Great North Sleep research: a mixed methods study to explore the safe and effective use of medicines to improve sleep health

About the project

About the Project Sleep is a fundamental pillar of human health, underpinning physical wellbeing, cognitive performance, emotional regulation, and long-term disease prevention. Yet, across the lifespan, sleep disturbances and disorders are increasingly prevalent, with wide-ranging consequences for individuals, healthcare systems, and society. Medicines, such as sedatives and stimulants, play a central role in the management of sleep-related conditions, but their use is complex, multifaceted, and not without risk. This PhD project offers an exciting opportunity to explore the safe and effective use of medicines in sleep health through a mixed methods approach, generating impactful insights to inform clinical practice, policy, and patient care. Project Overview This doctoral project will focus on understanding how medicines are used to support sleep health, with particular attention to their safety, effectiveness, and real-world application. The topic is intentionally broad and flexible, allowing the successful candidate to shape a programme of research aligned with their interests, skills, and emerging priorities within healthcare. Potential areas of exploration may include: Prescribing practices for sleep disorders and associated variation across settings Patient experiences and perceptions of medicines used for sleep Risks associated with short- and long-term use of pharmacological treatments Decision-making processes among healthcare professionals Optimisation of treatment pathways for sleep-related conditions Deprescribing and non-pharmacological alternatives The role of healthcare systems and policy in shaping safe medicine use The overarching aim is to develop a nuanced, evidence-based understanding of how medicines can be used safely and effectively to support sleep, while minimising harm and maximising patient benefit. Importance of Sleep Health Sleep isa restorative process essential for physiological and psychological functioning. Poor sleep is associated with a wide range of adverse outcomes, including impaired cognitive performance, reduced quality of life, increased risk of accidents, and heightened susceptibility to chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and mental health problems. Despite its importance, sleep health is often under-recognised and under-prioritised within healthcare systems. Many individuals experience persistent sleep difficulties without accessing appropriate support, while others rely heavily on pharmacological treatments that may not always be optimally managed. This creates a critical need for research that bridges the gap between clinical evidence, real-world practice, and patient experience. Medicines in Sleep: Balancing Benefit and Risk Medicines used to support sleep can offer significant benefits, particularly in the short term or in specific clinical contexts. However, their use also raises important questions around safety, effectiveness, and appropriateness. Issues such as dependency, tolerance, side effects, and interactions with other medications must be carefully considered. Additionally, there is growing recognition of the need to balance pharmacological approaches with behavioural and lifestyle interventions. Evaluating the safe and effective use of medicines in sleep health is therefore a complex challenge that requires a holistic perspective. It involves not only understanding clinical outcomes, but also examining how medicines are prescribed, used, and experienced in everyday life. This includes consideration of patient preferences, health literacy, access to care, and broader social and organisational factors. Mixed Methods Research: A Comprehensive Approach This PhD will adopt a mixed methods design, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches to provide a rich, comprehensive understanding of the research problem. Mixed methods research is particularly well-suited to complex healthcare questions, as it enables the integration of numerical data with in-depth insights into human behaviour, experiences, and contexts. Quantitative methods may include analysis of prescribing data, clinical outcomes, epidemiological trends, or intervention effectiveness. These approaches can help identify patterns, measure associations, and provide generalisable findings across populations. qualitative methods, such as interviews, focus groups, or ethnographic observation, allow for deeper exploration of perspectives and experiences. They can illuminate how patients and healthcare professionals make decisions, interpret risks and benefits, and navigate the challenges of managing sleep and medication use. By integrating these approaches, mixed methods research can generate findings that are both robust and meaningful, offering not only evidence of “what works” but also insights into “why” and “how” it works in practice. The candidate will have the opportunity to design and implement a coherent mixed methods study, potentially using sequential, convergent, or embedded designs depending on the research questions. Training and Development The successful candidate will receive comprehensive training in mixed methods research, including both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. This may encompass statistical analysis, research design, qualitative data collection and analysis, and strategies for integrating diverse data sources. In addition to methodological training, the PhD will provide opportunities to develop skills in critical appraisal, academic writing, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge translation. The candidate will be supported to present their work at national and international conferences and to publish in peer-reviewed journals. Impact and Relevance This project has strong potential for impact across multiple domains. By improving understanding of how medicines are used in sleep health, the research could inform safer prescribing practices, enhance patient care, and contribute to the development of guidelines and policies. It may also identify opportunities for intervention, innovation, and service improvement. Importantly, the project recognises that safe and effective medicine use is not solely a clinical issue, but a societal one. It intersects with public health, education, health systems, and patient empowerment. As such, the findings are likely to be relevant to a wide range of stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, and patients. Candidate Profile We welcome applications from candidates with a background in health disciplines such as medicine, pharmacy, public health, psychology, nursing, or a related discipline such as medical sociology, anthropology or humanities. An interest in sleep health, medicines use, and/or mixed methods research is desirable. The project is well-suited to individuals who are curious, motivated, and keen to engage with complex, real-world healthcare challenges. Summary This PhD offers a unique opportunity to explore an important and evolving area of healthcare. By adopting a mixed methods approach, the project will generate comprehensive insights into the safe and effective use of medicines in sleep health. With flexibility to shape the research direction and strong support for methodological development, the successful candidate will be well-positioned to make a meaningful contribution to both science and practice.

Research areas