Economics of mental health stream
We undertake economic evaluations of mental health and psychosocial care. Research in our program includes advising services and organisations that are doing economic evaluations or interested in assessing the economic impacts of their mental health and psychosocial care services.
Our stream coordinator is Associate Professor Cathy Mihalopoulos.
Our major projects
A randomised trial of a clinical prediction tool for targeting depression care (Target -D). J Gunn (University of Melbourne), C Mihalopoulos, K Hegarty, A Williams, L Sterling, P Chondros, S Davidson (NHMRC Project Grant 1059863).
Reducing peer victimisation in Australian schools through targeted and universal approaches. R Rapee (Macquarie University), D Cross, C Hunt, K Bussey, J Hudson, CMihalopoulos, C Roberts, N Tito (NHMRC Targeted Call for Research - Mental Health 1047185).
Centre for Research Excellence on Evidence-based Mental Health Service Planning: Translating Evidence into Policy. H Whiteford (University of Queensland), L Degenhardt, J Pirkis, C Mihalopoulos, K Eagar, G Andrews, B Head, J Gunn, W Hall, G Patton (NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence 1041131).
The HORYZONS project: Moderated Online Social Therapy for Maintenance of Treatment Effects from Specialised First Episode Psychosis Services. M Alvarez-Jimenez (Orygen Youth Health Research Centre). Research partners are Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, the Australian Catholic University, the University of Melbourne and Deakin University. (Mental Illness Research Fund 2318751).
Improving mental health for young people in out-of-home care: providing participatory evidence-based mental health care across services. H Herrman (University of Melbourne), C Humphrey, P McGorry, I Kaplan, P Mitchell, C Harvey, C Mihalopoulos, S Cotton, E Davis, A Vance (NHMRC Targeted Call for Research - Mental Health 1046692).
Cost effectiveness in Australian mental health services: Improving the evidence base and relevance to decision-makers. C Mihalopoulos (NHMRC Early Career Fellowship 1035887).
The Australian perinatal mental health reforms: using population data to evaluate their impact on service utilisation and related cost-effectiveness. MP Austin (University of New South Wales), E Sullivan, N Highet, V Morgan, C Mihalopoulos, M Croft, K Brameld (NHMRC Partnership Grant 1028554).
A stepped care approach for the management of childhood anxiety disorders: A randomised controlled trial. R Rapee (Macquarie University), J Hudson, H Lyneham, C Mihalopoulos, V Wuthrich, M Kangas (NHMRC Project Grant 1027556).
Preventing Child Internalising Problems: Follow up of a population-based randomised trial through middle childhood. J Bayer (La Trobe University), R Rapee, H Hiscock, O Ukoumunne, C Mihalopoulos, L Bretherton (NHMRC Project Grant 1079956).
Our recent publications
- Mihalopoulos, C., Magnus, A., Lal, A. Dell, L., Forbes, D., Phelps, A. (2015). Is implementation of the 2013 Australian treatment guidelines for post traumatic stress disorder cost-effective compared to current practice? A cost-utility analysis using QALYs and DALYs. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 49(4) 360-376.
- Mihalopoulos, C. and Chatterton M-L. (2015). The Cost-effectiveness of Interventions Designed to Prevent Mental Disorders: A Literature Review. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 9(2), 85-92.
- Veerman, J.L., Shrestha, R.N., Mihalopoulos, C., Passey, M.E., Schofield, D.J., Kelly, S.J., Tanton, R., Callander, E.J. (2015). Depression prevention, labour force participation and income of older working aged Australians: a microsimulation economic analysis, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 49(5), 430-436.
- Stockings, E., Degenhardt, L., Lee, Y.Y., Mihalopoulos, C., Liu A., Hobbs, M., Patton, G. (2015). Symptom screening scales for detecting major depressive disorder in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis of reliability, validity and diagnostic utility, Journal of Affective Disorders, 174C, pp447-463.
- Mihalopoulos, C., Vos, T., Rapee, R. M., Pirkis, J., Chatterton, M. L., Lee, Y. C., & Carter, R. (2015). The population cost-effectiveness of a parenting intervention designed to prevent anxiety disorders in children. J Child Psychol Psychiatry, 56(9), 1026-1033.
