The PhD programme aims to prepare researchers capable of contributing to the development of research methodology in the field of nursing and public health. Doctoral students will have to acquire a solid foundation in qualitative and quantitative research necessary for the development of the integration of disciplinary knowledge. They should be able to conduct observational and/or experimental studies, integrate with multidisciplinary teams in research activities, facilitate the integration of scientific knowledge with other disciplines and ensure the implementation of research results in clinical practice. Topics of interest include research methodology and epidemiology, global health, health economics, health organisation and management. Issues relating to public health will be explored in depth, providing a theoretical basis and support for decision-making on how to provide services, organisation and training in the preventive, curative and rehabilitative spheres by developing new health and care models. Research will be oriented towards issues of social and health relevance for the identification of health determinants.

The research will be implemented on prevention and control systems for infectious, chronic, rare, oncological diseases and in other areas relevant to nursing science and public health and in different age groups. For these purposes, research will also be conducted using predictive models of disease risk and/or genetic susceptibility and the cost-benefit analysis of various possible prevention policies.

Expected occupational and professional opportunities

Academic career: following Law 240/2010, the PhD is the exclusive qualification for access to the position of researcher together with the Medical Specialisation Diploma.

Teaching career: To be a leader in the teaching of nursing and public health disciplines and to be able to organise nursing and health professions education requires advanced knowledge that can be achieved with a PhD. In addition, for the nursing discipline it is stipulated that the position of teaching leader must be assigned to a member of the professional profile with the highest qualification.

Organisational career: the high scientific training of the doctorate represents a strong point for the training of nursing and public health managers. Indeed, the current challenges of health care systems require the development of effective and efficient innovative organisational models, where methodological research skills are an indispensable resource.

Clinical careers: Continuous scientific production requires competent users of scientific knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary to train highly experienced professionals capable of being leaders in the application of research results in clinical practice.