| Title | Description | Supervisors |
|---|---|---|
| What's happening? Do parents and young people know what to do and how to access mental health support early | This will be a qualitative exploration of children and parents' perceptions of early mental health support. The survey and qualitative interviews will focus on help seeking and early information and education for children, parents and carers. | A/Prof Cath Kaylor-Hughes, Dr Amy Coe & Dr Daniela Ramirez Duran |
| Assessing the usability and acceptability of a clinical decision tool and care navigation for GPs to triage children and young people presenting with mental ill health | A qualitative study to explore barriers and drivers of a clinical prediction tool for mental health in children and adolescents and subsequent care navigation. This study will use surveys and/or interviews to elicit GP perception on a mental health prediction tool to help triage patients and refine treatment pathways through care navigation in a local and national context. | A/Prof Cath Kaylor-Hughes & Dr Caroline Johnson |
| Understanding the nature of multi-disciplinary working across care for the treatment of mental ill-health | Qualitative study exploring current practice for multi-disciplinary working in the treatment of mental ill health. This study will use surveys and/or interviews to elicit GPs' experiences and preferences for multi-disciplinary working in the treatment of mental ill health. | A/Prof Cath Kaylor-Hughes & Dr Caroline Johnson |
| What's the cost? How well informed are patients around cost when engaging with primary health care | Patients are required to make informed financial decisions about their treatment but how well are they actually informed? This project would require students to conduct and survey and/or interviews with general practice patients to examine how people understand the payment system behind their health and how this affects treatment decisions for themselves and their family - Qualitative/Mixed-methods (no STATA required). | A/Prof Cath Kaylor-Hughes |
| Mental wellbeing and climate action | Concerns over climate change is real. Are there steps we can take to address some of the issues contributing to climate change that also help our mental wellbeing? This project can be literature led (Scoping review) or through collecting survey and/or interview data - Qualitative/Mixed Methods (No STATA required) | A/Prof Cath Kaylor-Hughes |
| Mental wellbeing across the life course | Wellbeing (flourishing) is described in many different ways but what does this actually look like across the life course and do our core perceptions of happiness change over time? This project can be literature led (Scoping review) or through collecting survey and/or interview data - Qualitative / Mixed Methods. | A/Prof Cath Kaylor-Hughes |
| The Role of Practice Managers in the Teaching and Research pathway: are there resources that can be shared to help address knowledge gaps? | Currently Practice managers work independently of others PMs in the field, yet they hold significant responsibilities for the practice business, patients and staff. This qualitative study will scope the resources available for PM in General Practice an determine if there is a gap in knowledge awareness and if there are resources that might be shared by PMs in the region of Eastern Melbourne PHN and Eastern Health. | A/Prof Cath Kaylor-Hughes & Dr Daniela Ramirez Duran |
| Antidepressant Deprescribing in the CALD community | Antidepressant deprescribing is shown to be a complex and difficult process. Currently support is being trialled in the general adult population but may not be accessible to the CALD communities where language and cultural nuances may need to be accounted for. This project would explore the barriers and facilitators to improving accessibility for deprescribing in this community. | Dr Amy Coe & A/Prof Cath Kaylor-Hughes |
| GP nurse experiences and perceptions of antidepressant deprescribing | Currently, most of the literature focuses on barriers and facilitators that GPs face when helping patients to stop their potentially unnecessary antidepressants. Nurses are also well placed to conduct mental health checks and could play a key role in assisting patients in practice, however there is little information on how they might do this and if they feel confident and comfortable to do so. This project will explore GP practice nurse perceptions on conducting antidepressant deprescribing in practice (via interviews). | Dr Amy Coe & A/Prof Cath Kaylor-Hughes |
| Exploring loneliness through creative submissions from young people as part of the A-Part of the Crowd Project | There are many programs in primary care to support loneliness in older adults but surprisingly few have been co-designed and implemented with and for 18- to 25-year-olds. The A-Part of The Crowd project was funded by Medibank Foundation as a way to address this gap. This project (for an Honours student) will involve secondary qualitative analysis of 100+ creative stories (videos, poems, songs, collages etc) shared by 18–25-year-olds across Australia about being lonely during a transitionary phase such as leaving home, or leaving school or starting work. | Dr Jennifer Bibb, Dr Matthew Lewis & Dr Daniela Ramirez Duran |
Research Projects
Research projects:
All our Honours projects focus on primary care/general practice and are qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods rather than lab based. This means the research is conducted using existing datasets or by surveying or interviewing patients/clinicians about a topic within a primary care setting.
