer care. The focus of the PhD will be on the evaluation of implementation strategies.

This program really appeals to me, so I am working my way through the form, and just wanted some feedback on the final question. The question asks about the student's interests for being interested in pursuing a PhD in implementation science in the cancer care context, and what skills or research questions come to mind.

I haven't written it up yet, but I have made some dot points and would just like some feedback/tips. This is what I have so far:

Reasons for being interested:
-Patients are provided with the medical attention they need, but the psychological aspects of their treatment are often ignored. Illness can have a significant psychological impact on patients and families, and I am keen to work towards reducing this impact through the application of research to illness.
-Can see the need for efficacious interventions
-High burden of cancer in society

Research questions:
-Cost-effectiveness, acceptability, efficiency, effectiveness – positive health outcomes
-In turn, how will it influence practice
-Barriers and facilitators
-Attitudes of healthcare professionals
-Target population
-Equitable access – how to access everyone
-Why do some people respond to intervention and others don’t
-How much of intervention needed
-Congruence with pre-existing values, priorities and behavioural drivers of the research group and target

Am I on the right track?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[deleted343839]

The question asks about the student's interests for being interested in pursuing a PhD in implementation science in the cancer care context,

For a doctoral program, the focus seems awfully narrow. Broadly speaking, these are good research questions but they're all over the map. They are relevant and on target for the subject matter, but you need to focus on the specific aspects of the research in which you'd like to develop your skills and expertise.

What exactly is this program? Is it a psychology program, an interdisciplinary program, or what?

 

[MCParent]

Hi everyone,

I am currently in the process of filling out an EOI (expression of interest) form for a PhD research program in psycho-oncology. The researchers involved have recently published a paper on clinical pathways for the screening, assessment and and management of anxiety and depression in adult cancer patients in routine cancer care. The focus of the PhD will be on the evaluation of implementation strategies.

This program really appeals to me, so I am working my way through the form, and just wanted some feedback on the final question. The question asks about the student's interests for being interested in pursuing a PhD in implementation science in the cancer care context, and what skills or research questions come to mind.

I haven't written it up yet, but I have made some dot points and would just like some feedback/tips. This is what I have so far:

Reasons for being interested:
-Patients are provided with the medical attention they need, but the psychological aspects of their treatment are often ignored. Illness can have a significant psychological impact on patients and families, and I am keen to work towards reducing this impact through the application of research to illness.
-Can see the need for efficacious interventions
-High burden of cancer in society

Research questions:
-Cost-effectiveness, acceptability, efficiency, effectiveness – positive health outcomes
-In turn, how will it influence practice
-Barriers and facilitators
-Attitudes of healthcare professionals
-Target population
-Equitable access – how to access everyone
-Why do some people respond to intervention and others don’t
-How much of intervention needed
-Congruence with pre-existing values, priorities and behavioural drivers of the research group and target

Am I on the right track?

Many thanks in advance!

That seems like an awful lot, unless this letter is supposed to be a few pages long.

I think it reads oddly that your points seems to be a mix of super-specific and vague (e.g., "Can see the need for efficacious interventions"? Is there anyone who sees a desperate need in the field for the development of ineffective interventions?).

Those don't seem to be research questions to me, just vague topic areas. E.g., what does "target population" mean? Is that a verb (how to target populations for interventions) or an adjective (which populations are the targets)? What ABOUT attitudes of healthcare professionals?

 

[psychstudent90]

Thanks for your response!

you need to focus on the specific aspects of the research in which you'd like to develop your skills and expertise.

What exactly is this program? Is it a psychology program, an interdisciplinary program, or what?

What do you mean by "specific aspects of the research"? Could you please given me an example/point me in the right direction?

It is a PhD program in health psychology/psycho-oncology at an Australian university.

 

[psychstudent90]

Thanks for your response.

That seems like an awful lot, unless this letter is supposed to be a few pages long.

I think it reads oddly that your points seems to be a mix of super-specific and vague (e.g., "Can see the need for efficacious interventions"? Is there anyone who sees a desperate need in the field for the development of ineffective interventions?).

Those don't seem to be research questions to me, just vague topic areas. E.g., what does "target population" mean? Is that a verb (how to target populations for interventions) or an adjective (which populations are the targets)? What ABOUT attitudes of healthcare professionals?

The response has to be a page long, and the form I'm filling out has quite a small font, so I don't think I'll run out of room. I think I understand what you're trying to say; I need to be more specific. For example, would it make sense for a research question to ask how efficacious the proposed pathway will be for adult cancer patients with depression? Or do oncologists see the proposed pathway as beneficial for adult cancer patients with depression? Am I getting the right idea?

Thanks so much.

 

[deleted343839]

What do you mean by "specific aspects of the research"? Could you please given me an example/point me in the right direction?

It is a PhD program in health psychology/psycho-oncology at an Australian university.

For instance, you might be interested mainly in studying clinical outcomes, or disparities/access/equity issues, or economic evaluations of these interventions. You don't have to define a specific research question (ie, a hypothesis to be tested); this will be done in collaboration with your advisor. However, you should be a little more specific about the research topics that interest you most. Keep in mind that you are seeking training, so while research topics are definitely germane to your letter, you should frame this information in terms of your training needs and how the program will enable you to develop your desired career.

Here's an example. Let's say that somehow you have become aware that [X] group(s) of cancer patients are susceptible to depression and anxiety but very few seek or agree to treatment. You are interested in learning more about their barriers to treatment, their clinical outcomes when they do receive treatment, and how to design services that meet their needs. Your ultimate career goal is to conduct research that helps to improve the psychosocial care of [X] group(s). See what I mean? You've stopped way short of proposing a specific study but you've narrowed in on a topic area that is of interest to you and made it relevant to a career goal. You can be even less specific than this, but the point is to convey the areas that interest you most and could be the basis of a future career.

I'm still a little confused about the focus of this program. Is it a clinical or non-clinical health psychology program? Are you working exclusively in psycho-oncology or will you have an opportunity to get broader training in health psychology?

 

[psychstudent90]

Thanks so much for your help - it was very useful. I submitted my EOI and have been invited for an interview on Monday!

I think PhD programs are a bit different in Australia to the US (I assume that's where you're from). In Oz, PhD programs are pure research - so yes, it will just be in psycho-oncology if they pick me. To become a practitioner, you need to combine a PhD with a Masters or do a DPsych. Hope that makes sense 🙂

Thanks again for your help!