Bakgrunn og hensikten med prosjektet:
Over the counter analgesics (OTCA) are a loosely defined class of medicines available for commercial sale without prescription for the treatment of common ailments such as fever, inflammation, various pains and aches. Evidence suggests that several OTCA medicines have acute effects on the brain that can be quantified using functional brain measures (e.g. fMRI/EEG). These effects appear largely related to the medicinal properties of OTCAs such as analgesia, but could potentially extend to wider domain of brain functions. Through a systematic review of available literature, the aim of this project is to summarize research on functional brain activity and OTCAs as well as investigate the extent to which the effects of various OTCAs on the brain overlap.
Forslag til tema/problemstillinger:
The theme and research question of the project will be defined within the scope of an already developed research proposal (summarized above). If the student is interested in pursuing their own ideas and questions, this is possible as long the thesis can this address questions raised in the original proposal.
Foreliggende data/ev. mulighet for innsamling av egne data:
The student will perform literature search and data extraction as part of their thesis work.
The student will also have the opportunity to become involved in an experimental project on the brain and paracetamol. If interested the student will be involved in study coordination and will take an active part in data collection, with excellent opportunities for gaining experience and skills working with best practices in drug trials and RCT, EEG and data analysis. In practical terms, this entails contributing to participant recruitment, screening and inclusion, quality control, EEG data collection and analysis.
The student will work in close collaboration with and be supervised by a PhD candidate. Due to involvement in communication with study participants, it is preferable (but not required) that the student is fluent in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language.
Kontaktpersoner (inkluder navn og epost):
Shervin H. Bukhari, shervin.bukhari@oslomet.no, PhD stipendiat ved Instittut for Sykepleie og Helsefremmende Arbeid, Fakultet for Helsevitenskap.