Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Appraisal Of Free Online Symptom Checkers And Applications For Self-Diagnosis And Triage: An Australian Evaluation, Michella Gaye Hill

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The internet has impacted society and changed the way companies and individuals operate on a daily basis. Seeking information online via computer or mobile device is common practice. The phrase ‘Google it’ is now part of modern vernacular and is a resource increasingly utilised by young and old alike. Around 80% of Australian’s search health-related information online as it is convenient, cheap, and available 24/7. Symptom checkers are one tool used by consumers to investigate their health issues. Symptom checkers are automated online programs which use computerised algorithms, asking a series of questions to help determine a potential diagnosis and/or …

A Framework For Development Of Android Mobile Electronic Prescription Transfer Applications In Compliance With Security Requirements Mandated By The Australian Healthcare Industry, Kyaw Kyaw Htat

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis investigates mobile electronic transfer of prescription (ETP) in compliance with the security requirements mandated by the Australian healthcare industry and proposes a framework for the development of an Android mobile electronic prescription transfer application. Furthermore, and based upon the findings and knowledge from constructing this framework, another framework is also derived for assessing Android mobile ETP applications for their security compliance.

The centralised exchange model-based ETP solution currently used in the Australian healthcare industry is an expensive solution for on-going use. With challenges such as an aging population and the rising burden of chronic disease, the cost of …

Just A “Click” Away From Evidence-Based Online Breast Cancer Information, Advice And Support Provided By A Specialist Nurse: An Ethnonetnographic Study, Cynthia Ann Witney

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Breast cancer has had, and will continue to have, a devastating impact on the lives of many Australian women, their families, friends and the wider community. The concomitant treatment of this disease places a considerable burden on the health care system and the supporters of the person diagnosed with this disease. While there are many government and non-government organisations that provide treatment and support services for the person with breast cancer, these services are usually provided in person either in the home or at the organisation’s offices. This study extended the information advice and support aspects of these services to …

The Identity Of The Heart Patient In The Context Of The Gift Economy: Heartnet And Media Framing, Lynsey Uridge

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This health communication research examines the identity levels of the heart patient on a therapeutic website HeartNET through an empirical investigation of site interactions as manifestations of a gift economy. The thesis also explores the media’s representation of heart health in both television and print.

This research utilised a longitudinal qualitative ethnographic and netnographic approach involving twenty-six participants who completed two in-depth interviews. The first one-on-one interview occurred during the early stages of the participants’ heart journey, explored their heart story and use of interactive technology for heart health support. The second interview occurred six to twelve months later, and …

Developing Effective Hospital Management Information Systems: A Technology Ecosystem Perspective, Christopher Bain

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis presents the results of the program of research performed in the completion of a Doctor of Philosophy (Business) entitled: Developing Effective Hospital Management Information Systems: A Technology Ecosystem Perspective.

The central contention of this thesis is that the current ecosystem models in the information technology (IT) and information systems (IS) literature can be extended and improved. In turn they can be better applied to the field of IS and the development and implementation of information systems. This research seeks to highlight an example of how these models can be extended, through an analysis of the specific context of …

Approaches To The Spatial Modelling Of Cancer Incidence And Mortality In Metropolitan Perth, Western Australia, 1990 -2005, Changying Shao

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Cancer is one of potentially preventable and treatable diseases. Cancer analysis from different perspectives is necessary to provide the information for health research and the initiation of prevention and treatment programs. The purpose of this study was to analyse five top cancers in the Perth metropolitan area, including lung, melanoma, breast, prostate and colorectal cancers, using two methodologies: Area-to-Point Poisson (ATP) kriging and fitting an inhomogeneous Poisson process model using the Berman-Turner algorithm. ATP Poisson kriging was used to undertake the analysis on the spatial distribution of cancer rates per 100,000 person-years for Perth Statistical Local Areas during the period …

The Role Of Pax7 In The Formation Of The Superior Colliculus And The Vertebrate Visual System, Jennifer A. Thompson

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This thesis has explored the role of Pax7 in formation and maturation of the mouse superior colliculus, an important brain region associated with topographic visual input and the capacity to evoke appropriate visuomotor responses to environmental stimuli. The research performed was explicitly targeted at understanding the relationship between Pax7 expression and the formation of the topography of the superior colliculus, including neuron specification and differentiation, boundary formation, polarisation and retinocollicular mapping. By employing histochemical, immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent techniques, together with quantification utilising Optimas Digital Image Analysis, this project assessed Pax7 expression in diverse mutant and wildtype mice …