MLTC trajectories in people of working age and fitness to work
Supervisors:
Prof Colin McCowan, School of Medicine (University of St Andrews)
Dr Michail Papathomas, School of Mathematics and Statistics (University of St Andrews)
Dr Clare MacRae, Usher Institute (University of Edinburgh)
Summary:
The overall aim of the studentship is to explore trajectories of disease in the working age population and to examine which trajectories are most closely associated with fitness to work certificates. A better understanding of how disease trajectories develop and which are then most likely to make an individual economically inactive is an important consideration for the health for wealth policy agenda.
The project will use data from primary and secondary care in the Lothian region of Scotland (DataLoch) over a 15 year period to develop and explore the disease trajectories of adults aged 18-67. GP records will also be used to identify the presence of fitness to work certificates and subsequently individuals who are economically inactive due to ill health. The Fellow will then model trajectories with the objective of identifying where in the process potential interventions could be implemented to avoid economic inactivity.
The studentship will provide training in epidemiology, statistics, and data science.