7 June 2004
Health professions embark on new solutions
Six PhD students are embarking on studies this month in a new unique initiative to cross traditional
health care boundaries. Their research topics include working with new fathers who are drug users and
new treatments for chronic back pain.
The six students have all been in clinical roles until the start of their studies and are now being
funded by the Training Scheme to become full-time students. As part of their studies the students will
undertake clinical links relevant to their research.
The six students, being supported by the Universities of Dundee, St Andrews, Stirling, Aberdeen and The
Robert Gordon University are part of an exciting Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions
Research Training Scheme. The scheme allows these professions to use the research expertise at the
universities and the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit to come up with new
health care solutions. £1 million has been given to the scheme from the Scottish Executive, The Health
Foundation and NHS Scotland to fund this new research.
Anne Whittaker from the Lothian Primary Care Facilitator Team for HIV and Drugs will be interviewing men
who use drugs and exploring their experiences and expectancies of becoming new fathers. Anne will use the
findings to develop harm reduction strategies.
Barbara Farquarson, a Team Leader from NHS24, will be examining the decisions patients make about seeking
help when they are having cardiac symptoms.
Fiona Kelly, who works with people with dementia in Lothian, will examine how creative activity can help
the elderly with dementia.
Ginny Henderson from the Neonatal Unit at Ninewells Hospital will be looking at how to improve the health
of pre-term infants. Premature babies are more likely to have a major nutritional deficit that can carry
on through childhood. Ginny will be looking at the feeding experiences faced by parents after hospital
discharge to see if the nutritional requirements of the premature babies are being met.
Kay Cooper, a physiotherapist from Peterhead Community Hospital will be investigating how patients with
chronic lower back pain can take control of their condition and reduce dependency on formal
physiotherapy.
Tracey Humphrey, a midwife at the Aberdeen Maternity Unit will be investigating the needs of women during
the induction of labour and exploring the role of the midwife in high risk pregnancies.
The training scheme has been developed in partnership with Scottish Executive Health Department, The
Health Foundation and NHS Education for Scotland (NES).
Dr Colette Ferguson, from NHS Education for Scotland said: "NHS Education for Scotland, The Health
Foundation and The Scottish Executive Health Department are delighted to welcome these students and to
support the Research Training Scheme. This is a major step forward in collaboration and partnership
working between the universities and the NHS. The scheme provides a real opportunity to improve the
contribution nurses, midwives and allied health professionals can make to health care research and
ultimately the quality of care for the public in Scotland."
Leader of the project Dr Martyn Jones at the University of Dundee said: "Our Training scheme offers a
unique resource for doctoral students to access the most comprehensive health care research group in
Scotland, and to make a real difference to the health and well-being of people using the NHS".
For further information please contact the Press Office on 01382 344021
By Angela Durcan, Press Officer 01382 344768, out of hours: 07968298585, a.durcan@dundee.ac.uk | 
