Health System Research and Evaluation Projects

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Current projects

Current Projects

Synthesis of research findings in primary health care in New Zealand.
This is a District Health Boards New Zealand (DHBNZ) funded project synthesising the findings of five recent reports on primary health care developments in New Zealand.

Funding: District Health Boards New Zealand.
HSRC Researchers: Judith Smith, Jackie Cumming.

European Observatory on health care in New Zealand.
This is a Ministry of Health funded project being undertaken by the HSRC on behalf of the European Observatory. The European Observatory on Health Care Systems publishes country based reports on the progress of Health Care Systems in Transition (HiT). The profiles provide information ranging from national health statistics to the development of financing, organisation and delivery of health care services. Prescribed quantitative data allows the comparison of health systems in Europe and abroad, and provides up to date information to support policy makers. The HSRC is responsible for a new volume on New Zealand, due for publication in 2009.

Funding: Ministry of Health on behalf of the European Observatory.
HSRC Researchers: Jackie Cumming, Janet McDonald, Zac Gerring.

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. A total of 960 young people in four settings throughout New Zealand will be surveyed and 120 young people (who are in contact with statutory agencies) and an adult they nominate will be followed up with qualitative interviews. The surveys will start in early 2009.

Funding: Foundation for Research, Science and Technology. 
HSRC Researchers: Sue Buckley, Megan Pledger, Jackie Cumming,
Nicola Grace.

High impact changes in primary health care.
An HSRC team has examined the potential for applying a ‘high impact changes’ approach to health care redesign to New Zealand primary care.  The findings of a literature review about change in primary care, and data gathered in a set of interviews with national leaders in New Zealand primary care were used as the basis for a discussion about how a high impact changes approach might be re-interpreted for the specific context of the New Zealand primary health care system. The report is available at http://www.victoria.ac.nz/hsrc/reports/new-reports.aspx

Funding: District Health Boards New Zealand and the Ministry of Health.
HSRC Researchers: Judith Smith, Janet McDonald, Jackie Cumming.

Improving performance in New Zealand health care: Hospital outcomes.
This project adapts and applies new outcome measures and modern statistical approaches to evaluating hospital performance in New Zealand and is undertaken in collaboration with the Universities of Otago and Auckland.
Outcome measures, based on those found to work overseas, have been developed and estimated for New Zealand hospitals. A preliminary analysis of the effect of “control factors” has been written. District Health Board Quality Managers have been interviewed and data gathered on quality and safety measures in use; and documentation on various aspects of hospital quality and safety policies obtained.  A preliminary analysis of these data has been completed. During 2009, comparative statistics will be developed across hospitals and the impact of hospital policies and working conditions assessed.

Funding: Health Research Council of New Zealand
HSRC Researchers: Jackie Cumming, Antony Raymont.

Improving health systems performance: Enhancing hospital outcomes (2).
This collaborative HRC funded project with the Universities of Auckland and Otago, Motu Public Policy and Research Trust, and the Ministry of Health, follows on from the project above.  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.

Funding: Health Research Council of New Zealand
HSRC Researcher: Jackie Cumming.

Improving health through primary care reform: An economic analysis
This research is using economic techniques and data from two national health surveys to examine the impact that fees charged by local primary health care providers have on utilisation of primary and secondary health care, and on health outcomes. The project is being undertaken in collaboration with Motu Public Policy Research Trust and the University of Auckland. A number of papers have resulted from this research, 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 Researcher: Jackie Cumming.

Evaluation of the implementation and intermediate health outcomes of the Primary Health Care Strategy
The aims of this research are to reach an in depth understanding of the experience and activities of Primary Health Organisations in responding to the Primary Health Care Strategy. It is measuring change in programmes, processes and outcomes during the adoption and implementation of the Strategy; assessing the impact of the Strategy on reducing health inequalities involving Māori, Pacific peoples and the financially disadvantaged; and identifying positive and negative influences. The project is in its final stages of data collection and final reports will be published in 2009. In collaboration with CBG Health Ltd, and the Universities of Auckland, Otago and Canterbury, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham.

Funding: Health Research Council of New Zealand, Ministry of Health, ACC.
HSRC Researchers: Jackie Cumming, Lynne Pere, Judith Smith, Antony Raymont, Janet McDonald.

Experiences of primary health care
A number of projects are underway in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, researching the experiences of New Zealanders with respect to primary health care, using data from the New Zealand Health Survey 1996/97 and 2002/03. Analyses are focusing on experiences by deprivation; for Māori; for Pacific peoples; and in relation to the use of complementary and alternative medicines.

Funding: Ministry of Health, Health Services Research Centre. 
HSRC Researchers: Jackie Cumming, Megan Pledger, Mili Burnette.

Analysis of survey data.
This study explores 10 years of ethnicity-specific changes (Māori, Pacific, Asian and European/others) in access to, and experience of primary health care services over three consecutive New Zealand health surveys.
HSRC Researcher: Aloka Bhattacharya.

2007 alcohol and drug use survey.
This Ministry of Health project was the first national population-based survey in New Zealand to collect both alcohol and drug use data in the same survey.  It was carried out from July 2007 to April 2008, and collected information on over 6000 respondents aged between 16-65 years. The report will be published in the first half of 2009.
HSRC Researcher:  Aloka Bhattacharya.

Managing ‘mixed’ financing of privately-owned providers in the public interest
This study examines the ways in which government agencies finance services which are delivered by private providers. It seeks to identify the advantages and disadvantages of these alternatives and to make preliminary recommendations to improve policy and practice in public financing of private providers in New Zealand. The project takes a cross-sectoral and international perspective, and focuses on: general practice, legal aid, early childhood education, and long-term care of the elderly.

Funding: Emerging Issues Programme, Institute of Policy Studies, School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington.  
HSRC Researchers: Jackie Cumming, Judith Smith, Janet McDonald.

Healthy Eating - Healthy Action: Oranga Kai – Oranga Pumau Evaluation Scoping
The Healthy Eating Healthy Action (HEHA) Strategy was launched in 2003 in response to growing concern over poor eating habits, lack of physical activity, and the associated prevalence of obesity and increased risk of adverse health outcomes that result.  Phases one and two have been completed. The third phase began in 2008 and involves both qualitative and quantitative data collection to inform the Ministry of Health about the implementation, outcomes and value for money provided by the Strategy.  There is a major focus on improving Māori and Pacific health.  The project was undertaken in collaboration with Otago and Massey Universities, Auckland University of Technology, and independent Māori researchers Terry Ehau and Erana Skudder.

Funding: Ministry of Health. 
HSRC Researchers: Jackie Cumming, Janet McDonald, Sue Buckley, Nicola Grace, Mili Burnette, Ausaga Fa’asalele Tanuvasa, Sandra Fowler,  Marianna Churchward.

School Nursing
This project investigated the range of nursing services provided in New Zealand secondary schools, how they are funded and some of the professional issues for nurses.  The study consisted of a review of the literature, qualitative interviews with nurses and surveys of secondary school principals and nurses. The project has been completed and reports are available at http://www.victoria.ac.nz/hsrc/reports/new-reports.aspx

Funding:  Ministry of Health.  
HSRC Researchers:  Sue Buckley, Janet McDonald, Zac Gerring, Marianna Churchward, Jackie Cumming.