eHealth Unit Tools and Resources

Tools

There are some example case studies for the following:

Web-based intervention

DownYourDrink (DYD) is a web-based intervention, initially developed in 2000 by Stuart Linke with funding from the Alcohol Education and Research Council (AERC). In its original format it consisted of 6 weekly modules, with users locked out of the site for a week after completing each module. 

This cohort study formed the basis for a successful application to the Medical Research Council / National Prevention Research Initiative to update and improve DYD and undertake an on-line randomised controlled trial.

In 2007 DYD was a runner up in the London NHS Innovator Awards. In 2009 we were commissioned by Kingston PCT and the Royal Borough of Kingston to lead a two-year implementation project developing and evaluating a new alcohol service based on facilitated access to DYD in primary care. 

The new service was deemed successful and in 2011 was rolled out to include referrals from Accident & Emergency, hospital ward staff, specialist key workers, and self-referral from the public. 

In 2011 we launched a second implementation project, incorporating facilitated access to DYD into low intensity IAPT services in Islington PCT.

Total past week measure of alcohol consumption

The TOT-AL is an online tool designed to record self-reported alcohol consumption over the past week. It is a reliable measure that compares favourably with the in-person interview. Follow the link below for a report on TOT-AL published in Science Direct.

If you would like to use the TOT-AL for your research please contact Orla O'Donnell at o.odonnell@ucl.ac.uk for login details. 

Guidelines

Choosing the right web-development company on receipt of grant funding

Preparing an Effective Tender

Suppliers - How you prepare and present your Tender

Resources 

  • Podcast - Listen to Dr Sanjiv Ahluwalia talking about his research on the internet and the Doctor-patient interaction  from the MPS GP Conference in London.

The internet and Doctor-patient interactions - Dr Sanjiv Ahluwalia

  • Access the slides from Dr Julia Bailey's presentation on 'How researchers can avoid doing foolish (digital) health research' below.

How researchers can avoid doing foolish health research