Elana Forbes
Elana Forbes
MD Scholarly Intensive Placement (SIP)
I really enjoyed my time to the extent I’m keen to pursue this research piece beyond the six-week duration. I feel my research skills and confidence took a big jump up to the next level, and that I can actually play a relevant part in discussions on this topic.
Elana Forbes' grandfather was top of her mind when she applied to undertake a medical degree through Monash University several years ago. As a General Practitioner, Elana got to see firsthand the impact he made on the lives of his patients, and the local community. Medicine would also fulfil her own personal interest in science.
During their final year of studies, Monash Medical students engage in a Scholarly Intensive Placement – a six-week immersive research experience within the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. The scheme gives students their first real taste of medical research.
Elana says, "I completed a Diploma of Liberal Arts majoring in Human Rights in 2021, which really resonated with my interests in people and society. I think public health research can offer a really lovely intersect between those interests and medicine, so I was extremely grateful to have my SIP overseen by Professor Jane Fisher, and the Global and Women’s Health team at the School."
Her project used the United Nations Gender Inequality Index to investigate global correlations between gender inequality and increased prevalence of perinatal mental health problems.
An initial search of the literature to find all studies relating to the prevalence of different perinatal mental health problems across the world helped them select 130 of the highest quality studies available around antenatal and postnatal depression. They then compared prevalence data for a range of countries with the index, and created a heat map of available and missing data from specific regions – this exercise in itself identifies areas where further research would be beneficial.
"The SIP experience provided me with an opportunity to plan, collect and analyse data in a structured, supervised space. While it’s now over, I have plans to take a deeper dive into what we’ve found, along with the team," she says.
"We’ve identified really huge gaps in the literature across certain regions, and a general lack of standardisation in the way these studies are carried out.
"I’m keen to shed light on the relationship between perinatal mental health problems and gender inequality, provide regional recommendations to help prioritise research, and advise on best practice around conducting prevalence studies on this issue – for example, the use of culturally and linguistically validated screening tools."
Elana and the team are currently writing up a manuscript.
Of the SIP experience itself, Elana is a fan. "I really enjoyed my time to the extent I’m keen to pursue this research piece beyond the six-week duration. I feel my research skills and confidence took a big jump up to the next level, and that I can actually play a relevant part in discussions on this topic.
"I still haven’t worked out what field I will eventually specialise in, but I know public health and the new knowledge I have around medical evidence will stay with me."