Centre for Health Services Research Winter Research projects
CHSR#1: Developing a Brain Health Index based on population-based survey
Project title: CHSR#1 | Developing a Brain Health Index based on population-based survey |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: 30 hours per week (around 6 hours per day, 5 days per week) |
Location: | Herston: UQ Health Sciences Building |
Description: | Aim: This proposed project reviews the brain health literature to (1) identify initiatives on measuring brain health and/or developing a brain health index, (2) map out domains of brain health that have been identified and measured, and (3) scoping methods and data used for brain health indices. The winter project is the first part of a larger initiative to develop a “Brain Health Index.”. It also complements two ongoing projects within the brain health space. One project develops a post-graduate course on “the fundamentals of brain health.”. Another project is a comprehensive literature review of creative- and arts-based interventions for brain health (creative brain health). Rationale: In the pursuit of better population health, the development of a Brain Health Index (BHI) derived from population-based survey data is a stepping stone. As our societies age and face escalating challenges related to neurodegenerative diseases and mental health, the imperative to assess, monitor, and enhance brain health on a large scale has never been more pressing. The BHI serves as a quantifiable metric, offering insights into the cognitive well-being of individuals. By synthesizing data from surveys that encompass various facets of cognitive and emotional health, lifestyle choices, and the living environment, BHI adds a new dimension to the monitoring of health and wellbeing for individuals and for public health initiatives. At the individual level, a BHI can provide early indications of potential cognitive decline, enabling proactive interventions. Regular assessments through surveys allow for the tracking of changes in cognitive function over time, facilitating personalized healthcare plans. Individuals can make informed decisions about lifestyle changes, cognitive exercises, and mental health interventions based on their BHI, fostering overall well-being. On a broader scale, a population-based BHI serves as a foundation for public health promotions and investments. By analysing survey data across diverse demographic groups, policymakers gain insights into the specific needs and vulnerabilities of different populations. This information enables the tailoring of public health campaigns to address prevalent issues and implement targeted interventions. Public health promotions can leverage the BHI to raise awareness about the importance of cognitive and emotional well-being, lifestyle choices, and the living environment. Educational initiatives can be designed to empower individuals with the knowledge and tools to maintain and enhance their brain health. Through targeted interventions informed by survey data, public health campaigns can address specific risk factors associated with cognitive decline, such as sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, and social isolation. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | Scholars will gain skills in conducting a literature review, preparing a research protocol, and producing a research report. They also gain insights of the research process and expectation a team. The result will be published in a peer-review journal. |
Suitable for: | Students with literature review and evidence synthesis experience. Students with a quantitative background (statistics, psychometrics, econometrics, etc.) will have a strong advantage while reviewing this literature. |
Primary Supervisor: | |
Contact info: | The supervisor MUST be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
CHSR#2: Natural disaster exposure and health among older adults
Project title: CHSR#2 | Natural disaster exposure and health among older adults |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: negotiable |
Location: | Herston: Health Science Building |
Description: | This project aims to explore the impact of natural disaster exposure on health among older adults. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | Manuscript to be submit to the academic Journal. |
Suitable for: | Health-related students. |
Primary Supervisor: | Dr Hanh Dao or Dr Afroz Keremat |
Contact info: | The supervisor CAN be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
CHSR#3: CODE-RN: Cultivating Opportunities for Digital Empowerment in Nursing
Project title: CHSR#3 | CODE-RN: Cultivating Opportunities for Digital Empowerment in Nursing |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: 36 hours |
Location: | Herston: Health Sciences Building |
Description: | CODE-RN is a program of work to cultivate learning and leadership of digital health for nurses. Digital health systems such as electronic medical records are integral to nurses daily work and provides a critical base for a learning healthcare system; a system that leverages big data, artificial intelligence, robotics and precision medicine to improve the wellbeing of current and future populations. The impact of digital health systems on health and wellbeing hinges on the acceptance, appropriate use and management of our most substantial workforce in healthcare; nurses. As a 2024 Winter Scholar, you will be provided with expert mentorship by two nurse researchers, Dr Lori Delaney, UQ School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work and Dr Lee Woods, UQ’s Queensland Digital Health Centre (QDHeC). Situated within the newly established QDHeC headquarters in UQ’s Health Sciences Building, Herston, you will work closely with Drs Delaney and Woods to build new knowledge on the clinical informatics training requirements essential for the nursing workforce, exploring the attitudes, preferences and learning needs of multiple stakeholders including educators, students and new graduates. Of particular interest is the exploration of global best practice aimed at cultivating a digitally capable nursing workforce through improved curriculum design. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | • Be a part of an interdisciplinary, world-class research organisation with leading clinician researchers • Examine and report on the perspectives of digital health training for student nurses • Preparation of research manuscript(s). |
Suitable for: | • High achieving undergraduate or postgraduate nursing students • Enthusiastic and engaging attitude, keen to learn and take initiative • Students with a keen interest in technology and data to improve health and care • Students with an open mind, and ability to collaborate with disciplines outside nursing through the interdisciplinary Queensland Digital Health Centre • You do NOT need to have technical/coding/programming skills. |
Primary Supervisor: | Queensland Digital Health Centre (QDHeC) Or |
Contact info: | The supervisor MUST be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
CHSR#4: Digital phenotyping in the management of Type II diabetes
Project title: CHSR#4 | Digital phenotyping in the management of Type II diabetes |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: 25 hours |
Location: | Herston: Health Sciences Building |
