The University of Queensland Centre for Online Health (UQ-COH) PhD graduate Dr Keshia De Guzman has just been selected by the Dean, UQ Graduate School to receive the 2023 Dean's Award for Outstanding Higher Degree by Research Theses. This is an honour bestowed upon fewer than 10% of PhD and MPhil graduates each year.
Keshia’s thesis described an evaluation of the economic factors and clinician drivers impacting telehealth uptake and sustainability in Australian general practice settings.
Keshia’s research was critically important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person services were heavily restricted due to social distancing regulations. Keshia employed quantitative and qualitative approaches in her research, and used her expertise in health economic methods to complement her work. Keshia published 17 peer-reviewed articles during her candidature, 11 of which were first-author papers in discipline leading peer-reviewed journals. During her PhD, Keshia also delivered 20 conference presentations, including more than half which were invited presentations.
Keshia’s research revealed that certain policy changes did not sustain the long-term upward trajectory of telehealth activity; and there were specific factors which influenced general practitioner choice of in-person, videoconference, or telephone consultation service options. Research findings related to cost-effectiveness are also likely to have implications on telehealth strategy and funding reform decisions for telehealth services in primary care.
Keshia was supervised by COH researchers Dr Centaine Snoswell and Professor Anthony Smith.
Congratulations, Dr De Guzman!
