Development and pilot testing of a parent reported quality of life measure for childhood epilepsy treated with ketogenic diet therapy

Director of Studies: Dr Avril Collinson 

2^nd Supervisor: Jen Carroll 

3^rd Supervisor: Dr Anita Devlin, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals

Applications are invited for a PhD studentship either part-time or full-time. The studentship will start on 1 October 2024.  

Epilepsy is one of the most common, serious neurological conditions of childhood. A significant proportion (35%) of children will develop drug resistant epilepsy, experiencing regular debilitating seizures despite treatment with multiple anti-seizure medications (ASMs). Ketogenic diet therapy (KDT) is considered when two or more ASMs have failed to control seizures. Meta-analyses suggest that children treated with KDT are five to six times more likely to achieve at least 50% seizure reduction than those treated with usual care. Seizure freedom is recommended as the primary outcome, followed by seizure reduction, cognitive function and quality of life (QoL) as secondary outcomes. However, cognitive function and QoL are rarely assessed and existing outcome measurement tools do not adequately assess QoL outcomes.  Our previous work, the CORE-KDT study (Core Outcomes in Refractory childhood Epilepsy treated with Ketogenic Diet) also identified that there is considerable variation and a lack of consistency in reported outcomes, definitions, and measurement approaches. Physiological outcomes including seizure control and adverse effects of KDT dominated, while few studies considered functional and QoL outcomes. Furthermore, traditional research outcomes do not adequately reflect parents’ priorities for outcomes concerning QoL, cognition, and social and emotional functioning. A bespoke tool is therefore necessary to meet the holistic needs of children and young people with complex epilepsy treated with KDT. The aim of this project is to develop a parent reported QoL tool that is clinically meaningful, family-centred and fit for purpose. 

Applicants should have a first or upper second-class honours degree in Dietetics or a relevant Masters qualification. 

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme, IELTS Academic score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component test area) or equivalent. 

Fees and stipend: 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time. Home tuition fees only.

The full-time stipend is £18,110 per annum (2023/24 rate - 2024/25 and future years rates will be confirmed in due course).

Applications for part-time study are welcomed and will receive pro-rata funding for both tuition fees and stipend.

International students are welcome to apply but must be able to cover the difference between home and international fees themselves.

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact Dr Avril Collinson or Jen Carroll.

Please see our apply for a postgraduate research programme page for a list of supporting documents to upload with your application. 

For more information on the admissions process generally, please visit our apply for a postgraduate research programme page or contact the Doctoral College at research.degree.admissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview on Thursday 30 May 2024. Candidates invited for interview will be asked to deliver a 5 minute presentation entitled ‘Measuring quality of life for children with epilepsy treated with KDT’. 

We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications. Applicants who have not received a response within six weeks of the closing date should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.