Development and evaluation of computerised clinical decision support tools in primary care to improve quality use of medicines in older people living with frailty.

Summary

This opportunity is suitable for a PhD student with a medical, pharmacy, pharmacology or digital health background to contribute to a national, multidisciplinary research program to improve the healthcare of frail older people seen in Australian general practice. Methods will include co-design, digital health and pharmaco-epidemiology.

Supervisor

Professor Sarah Hilmer.

Research location

North Shore - Northern Clinical School

Synopsis

Frailty is a state characterised by an accumulation of physical, cognitive, social and functional deficits. Interventions involving medication optimisation can prevent, reduce or even reverse frailty. This program of work aims to co-design, develop and evaluate clinical decision support tools in primary care.

Additional information

Research Area: Health Sciences, Medicine

Research location: University of Sydney, joint campus experience (Camperdown main campus, Northern Clinical School). Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney

Eligibility: Undergraduate degree in health (e.g. medical, pharmacy, nursing), science (e.g. pharmacology) or digital health, with first class honours or equivalent. Publication record, honours and awards will be considered.

Years: 3-3.5 years full time

Start date: This project requires candidates to commence no later than Research Period 2, 2026 (1st March 2026). To allow time for your application to be processed, we recommend applying no later than 30th September 2025.

Relevant publications:

Impact of the Goal-directed Medication Review Electronic Decision Support System on Drug Burden Index: A cluster-randomised clinical trial in primary care

Impact of a Comprehensive Intervention Bundle Including the Drug Burden Index on Deprescribing Anticholinergic and Sedative Drugs in Older Acute Inpatients: A Non-randomised Controlled Before-and-After Pilot Study

Contact Professor Sarah Hilmer and Dr Lisa Kouladjian O'Donnell regarding any questions or your expressions of interest: sarah.hilmer@sydney.edu.au  and lisa.kouladjian@sydney.edu.au

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about this opportunity

Would I be able to complete this PhD project part-time?

This project requires a full-time PhD Student, requiring the student to work a minimum 35-40 hours per week for 48 weeks per year.

Could I work remotely?

Unfortunately, no. The student will be required to complete their PhD candidature within the University of Sydney, including its teaching hospitals.

What is the stipend?

The successful candidate will be encouraged to apply for a competitive externally funded scholarship. If the potential candidate is successful for an externally funded scholarship, a generous top-up scholarship will be available.

 

Want to find out more?

Opportunity ID

The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is 3645

Other opportunities with Professor Sarah Hilmer