Priorities for research on improving health behaviours for optimal mental health of Australian university students: A twin-panel Delphi study

Issue Addressed: University students are at risk of poor health behaviours which negatively affect mental health and wellbeing. Informing the implementation of appropriate strategies to support Australian university students' health and wellbeing, requires quality evidence. This study aimed to identify research priorities for improving health behaviours to optimise mental health of Australian university students. 

Methods: A twin-panel Delphi method comprising 32 experts across two panels (Panel 1: n = 24, Panel 2; n = 8), with three rounds of data collection, was utilised. In round one panellists identified up to five research priorities. Identified priorities were grouped into themes and in Round 2 panellists ranked their panels priorities using a 4-point Likert scale (1 irrelevant, 2 peripheral, 3 important, 4 essential), and in Round 3 they ranked the importance of the priorities identified by the other panel. 

Results: Panel 1 identified 35 research priorities in Round 1, and Panel 2 identified 11. Priorities were ranked based on the mean score, with strong, between-panel agreement in the rankings for Panel 1's priorities. (r_s =.68, p <.001) but not Panel 2 (r_s =.32, p =.34). A list of 25 priorities was retained. 

Conclusions: Priorities were derived from experts and provided a further call to action for research targeting suicide prevention, social determinants, co-design, behaviour change, and the effectiveness and accessibility of services. 

So What?: With further input from students, universities and other stakeholders, these research priorities can guide research to optimise health behaviours and mental health of Australian university students.