2024 RTP round - Healthy Ears: Clinical trial of the Blow, Breathe, Cough health promotion program to resolve otitis media and improve speech and hearing outcomes

Curtin University, Australia

Updated: about 1 month ago
Location: Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Deadline: The position may have been removed or expired!

Status: Closed

Applications open: 7/07/2023
Applications close: 25/08/2023

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About this scholarship

The prevalence of persistent ear infections, or otitis media with effusion (OME), is estimated to affect over 25% of children in Western Australia by three years of age. In Australia, a simple, low-cost, family-led health promotion intervention was developed to promote resolution of OME without surgical intervention. Known as the ‘Blow, Breathe, Cough’ program (or ‘BBC’), it encourages children to breathe deeply, blow their nose and cough to clear secretions from the lungs and nose, and practice good hand hygiene. It is hypothesised that the BBC program facilitates spontaneous resolution of middle ear effusion in children, improving their hearing levels without the need for surgical intervention. 

The primary aim of the trial is to assess the speech and hearing outcomes for children in both the intervention and control arms of the clinical trial. 

Recruit children with OME into a randomised-controlled trial of the BBC program and assess the effectiveness of the ‘Blow, Breathe, Cough’ program on the speech and hearing outcomes. 

This is the first trial to assess effectiveness of the BBC program. If efficacious, there is potential for the program to become standard practice for the management of OME, reducing risks and costs associated with surgical intervention. 

This project may provide an Internship opportunity. The Department of Audiology at Fiona Stanley Hospital will support an internship within the South Metropolitan Health Service for the successful candidate during their HDR candidature. This internship can be shaped to suit the needs, interests and prior qualifications of the successful candidate and may involve gaining experience in clinical, research and health policy priority areas for WA Health and the South Metropolitan Health Service 


  • Future Students

  • Faculty of Health Sciences

  • Higher Degree by Research

  • Australian Citizen
  • Australian Permanent Resident
  • New Zealand Citizen
  • Permanent Humanitarian Visa
  • International Student

  • Merit Based

The annual scholarship package (stipend and tuition fees) is approx. $60,000 - $70,000 p.a.

Successful HDR applicants for admission will receive a 100% fee offset for up to 4 years, stipend scholarships at the 2023 RTP rate valued at $32,250 p.a. for up to a maximum of 3 years, with a possible 6 month completion scholarship. Applicants are determined via a competitive selection process and will be notified of the scholarship outcome in November 2023. 

A $10,000 per annum top-up scholarship will be offered to the successful candidate via the NHMRC funding for the project. 

For detailed information, visit: Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships | Curtin University, Perth, Australia.


Scholarship Details

1


All applicable HDR courses


We are looking for a PhD candidate with excellent organisation, problem-solving and project management skills. Candidates with an interest in ear and hearing health, health promotion and/or public health are strongly encouraged to apply. Previous experience in clinical research is desirable, but not essential. Prospective candidates must be eligible to enrol in the PhD program at Curtin University. 

 


Application process

If this project excites you, and your research skills and experience are a good fit for this specific project, you should contact the Project Lead (listed below in the enquires section) via the Expression of Interest (EOI) form. ahead of the closing date. Please note you should apply as soon as possible, as once a suitable candidate has been identified this opportunity will no longer be available to receive an EOI..


Enrolment Requirements

Eligible to enrol in a Higher Degree by Research Course at Curtin University by March 2024.

Recipients must complete their milestone 1 within 6 month of enrolment and remain enrolled on a full-time basis for the duration of the scholarship.


Enquiries

To enquire about this project opportunity that includes a scholarship application, contact the Project lead, Christopher Brennan-Jones via the EOI form above.



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