Addressing Healthcare Inequality: Mitigating Nocebo Effects and Improving Medication Adherence in Minoritised Ethnic Groups
Not stated
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
- Application deadline
- Year-round applications
About the project
About the Project A major challenge in modern healthcare is patient non-adherence to prescribed medication, often driven by the experience of distressing side effects. Emerging evidence demonstrates that many of these side effects are not caused by the pharmacological action of the drug itself, but rather by negative expectations, a phenomenon known as the nocebo effect. Recent pioneering work by Webster & Iyer (2026) revealed that minoritised ethnic groups (Asian, Black, and Mixed backgrounds) in the UK report significantly higher rates of perceived discrimination during healthcare consultations. This experienced bias directly fosters negative treatment expectations, heightens nocebo side effects, and ultimately damages medication adherence, worsening structural health inequalities. This fully integrated, mixed-methods PhD project bridges Health Psychology and Social Psychology to move beyond documenting this disparity. Working at the intersection of these fields, the successful candidate will investigate how structural and interpersonal medical biases manifest as physical side effects and develop active behavioural interventions designed to buffer patients against discrimination-induced nocebo responding. To achieve the project’s overarching goals, you will have the flexibility to develop a multi-phase, mixed-methods research strategy. An illustrative roadmap for how you might structure this work includes: Phase 1: Establishing the Quantitative Evidence Base (e.g. via systematic review and meta-analysis). Phase 2: Deepening understanding by drawing on Lived Experience (e.g. focus groups/semi-structured interviews). Phase 3: Intervention Development & Co-Creation. Phase 4: Piloting Supervisory Team and Environment You will be based in the vibrant, collaborative School of Psychology at the University of Sheffield. You will be co-supervised by Dr Rebecca Webster, an expert in nocebo effects, symptom misattribution, and medical risk communication, and Professor Chantelle Wood, an expert in intergroup relations, prejudice reduction, meta-analyses, and behavioural change interventions. While you will lead the intellectual direction of this project, this dual expertise ensures you will receive tailored mentoring, methodological backing, and support throughout your doctoral journey.