2027 Honours projects are available in the following research areas:
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Title Description Supervisors Health Promoting Schools: A report card on Australia by State In Australia young people have the lowest primary care attendance rates across the lifespan, meaning there are fewer opportunities for early intervention or preventive health care to address the challenges to health and wellbeing that this life stage presents. The problem is most pronounced in disadvantaged areas where complex social issues compound health risks and contribute to higher levels of unmet health need. School Based Health Services (SBHS) are emerging internationally as a means of providing primary care services in an accessible and affordable way to those most in need. While there has been uptake of the SBHS model within Australia, the level of coordination and the form various SBHS take varies widely. This project will map all existing SBHS services in Australia with the aim of documenting how well these services meet the WHO Health Promoting Schools framework. Prof Lena Sanci &
Dr Simone CraigHealth on hold: a contemporary review of why the uptake of preventive care remains low Preventive care offers health benefits by addressing health concerns early to avert the development of chronic conditions and avoid long term health complications. Health interventions, such as improving diet, sleep and exercise patterns, and reducing smoking, drug use and alcohol consumption, also have economic benefits. Despite these known advantages, patient uptake of preventive care remains low across all age groups. This project involves a contemporary review of why people across the lifespan do not engage in preventive care. Studies will consider research conducted directly with people and carers/guardians in high income countries across all socioeconomic strata, with special focus on culturally and linguistically diverse and First Nations groups. Prof Lena Sanci &
Dr Ann-Maree DuncanThe Australian research conversation about child and adolescent health in statutory out-of-home care 2010-2025: A narrative review The student researcher will be supported to undertake a bounded literature review that will build on and update work on children in out-of-home care previously published by the primary supervisor. The study will provide the student researcher with a valuable insight into a low-incidence, high-need paediatric population who present in every field of medicine. This is an ideal study for any MMS MD student or for an MDHS Honours student with a special interest in child & adolescent health. Dr Susan Webster & Prof Meredith Temple-Smith -
Title Description Supervisors Patient Perspectives on Using Generative AI for Health Information: A Mixed-Methods Study Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT are increasingly being used by members of the public to seek health information, emotional support and advice. Despite rapid adoption, little is known about why patients choose to use these tools, what benefits they perceive, what concerns they have, and how these technologies influence help-seeking and relationships with healthcare professionals including in primary care contexts. This project aims to (1) explore patients’ perceptions/experiences of using/accessing generative AI for health information; (2) identify perceived benefits, risks and unmet needs; (3) examine attitudes towards discussing AI use with healthcare professionals; and (4) Generate recommendations for safe and patient-centred implementation. Methods: Sequential mixed-methods study. We will survey of adults who have used GenAI for health information and conduct semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of survey respondents. Quantitative data will be analysed descriptively and interview data will be analysed thematically. Students with skills or experience in the following areas are preferred: survey design, qualitative interviewing, thematic analysis, mixed-methods research, scientific writing, and research dissemination. A/Prof Kylie Vuong, A/Prof Charlotte Blease & Dr Sundresan Naicker -
Title Description Supervisors Parent Perspectives on Medicinal Cannabis for Mental Health Conditions in Children and Young People Interview parents or caregivers of children and young people who have used medicinal cannabis for anxiety, depression, trauma-related symptoms, sleep disturbance or other mental health concerns. Explore treatment expectations, perceived benefits and harms, access pathways, family decision-making, the young person’s involvement, clinical monitoring and uncertainty about the evidence. Dr Christine Hallinan, Dr Rebecca Wang & Prof David Castle Young People’s Experiences of Using Medicinal Cannabis for Mental Health Conditions Interview young people who have used medicinal cannabis for a mental health condition. Examine motivations for commencing treatment, expectations, perceived symptom and functional outcomes, adverse effects, stigma, costs, disclosure, relationships with parents and clinicians, and decisions to continue or discontinue treatment. For feasibility, the primary population could be aged 18–25 years. Dr Christine Hallinan, Dr Rebecca Wang & Prof David Castle Patient Experiences of Medicinal Cannabis for Mental Health Conditions Interview adults who have used medicinal cannabis for anxiety, depression, PTSD, sleep-related symptoms or other mental health conditions. Explore perceived effectiveness and harms, concurrent medicine use, access through telehealth or specialist clinics, communication with usual GPs, treatment monitoring and continuity of care. Dr Christine Hallinan, Dr Rebecca Wang & Prof David Castle Medicinal Cannabis Prescribing for Mental Health Conditions in Children and Adolescents: National Trends and Products Examine national medicinal cannabis approval patterns among people under 