(Shared) Decision-making is a highly relevant and increasingly studied topic in all aspects of healthcare. Whether it is patients making a decision about their health, physicians deciding on certain diagnostics, or patient and physicians together deciding on the optimal treatment path, decision making is always complex. Gaining insights in the decision-making processes and all aspects that influence them within (primary) care is crucial to uncover potential points for improvement. In this project, that is exactly what will be done. In this case, focus will be on treatment decisions that have an impact on antibiotic resistance (ABR).

ABR is one of the biggest and most urgent threats to public health that we are facing today. Primary patient care amplifies ABR through mis- and over-prescribing of antibiotics (ABX), i.e. Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing (PIP). Especially in primary care, many factors contribute to PIP. For example, research has shown that physicians are more prone to prescribe (redundant) ABX if they feel pressured by their patients. Simultaneously, patients feel more satisfied and are less likely to re-consult if they are prescribed ABX. There are cross-border differences in ABX prescribing, although the reasons for these differences are not yet fully understood. This CHARE-GD II project is aiming to dive into this knowledge gap, and to learn from each other across the Dutch-German border. After all, individual behaviours are shaped by the individual’s beliefs and attitudes, but also by the context in which they operate (e.g. culture, politics, guidelines). This means that both physicians and their patients should be studied. But it also means that it is of added value to study the PIP phenomenon in a cross-border setting, since it offers a unique opportunity to study the impact of different cultural and health system contexts.

We are looking for a candidate with a PhD in fields related to decision-making processes, behavioral analysis and/or health care systems studies willing to work in a cross-border setting. With your expertise and with the support of Dutch/German colleagues, we expect you to compare journeys of patients with respiratory infections, and the corresponding GPs’ decision-making processes, on both sides of the border (Groningen and Oldenburg regions). To this end, you will combine qualitative and quantitative data; creating vignettes by performing a review of literature and guidelines, performing interviews with GPs and patients, creating and analysing an online self-administered survey, and pilot testing your findings through expert consultations and real-life patient narratives.
Specific requirements:
- PhD degree in decision making, psychology, health services research, behavioural science or similar fields.
- Experience in setting up, executing and (systematically) analysing qualitative research.
- Team player, a ‘getting things done’ mentality and demonstrable organizational qualities and communication skills.
- Fluency in written and spoken English, and either German or Dutch languages.

The UMCG has a preventive Hepatitis B policy. The UMCG can provide you with the vaccination, should it be required for your position.

In case of specific professions a ‘Certificate of Good Conduct’ is required.

- A unique opportunity to perform truly cross-border research in close cooperation between two high-quality academic institutions.
- A 1.5 year 0.8fte (28.8 hours a week) postdoctoral position at the department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control.
- A motivated interdisciplinary team, with extensive expertise in (research in) health systems, politics, policies, epidemiology, primary care, medical-microbiology and behavioural science, to support you throughout the project.

Your salary will be a maximum of € 4.707 gross per month (scale 10), depending on your qualifications and relevant experience, based on a full-time appointment. In addition, the UMCG will offer you 8% holiday pay, and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
The conditions of employment comply with the Collective Labour Agreement for Medical Centres (CAO-UMC).

Medische Microbiologie en Infectieprefentie

The department of Medical Microbiology & Infection prevention is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join our project on a Dutch-German cross-border comparison of healthcare decision-making processes of general practitioners and patients regarding antibiotic prescription for upper respiratory infections. The project is led by dr. Nienke Beerlage-de Jong, dr. Adriana Tami and dr. Esther Metting. It is part of the overall project “Comparison of healthcare structures, processes and outcomes in the German and Dutch cross-border region (CHARE-GD II)”, commissioned by the Dutch-German Cross-Border Institute of Healthcare Systems and Prevention (CBI) and will be performed in close cooperation between the University Medical Centre Groningen (Netherlands) and the Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg (Germany).