The effect of competition and doctor heterogeneity on prices charged by doctors. Prices charged by doctors can have important effects on health care costs, access to health care and health status. This research will examine the determinants of prices charged by doctors. The results will be important in understanding the pricing practices of doctors and their impact on health care costs.
Economic impact and policy implications of assisted reproductive technologies in Australia. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is now a large scale economic activity in Australia, provided almost exclusively by private clinics. The outcome of ART programs, involving the birth of one in 30 children, has a profound effect on the health of the nation. Policy and funding frameworks influence how ART is practiced and the subsequent health outcomes of ART children, yet there is a lack of evidence ....Economic impact and policy implications of assisted reproductive technologies in Australia. Assisted reproductive technology (ART) is now a large scale economic activity in Australia, provided almost exclusively by private clinics. The outcome of ART programs, involving the birth of one in 30 children, has a profound effect on the health of the nation. Policy and funding frameworks influence how ART is practiced and the subsequent health outcomes of ART children, yet there is a lack of evidence to guide government and providers about effective, equitable and safe approaches to funding ART. This research will address that need, thereby fostering a healthy start to life and preventative healthcare; supporting the National Research Priority, promoting and maintaining good health, for ART children, their families and the community.Read moreRead less
Priority-setting In Child Population Health: Increasing The Effectiveness Of Population Health Resources To Improve Health And Quality Of Life Of Australia's Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$153,975.00
Summary
There are many interventions competing for limited funds in Australian child population health. One problem is that evidence is limited to short-term and disease-based measures, making it hard to choose between options. In this Fellowship I will use a proven economic priority-setting approach to prioritise options for investment. This research will build my skills in policy-level decision-making; this and the study results will make me an independent research leader in child health economics.
The Role Of Health In Poverty Entrenchment: A New Measure Of Long-term Multidimensional Poverty For Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,562.00
Summary
I am a health economist focused on exploring the disadvantage produced when individuals develop a health condition. This project will initially create a new multidimensional measure of long term poverty. It will then use this measure to look at how different health conditions affect the experience of long term poverty.
Developing A Common Outcome Measure For Priority Setting In Health: Validation Of The 'Transfer To Utility' Technique
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,100.00
Summary
The economic evaluation of health programs is a common requirement of funders and purchasers seeking to get the best value from the health dollar. But researchers employ a wide range of disease specific and generic health status instruments to describe trial outcomes, making comparison between diverse interventions difficult. In response to this problem a 'Transfer to Utility' or TTU technique was developed by Dr Segal and colleagues, to translate diverse outcomes reported in clinical trials, in ....The economic evaluation of health programs is a common requirement of funders and purchasers seeking to get the best value from the health dollar. But researchers employ a wide range of disease specific and generic health status instruments to describe trial outcomes, making comparison between diverse interventions difficult. In response to this problem a 'Transfer to Utility' or TTU technique was developed by Dr Segal and colleagues, to translate diverse outcomes reported in clinical trials, into a utility score, so the performance of diverse health interventions can be expressed in cost-QALY and compared. The technique establishes a statistical transformation between instruments commonly used in clinical trials and a utility value. While the technique appears highly useful, based on a priority setting exercise in osteoarthritis enabling 20 disparate interventions to be compared its validity and applicability in other contexts is not established. The purpose of the grant is to explore the TTU technique to i) establish the best method for estimating the regression equation between common health outcome measures and a utility score and validating that method; ii) test generalisability to other disease areas, for which quality of life is the primary objective of management (in stroke, drug dependence and depression), iii) develop and validate a method for translating the most commonly used measure of general health status, the SF-36, into a utility score and iv) illustrate the application of the TTU in comparing intervensions for the prevention and management of depression. The results of the research will be of value to i) decision makers who must compare the performance of medical-health care interventions across a range of diseases and modalities and ii) to clinicians who want to practice evidenced based health care. The potential health gains for the community are substantial, in supporting the redirection of resources to more effective and cost-effectiveRead moreRead less
HCV Treatment Among Male Inmates In NSW: Determining Social Capital Indicators For Accessing Treatment And Improvements In QALYs Post-treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$69,060.00
Summary
The HCV treatment among male inmates in NSW study will focus on identifying and measuring the social capital of inmates in custody with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in NSW correctional centres. A comparison of the social capital experienced by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal men will be conducted. A cost-utility analysis of HCV treatment will also be conducted. Changes in social capital and quality-adjusted life years following treatment will be measured to identify any gains achieved following complet ....The HCV treatment among male inmates in NSW study will focus on identifying and measuring the social capital of inmates in custody with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in NSW correctional centres. A comparison of the social capital experienced by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal men will be conducted. A cost-utility analysis of HCV treatment will also be conducted. Changes in social capital and quality-adjusted life years following treatment will be measured to identify any gains achieved following completion of treatment.Read moreRead less
Reducing Indigenous incarceration using Justice Reinvestment: an exploratory case study. Utilising Justice Reinvestment methodology, this project explores the conditions, governance and cultural appropriateness of re-investing resources otherwise spent on incarceration, into services to enhance juvenile offenders’ ability to remain in their community to reduce further criminal behaviours and health costs associated with incarceration.
Modelling the lifetime social and economic impacts of fragile x syndrome and the benefits of early diagnosis and intervention. This project falls within the National Research Priority, promoting and maintaining good health, through a healthy start to life and strengthening of social and economic outcomes over the course of life. Fragile X is a group of associated genetic disorders affecting individuals across generations. It is the most common identifiable cause of inherited intellectual disabil ....Modelling the lifetime social and economic impacts of fragile x syndrome and the benefits of early diagnosis and intervention. This project falls within the National Research Priority, promoting and maintaining good health, through a healthy start to life and strengthening of social and economic outcomes over the course of life. Fragile X is a group of associated genetic disorders affecting individuals across generations. It is the most common identifiable cause of inherited intellectual disability. About 1 in 4000 males and 1 in 8000 females have Fragile X, but up to 1 in 250 females are carriers. For the first time in Australia, this study will reveal the social and economic impacts on the individual, on their family members who are often the lifelong carers, and on the Australian community, and show how these impacts may be minimised through early intervention.Read moreRead less
Social and health inequalities related to changes in drinking water in rural Victoria. This project will add significantly to knowledge about the role of water in health. Dental caries (decay) experience over an individual's life time is influenced by dental health in early childhood. Obesity and overweight in early childhood is also a predictor of later life obesity. Both these conditions reduce life chances and wellbeing for Australians and are costly for communities. Understanding why and how ....Social and health inequalities related to changes in drinking water in rural Victoria. This project will add significantly to knowledge about the role of water in health. Dental caries (decay) experience over an individual's life time is influenced by dental health in early childhood. Obesity and overweight in early childhood is also a predictor of later life obesity. Both these conditions reduce life chances and wellbeing for Australians and are costly for communities. Understanding why and how choices about drinks for children are made by parents using a longitudinal design will help to develop interventions and policies that support the use of water in preference to sweetened and acidic beverages. Read moreRead less
Explaining Social Preferences For Priority Setting In The Health Sector
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$235,218.00
Summary
This project looks at whether the views of the public regarding the allocation of society's limited health care resources are well-informed and carefully considered. A series of focus groups will be conducted where members of the public can think about the ethical issues involved, discuss them with others, and ask questions. This approach has the potential to improve the legitimacy of health policy decisions by contributing to a better understanding of the values of the public.