The Center for Data and Knowledge Analysis (CDAC) at La Trobe University collaborated with international cancer researchers to develop a multidimensional artificial intelligence information framework (PRIME) for detecting and analyzing a patient's mental health (psychological condition) when undergoing cancer treatment.
According to the director of CDAC and head of the analytics department at La Trobe University, Damminda Alahakoon, the use of PRIME can help in understanding a patient's behavior, emotions, and decision-making based on the data shared by the patient.
He said that the data can be text provided by a patient to an online chatbot, an online cancer support group, or other online support services.
“PRIME (AI model) addresses the challenges associated with understanding the unlabeled and unstructured nature of this data, allowing it to effectively identify an individual’s emotions – such as when a patient is experiencing an emotionally difficult situation – and effectively adapt to the changing nature of this data,” he said.
Alahakoon said that PRIME (AI model) can help health professionals monitor their patients better.
“PRIME can be the critical first step in identifying a patient’s mental health needs and immediately alerting healthcare professionals to those who are at high risk if left untreated,” he said.
PRIME was developed in collaboration with a team of urological oncologists treating prostate cancer patients at Austin Hospital in Melbourne and later with psycho-oncology (Psychological Support for Cancer Patients) researchers from the University of Toronto and the De Souza Institute in Canada.
Austin oncologist Damien Bolton said the lack of knowledge of the psychological state of cancer patients meant that most clinical decisions were based on research trials rather than on the individual needs of patients.
“Men use online support group environments to fulfill their needs, express their feelings and concerns freely,” he said. “PRIME can help analyze the results of this patient-reported information .”
