Improving equity, access, and quality of cardiac rehabilitation services

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death and disease burden in Australia. Among heart event survivors, approximately 20% will suffer a second cardiovascular event in the first year.  Secondary prevention services, namely cardiac rehabilitation, are a well-established and effective form of preventing recurrent cardiovascular events. Cardiac rehabilitation attendance rates are persistently low - 30% of eligible Australians attend. Consequently, much of the well-proven health benefits are unrealised. Providing alternate models of service delivery is likely to overcome some barriers to non-attendance (e.g. geographical distance, transport issues, work responsibility). Telehealth-delivered cardiac rehabilitation has proven efficacy, however, little is known about how to implement it into clinical practice. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a powerful push for clinicians to use telehealth. However, cardiac rehabilitation services require additional support to implement evidenced-based telehealth innovations.

This project will involve partnering with consumers and clinicians and use clinical registry data to: understand consumer needs, investigate equity and access gaps, and support the delivery of digital health interventions.

This is an Earmarked scholarship project that aligns with a recently awarded Australian Government grant.

The scholarship includes:

• living stipend of $35,000 per annum tax free (2024 rate), indexed annually
• your tuition fees covered
• single overseas student health cover (OSHC).

Learn more about the Earmarked scholarship.

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history

 A working knowledge of secondary prevention services would be beneficial.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of health services research and/or public health and the potential for scholastic success.

This project requires candidates to commence no later than Research Quarter 4, 2024. To allow time for your application to be processed, we recommend applying no later than 30 June, 2024 31 March, 2024.

You can start in an earlier research quarter. See application dates.

Before you apply

1. Check your eligibility for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
2. Prepare your documentation.
3. Contact Dr Emma Thomas (e.thomas2@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability.

When you apply

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for a PhD. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.

In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:

• My higher degree is not collaborative
• I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship
• UQ Earmarked Scholarship type.

Apply now