Doctoral study in General Practice and Primary Health Care
Why study with us?
- Our department has a very strong track-record of high-quality research in many aspects of general practice and primary health care.
- Our academic staff come from a range of different disciplines including medicine, nursing, psychology and medical sociology, with research interests across a broad range of clinical, scientific and professional topics.
- We have a high publication record in peer reviewed journals.
- As a doctoral candidate, you'll benefit from financial support for research expenses through PReSS funding, high calibre supervision from our world-class academic researchers and connections with our extensive national and international networks.
Research opportunities
When you join us for your doctorate in General Practice and Primary Health Care, you will become part of a high-calibre research community and have the opportunity to publish papers, attend international conferences and develop your academic and clinical networks.
Some of the topics you could research include:
- Gerontology
- Immunisation and vaccinology
- Palliative care
- Person-centred care
- Primary health care in the global context
- Professionalism and ethics
- Quality and safety
Our people
Pursue your PhD topic with us and benefit from exceptional standards of support and supervision from internationally recognised researchers.
Associate Professor Stephen Buetow
Primary health care; theoretical medicine; person-centred health care; flourishing; disability and rehabilitation; Parkinson’s disease.
Primary health care and primary health care research, particularly in low and middle income countries; research capacity-building; risky health behaviours; lifestyle issues; mental health; screening and intervention for substance misuse, depression and anxiety; immunisation.
Safer prescribing in general practice; patient safety in primary care; ethical issues in general practice; medical professional regulation.
Mental health, behavioral change using brief interventions, hypertension, prevention of cardiovascular disease, gout, insomnia and antibiotic overuse.
Past research topics
- ‘Secondary traumatic stress among the partners of first responders.’ Supervised by Stephen Buetow, Peter Huggard and Linda Cameron.
- ‘How feasible is it to compare effects of companion dogs and service dogs on quality of life in people with movement disorders.’ Supervised by Stephen Buetow.
- ‘Kaupapa Māori palliative care for terminally ill Māori kaumatua.’ Supervised by Susan Carter and Stephen Buetow
- ‘All in a day’s work’: the life world of older people in New Zealand rest homes.’ Supervised by Ngaire Kerse, Stephen Buetow and Sally Keeling.
- ‘The impact of medical students' values on their clinical decision-making‘. Supervised by Felicity Goodyear-Smith, Boaz Shulruf and Jenny Weller.
- ‘Altruistic offending: from mercy killers to animal liberators'. Supervised by Glyn Owen and Felicity Goodyear-Smith.