Are you exceptionally interested in the psychology of sustainable behaviour? Is it your ambition to become a top-tier researcher? Are you passionate about investigating fundamental research questions in applied settings? We are seeking a PhD candidate for the CAREFREE (Creating A healthieR Environment for FutuRE patiEnts) project, which is funded by NWO. The aim of this project is to generate behavior change towards circular and environmentally friendly practise in the context of hospital operating theatres. The PhD candidate position is embedded within the Social Psychology programme group of the Department of Psychology of the UvA.
Project summaryDutch healthcare accounts for 6-8% of the national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Surgery is considered a major source of hospital-induced environmental pollution as the operating room (OR) produces 20-33% of total hospital waste. The three largest contributors are anaesthetics, use of instruments and energy required for air
treatment (heating, ventilation and air conditioning [HVAC] systems). Additionally, two tons of pharmaceutical residues are found yearly in Dutch water. Hospitals contribute significantly, as only few remove pharmaceuticals before discharging wastewater.
In order to generate behavioural change towards circular and environmentally friendly practice within the operating theatre
, the present project consists of two steps.
Step 1: Identifying current behaviours, perceptions and attitudes of stakeholders towards the 4 major OR’s contributors. Our formalised model on properties of attitudinal dynamics and their relationship to behaviour will be applied, in which attitudes are networks consisting of responses (nodes) and interactions between them (e.g. Dalege et al., 2016; 2017; 2019). A systemic approach is most appropriate in the current context, given the complexity of the issue, where attitudes towards climate change, perceptions of risk, social norms, habits, responsibilities of citizens, public and private partners, financial considerations, etc. interact, and such interactions change over time.
A primary aim is to shed light unto the dynamic interplay of such factors and how they relate to the variables of primary focus: the acceptance of sustainable alternatives and the willingness to adopt them.
Step 2: Based on the factors identified in step 1, interventions will be tested to modify these psychological factors and behavioural interventions will be developed and tested to promote sustainable behaviour in the OR. A similar approach has been used in previous research on bio-based polymers (Zwicker et al., 2020; 2021), COVID-19 (Chambon, Dalege et al., 2022; Chambon, Kammeraad et al., 2023) and is currently applied to
sustainable textiles. In Step 2, the complex system of variables as described above is probed with an intervention and the effectiveness of such a probe over time is tested. Thus, we aim to develop an evidence-based set of empirically tried and tested tools that contribute to a transition towards a sustainable OR.
The project will be primarily quantitative in nature, but some more exploratory qualitative research will be incorporated as well. Specifically, during the first year of the CAREFREE project, the relevant nodes (beliefs, emotions, morals, social factors, habits, perceptions of control, etc.) will be determined through literature research and interviews and focus groups involving experts and stakeholders. In year 2, we will create insight into the network, i.e., the way in which these nodes are related to each other. Input for such analysis will be surveys distributed via panels and hospital personnel. In year 3, we will develop and test interventions that target key nodes in the network and test their effect on behaviour. In the final year we will monitor the durability of such effects while again holding interviews and focus groups with stakeholders to obtain feedback about the feasibility of the interventions.
What are you going to do?As a PhD candidate, you will investigate the attitudes of relevant stakeholders within hospitals (e.g. patients, surgeons, nurses) that relate to the transition towards more sustainable practice within the operating room and shed light onto how those attitudes can be changed. You will combine quantitative (e.g. survey, experiments) with more qualitative research (e.g. focus groups, interviews). Your project falls within the CAREFREE (Creating A healthieR Environment for FutuRE patiEnts) project, that is inherently interdisciplinary in nature. You are firmly rooted within the department of psychology and on a day-to-day basis you will collaborate closely with Prof. Dr. Frenk van Harreveld, Dr. Sanne de Wit, Dr. Jonas Dalege as well as a postdoc and research assistant (vacancies) on the CAREFREE project. With this group of researchers you will form the UvA CAREFREE team. Beyond that, you will also collaborate with partners from a broad range of disciplines throughout your project, including ethics, philosophy, sustainability, medicine and health economy.
You will/tasks: - Design and perform research that strives for scientific and societal impact, including online, laboratory, and field studies;
- Actively take part in meetings with partners in the CAREFREE project and lab meetings within the UvA department of psychology;
- Communicate about your research in scientific conferences/journals and to a smaller extent also within non-academic communities such as the stakeholders in the project (e.g. participating hospitals) and other project partners;
- A small amount of research-related teaching (e.g. supervision of bachelor/master theses) is also involved.
You will be based at the University of Amsterdam.