2023 RTP - Promoting physical activity amongst adults: the role of community pharmacies and pharmacists

Status: Closed

Applications open: 8/07/2022
Applications close: 18/08/2022

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About this scholarship
Description/Applicant information

We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity to undertake a PhD centred on the potential role community pharmacies could play in promoting physical activity among insufficiently active adults. The successful candidate will contribute towards the design, implementation and evaluation of an exciting and novel program designed to promote physical activity behaviours. 

Background: In Australia rates of physical inactivity and associated health complexities are rapidly increasing, placing substantial burden on the national healthcare system. Regular physical activity is recognised as one of the cornerstones of preventing and managing diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and many cancers. Yet, 55% of Australians do not meet physical activity guidelines. New strategies to promote and increase adherence to physical activity are critical for primary and secondary prevention. Innovative interventions are urgently needed to engage insufficiently active adults in physical activity. 

Community pharmacists are one of the most accessible and trusted healthcare professionals. On average, adults in Australia visit pharmacies 18 times per year. Community pharmacies offer an innovative setting for opportunistic interventions, including the potential to reach and engage insufficiently active adults to take part in a physical activity behaviour change program. Community pharmacies are at times the only point of health care contact especially in rural and remote parts of Australia where access to other health care services is limited. Community pharmacies provide a vital network and setting for preventive and primary health care, and play a part in the 10 Year Primary Health Care Plan. There is an opportunity to leverage this existing health infrastructure in the community to promote physical activity. Part of routine counselling of any medications require the pharmacist to provide educational information on the indication, dosage and directions for use, adverse effects, referral, lifestyle and self-care. There is an opportunity for pharmacists to tailor their advice on physical activity as part of lifestyle and non-pharmacological component of their counselling. In addition, people who are on medications for a chronic condition are likely to present to the pharmacy at least on a monthly basis for repeat prescriptions. The regular touch points and engagement between a pharmacist and patient presents another unique offering to continue to support behavioural change. Community pharmacists have now built and demonstrated their success in safely and effectively delivering professional services within a community pharmacy setting. When implemented correctly, cognitive professional services, including medications reviews, blood glucose and cholesterol screening, wound care, vaccinations, have all been demonstrated to be cost-effective and impactful. 
It is well established that the provision of evidence alone is ineffective in promoting changes in behaviour. The use of evidence-based approaches to effectively motivate behaviour change, coupled with behaviour change techniques to initiate and sustain a new behaviour are critical considerations in the design of any physical activity intervention. The proposed PhD is intended to explore how state-of-the-art motivation and behaviour change techniques can be used to deliver an intervention to promote physical activity that is feasible to deliver in the pharmacy setting, and attractive to insufficiently active adults.

The PhD Topic: The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop the overall aims and methods for each study, with the support of the supervisory team. It is anticipated that the PhD may comprise three studies:

Study 1) A scoping review of the role of pharmacies in promoting physical activity 
Study 2) Co-design, in collaboration with consumers and stakeholders of a scalable physical activity behaviour change intervention to be delivered within the community pharmacy setting
Study 3) A feasibility study to explore feasibility and acceptability of the intervention designed in study 

Student type

• Future Students

Faculty

• Faculty of Health Sciences

Course type

• Higher Degree by Research

Citizenship

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

Scholarship base

• Merit Based

Value

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, valued at $28,854 p.a. for up to a maximum of 3.5 years, are determined via a competitive selection process. Applicants will be notified of the scholarship outcome in November 2022. 

 

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

Scholarship Details
Maximum number awarded

1

Eligible courses

All applicable HDR courses

Eligibility criteria

We are looking for a PhD candidate with excellent organisation, problem-solving and project management skills. Confidence in communicating clearly, professionally and respectfully with a range of people, including consumers, stakeholders, health professionals and the wider academic team will be important. The PhD will suit a candidate with a genuine interest in and passion for promoting health behaviours. A commitment to high quality, ethical research practice will be essential. 

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.

Enrolment Requirements

Eligible to enrol in a Higher Degree by Research Course at Curtin University by March 2023

Enquiries

To enquire about this project opportunity that includes a scholarship application, contact the Project lead, Associate Professor Eleanor Quested via the EOI form above.

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