18 years with mental health indications. Assess changes over time, age and sex differences, specific indications, product categories, routes of administration, cannabinoid composition and prescriber characteristics. Dr Christine Hallinan, Dr Rebecca Wang & Prof David Castle Medicinal Cannabis Prescribing for Mental Health Conditions in Young Adults: National Trends and Emerging Patterns Examine medicinal cannabis approvals among young adults aged approximately 18–25 years. Investigate changes over time, mental health indications, demographic patterns, product types, cannabinoid composition, routes and prescriber groups. The study could compare young adults with adolescents or older adults. Dr Christine Hallinan, Dr Rebecca Wang & Prof David Castle National Trends in Medicinal Cannabis Approvals for Neurological Conditions in Australia This project will examine national medicinal cannabis approvals for neurological conditions, including motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, neuropathic conditions and other progressive or disabling neurological disorders. The study will investigate changes in approvals over time, patient age and sex, specific neurological indications, product type, cannabinoid composition, route of administration and prescriber characteristics. It will also compare prescribing patterns across neurological conditions to identify differences in patient populations, products used and changes in clinical practice. The project will provide contemporary evidence on how medicinal cannabis is being used across neurological disease and where prescribing may be increasing despite limited or uneven evidence for effectiveness and safety. Dr Christine Hallinan, Dr Rebecca Wang & Prof David Castle -
Title Description Supervisors AI or not AI? General practitioners' perspectives around using AI in general practice In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI), such as AI scribes (tools that ‘listen’ to the consult and automate clinical documentation to reduce administrative burden), have emerged as a transformative force in clinical practice, with significant potential to reshape primary care. However, little is known what Australian GPs think about using AI in general practice. Therefore the aim of this qualitative study is to explore the barriers and enablers of using AIs in general practice from Australian GPs' viewpoint. Dr Ruby Biezen & Dr Matt Suen Can an interpreter AI tool assist General practitioners' consultations with CALD patients? An artificial intelligence (AI) interpreter tool that listens, transcribes and interpret during a general practice consultation can assist with communication with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) patients. Currently, little is known the feasibility and acceptance of this tool in general practice. The aim of this qualitative study is to explore the barriers and enablers of using an interpreter AI tool in general practice to assist in a general practice consultation. Dr Ruby Biezen & A/Prof Danielle Hitch -
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Title Description Supervisor Practice based research networks as an Australian health service model: a narrative review Recommendations for creating a sustainable research environment in rural and remote areas include: state and territories to implement rural and remote health research strategies to overcome fragmented research efforts, ensuring health research is driven by local needs to increase knowledge translation into clinical practice, and research to involve local health care workers to build research capacity, capability and partnerships. Dr Suzie Harte &
Ms Hannah Lushington -
Title Description Supervisors Evaluation of Pathways to Safety Primary Care training program - analysis of open-ended survey responses Data were collected from participants prior to and after completing the Pathways to Safety training. Several open-ended questions were included (eg, what do you hope to gain, what did you gain, challenges, planned changes to practice) that require thematic analysis to evaluate the program. Dr Fiona Giles & Dr Elizabeth McLindon Analysis of a survey data set designed to screen women for domestic and family violence Data were collected from women aged 18+ who had visited their GP in the last 12 months which recorded responses to several questions related to their visits to the GP and their health and wellbeing. It included questions about smoking, anxiety, depression, physical activity and being afraid of their partner/ex- partner or family member, and demographic characteristics. Dr Fiona Giles & Prof Kelsey Hegarty Embedding lived expertise in teaching health science students about violence, trauma and abuse Analysis of data collected from medical students about their experiences of being taught about responding to violence and abuse by a victim survivor. Dr Katie Lamb & Prof Kelsey Hegarty Supporting healthcare workers who have experienced family violence This project will be exploring the use of Group Eye Movement Desensitisation Therapy [EMDR] for healthcare workers at the Royal Women’s Hospital. Dr Elizabeth McLindon & Dr Minerva Kyei-Nimakoh Navigating the legal system after Eye Movement Reprocessing and Desensitisation (EMDR) Therapy to recover from sexual violence Literature review and interviews with sexual violence specalist services about protocols and practices of offering Eye Movement Reprocessing and Desensitisation (EMDR) Therapy to survivors of sexual violence to support their recovery in the context of the law. Dr Elizabeth McLindon & Dr Kelly FitzPatrick Help-seeking intentions among men who use violence: secondary data analysis of a randomised controlled trial of an online tool Sub-analyses of data from a randomised controlled trial of men's help-seeking intentions after an online intervention. Dr Minerva Kyei-Nimakoh & Prof Kelsey Hegarty