Chronic and Complex Healthcare Services Research Group

The Chronic and Complex Healthcare Services research group is part of the Healthy Ageing Research group within the Department of Medicine.

Group Head

Research focus

The focus of the Chronic and Complex Healthcare Services research group is to undertake high quality research to improve quality of life though optimal healthcare services management for people with severe or chronic health conditions.

Research aims to improve healthcare services through projects that:

  • intersect the needs of the patient and clinical team
  • are feasible and acceptable to the broad target patient population,
  • are scalable
  • are able to be implemented within current healthcare system resources.

Research projects

Improving detection and treatment of mental health issues in people with chronic illness

Projects

  • Improving detection and treatment of depression in people with multiple sclerosis through neurology healthcare services
    • Qualitative and quantitative assessment of current practices, barriers and facilitators to detection and treatment of depression in people with MS
    • Validation of a practical depressive symptom screening tool in MS clinics
    • Characterisation of depressive symptom presentation in people with MS
    • Development, iterative implementation and assessment of recommendations and guidelines for improved healthcare services management
  • AMSLS project: Detection and treatment of depressive symptoms in an Australian sample of people with MS.
  • AMSLS project: Understanding the overlap between depressive and MS symptoms
Collaborative investigators and advisory teamStaff and students
  • A/Prof Ernest Butler, Monash Health, Peninsula Health, Frankston Neurology
  • Ms Michelle Allan, Monash Health & Peninsula Health, Frankston Neurology
  • Prof Barbora De Courten, Monash University
  • Dr Deepa Rajendran, Monash Health, Frankston Neurology
  • Mr Andrew Giles, MS Australia
  • Dr Sally Shaw, Focused Health Psychology
  • Prof Ron Borland, University of Melbourne
  • Prof Karen Leigh Edward, Her Heart, Swinburne University
  • Prof Ingrid Van der Mei, University of Tasmania
  • Dr Akhtar Hussain, University of Tasmania
  • Dr Jennifer Neil, Monash University, Belmore Road Medical Clinic
  • Ms Jovana Bukvic

Treatment burden and medication adherence in chronic illness

Projects

  • STATURE: Relationship Between Oral Disease Modifying Treatment Burden and Adherence in MS
  • AMSLS Data: Medication adherence to disease modifying therapy (DMTs) in MS: A 12-month assessment using PBS data
Collaborative investigators Staff and students
  • A/Prof Ernest Butler, Monash Health, Peninsula Health, Frankston Neurology
  • Ms Michelle Allan, Monash Health & Peninsula Health, Frankston Neurology
  • Ms Adriana Cartwright, St Vincent’s Hospital
  • Mr Tim O’Maley, MS Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital
  • Ms Sharryn Savickas, Barwon Health
  • Ms Meena Sharma, Liverpool Hospital
  • Mr Paul Stockle, Specialists on College
  • Prof Ingrid Van der Mei, University of Tasmania
  • Dr Akhtar Hussain, University of Tasmania
  • Mr Joshua Mardan
  • Ms Janet Harding
  • Ms Ruby Hamer

Neuroprotection in Multiple Sclerosis

Projects

  • Neuroprotective value of antidepressant medication in multiple sclerosis
  • AMSLS data: Depression, self-reported disease progression and the role of antidepressants in multiple sclerosis
Collaborative investigators Staff and students
  • A/Prof Ernest Butler, Monash Health, Peninsula Health, Frankston Neurology
  • Prof Stephen Stuckey, Monash Health, Monash University
  • Prof Robert Hester, University of Melbourne
  • Prof Ingrid Van der Mei, University of Tasmania
  • Dr Akhtar Hussain, University of Tasmania
  • Ms Ruby Hamer

Disability and chronic illness patient-centered language

Projects

  • The Person-first versus identity-first language debate: Informing client-centred care
  • Person-first versus identity-first language preferences: parent and carer’s perspective

Collaborator

  • Dr Amanda Olley, Charles Sturt University, University of New South Wales

Supportive Cancer  Care

Projects

  • Survivorship working group
    • Clinicians use of patient reported outcomes
    • Clinicians use of exercise guidelines working group
  • Neurological complications in cancer care interest group
    • Patient experiences of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) working group
    • CIPN clinician-patient chemotherapy dose-reduction decision making
    • Non-pharmacological working group

International collaboration

  • Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC)