Honours Project Book - Faculty of Health Sciences - University of ...
Honours Project Book - Faculty of Health Sciences - University of ...
Honours Project Book - Faculty of Health Sciences - University of ...
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Public <strong>Health</strong> Research Unit<br />
Supervisors<br />
Associate Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Peter Baghurst<br />
Associate Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Maree O’Keefe<br />
Jacqueline Stephens<br />
Location: Women’s and Children’s Hospital<br />
Contact Person<br />
Jacqueline Stephens<br />
Phone: 8161 7790<br />
jacqueline.stephens@adelaide.edu.au<br />
The Public <strong>Health</strong> Research Unit (PHRU) plays a strong support role in the planning and provision <strong>of</strong> efficient, effective<br />
and appropriate health services within the Child, Youth and Women’s <strong>Health</strong> Service. Staff <strong>of</strong> the PHRU are affiliated<br />
with the Children’s Research Centre and <strong>Health</strong>y Development Adelaide, <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Adelaide. The PHRU aims to<br />
achieve better health outcomes for consumers and their communities, with a strong focus on epidemiology, social<br />
epidemiology and public health.<br />
PROJECT: (Clinical) What influences adolescents to<br />
decide to have surgical intervention for tonsillitis?<br />
<strong>Project</strong> Background<br />
The removal <strong>of</strong> tonsils is a very common surgical<br />
procedure. While most tonsillectomies occur in very<br />
young children, a considerable number <strong>of</strong><br />
tonsillectomies are also performed in adolescents.<br />
While the research literature discusses the frequency,<br />
severity and duration <strong>of</strong> tonsillitis during the years<br />
preceding tonsillectomy in adolescents, little is known<br />
about the adolescent’s role in agreeing to the<br />
procedure, which is not without significant<br />
postoperative morbidity. Anecdotal experience has<br />
shown that adolescents present for consideration <strong>of</strong><br />
tonsillectomy because <strong>of</strong> the impact it is having on<br />
their education, sport and social life. A better<br />
understanding <strong>of</strong> the motivations for wanting surgical<br />
intervention, the expectations <strong>of</strong> the clinical<br />
encounter, and the experience <strong>of</strong> surgery may help<br />
improve our management <strong>of</strong> this under-studied<br />
group.<br />
The research will include interviews with adolescents<br />
and parents/guardians to gain an understanding <strong>of</strong><br />
what influences the decision to elect for surgical<br />
intervention for tonsillitis. The study will also aim to<br />
understand how adolescents assess their tonsillar<br />
health and how much influence they have in the<br />
decision to have surgical intervention.<br />
Training<br />
The student will be trained in literature reviews,<br />
interviewing and interview design, recruitment, data<br />
entry, data analysis and manuscript preparation.<br />
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