- Davis, E., Gilson, K-M, Christian, R., Waters, E., MacKinnon, A., Herrman, H, Sims, M., Harrison, L., Cook, K., Miahlopoulos, C., Marshall, B., Flego, A., and Corr, L. (2015). Building the capacity of family day care educators to promote children's social and emotional wellbeing: results of an exploratory cluster randomised controlled trial. Australian Journal of Early Childhood, 40 (2).
- Chambers, G. M., Randall, S., Hoang, V. P., Sullivan, E. A., Highet, N., Croft, M., Mihalopoulos, C., Morgan, V. A., Reilly, N., Austin, M. P.Austin, M. P. (2015). The National Perinatal Depression Initiative: An evaluation of access to general practitioners, psychologists and psychiatrists through the Medicare Benefits Schedule. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. pii: 0004867415580154.
- Galvão, D. A., Newton, R. U., Gardiner, R. A., Girgis, A., Lepore, S. J., Stiller, A., Lepore,
- Mihalopolous, C. Chambers, S. K. (2015). Compliance to exercise-oncology guidelines in prostate cancer survivors and associations with psychological distress, unmet supportive care needs, and quality of life. Psycho-Oncology, n/a-n/a. doi: 10.1002/pon.3882.
- Lambert, S. D., McElduff, P., Girgis, A., Levesque, J. V., Regan, T. W., Turner, J., Candler, H., Mihalopoulos, C., Shih, S. T., Kayser, K., Chong, P. (2015). A pilot, multisite, randomized controlled trial of a self-directed coping skills training intervention for couples facing prostate cancer: accrual, retention, and data collection issues. Support Care Cancer. doi: 10.1007/s00520-015-2833-3.
- Skouteris, H., McPhie, S., Hill B., McCabe, M., Milgrom, J., Kent, B., Bruce, L., Herring, S., Gale, J., Mihalopoulos, C., Shih, S., and Teale, G. (2015). Evaluating the efficacy of a health coaching intervention to prevent excessive gestational weight gain: A randomised controlled trial, British Journal of Health psychology, Jul 31. doi: 10.1111/bjhp.12154.
Economics of chronic disease management stream
Our research focus is on the impact of interventions across health care settings on a range of chronic diseases or conditions that absorb the majority of health care resources. The increasing prevalence of chronic disease represents a significant burden on individuals, households and health systems.
We research the economic credentials for disease prevention as well as the efficient management of established disease. Understanding the disease burden, impact on individual health-related quality of life and capabilities, and efficiency of interventions and health services form the major focus of our research theme.
Our stream coordinator is Jenny Watts.
Our major projects
The Australian Study of Cost and Utilities Related to Osteoporotic Fractures. K Sanders (University of Melbourne), J Watts, G Nicholson, G Duque, T Winzenberg (NHMRC Project Grant 628422).
- Osteoporosis costing all Australians: A new burden of disease analysis - 2012 to 2022 [Report] Australia: Osteoporosis Australia.
- Quality of life associated with fragility fractures.
Do additional allied health service for rehabilitation reduce length of stay without compromising patient outcomes? Investigators: N Taylor (La Trobe University), N Brusco, J Watts, N Shields, N Sullivan (NHMRC Partnership Grant 541958).
Home based rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease. M Morris (University of Melbourne), J Watts, F Huxham, H Menz, N Taylor, C Martin (NHMRC Project Grant 509129).
National Evaluation of the Dementia Care in Hospitals Project. R Carter, J Watts, L Lane (Deakin University).
Impact of HIV/AIDS service provision on individuals, households and communities in Sub -Saharan Africa (Uganda and Kenya). J Abimanyi-Ochom (Deakin University), B Inder, B Hollingsworth, P Lorgelly (Centre for Health Economics Uganda HIV Survey funded by Monash University).
HIV/AIDS and Disability (A Case of Uganda). J Abimanyi-Ochom (Deakin University), H Mannan, N Groce (Deakin Population Health SRC Small grant project).
Improving access for community health and sub-acute outpatient services. N Taylor (La Trobe University), J Watts, S Leggat, B Kent, K Harding (NHRMC Partnership Grant 1076777).
Our recent publications
- Abimanyi-Ochom, J., Watts, J.J., Borgstrom, F., Nicholson, G.C., Shore-Lorenti, C., Stuart, A.L., Zhang, Y., Iuliano, S., Seeman, E., Prince, R., March, L., Cross, M., Winzenberg, T., Laslett, L.L., Duque G, Ebeling PR & Sanders K.M., (2015). Changes in quality of life associated with fragility fractures: Australian arm of the International Cost and Utility Related to Osteoporotic Fractures Study (AusICUROS). Osteoporosis International, 26(6), 1781-1790.
