Colour illustration of different people interacting with various medical technology and medicine
Research_

Digital Health Human Factors Research Group

Improving the fit between health technology and its users
We apply Human Factors (HF) methods and approaches to evaluate and optimise health technologies to support healthcare work and improve patient safety.

The Digital Health Human Factors Research Group is a part of the University of Sydney Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Our research seeks to understand and improve the interactions between users, health technologies and organisations using mixed-methods approaches. 

We have expertise in the design, implementation and evaluation of a range of technologies and systems. Our research falls into the broad themes of:

Provider-facing technologies, led by Professor Melissa Baysari:

  • Clinical decision support systems
  • Clinical information systems, including electronic health records and electronic medication management systems
  • Clinical, operational and quality improvement dashboards

Consumer-facing tools, led by Dr Adeola Bamgboje-Ayodele:

  • Virtual care
  • Patient portals
  • Mobile applications

Our research

  • Optimising clinical decision support to transform medication safety and reduce prescriber burden
  • Reducing inappropriate polypharmacy for older inpatients
  • Evaluation of nursing and midwifery education modules
  • Using decision support for more responsive care, better patient outcomes and greater efficiency, Digital Health CRC Project
  • Human factors and safety analysis methods in the design and redesign of electronic medication management systems
  • Evaluation of Real Time Prescription Monitoring in NSW
  • Assessing the impact of a self-guided digital intervention for fear of cancer recurrence (iConquerFear) in ovarian cancer survivors: a pilot randomised waitlist-controlled trial
  • Evaluation of a tap on/tap off system in an Emergency Department
  • Evaluation and optimisation of Florence, a digital patient journey solution
  • Optimising virtual care technologies between general practice and residential aged care: a Human Factors approach
  • Optimising medicine handover after discharge
  • Assessing downtime preparedness and the impact of a downtime on medication safety and operational performance
  • Redesign of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in the Digital Era

  • Improving patient outcomes and reducing the hidden burden of chronic wounds: a digitally enabled Wound Model of Care (NHMRC Partnership Grant)
  • Delivering best-practice community care for low back pain through an effective national help line (NHMRC Partnership Grant)
  • Using decision support for more responsive care, better patient outcomes and greater efficiency (Digital Health CRC Project)
  • The Get Healthy Coaching Service to reduce the burden of low back pain: effectiveness, cost effectiveness, and scalability (NHMRC Partnership Grant)
  • Evaluation and optimisation of Florence: An integrated, multi-component digital patient journey solution (Digital Health CRC Project)
  • Optimising medication information transfer following hospital discharge (MRFF)
  • Optimising virtual care technologies between general practice and residential aged care: A Human Factors approach (Medibank – RACGP Grant)
  • The General Practice and Residential Ages Care Study of Virtual Models (The Grace-VC study): Implementing safe, person-centred virtual care for residents (MRFF)
  • Translating trustworthy AI to improve decision making and outcomes in children with pneumonia (MRFF)
  • The general practice and residential aged care study of telehealth augmented holistic care –"The GRACE-Telehealth Study” (NHMRC Targeted call)
  • Redesign of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in the Digital Era across One Health (NHMRC CRE)

Our people

  • Professor Melissa Baysari: Research group leader
  • Dr Adeola Bamgboje-Ayodele: Research fellow
  • Ms Tamasha Jayawardena: Research assistant
  • Ms Henna Solanki: Senior research officer
  • Ms Julie Li: Research officer
  • Dr Emma Tay: PhD Candidate
  • Ms Selvana Awad: PhD Candidate
  • Ms Nicki Newton: PhD Candidate
  • Mr Timothy Yu: PhD Candidate
  • Ms Mary-Kate Daniel: Honours Student

The Digital Health Human Factors Research Group regularly collaborates with industry partners, local health districts and government. Some of our partners include:

  • eHealth NSW
  • eHealth QLD
  • Sydney Local Health District
  • Northern Sydney Local Health District
  • Digital Health CRC
  • Murrumbidgee Local Health District
  • Alcidion
  • Queensland University of Technology
  • Macquarie University
  • Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
  • St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
  • Department of Health and Human Services Victoria
  • South Australia Health
  • Sydney North Health Network
  • Calvary Aged Care Services
  • Sydney Children’s Hospital Network

Group leader

Professional photo of Prof Melissa Baysari smiling
Professor Melissa Baysari
Academic profile

Our location

Address
  • Level 8, Susan Wakil Health Building, Camperdown Campus, University of Sydney.