Research workstreams
Each research workstream has a district health board (DHB) lead and an academic lead.
The combination of research and clinical expertise this joint venture will provide enhance research activity in five main work streams:
- Rehabilitation
John Parsons (Academic lead)
Michael Kaplan (DHB lead) - Mental health and older people
Prasadarao Podugu (Academic lead)
Phil Wood (DHB lead) - Older people in the community
Peggy Koopman-Boyden (Academic lead)
Matthew Parsons (DHB lead) - Workforce development
Michael O'Driscoll (Academic lead)
Ruth Ross (DHB lead) - Best practice (clinical)
Julia Slark (Academic lead)
Sarah Fowler (DHB lead)lead)
See below for progress reports and descriptions of the research projects.
Research deliverables
Key deliverables will be:
- Identification of service delivery and quality issues that would benefit from research.
- Identification of health professionals that would increase their research, management and service delivery expertise through involvement in research projects.
- A conduit for ensuring that research projects deliver an ever increasing evidence base for improved care.
- Development of a culture of research and innovation within Waikato DHB.
- The provision of a supportive environment for those who undertake research, including those undertaking Masters and PhD theses.
- Collaboration with local Universities, Polytechnics and other regional centres.
Research operations
The set tasks for the academic and DHB lead positions involve:
- Developing, implementing and supporting a research “work” plan for the work stream
- Developing an active research programme and programme membership, including DHB, UoA School of Nursing, and any other people from health providers and academic research institutions that would enhance the output of the research workstream
- Reporting progress monthly to the IHA co-directors, who will then report to the IHA Governance Group
- Ensure that at least once per year, and if asked more often, the research workstream will contribute to IHA seminars by presentations of current and completed research
- Working with researchers to ensure research results are published in academic journals, with the results disseminated in other formats also to ensure the results are available to a wide population
Current status of research
Every quarter each research workstream will report on their work status.
Progress report as at August 2014
Service Development
John Parsons
Email: j.parsons@auckland.ac.nz
With Sean Mathieson, Michael Kaplan
Restricted weight bearing and functional outcomes for older people following lower limb fracture
Active
| Topic | Status |
|---|---|
Developing new ways to minimise disability after stroke | Completed |
What are the experiences and ongoing needs of working age adults following stroke within the Waikato region? | Active |
Shouldering the burden of upper limb fractures in older people
| Not funded |
Mental health research projects
Prasad Prasadarao
Podugu.Prasadarao@waikatodhb.health.nz
Prasad Prasadarao
Podugu.Prasadarao@waikatodhb.health.nz
| Topic | Status |
|---|---|
Integrative review of the New Zealand literature on dementias and related conditions | Completed and published |
A review of referrals made to Waikato DHB Mental Health Service for Older People for clients presenting with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia: an analysis of current service provision and identification of potential service improvements | Completed |
Directed Reminiscence Therapy: a new approach towards maximising quality of life amongst people with mild cognitive impairment using electroencephalogram (EEG) to identify key areas of communication in conjunction with developing an electroencephalography system to enable reminiscence therapy for patients with mild cognitive impairment. | Active. PhD student completing analysis of EEG signals |
In the community
| Topic | Status |
|---|---|
ACC START evaluation | Active |
START evaluation | Completed |
Carers research | Completed |
Under 65 work. | Developmental phase |
Workforce development
| Topic | Status |
|---|---|
Developing a culture of nursing leadership in Waikato DHB | PhD student in place. Ethics for first phase approved. |
Evaluation and performance management of BNurs (Hons) programme | Development phase |
Development of a leadership programme in Aged Residential Care in Waikato | Short evaluation undertaken in-house. Provided information for quality improvement. |
Best practice (clinical)
| Topic, method, key contact, other members | Status |
|---|---|
Young stroke survivors experiences after discharge. | Completed. Publication in British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing. |
Applied interdisciplinary approach to the implementation of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) for older vulnerable people (ERAS PLUS): A pathway for elective and emergency fractured neck of femur, hip and knee replacements | On hold due to implementation difficulties. |
Factors influencing patient activity in stroke rehabilitation | New project. Ethics approval granted 19/10/2015. Project started, five interviews performed to date. Staff survey underway. |
(Clinical trial, funded by the University of Auckland Development funds – Medical and Health Sciences in collaboration with Engineering)
Stephen Jacobs
s.jacobs@auckland.ac.nz
With Ian Kirk, Paul Corballis, James Pau,Prasad Prasadarao
Active
Developing an electroencephalography (EEG) system to enable reminiscence therapy for patients with mild cognitive impairment
(Electrode site identification; Software development, funded by the University of Auckland Development funds – Medical and Health Sciences in collaboration with Engineering)
Claire Davies
c.davies@auckland.ac.nz
With Stephen Jacobs, James Pau, Ian Kirk, Paul Corballis, Ryan McCardle
Active
In the community
| Topic, method, key contact, other members | Status |
|---|---|
ACC START evaluation With S Macindoe, R Dean, K Holt, M Parsons, J Parsons, C Smith | Active |
START evaluation | Completed |
Carers research With John Parsons, Christine Smith, R Dean, Sean Macindoe | Completed |
Under 65 rehabilitation
| Topic, method, key contact, other members | Status |
|---|---|
Under 65 work With Phil Wood, Matthew Parsons, L Wilson, S Primrose (MoH), A Hawker (MSD) | Development phase |
Workforce development
| Topic, method, key contact, other members | Status |
|---|---|
Developing a culture of nursing leadership in Waikato DHB With Cathleen Aspinall, Sue Haywood, Cheryl Atherfold | Development phase |
Evaluation and performance management of BNurs (Hons) programme With Cathleen Aspinall, Sue Haywood, Cheryl Atherfold | Development phase |
Development of a leadership programme in Aged Residential Care in Waikato | Development phase |
Best practice (clinical)
| Topic, method, key contact, other members | Status |
|---|---|
Applied interdisciplinary approach to the implementation of Enhanced Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) for older vulnerable people (ERAS PLUS): A pathway for elective and emergency fractured neck of femur, hip and knee replacements With Sarah Fowler, Fiona Stephens | Development phase |