Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32380946›Full record

ArticleBMC medical research methodology2020

Experts' perceptions on the use of visual analytics for complex mental healthcare planning: an exploratory study.

Erin I Walsh, Younjin Chung, Nicolas Cherbuin, Luis Salvador-Carulla

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical research methodology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Proof of concept studies in mental health systems research: strategy and steps.International journal of mental health systems · 2025
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Erin I WalshCentre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
Younjin ChungCentre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, 63 Eggleston Road, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia. younjin.chung@anu.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0002-2055-6845
Nicolas CherbuinCentre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
Luis Salvador-CarullaCentre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University, 63 Eggleston Road, Acton, ACT, 2601, Australia.

Funding

Research School of Population Health, Australian National University 2019 Excellence in Population Health Research Award
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHealth experts including planners and policy-makers face complex decisions in diverse and constantly changing healthcare systems. Visual analytics may play a critical role in supporting analysis of complex healthcare data and decision-making. The purpose of this study was to examine the real-world experience that experts in mental healthcare planning have with visual analytics tools, investigate how well current visualisation techniques meet their needs, and suggest priorities for the future development of visual analytics tools of practical benefit to mental healthcare policy and decision-making.

methodsHealth expert experience was assessed by an online exploratory survey consisting of a mix of multiple choice and open-ended questions. Health experts were sampled from an international pool of policy-makers, health agency directors, and researchers with extensive and direct experience of using visual analytics tools for complex mental healthcare systems planning. We invited them to the survey, and the experts' responses were analysed using statistical and text mining approaches.

resultsThe forty respondents who took part in the study recognised the complexity of healthcare systems data, but had most experience with and preference for relatively simple and familiar visualisations such as bar charts, scatter plots, and geographical maps. Sixty-five percent rated visual analytics as important to their field for evidence-informed decision-making processes. Fifty-five percent indicated that more advanced visual analytics tools were needed for their data analysis, and 67.5% stated their willingness to learn new tools. This was reflected in text mining and qualitative synthesis of open-ended responses.

conclusionsThis exploratory research provides readers with the first self-report insight into expert experience with visual analytics in mental healthcare systems research and policy. In spite of the awareness of their importance for complex healthcare planning, the majority of experts use simple, readily available visualisation tools. We conclude that co-creation and co-development strategies will be required to support advanced visual analytics tools and skills, which will become essential in the future of healthcare.

Indexed as

Health PolicyMental Health ServicesDelivery of Health CareHumansPerceptionResearch DesignCo-developmentComplex data analysisEvidence-informed decision-makingExpert experienceMental healthcare systemsVisual analytics

Identifiers

PMID32380946
PMCPMC7206783

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.