PhD Position for an EU-THCS project

CrOss-cultural Model for Postdischarge Assistance and Sustainable digital Solutions (COMPASS) in cardiac rehabilitation, through multidimensional validation approach. Background As part of the "transforming health and care systems" (THCS) funding scheme of the Horizon Europe Framework Programme, the Centre for Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine has received funding for the COMPASS project, which aims at connecting acute and post-acute care settings across Europe, offering a seamless continuum of care while systematically implementing personalized post-discharge management programs through comprehensive digital solutions.

What you can expect

Study outline This 3-year project aims to define tailored cardiovascular rehabilitation (CR) pathways, personalized to patient needs and local contexts (Switzerland, Portugal, and Italy), using cross-cultural implementation and considering local healthcare systems. Based on risk stratification algorithms from the ESC Handbook of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, the project will integrate digital tools and a multidimensional evaluation approach, incorporating co-creation to enhance patient and stakeholder preferences, improving acceptability and adherence. Addressing the challenges of modern healthcare systems, the project seeks to drive a paradigm shift in rehabilitation models, particularly through tele-education and health literacy. Key research questions include exploring technological solutions for patient-centered CR, increasing healthcare personnel awareness, identifying barriers to implementation, and supporting sustainable CR activities with proper reimbursement frameworks. The project's innovation lies in its focus on the implementation, sustainability, and accountability of CR pathways, with validation from patients, healthcare professionals, and policymakers, supported by expert advisory boards. Aim of the thesis This PhD project primarily aims to develop an educational and self-management package for the tele-rehabilitation of cardiovascular patients, co-created with healthcare professionals, patients, and researchers tailored for the specific requirements within the different cultural and health-economic settings of Switzerland, Italy and Portugal. The project will integrate wearable devices to collect digital biomarkers during rehabilitation, focusing on the critical link between cardiovascular and muscular health, in order to enable personalized exercise prescriptions and the individualized delivery of educational and self-management content. Tasks of the PhD student

• Assessing existing tele-rehabilitation programmes for cardiovascular patients in Switzerland, Italy and Portugal
• Analysing and comparing the three countries with regard to patients' needs and preferences for tele-rehabilitation elements concerning education, endurance and strength training, and medical, social and psychologic support for risk factor management
• Co-creating modules for education, endurance and strength training, and medical, social and psychologic support with risk factor management that can be tailored for cultural and patients' individual needs and preferences
• Piloting different digital monitoring systems and co-creating suitable and usable patient feedback from these systems
• Assessing patient usability and effectiveness regarding changes in cardiopulmonary fitness, muscle strength, cardiovascular risk profile and mental health of these digital monitoring and feedback systems

Your Profile

• Master degree in Movement/Health Sciences, Physiotherapy or similar
• German mandatory and French advantageous for patient counselling, English mandatory
• Open personality and good social and communication skills (regular patient contact)

What we offer

• 3 years @100%, remuneration according to SNF, starting March 2025
• Interdisciplinary team of clinicians and scientist from the fields of cardiology, sports medicine, physiotherapy, anaesthesiology and nutritional science
• Close supervision and support by supervisors and collaboration with other PhD- and Master-students

Questions about the job?

For further information please contact Dr. Prisca Eser Head Research Inselcampus

Write an email

+41 31 632 43 98