Evaluation of information technology in the out-patient care of adolescents with mental problems
Leader:
Maritta Välimäki, PhD, RN, Professor (mava(at)utu.fi)
Purpose:
To generate information on clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of information technology (IT) used in treatment of adolescent with mental problems. In this study, IT is defined as a Web-based multi-service portal to be used by adolescents and staff.
Goals:
1. To evaluate the impacts of IT on adolescents’ depressive symptoms, psychosocial functioning, behaviour disorders, knowledge level of mental problems, and quality of life.
2. To describe the impacts of IT on organisational performance and staff knowledge, skills and attitudes to IT use.
3. To describe the impacts of IT on costs to the health provider.
Composition of the team and its division of labour:
University of Turku, Finland:
M.Välimäki, PhD, Professor: Project Manager
Doctoral students: H. Hätönen, M. Koivunen, A.Pitkänen, T.Jakobsson, L.Kuosmanen; J.Katajisto, MSc, Statistician
University of Tampere: P.Kytöharju, MSc, Hypermedia laboratory
Turku University Hospital: S.Saarijärvi, MD, PhD, Professor, Chief Psychiatrist, PhD, Adolescent Psychiatry Unit
Turku Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: O.Laine, MD, Clinical Director
Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Finland: R.Kaltiala-Heino, MD, PhD, Chief Psychiatrist; M.Selin, MNSc, Nursing manager
Tampere University of Technology (Ragnar Granit Institute, Medical Engineering Unit): J.Hyttinen, PhD, Professor
Institute of Psychiatry, Centre for the Economics for Mental Health, King’s College/LSE, UK: A.Patel, MSc, Senior Lecturer in Health Economics
University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill, UK: D.Kjervik, PhD, Professor
Patient Associations
Funding:
The Academy of Finland and Hospital District of Southwest Finland