Job offer Autism and healthcare: Public Health, Autism and cervical screening

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women aged under 35 in Wales. NHS Wales offers cervical screening (smear tests), but under 70% of people attend. Failure to attend smears increases the risk of people dying from cancer.

Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference impacting 3% of people, with limited gender difference. Autistic people are much less likely than non-Autistic people to have smear tests, with 55% reporting to have never attended a smear. Our interview study found Autistic people find smear tests difficult because of lack of knowledge, worries about being touched and lack of pain relief offered.

Autistic people have informed this application and will be involved in designing the study throughout.

The student will:
1. Conduct an evidence review that examines existing research to ask 'why do cervical screening services not meet the needs of Autistic people?'
2. Test the concepts we identify through a Wales-wide survey of Autistic people eligible for smear tests.
3. Co-develop an intervention with Autistic people and health professionals, to increase knowledge and confidence relating to smear tests and HPV self-sampling.
4. Test the intervention with Autistic people and health professionals, to see if they think it is good.

Undergraduate

Skills/Qualifications

UK fee eligible applicants only

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA (Full list of categories for HE in Wales)

PhD: Applicants for PhD must hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level and a master's degree. Alternatively, applicants with a UK first class honours degree (or non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) not holding a master's degree, will be considered on an individual basis.

English Language
IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.

Note for international and European applicants: details of how your qualification compares to the published academic entry requirements can be found on our Country Specific Entry Requirements page.
Specific Requirements

English Language
IELTS 6.5 Overall (with no individual component below 6.5) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.