In this blog post, I will briefly discuss the rational for choosing my Ph.D study. My expertise lies in the economic method as a graduate of Economics, and my interest focuses on health research. That is why I have chosen such a topic where I can combine these two aspects together. My research titled “Economic burden of diabetes-related foot disease (DFD): Evidence from New South Wales, Australia” supports this claim. The reasons for choosing this topic are dependent on several factors which I will discuss below, following a discussion on the expected outcome of the research.
First, the importance of the issue of my topic has played central role in selecting my subject matter of the PhD thesis. The issue of diabetes, a chronic health condition, is of crucial importance from both global and Australian perspective. I have found that Australia is characterised by a growing number of people with diabetes due to the high percentage of obesity, growing aged population and sedentary lifestyle which threaten to impose not only the disease burden but also the higher cost burden to the health system, society and individual. Further, I have also come to know that diabetes-related foot disease is contributing no less liability compared to other diabetic complications. In fact, in some cases, for example, in terms of hospital bed days, it has the highest average figure among all diabetic complications. I have explored the issue more deeply which reveals that Australia has one of the lower limb amputations attributed to diabetes in the world. Undoubtedly, this is a burning issue for Australia, and the economic aspects of it certainly need a detailed understanding. Hence, I choose the topic related to DFD and its economic burden given its enormous importance.
Secondly, the research gap, in combination with the importance of knowing the unknown from policy perspective, has prompted me to work on this topic. Given that there exist a very few costing studies related to diabetes in Australia, and to our surprise, none exists for DFD disease for New South Wales, I am hopeful to make significant contribution in the existing literature.
Thirdly, the concern of timely completion of the research has played an important role in the decision making process of selection my PhD topic. Since this research is a part of a large project which had its ethical approval even before the start of my PhD, I have the opportunity to access data needed for my analysis right after starting my doctoral study. I, being aware of this advantageous situation, have taken the opportunity of having less uncertain phases ahead that one would not usually expect in their Ph.D. journey. As a result of this favourable situation, I have gained enough confidence to complete the study in due time without compromising the quality, and chosen the topic thereby.
Fourthly, my expertise on economic costing methodology certainly has given me the assurance to a higher degree to choose the topic for my doctoral study. At the same, I understand that I may need to equip myself with many other relevant methodologies, currently not known. But having a good starting point is a definite advantage, and I have relied on my existing knowledge to quite a few extents to determine my thesis topic.
Fifthly, ability to meet the financial requirement effectively to complete the study is an essential part to consider while choosing the topic. After preparation of a proper expenditure plan, which involves itemising data costs, training costs, costs of conference attendance, etc., I have found my Ph.D. research to be economically feasible with the Research Training Scheme (RTS) fund provided by the university, and therefore I have decided to go ahead with the topic, mentioned in the beginning, for the Ph.D. thesis.
Finally, suggesting relevant policy implications is often a goal for research in Applied Economics, which I need to consider while choosing a topic. Since my area of research falls within the category of Health Economics research, an applied branch of Economics, I need to foresee what I can suggest to the policymakers out of my research, and hence to choose my topic wisely. At this stage, I have some expectations that I wish to achieve out of my research which worth mentioning. I expect that the study will be able to inform its audience the socio-economic profile of diabetic population and DFD population for the study cohort in terms of age, gender, country of birth, ancestry, marital status, education, income, socio-economic status, remoteness of residence. I also expect to exhibit the role of different risk factors on diabetes and diabetic foot. Most importantly, I will estimate the economic costs attributed to diabetes-related foot disease, disaggregated into components of direct and indirect costs. Overall, the audience will have detailed view of economic consequences due to diabetes-related foot disease for the study cohort in NSW region of Australia. Given the scope of informing important recommendations to the relevant policymakers and making an impact to the society with my research are the last, but not the least considerations when I choose the area of my Ph.D. thesis.