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Research Areas

The research work of our group has expanded rapidly in the last two years. In addition to our focus on the quality of web information and on web-based applications in depression, we also now research and develop systems of health care delivery within ICT environments. Over the next five years this focus will gain further momentum in response to broader changes in the role of information systems in health care delivery, the change in the role of the 'empowered' consumer, and the pressures on the health care system bought about by the 'greying' of the population in most developed countries.

Three key areas of research are:

• the use of ICT in prevention. Although the advantages of the Internet in dissemination are recognised, early intervention and targeting of health problems is under-recognized and under-researched. Our current work examines the advantages of tailored and targeted anxiety and depression interventions using the web; new research will investigate the effects of 'short' health promotional messages on behavioural change;
• the use of ICT to link consumers directly to health information, early intervention health care, and GP care. In partnership with Lifeline (2005+) and beyondblue (2004+) we undertake evaluation of systems within general practice and community outreach. Further development will involve evaluation of mental health delivery systems using modes of stepped care and chronic disease management within an ICT environment. This will include the development of health care modules that tackle broad areas of health, including diabetes and arthritis, and the use of tracking for follow-up and relapse prevention;
• the development of automated indicators of health care quality.

Current Research Projects

Improving Recognition of Mental Health

The Wellbeing Project

e-couch

MoodGYM

BluePages

Web quality

ECCO (collaboration with Lifeline)