Chrysanthi Papoutsi

My research focuses on the interdisciplinary study of digital health and innovation, drawing on insights from medical sociology, organisational theory and science and technology studies. Using qualitative and ethnographic approaches, in my work I seek to understand how digital health innovations become introduced and embedded in complex organisational and personal settings.

Currently I lead the Together 2 mixed-methods evaluation of video and hybrid group consultations in general practice (NIHR-funded), with collaborators from the Universities of York and Exeter (2022-2024). This work builds on previous research on video group consultations in Covid-19 (Health Foundation-funded study), as well as face-to-face group consultations in secondary care for young adults living with diabetes in socio-economically deprived settings (NIHR-funded study).

I am also leading qualitative research on the NHS App, the digital 'front door' to the NHS rolled out nationally in England (NIHR-funded evaluation carried out jointly by Imperial College London and the University of Oxford, 2020-2022). Outside the UK, I lead on a substantive work-package, part of a £4m NIHR-funded global health research programme, on co-designing innovations to support post-discharge care in Kenya (2020-24).

Previous experience includes a range of externally funded projects, such as on remote monitoring in epilepsy care, case study methodology to study context in complex interventions, patient safety and artificial intelligence, and the development of the local digital health ‘ecosystem’ in Oxfordshire.

I teach at postgraduate level, on topics related to sociotechnical innovation, implementation and evaluation, spread and scale-up of digital health, social theory, complexity and evidence synthesis. I also supervise DPhil, MSc and undergraduate projects on the social study of technology in healthcare.

Prior to joining the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, I have held research and teaching positions at Imperial College London, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the Oxford Internet Institute.