Health System Research and Evaluation Projects

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Current projects

Current Projects

Pathways to Resilience

A Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FoRST) funded project led by Massey University examining statutory service use patterns among young people. The research seeks to discover the pathways young people take through multiple systems towards resilience, as well as the most important protective mechanisms encountered that affect their growth and development, and to investigate differences between resilient and non-resilient youth. The goal is to identify pathways most predictive of healthy outcomes for youth who use multiple services.The surveys began in early 2009 and the first phase of collection of data from the young people is almost complete. Interviews with the ‘Persons Most Knowledgeable’ about the participants are currently being undertaken.

Funding: Foundation for Research, Science and Technology 

HSRC Researchers: Sue Buckley, Megan Pledger, Jackie Cumming, Nicola Grace, Jake Daube, Marianna Churchward, Greg Martin, Grace Clapperton- Rees, Ausaga Fa’asalele Tanuvasa, Kirsten Smiler, Hana Tuisano, Colin Barr

Improving Health Systems Performance: Enhancing Hospital Outcomes (2)

This is a collaborative HRC funded project with the Universities of Auckland and Otago, Motu Public Policy and Research Trust, and the Ministry of Health. Its purpose is to assess, using New Zealand Health Information Service sources, whether New Zealand has had value for the significant increases in expenditure in hospitals, as judged by throughput, output and quality of care.  Information will be electronically and confidentially linked to core hospital and other currently disconnected data sources. The study will influence health outcomes by contributing hard evidence on the productivity and effectiveness of investment in hospital and related services. During 2009, the focus was on developing conceptual frameworks to guide the research and assembling key data sets for the research. In 2010, detailed analyses of the data will commence.

Funding: Health Research Council of New Zealand

HSRC Researchers: Jackie Cumming, Jaikishan Desai

Improving Health through Primary Care Reform: An economic analysis (2)

This research is using economic techniques and data from three national health surveys to examine the impact that changes in the fees charged by local primary health care providers since 2002 have on utilisation of primary and secondary health care, and on health outcomes. The project is being undertaken in collaboration with Motu Public Policy and Research Trust and the University of Auckland. The project follows on from an earlier project that examined baseline data prior to the roll out of new funding from 2002 onwards. A number of papers have resulted from this first project, focusing on the fees that different groups of New Zealanders have been paying for primary health care, utilisation of primary health care services, and differences in health outcomes across population groups.

Funding: Health Research Council of New Zealand

HSRC Researchers: Jackie Cumming, Jaikishan Desai, Lynne Pere, Ausaga Fa’asalele Tanuvasa

2006/2007 Health Survey

This Ministry of Health project collected comprehensive health information from more than 17,000 New Zealanders – making it the largest survey of New Zealanders’ health to date. HSRC researchers are examining how New Zealanders’ level of alcohol use relates to their health service utilisation (both primary and secondary) at the population level. A descriptive account and a health economic analysis will be conducted. Analyses will be completed and publications produced in 2010.

HSRC Researchers: Greg Martin, Megan Pledger, Jackie Cumming

Brief Intervention in the Emergency Department

HSRC staff are working with senior emergency department staff at Wellington Hospital to develop and implement a study of screening and brief intervention for alcohol use problems in patients presenting to the emergency department. A funding proposal for a randomised trial has been submitted to the Health Research Council and is currently undergoing evaluation.

HSRC Researchers: Greg Martin, Jackie Cumming