- Morris, M. E., Menz, H. B., McGinley, J. L., Watts, J.J., Huxham, F. E., Murphy, A. T., Iansek, R. (2015). A Randomized Controlled Trial to Reduce Falls in People With Parkinson's Disease. Neurorehabil Neural Repair, 29(8), 777-785.
- Morris, M.E., Murphy, A.T., Watts, J.J., Jolley, D., Campbell, D., Soh, S., Said, C., Iansek, R. (2015). The Health Profile of People Living with Parkinson’s Disease Managed in a Comprehensive Care Setting. Aging Sci 3:135. doi: 10.4172/2329-8847.1000135.
- Brusco, N.K., Watts, J.J., Shields, N., Taylor, N.F. (2015). Is cost effectiveness sustained after weekend inpatient rehabilitation? 12 month follow up from a randomized controlled trial. BMC Health Services Research 15:165.
- Morello, R. T., Barker, A. L., Watts, J. J., Bohensky, M. A., Forbes, A. B., & Stoelwinder, J. (2015). A Telephone Support Program to Reduce Costs and Hospital Admissions for Patients at Risk of Readmissions: Lessons from an Evaluation of a Complex Health Intervention. Popul Health Manag. doi: 10.1089/pop.2015.0042.
Economics of disability stream
Our team runs a new and emerging research program within Deakin Health Economics. We aim to build capacity in economics of disability research in collaboration with researchers and stakeholders in disability research, knowledge translation and policy.
Our stream coordinators are Professor Rob Carter and Dr Sophy Shih.
Our major projects
Centre for Research Excellence in Cerebral Palsy (CRE-CP). D Reddihough (Murdoch Childrens Research Institute), K Graham, C Imms, N Badawi, M Coory, E Waters, E Blair, R Carter (NHMRC CRE Grant 1057997).
Developing and evaluating a new cost-effective health and wellbeing model of care for disability service providers. E Waters (University of Melbourne), E Davis, J Chan, D Reddihough, R Carter, K Williams, L Gibbs, J Reynolds, J Tracy, R McDonald (NHMRC Partnership Grant 1076861).
Developing a disability policy model to target the prevention or reduction of limitations on functioning and wellbeing. C Stevenson (Deakin University), A Peeters, H Mannan, C Reid, D Magliano, A Hodge (ARC Discovery Project Grant DP120
Our recent publications
The three studies listed above are all in the early stage of the research cycle and publications to date have focused on protocol design.
Economics of maternal and child health stream
Our team studies the economic evaluation of maternal and child health interventions. We work closely with organisations interested in assessing the cost-effectiveness of their programs.
We’re involved in a broad range of research areas, including pregnancy and postnatal care and programs covering early childhood to primary school. Increasingly, programs in this field of research are community interventions and target multiple groups across multiple settings. Our economic evaluation methods match this focus of evaluation and design.
Our stream coordinator is Associate Professor Lisa Gold.
Our major publications
Centre for Research Excellence in Childhood Language (CRE-CL). S Reilly (Murdoch Childrens Research Institute), M Wake, J Law, B Tomblin, F Mensah, A Morgan, J Nicholson, L Gold, S Goldfeld (NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence 1023493).
How language develops, what goes wrong and why it matters: following the Early Language in Victoria Study (ELVS) to age 13. S Reilly (Murdoch Childrens Research Institute), M Wake, E Bavin, T Eadie, F Mensah, L Bretherton, L Gold, A Castles (NHMRC Project Grant 1023964).
Growing up in Australia's Child Health CheckPoint: Implementing an intergenerational health module for the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. M Wake (Murdoch Childrens Research Institute), D Burgner, F Mensah, M Cheung, L Gold, S Clifford, T Olds, J Carlin, P Azzopardi, T Dwyer, R Saffery, S Ranganathan, B Edwards, H Rogers (Foundation for Children ID 2014-055).
Sleep Well Be Well: Improving school transition by improving child sleep - translational randomised trial. H Hiscock (Murdoch Childrens Research Institute), M Wake, J Quach, LGold, J McLoughlin, J Carlin (NHMRC Project Grant 1024203).