Description: | In medicine, a phenotype refers to a set of measurable biological, behavioural or cognitive markers that are found more often in individuals with a particular disease or condition than in the general population. Patient phenotypes captured to enhance health and wellness will soon extend to human interactions with technology: a new and growing phenomenon known as “digital phenotype”. Digital phenotypes can expand our ability to identify and diagnose health conditions. For example, through social media, forums and online communities, wearable technologies and mobile devices, there is a growing body of health-related data that can shape our assessment of human illness. The aim of this project is to conduct a literature review to uncover evidence of how digital phenotypes (through the use of technologies such as social media, wearable and mobile devices) can be used to diagnose, treat and manage Type 2 diabetes. This recent paper, published in Nature Digital Medicine, is an example of the topic we are exploring in this project: Multimodal digital phenotyping of diet, physical activity, and glycemia in Hispanic/Latino adults with or at risk of type 2 diabetes. Activities during the project will include: 1. Conducting searches for articles relevant to the aims of this project in medical and healthcare journal databases (PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, Embase etc). 2. Screening search results according set criteria for inclusion in the review. The completion of or expected progress of this activity and 3 and 4 below will depend on the number of articles identified in the screening activity above. 3. Reviewing screened articles and data extraction. 4. Summarising and synthesizing extracted data After summarising and synthesising the data, a systematic review manuscript will be drafted for possible publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The student will be listed as a co-author on the manuscript resulting from this work for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. The project requires good analytical skills and attention to detail. In addition to enhancing those skills, the student will gain essential research skills related to systematic reviews, analysing and synthesizing research data and academic writing. This project will be supervised by Dr. Ronald Dendere, Health Informatics research fellow at Centre for Health Services Research and Dr Anish Menon, Endocrinologist at PA Hospital and research fellow at the Centre for Health Services Research. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | The project requires good analytical skills and attention to detail. In addition to enhancing those skills, the student will gain essential research skills related to systematic reviews, analysing and synthesizing research data and academic writing. |
Suitable for: | The project is suitable for students with any background in any health-related field but would particularly benefit those with an interest in the application of digital technologies in healthcare delivery. |
Primary Supervisor: | Dr Anish Menon Or Dr Ronald Dendere |
Contact info: | The supervisor MUST be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
CHSR#5: Video content development to support digital health literacy needs in Metro South Hospital and Health Services
Project title: CHSR#5 | Video content development to support digital health literacy needs in Metro South Hospital and Health Services |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: 20 hours |
Location: | Dutton Park: Princess Alexandra Hospital, Centre for Online Health (COH) |
Description: | We have completed a study which found that patients struggle to find online health information and resources (68% of patients with chronic disease) and to use digital devices (72% of patients with chronic disease) when receiving digital health care, despite finding both aspects highly important. There are several evidence-based and government strategies developed worldwide to support consumers to thrive in digital health use and to support online information-seeking behaviour. Scholars will work closely with digital health researchers at the Centre for Online Health (COH) to identify high quality online resources, and develop 1-3 short video lessons (up to 2 minutes each) to improve awareness and understanding of: 1. How digital health can improve health care. 2. How to identify high quality online information. 3. How to improve their confidence in using digital devices. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | Scholars will be able to pitch their own ideas to create effective and meaningful educational content that will be hosted at COH website and shared with MSHHS. They will gain skills in a rapid review, qualitative synthesis and research communication. |
Suitable for: | Students with interest and background in Communication, Illustration, or Public Health. |
Primary Supervisor: | Dr Jaimon Kelly or |
Contact info: | The supervisor CAN be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
CHSR#6: Building an understanding of Queensland’s young cardiac population
Project title: CHSR#6 | Building an understanding of Queensland’s young cardiac population |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: 36 hours |
Location: | Dutton Park: Centre for Online Health, Princess Alexandra Hospital |
Description: | This project will utilise recent data from the Cardiac Rehabilitation module of the Queensland Cardiac Outcome Registry (approximately 35K patients between 2020-2022 across 50+ services). From preliminary analysis of these data, we have noted an interesting cohort of ~150 patients who are under the age of 18 years. This age group is not typically included in secondary prevention programs in Queensland. As such we wish to understand this cohort better. For example, what cardiac conditions they present, and any association with gender, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Status and geographic locations. We also want to determine if they are more or less likely than the general population to be readmitted to hospital within 90 days. These findings will be written up in a short article and submitted for publication. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | Scholars may gain skills in data analysis, descriptive statistics and inferential analysis. They will be able to contribute to a publication, give an oral presentation to the COH team and to any other scientific conference they wish to participate. |
Suitable for: | Students with some background in Public Health / Epidemiology / Biostatistics and also students considering doing a PhD in the field of health service research in the future. |
Primary Supervisor: | Dr Emma Thomas |
Contact info: | The supervisor CAN be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
CHSR#7: Developing digital frailty education modules for hospitals
Project title: CHSR#7 | Developing digital frailty education modules for hospitals |
Project duration, hours of engagement | 4 weeks from 24th June to 19th July 2024 Hours expected per week: 21 hours |
Location: | Dutton Park: Building 33 |
Description: | This placement is part of a larger body of research that aims to improve outcomes for frail patients in hospitals. Research shows that healthcare professionals and students generally have limited knowledge about frailty assessment, prevention and management, and have expressed a desire to learn about frailty. The research project is co-designing and developing digital education modules to improve frailty knowledge in hospital across different disciplines. In previous phases of the projects, consumers, caregivers, healthcare professionals and students co-designed the content, functionality and design of the modules. The UQ winter placement will involve helping to translate these findings by designing and developing digital modules. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | Activities will include sourcing evidenced-based information from academic databases, writing module content, creating interactive activities (e.g., quizzes), and helping to source media (videos and images). |
Suitable for: | There are no requirements for this placement, however it would suit someone interested in improving care for older adults, education, visualisation of information and qualitative research. All training will be provided. |
Primary Supervisor: | Dr Kristiana Ludlow |
Contact info: | The supervisor MUST be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |