Health

NEW: CareTrack Project

  • CareTrack Australia: assessing the appropriateness of adult healthcare: protocol for a retrospective medial record review co-authored by Shanthi Ramanathan, HVRF and appearing in the British Medical Journal Open Jan 2012
  • CareTrack, a complex healthcare study, overview
     

NEW: Clinical Oncology Society of Australia - Nov 2011 Poster presentation on "Referral patterns for women with gynaecological symptoms: a national survey of gynaecologists" | Download poster

 

The Foundation’s research methods and flexibility set it apart and have been utilised in the collection of health data for over 10 years.

The HVRF is a leader in data collection for research which:

  • is used to identify community attitudes and behaviours towards health related issues
  • monitors the success of health education procedures
  • examines attitudes and behaviours which may need to be changed through education and health policies
  • can create a comprehensive base upon which changing attitudes in the population can be measured.

An emphasis on collecting reliable and accurate information is paramount in the field of health monitoring. We have developed streamlined data collection methods and carry out surveys involving samples ranging from 300 to 20,000 interviews. Our interviewers have extensive experience in asking sensitive health related questions with many having been employed by the Foundation for 10 years or more.

The HVRF assists with questionnaire finessing and data collection for research being undertaken at universities and government organisations. Some basic data weighting and analysis may be undertaken, but usually raw data files are provided to the client who will then analyse and report the results.  

Download the Hunter Valley Research Foundation research paper Reducing Volunteer Bias in Telephone Surveys

The Foundation can assist in:

  • policy development
  • health issue-related behaviour
  • influencing budgetary decisions by providing research
  • assessing the success or otherwise of State and local health policies
  • the piloting and development of questionnaires   

Specific groups can be targeted: 

  • women or men
  • the elderly or other age groups
  • geographically determined groups
  • people from non-English speaking backgrounds

Our methods set us apart

Health industry professionals appreciate that collecting reliable and accurate information on health-related community issues and behaviour requires a rigorous and comprehensive approach to data collection, on which the HVRF prides itself. Crucial to this success is our Computer-Aided Telephone Interviewing (CATI) infrastructure incorporating a large team of interviewers who are fully experienced and trained in health-related interviewing.

We understand that an accurate and representative data collection requires a high response rate. Our methods frequently ensure that health surveys have a refusal rate no greater than 25 per cent. The HVRF has an ongoing process for improving data collection methods, including techniques for minimising selection and measurement bias.

Recently completed project

GP Baseline Referral Practices
National Centre for Gynaecological Cancers (NCGC), Cancer Australia. A national survey of 1,500 general practitioners and 400 gynaecologists was conducted. The aim of the study was to help identify factors that predict whether a GP or gynaecologist would refer a patient to a specialist for four cancers: cervical, endometrial, ovarian and vulval. Data was collected via a self-administered mail or online survey. Analysis involved the use of logistic regression to help identify the strongest predictors of referral. 

Examples of Health Services Research Projects

  • National Study of Breast Cancer Services for National Breast Cancer Centre, University of Sydney
  • National Study on the Recruitment of Smokers into Telephone Counselling for Smoking Cessation for Centre for Health Research and Psycho-oncology (CHeRP), University of Newcastle
  • Satisfaction Survey for South Western Area Health Service

Examples of Behavioural Research Projects

  • Moral Hazard Study on the Use of Prescription Medicines for The University of Newcastle
  • Cross-sectional Discrete-Choice Experiment (DCE) Study on Treatment Preferences for Prostate Cancer for Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation (CHERE), Cancer Council NSW
  • Australian Longitudinal Study of Health and Relationships for Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society,  LaTrobe University 
  • Mammography Decision Aid Trial for School of Public Health, University of Sydney
  • Profile of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in the Central Coast for Public Health Unit, Northern Sydney Central Coast Area Health Service
  • Physical Activity Surveys for NSW Health
  • National Physical Activity Survey for Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Examples of Outcome Research Projects

  • Hepatitis C Survey for NSW Health
  • Falls Prevention Study: Follow-Up Survey for Queensland University of Technology; Wide Bay Population Health Unit; North Coast Area Health Service
  • Walk Safely to School Day Campaign Evaluation for NSW Health
  • Attitudes to Sun Protection by Sports Bodies for NSW Cancer Council

Examples of Market Research Projects

‘Market research’ in the health context refers to studies looking at disease prevalence and public attitudes towards various aspects of health.

  • General Practitioner and Public Attitudes towards Health Care Cost Issues for University of Newcastle 
  • Eye and Environment Study for NSW Cancer Council
  • HPV and Vaccination: What do women know? for Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society,  LaTrobe University 
  • Low Literacy Bowel Cancer Decision Aid for School of Public Health, University of Sydney 
  • Kings Cross Injecting Rooms Survey for NSW Health 
  • Chronic Pain Survey for North Sydney Area Health Service
  • Dyspepsia Survey for University of Sydney

For more information on health surveys, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it