Mental Health Delphi Study

The Kids are not ok: A Delphi study to identify consensus research priorities and core outcome sets in paediatric emergency department mental health presentations.

Recently there has been an alarming increase in Emergency Department (ED) mental health presentations (self-harm, depression, and behavioural disorders) by children and adolescents. For young people, EDs are increasingly an initial or recurrent point of contact with the mental health system. They provide an opportunity to address acute risk and provide early intervention. Despite this mental health crisis, currently very little is known about the patterns, triggers, healthcare costs, and outcomes for these vulnerable patients.

To address these issues related to paediatric ED mental health presentations, we are conducting the “Kids are not Okay” program of research.  The Mental Health Delphi study is a project within the program of research. The aim of the Delphi project is to come up with an agreed set of research priorities, and an understanding of what is most important to measure in future research studies involving children and adolescents attending ED with mental health presentations.

A multi-site study using the Delphi method will be undertaken in Australasia. The Delphi method is a tool to identify a consensus set of opinions from a group of experts with knowledge on the subject of interest.  This consensus is reached via a series of survey questionnaires administered over three rounds for this study to seek the opinions of the participants – consumers (young people, their parents and guardians) and of those providing care (emergency department staff, acute psychiatry staff, ambulance paramedics, hospital security and community mental health workers). Each round will be reviewed and interpreted by a Steering group consisting of medical, mental health and research experts. An advisory group consisting of police, paramedics, community-based mental health organisations, young people and carers, will provide input and advice to the Steering group.

Study design

Australasia, multicentre, non-interventional, Delphi Study.

Chief Investigators

Simon Craig (Monash Health), Co-ordinating Principal Investigator
Franz Babl (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute)
Meredith Borland (Perth Children’s Hospital)
Vicki Anderson (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute)
Rohan Borschmann (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute)
Kylie Gray (Warwick University),
Michael Gordon (Monash University)
Glenn Melvin (Deakin University)
Harriet Hiscock (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute)
Katherine Lee (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute)
Frank Muscara (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute)
Bruce Tonge (Monash University)
Amit Kochar (Women’s and Children’s Hospital)
Richard Haslam (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute)
Cate Wilson (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute)
Emma Tavender (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute)
Also see site PIs listed below under site locations.

Timeframe

2019 – 2021

Funding

NHMRC Medical Research Future Fund Million Minds Mission.

Site locations

  • Children’s Hospital at Westmead, NSW, Australia (PI Alexandra Thorburn)
  • Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW, Australia (PI Alexandra Thorburn)
  • Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital, NSW, Australia (PI Amie Beattie)
  • Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD, Australia (PI Shane George)
  • Robina Hospital, QLD, Australia (PI Sabine Woerwag-Mehta)
  • The Prince Charles Hospital, QLD, Australia (PI Faye Jordan and David Wood)
  • Queensland Children’s Hospital, QLD, Australia (PI Natalie Phillips)
  • Logan Hospital, QLD, Australia (PI Ben Lawton)
  • Women’s and Children’s Hospital, North Adelaide, SA, Australia (PI Amit Kochar)
  • Austin Health, VIC, Australia (PI Robert Millar)
  • Royal Children’s Hospital, VIC, Australia (PI Franz Babl)
  • Monash Medical Centre, VIC, Australia (PI Simon Craig)
  • Casey Hospital, VIC, Australia (PI Alastair Meyer)
  • Barwon Health University Hospital, VIC, Australia (PI Jeremy Friend)
  • Angliss Hospital, VIC, Australia (PI Paul Buntine)
  • Box Hill Hospital, VIC, Australia (PI Paul Buntine)
  • Maroondah Hospital, VIC, Australia (PI Paul Buntine)
  • Sunshine Hospital, VIC, Australia (PI Doris Tham)
  • The Northern Hospital, VIC, Australia (PI Mark Corden)
  • Frankston Hospital, VIC, Australia (PI Rosamond Dwyer)
  • Warrnambool Hospital, VIC, Australia (PI Tahnee Dunlop)
  • Ballarat Hospital, VIC, Australia (PI Elyssia Bourke)
  • Perth Children’s Hospital, WA, Australia (PI Meredith Borland)
  • Albany Hospital, WA, Australia (PI Matthew Coleman)
  • Royal Hobart Hospital, TAS, Australia (PI Viet Tran)
  • Tauranga Hospital, Tauranga, New Zealand (PI Joanne Cole)
  • Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand (PI Stuart Dalziel)

Sample

Approximately 10-15 participants per site, with a total estimate of 200 children and young adults aged <18 years. Participants will also include the children/young adult’s guardians and those providing care (ED staff, acute psychiatry and paediatric staff, ambulance paramedics, police, hospital security, and community mental health workers).

Contact

Simon.craig@monash.edu