Projects - Evaluation

Arthritis and Osteoporosis Victoria - Exploring the needs of Arthritis and Osteoporosis Victoria stakeholders

In 2012, the biennial Arthritis and Osteoporosis Victoria advocacy survey was expanded in scope to secure broad input from consumers and health professionals so as to inform policy and service development. 

In addition to these surveys, a lupus consumer research project was conducted. The project involved a literature review, a consumer survey and focus groups to increase the understanding of typical health journeys for people living with lupus, as well as the needs of health professionals treating people with lupus.

Project Health was involved in data collection, analysis, interpretation and preparation of the reports.

Three reports were developed:

Exploring solutions to better meet demand for foot and ankle surgical services

This project sought to describe the current delivery of foot and ankle surgery in Victoria and to identify the level of unmet need in this area.  It also sought to explore options for enhancing access to foot and ankle elective surgery and improving the management of people with foot and ankle conditions.  The project had a particular emphasis on workforce-based solutions, whilst acknowledging the broader influences on the supply of surgical services, such as theatre availability, local priorities and inpatient capacity.

Project Health was involved in a review of the literature, a mapping exercise, and stakeholder interviews.  The findings of these activities provide an evidence base to assist decision-making regarding possible alternatives to address the demand for foot and ankle surgery.

Palliative Care NT

In July 2012, NT Palliative Care undertook to expand their work in palliative care for chronic renal failure to include other chronic diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), end stage chronic heart failure (CHF) and liver failure.  The Chronic Disease Palliative Care Project aimed to ensure equity for those with these chronic conditions including access to appropriate specialist palliative care services and an integrated palliative approach within chronic disease services. An important part of the project focuses on enabling the specialist clinicians to increase their skills in palliative care and utilise the newly developed pathways and tools to ensure best practice end stage care and communication with their patients. Project Health supported the project by undertaking development of an evaluation framework to enable demonstration of benefits.

Orthopaedic Waiting List Project

In 2009, long waiting times and a growing demand on services for joint replacement surgery (JRS) prompted the Victorian Department of Human Services to fund a University of Melbourne/Melbourne Health partnership to develop and implement an osteoarthritis (OA) hip and knee service delivery and prioritisation system for those who may require JRS.

The service delivery model consists of a multidisciplinary team providing, comprehensive early assessment, evidence-based interventions, including support for patient self-management, continuity of care processes, and prioritisation for both surgical assessment and JRS. Prioritisation occurs via clinical assessment and the Hip and Knee Multi-Attribute Prioritisation Tool (MAPT), a patient, clinician, or proxy-administered 11-item questionnaire, resulting in a 100-point scale ranking of need for surgery.

Project Health was involved in the implementation and evaluation of a pilot program involving 14 hospitals in Victoria, and subsequently in developing the evaluation framework for statewide rollout of the model.