PhD Project - Patient-Centred Care in Osteopathy: Developing and evaluating implementation strategies across healthcare settings
Applications for this PhD project are now open. The deadline for applications is 6 April 2026.
Patient-centred care represents a fundamental approach in contemporary healthcare delivery that acknowledges and respects the uniqueness of each patient (Steel et al. 2020). Patient-centred care encompasses individualised respect for values and needs, communication strategies, physical and emotional support, and the integration of care and with a person’s social environment.
Despite its recognised importance, the extent to which healthcare professionals implement this approach in clinical practice remains variable, and how osteopaths apply person-centred principles is largely unknown (Thomson et al. 2013; Licciardone and Aryal 2021).
This creates an opportunity to investigate how PCC can be applied in practice, with a view on developing and testing effective implementation strategies.
Project Contact:
Dr Jerry Draper-Rodi
Email: jerry.draper-rodi@hsu.ac.uk
Details
- To identify key factors that facilitate or inhibit effective patient-centred care delivery in various healthcare settings
- To systematically document and analyse patient-centred care approaches within osteopathic practice
- To develop evidence-based and stakeholder-informed guidelines for consistent implementation of patient-centred care principles
The research will employ a mixed methods approach including:
- Stakeholder engagement and co-creation
- Systematic review of patient-centred care principles and practices in osteopathy and related healthcare fields
- Qualitative methods, such as surveys, interviews, and/or focus groups with healthcare professionals and patients, and field studies of clinical interactions
- Development and pilot testing of implementation guidelines
- Development of a comprehensive framework for understanding, and possibly implementing patient-centred care in osteopathic practice
- Creation of evidence-based guidelines for healthcare professionals
- Publication of peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals
- Production of practical tools and resources for healthcare practitioners and for education and training
This research will contribute to enhanced healthcare delivery through evidence-based strategies for patient-centred care. The findings will support healthcare professionals in developing more effective therapeutic relationships, potentially leading to improved patient outcomes and satisfaction. The transferable nature of the research will benefit multiple healthcare disciplines and contribute to advancing healthcare education and practice.
Funding 
HSU is offering up to three fee waivers for UK home applicants starting in October 2026. All eligible UK home applicants will automatically be considered for fee waiver support, which is awarded competitively based on the excellence of the candidate.
International applicants are unfortunately not eligible for fee waivers.
All applicants are expected to have financial plans in place to cover their studies and should not rely on a fee waiver.
Self-funded students are also welcome to apply for this project. Self-funded students can be UK home students or international students.
Availability
Available to both UK and International students
Potential Supervisors
Dr Jerry Draper-Rodi
Dr David Hohenschurz-Schmidt
Dr Brett Vaughan
References
Licciardone, J.C. and Aryal, S., 2021. Patient-centered care or osteopathic manipulative treatment as mediators of clinical outcomes in patients with chronic low back pain. Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 121(10), pp.795-804.
Steel, A., Foley, H. and Redmond, R., 2020. Person-centred care and traditional philosophies in the evolution of osteopathic models and theoretical frameworks: Response to Esteves et al
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