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Department of Health Advice

Unregulated generative AI software such as ChatGPT and other, similar, software should not be used for any clinical purpose. This includes:

  • Clinical applications of generative AI, such as the generation of discharge summaries
  • Clinical support functions that use generative AI, such as generation of summaries from patient notes and/or EMR records
  • Consumer support functions, such as conversational triage ‘bots’
  • Integration of generative AI into clinical services, such as talk-to-text summaries and/or translations, post consultation

See the advice in full here.

AI Search Tools

AI Search Tools can be used at the beginning of a search to quickly gain an overview of a topic, or after searching in scholarly databases to find additional articles. Monash Health Library has webinars and decision matrices to help you use these tools. 

Learn More

DA2 (Discern Analytics 2) is a Cerner tool designed to view and schedule reports of the EMR. 

Process for getting reports?

Resources:

  • SP resources

Microsoft Forms is available to all Monash Health employees with an Office 365 account. It can be used to easily and quickly generate forms, surveys, and polls. View results as they are submitted via built-in analytics, and export data to Excel for additional analysis.

Microsoft Forms is encrypted both at rest and in transit, however, Microsoft Forms may be not be a suitable tool for all research. Although Microsoft Forms is advertised as HIPAA compliant, this is a United States act and researchers should consult with their relevant human ethics board or policies to determine if Forms is compliant and appropriate.

Access

  • Click here to access Forms and log in using your Monash Health email address.
  • Lodge an IT support ticket if you cannot access Microsoft Forms.

Resources

NVivo is computer software for qualitative data analysis, ideal for those undertaking qualitative or mixed methods research.

Access

  • Monash Health employees and students can use NVivo on specific computers at our Clayton, Dandenong, and Casey libraries. Look for the computer with the NVivo sign or ask Library staff. 
  • NVivo Transcription services are available via a ‘pay-as-you-go’ model to be paid by your Department.

Resources

 Dedoose, Atlas.ti, and MAXQDA are paid alternatives to NVivo. Taguette is a free alternative. Please note that the Library does not provide support for these products

Power BI is a business analytics tool developed by Microsoft that allows users to collect, visualise, and analyse data from various sources. It provides interactive reports and dashboards to help organizations make informed decisions.

Key features include:

  • Data collection: Power BI connects to a wide range of data sources like databases, Excel files, cloud services, and APIs. It can automatically refresh and update data from these sources.
  • Data modeling: Users can clean, transform, and shape data within Power BI using its Power Query tool.
  • Visualisation: Power BI offers a variety of data visualization options such as charts, graphs, and maps to help users understand their data better.
  • Analysis: It supports advanced analytics, including AI-driven insights, trend analysis, and what-if scenarios to uncover patterns and trends.
  • Sharing and collaboration: Users can share dashboards and reports with team members, providing real-time insights.

Access

  • Access from the Microsoft 365 apps list.
  • Request access from IT if you do not have access.

Resources

REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) is a secure web application for building, sending, and managing online surveys. REDCap can be used to collect any type of data, however, it is specifically geared to support data capture for research studies.

REDCap allows for form customisation with HTML and CSS, survey logic, file attachment, data export and import, collaboration with external researchers, and sending email and text alerts.

Unlike, Excel or Survey Monkey, REDCap meets the requirements for security, privacy, data quality, and data auditing and should be used when conducting health research. Many ethics committees are aware of and approve of the use of REDCap.

Access

To access REDCap, or to find more information about accessing REDCap at Monash Health, contact:

Resources

SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) is software used to analyse data and run statistical procedures, such as linear regression analysis and logistic regression analysis. Despite its name, SPSS is widely used across many disciplines, including health research.

Access

  • Monash Health employees and students can use SPSS on specific computers at our Clayton and Dandenong libraries. Look for the computer with the SPSS sign or ask Library staff. 

Resources

 PSPP is a free alternative to SPSS. Please note that the Library does not provide support for PSPP. 

Learn more

The text mining process uses Natural Language Processing (NLP) to examine large collections of documents, books, articles, websites, emails, survey results and reports. It aids in discovery of new information and helps the research literature search process.

  • Tools are used to analyse documents and identify facts, relationships, word usage and frequency that would otherwise remain buried in the mass of textual big data.
  • It can be used during the literature searching process to help build a list of keyword and search terms related to a particular research topic. 

Text mining is neatly explained in this 1m 50s video by Elsevier: 

Text Mining Tools

Monash Health acknowledges the Bunurong/Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples, the Traditional Custodians and Owners of the lands where our healthcare facilities are located and programs operate. We pay our respects to their culture and their Elders past, present and future. 

We are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment that embraces all backgrounds, cultures, sexualities, genders and abilities.