About the Project
Mental health inequalities remain a pressing concern in rural communities, where access to timely and appropriate care is often limited by geographic, socioeconomic and systemic barriers. Individuals living in rural areas frequently experience elevated levels of psychological distress yet face challenges in accessing mental health services and sustaining engagement with care.
Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (ePROMs) offer a promising approach to supporting mental health care delivery for those SMI. ePROMs allow individuals to report symptoms, wellbeing and treatment outcomes remotely, facilitating continuous monitoring and more personalised care. Evidence from other clinical populations suggests that ePROMs can improve symptom management, strengthen communication between patients and clinicians, and enhance health outcomes.
Despite their potential, the application of ePROMs within rural mental health services remains underexplored. Questions remain regarding how these tools can be effectively implemented, integrated into existing care pathways and adapted to meet the needs of people with SMI in rural populations. This project will contribute to the evidence base by exploring how ePROMs may support equitable access to mental health care and improve outcomes for individuals living in rural communities.
Aims and Objectives
In alignment with the THRIVE People and Community Involvement and Engagement Strategy (PCIE), the successful applicant will work alongside people with lived experience, clinicians and other stakeholders to co-produce a programme of research that will:
- Explore the potential role, feasibility and acceptability of ePROMs in supporting the care of people with SMI in rural mental health settings.
- Identify barriers and facilitators to successful implementation.
- Examine the potential impact of ePROMs on patient outcomes, engagement, symptom monitoring and care delivery.
- Co-design recommendations and implementation strategies to support sustainable integration of ePROMs into rural SMI health services.
Research Questions
- What evidence currently exists regarding the use of ePROMs in SMI health care, particularly within rural populations?
- What are the perceived benefits, barriers and implementation challenges associated with SMI ePROM use in rural mental health settings?
- How can ePROMs be adapted and integrated into rural SMI health services to improve accessibility, engagement, patient outcomes and quality of care?
- What co-designed implementation approaches can support the long-term integration of ePROMs into rural SMI health services?
Indicative Methodology
Phase 1: Scoping Review
A systematic scoping review will be undertaken to map the existing evidence relating to the use of ePROMs in SMI health care. The review will explore evidence relating to feasibility, acceptability, implementation and effectiveness and will identify important knowledge gaps to inform subsequent research phases.
Phase 2: Qualitative Exploration
Semi-structured interviews and/or focus groups will be conducted with people with lived experience of mental illness, mental health professionals, service managers and other stakeholders involved in rural mental health care. This phase will explore perceptions of ePROMs, barriers and facilitators to implementation, and contextual factors that may influence adoption and sustainability.
Phase 3: Co-Design and Implementation Planning
Findings from the scoping review and qualitative work will be used within a structured co-design process involving rural service users, carers, clinicians and service providers. The aim will be to develop a contextually appropriate framework and implementation strategy for the use of ePROMs within rural mental health services. Depending on the emerging findings and interests of the successful candidate, opportunities may exist to undertake additional feasibility testing or implementation evaluation work
Details of the Studentship
The studentship is offered for a four-year period on a full-time basis. During the period of your studentship you will receive:
- A tax-free bursary of £20,407 for 3 years.*
- A fee waiver for 4 years.
- A budget to support project costs.
- A laptop and other IT equipment or software as appropriate to the project.
- Use of the Doctoral School facilities.
You will be expected to play an active role in the life of both the Doctoral School and the School. Opportunities to gain experience in learning and teaching will be available under the guidance of your supervisory team.
*Subject to the prevailing UKRI doctoral stipend rate at the time of appointment.
Application Process
The closing date for this studentship is 18th September
To begin the application process for this studentship please go to our webpage and click ‘apply now’.
We request a personal statement, in a specific format, for your application. Please see the full advert on our webpages for details - PhD Studentships
Statements that do not follow the requested format, or that rely on generic or nonspecific content, may be disadvantaged
For further details on entry requirements and application content please see the full advert on our webpages - PhD Studentships
For further details on the interview please see the full advert on our webpages - PhD Studentships
Learn more about Research at University of Worcester - Discover our research
For further information or an informal discussion on this project, please contact Professor Derek Kyte by email d.kyte@worc.ac.uk
References
1. Padalkar TV, Henderson NL, Dent DN, Hendrix E, Smith C, Huang CS, Kaufmann T, McGowan C, Young Pierce J, Ingram SA, Stover AM, Basch EM, Howell D, Weiner BJ, Odom JN, Rocque GB. Patient Perspectives on Technological Barriers and Implementation Strategies Leveraged During a Real-World Remote Symptom Monitoring Program. JCO Clin Cancer Inform. 2025 Jun;9:e2400232. doi: 10.1200/CCI-24-00232. Epub 2025 Jun 23. PMID: 40540708; PMCID: PMC12184978.
2. Hendrix EK, Henderson NL, Padalkar TV, Kaufmann T, Ingram SA, Dent DN, Huang CS, Odom JN, Weiner BJ, Howell D, Stover AM, Basch EM, McGowan C, Pierce JY, Rocque GB. Qualitative Study of Health Care Team Perception of the Benefits and Limitations of Remote Symptom Monitoring. JCO Oncol Pract. 2025 Jun;21(6):853-861. doi: 10.1200/OP-24-00593. Epub 2024 Dec 11. PMID: 39661925; PMCID: PMC12152210.
3. Rocque GB, Franks JA, Deng L, Caston NE, Williams CP, Azuero A, Dent D, Jackson BE, McGowan C, Henderson NL, Huang CS, Ingram S, Odom JN, Eltoum N, Weiner B, Howell D, Stover AM, Pierce JY, Basch EM. Remote Symptom Monitoring With Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes in Clinical Cancer Populations. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 May 1;8(5):e259852. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.9852. PMID: 40358948; PMCID: PMC12076171.
This is a Preview Listing…
You must sign in to see the full job description, and to apply.
Manage / Upgrade this job to a Full Job Listing.
Find Your Best Opportunity
Tell them AcademicJobs.com sent you!