Sleeping sound with ADHD: Does a brief behavioural sleep intervention, delivered by trained health professionals, improve outcomes for children with ADHD? A cluster-randomised, translational trial. H Hiscock (Murdoch Childrens Research Institute), E Sciberras, H Heussler, F Oberklaid, N Rinehart, M Wiest (AI- Lisa Gold). (NHMRC Project Grant 1058827).
Our recent publications
- Wake M., Levickis P., Tobin S., Gold L., Ukoumunne O.C., Goldfeld S. et al. Two-Year Outcomes of a Population-Based Intervention for Preschool Language Delay: An RCT. Pediatrics. 136 (4): 2015-1337.
- Roberts, G., Quach, J., Mensah, F., Gathercole, S., Gold, L., Anderson, P., Spencer-Smith, M., Wake, M. (2015). Schooling duration rather than chronological age predicts working memory between 6 and 7 years: the Memory Maestros study. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 36(2): 68-74.
- Hegarty, K., Tarzia, L., Murray, E., Valpied, J., Humphreys, C., Taft, A., Gold, L., Glass, N. (2015). Protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a web-based healthy relationship tool and safety decision aid for women experiencing domestic violence (I-DECIDE). BMC Public Health, 15: 736.
- Lindberg, R., Whelan, J., Gold, L., Friel, S., Lawrence, M. (2015). Still serving hot soup? Two hundred years of a charitable food sector in Australia. A narrative review. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 39(4): 358-365.
- Christian, B., Young, D., Gibbs, L., de Silva, A., Gold, L., Riggs, E., Calache, H., Tadic, M., Hall, M., Moore, L., Waters, E. (2015). Exploring child dental service use among migrant families in Metropolitan Melbourne. Australian Dental Journal, 60: 200-204.
- Gibbs, L., Waters, E., Christian, B., Gold, L., Young, D., de Silva, A., Calache, H., Gussy, M., Watt, R., Riggs, E., Tadic, M., Pradel, V., Hall, M., Gondal, I., Moore L. (2015). Teeth Tales - A community based child oral health promotion trial with migrant families in Australia. BMJ Open; 5: e007321.
- Ball, K., McNaughton, S.A., Le, H.N., Gold, L., Ni Mhurchu, C., Abbott, G., Pollard, C., Crawford, D. (2015). Influence of price discounts and skill-building strategies on purchase and consumption of healthy food and beverages: outcomes of the Supermarket Healthy Eating for Life randomized controlled trial. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 101(5):1055-64.
- Virgo-Milton, M., Boak, R., Hoare, A., Gold, L., Waters, E., Gussy, M., Calache, H., O'Callaghan, E., de Silva, A.M. (2015). An exploration of the views of Australian mothers on promoting child oral health. Aust Dent J. doi: 10.1111/adj.12332.
- Clifford, S. A., Gold, L., Mensah, F. K., Jansen, P. W., Lucas, N., Nicholson, J. M., & Wake, M. (2015). Health-care costs of underweight, overweight and obesity: Australian population-based study. J Paediatr Child Health. doi: 10.1111/jpc.12932.
Economics of cardiovascular disease stream
Our team's research expertise is in the economic appraisal of cardiovascular disease. Currently we're focused on the economics of stroke, particularly in management and rehabilitation practices. Our work will inform evidenced-based, cost-effective approaches to stroke management nationally and internationally.
Our stream coordinators are Professor Marj Moodie and Lauren Sheppard.
Our major projects
A Very Early Rehabilitation Trial for Stroke (AVERT). J Bernhardt, G Donnan, R Lindley, A Thrift, P Langhorne, M Moodie, H Dewey, L Churilov (NHMRC Project Grant Numbers 386201 and 1041401).
Cost-effectiveness of a novel Australian Stroke Telemedicine program (CAST). D Cadilhac (Monash University), C Bladin, M Moodie, H Dewey, A Meretoja (NHMRC Project Grant 1079956).
Our recent publications
- Bernhardt J, Churilov L, Dewey H, Lindley RI, Moodie M, Collier J, Langhorne P, Thrift AG, Donnan G; AVERT Collaborators. Statistical analysis plan (SAP) for A Very Early Rehabilitation Trial (AVERT): an international trial to determine the efficacy and safety of commencing out of bed standing and walking training (very early mobilization) within 24h of stroke onset vs. usual stroke unit care. Int J Stroke. 2015 Jan;10(1):23-4.
- The AVERT Trial Collaboration Group. Efficacy and safety of very early mobilisation within 24h of stroke onset (AVERT): a randomised controlled trial. The Lancet, 386 (9988): 46-55.
