Digital Health
Innovative digital health approach for better care
Advances in technology, coupled with its increasing use and declining costs, have opened up valuable opportunities for its application in healthcare.
At Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI), we focus on identifying innovative ideas and approaches to incorporate technology in the paediatric health setting.
Our goal is to develop and evaluate digital health solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into clinical care at The Royal Children’s Hospital.
Our research focus
Support for young people with chronic conditions: Living with a chronic health condition or disability during adolescence can severely impact physical, psychological, cognitive, emotional, and social development. Our research explores how technology can support young people and their families, improving their overall quality of life and mental health outcomes.
Commitment to innovation and impact
We are dedicated to exploring how technology can be used in a clinically meaningful and impactful way in mental health inpatient settings and beyond.
By engaging with young people, parents, and healthcare staff, we aim to develop digital health solutions that truly meet the needs of our patients and improve their healthcare experiences.
More information
Team Leaders
Our projects
Take a Breath Program
Take a Breath is a program of research committed to finding the best way to support families whose child has recently been diagnosed with a serious or life-threatening illness or injury.
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Test for the Evaluation of Emotions and Socialisation (TEEMS) study
The Test for the Evaluation of Emotions and Socialisation (TEEMS) is a new psychological assessment tool that evaluates social cognitive skills in children and young people. The TEEMS tool addresses a substantial unmet need, leading the field internationally as the first comprehensive social assessment tool.
Formally known as PEERS (Pediatric Evaluation of Emotions, Relationships and Socialisation).
Read more...Featured publications
Deep phenotyping of socio-emotional skills in children with typical development, neurodevelopmental disorders, and mental health conditions: Evidence from the PEERS. PLoS ONE 2023. Anderson V, Darling S, Hearps S, Darby D, Dooley J, McDonald S, et al. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291929
McMillan, L, McCarthy, M.C., Muscara, F., Anderson, V.A, Walser, R., O’Neill, J., Dimovski, A., Rayner, M., Nicholson, J.M., Hearps, S.J.C., Morrison, McCabe and Williams, K. (2022). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Group for Parents Caring for a Child with Cerebral Palsy, Journal of Family Studies, 28(4), 1338-1354).
Hourani D, Darling S, Cameron E, Dromey J, Crossley L, Kanagalingam S, Muscara F, Gwee A, Gell G, Hiscock H, Anderson V. What Makes for a Successful Digital Health Integrated Program of Work? Lessons Learnt and Recommendations From the Melbourne Children's Campus. Front Digit Health. 2021 May 24;3:661708. doi: 10.3389/fdgth.2021.661708. PMID: 34713136; PMCID: PMC8521853
Effect of a Videoconference-Based Online Group Intervention for Traumatic Stress in Parents of Children With Life-threatening Illness: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Muscara F, McCarthy MC, Rayner M, Nicholson JM, Dimovski A, McMillan L, Hearps SJC, Yamada J, Burke K, Walser R, Anderson VA. JAMA Netw Open. 2020 Jul 1;3(7):e208507. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.8507. PMID: 32735335; PMCID: PMC7395233.
Participating from the comfort of your living room: Feasibility of a group videoconferencing intervention to reduce distress in parents of children with a serious illness or injury.
Child & Family Behavior Therapy 2016. Rayner, M., Dimovski, A., Muscara, F., Yamada, J., Burke, K., McCarthy, M., Hearps, S.J.C., Anderson, V.A., Coe, A., Hayes, L., Walser, R., & Nicholson, J.M. doi: 10.1080/07317107.2016.1203145.
Take a Breath: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of an online group intervention to reduce traumatic stress in parents of children with a life-threatening illness or injury. BMC Psychiatry, 16, 169. Rayner, M., Muscara, F., Dimovski, A., McCarthy, M.C., Yamada, J., Anderson, V.A., Burke, K., Walser, R. & Nicholson, J.M. (2016)