- Sheppard, L., Dewey, H., Bernhardt, J., Collier, J. M., Ellery, F., Churilov, L., Tay-Teo, K., Wu, O., Moodie, M.; on behalf of The AVERT Trial Collaboration Group (2016). Economic Evaluation Plan (EEP) for A Very Early Rehabilitation Trial (AVERT): An international trial to compare the costs and cost-effectiveness of commencing out of bed standing and walking training (very early mobilization) within 24 h of stroke onset with usual stroke unit care. International Journal of Stroke, 11(4), 492-494.
Economics of cancer stream
Our team has research expertise in economic appraisal of a range of cancers, in particular appraising the cost-effectiveness of health promotion programs and screening initiatives. This work informs policymakers about the value for money of different intervention approaches aimed at reducing the burden of cancer.
Our stream coordinator is Professor Rob Carter.
Our major projects
True NTH: Health Economic Evaluation of the True NTH intervention as described in the True NTH Protocol. R Carter, A Magnus (Deakin University).
Memorandums of Understanding with Cancer Council Victoria (range of projects) R Carter, A Magnus, Sophy Shih..
Letter of Intent to Collaborate with Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. R Carter, S Younie, L Bulfone.
Our recent publications
- Chambers S., Girgis A., Occhipinti S., Hutchison S., Turner J., McDowell M., Mihalopoulos C., Carter R., Dunn J. A Randomised Controlled Trial of Psychological Intervention for High Distress Cancer Patients and Carers. 2014 41(4), E256-E266, Oncology Nursing Forum.
- Livingston M., Osborne H., Botti M., Mihalopoulos C., McGuigan S., Heckel L., Gunn K., Chirgwin J., Ashley M.D., Williams M. Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of an outcall program to reduce carer burden and depression among carers of cancer patients [PROTECT]: rationale and design of a randomized controlled trial, BMC Health Services Research, 2014, 14:5.
- Tran B., Keating C.L., Ananda S.S., Kosmider S., Jones I., Croxford M., Field K.M., Carter R.C., Gibbs P. Preliminary analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program: demonstrating the potential value of comprehensive real world data. Intern Med J 2012, 42:794-800.
- Shih S.T., Carter R., Sinclair C., Mihalopoulos C., Vos T. Economic evaluation of skin cancer prevention in Australia. Prev Med 2009, 49: 449-453.
Health technology assessment (HTA) stream
This stream involves the economic evaluation of new health technologies. We assess submissions for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and develop protocols and assessment of applications for medical services on the Medicare Benefits Schedule. We're also involved in researching the policy framework and processes under which public subsidies of new technologies may occur.
What is health technology?
Health technology is any service used to promote health or to prevent or diagnose disease and can include:
- pharmaceuticals
- medical or surgical procedures
- prostheses
- devices
- diagnostic tests
- preventative programs.
Innovations in health technologies result in improvements in the quality and length of life, but they come at a cost and are seen as the main drivers of ever-increasing health care costs.
Both government and private health services providers face the challenge of delivering better health outcomes within available health care budgets. Our health technology assessment will provide the necessary information about the costs, benefits and
comparative value of health technologies. Through HTA, new health technologies can be evaluated against existing technologies and assessed for their cost-effectiveness.
Health technology assessment of medical services stream
Assessment of a medical service includes developing protocols for submissions or assessments, critiques of submissions and assessment reports on medical services. Examples of the different outputs completed are outlined below.
Our stream coordinator is Sandra Younie
Protocol
1197.1 – Remote Monitoring of Patients with Implanted Cardiac Devices: Final protocol.
Critique of a submission
L Bulfone, Murphy B,. (2012) Diagnostic Use of Thyrotropin alfa-rch for Patients with Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer. MSAC application 1156, Critique of Application. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, ACT.
Assessment report
Murphy B, Whyte P. (2012) Pathology Tests for Latent Mycobacterial Infection. MSAC application 1144, Assessment Report. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, ACT.
Younie S, Murphy B. (2012) Measurement and Determination of Procalcitonin (PCT). MSAC application 1139, Assessment Report. Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, ACT.
Health technology assessment of pharmaceuticals stream
Economic assessment and cost effectiveness of new medicines forms the majority of our research work, which is prepared confidentially and delivered as reports to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee.
Our stream coordinator is A/Prof. Andrew Dalton.