Relational aspects of building capacity in economic evaluation in an Australian Primary Health Network using an embedded researcher approach
Abstract Background Health organisations are increasingly implementing ‘embedded researcher’ models to translate research into practice. This paper examines the impact of an embedded researcher model known as the embedded Economist (eE) Program that was implemented in an Australian Primary Health Ne...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08208-7 |
| _version_ | 1818545937917673472 |
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| author | Donella Piper Christine Jorm Rick Iedema Nicholas Goodwin Andrew Searles Lisa McFayden |
| author_facet | Donella Piper Christine Jorm Rick Iedema Nicholas Goodwin Andrew Searles Lisa McFayden |
| author_sort | Donella Piper |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Health organisations are increasingly implementing ‘embedded researcher’ models to translate research into practice. This paper examines the impact of an embedded researcher model known as the embedded Economist (eE) Program that was implemented in an Australian Primary Health Network (PHN) located in regional New South Wales, Australia. The site, participants, program aims and design are described. Insights into the facilitators, challenges and barriers to the integration of economic evaluation perspectives into the work of the PHN are provided. Methods The eE Program consisted of embedding a lead health economist on site, supported by offsite economists, part-time, for fifteen weeks to collaborate with PHN staff. Evaluation of the eE at the PHN included qualitative data collection via semi-structured interviews (N= 34), observations (N=8) and a field diary kept by the embedded economists. A thematic analysis was undertaken through the triangulation of this data. Results The eE Program successfully met its aims of increasing PHN staff awareness of the value of economic evaluation principles in decision-making and their capacity to access and apply these principles. There was also evidence that the program resulted in PHN staff applying economic evaluations when commissioning service providers. Evaluation of the eE identified two key facilitators for achieving these results. First, a highly receptive organisational context characterised by a work ethic, and site processes and procedures that were dedicated to improvement. Second was the development of trusted relationships between the embedded economist and PHN staff that was enabled through: the commitment of the economist to bi-directional learning; facilitating access to economic tools and techniques; personality traits (likeable and enthusiastic); and because the eE provided ongoing support for PHN projects beyond the fifteen-week embedding period. Conclusions This study provides the first detailed case description of an embedded health economics program. The results demonstrate how the process, context and relational factors of engaging and embedding the support of a health economist works and why. The findings reinforce international evidence in this area and are of practical utility to the future deployment of such programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T07:46:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-20a54dc50cc544169bbec8217fc52014 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T07:46:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-20a54dc50cc544169bbec8217fc520142022-12-22T00:32:35ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632022-06-0122111510.1186/s12913-022-08208-7Relational aspects of building capacity in economic evaluation in an Australian Primary Health Network using an embedded researcher approachDonella Piper0Christine Jorm1Rick Iedema2Nicholas Goodwin3Andrew Searles4Lisa McFayden5NSW Regional Health PartnersSchool of Public Health, University of SydneyCentre for Team-Based Practice & Learning in Health Care, King’s CollegeCentral Coast Research Institute for Integrated Care, University of Newcastle & Central Coast Local Health DistrictHealth Research Economics, Hunter Medical Research InstituteNSW Regional Health PartnersAbstract Background Health organisations are increasingly implementing ‘embedded researcher’ models to translate research into practice. This paper examines the impact of an embedded researcher model known as the embedded Economist (eE) Program that was implemented in an Australian Primary Health Network (PHN) located in regional New South Wales, Australia. The site, participants, program aims and design are described. Insights into the facilitators, challenges and barriers to the integration of economic evaluation perspectives into the work of the PHN are provided. Methods The eE Program consisted of embedding a lead health economist on site, supported by offsite economists, part-time, for fifteen weeks to collaborate with PHN staff. Evaluation of the eE at the PHN included qualitative data collection via semi-structured interviews (N= 34), observations (N=8) and a field diary kept by the embedded economists. A thematic analysis was undertaken through the triangulation of this data. Results The eE Program successfully met its aims of increasing PHN staff awareness of the value of economic evaluation principles in decision-making and their capacity to access and apply these principles. There was also evidence that the program resulted in PHN staff applying economic evaluations when commissioning service providers. Evaluation of the eE identified two key facilitators for achieving these results. First, a highly receptive organisational context characterised by a work ethic, and site processes and procedures that were dedicated to improvement. Second was the development of trusted relationships between the embedded economist and PHN staff that was enabled through: the commitment of the economist to bi-directional learning; facilitating access to economic tools and techniques; personality traits (likeable and enthusiastic); and because the eE provided ongoing support for PHN projects beyond the fifteen-week embedding period. Conclusions This study provides the first detailed case description of an embedded health economics program. The results demonstrate how the process, context and relational factors of engaging and embedding the support of a health economist works and why. The findings reinforce international evidence in this area and are of practical utility to the future deployment of such programs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08208-7Health economicsEconomic evaluationProgram evaluationEmbedded researcherHealth services researchValue-based healthcare |
| spellingShingle | Donella Piper Christine Jorm Rick Iedema Nicholas Goodwin Andrew Searles Lisa McFayden Relational aspects of building capacity in economic evaluation in an Australian Primary Health Network using an embedded researcher approach BMC Health Services Research Health economics Economic evaluation Program evaluation Embedded researcher Health services research Value-based healthcare |
| title | Relational aspects of building capacity in economic evaluation in an Australian Primary Health Network using an embedded researcher approach |
| title_full | Relational aspects of building capacity in economic evaluation in an Australian Primary Health Network using an embedded researcher approach |
| title_fullStr | Relational aspects of building capacity in economic evaluation in an Australian Primary Health Network using an embedded researcher approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Relational aspects of building capacity in economic evaluation in an Australian Primary Health Network using an embedded researcher approach |
| title_short | Relational aspects of building capacity in economic evaluation in an Australian Primary Health Network using an embedded researcher approach |
| title_sort | relational aspects of building capacity in economic evaluation in an australian primary health network using an embedded researcher approach |
| topic | Health economics Economic evaluation Program evaluation Embedded researcher Health services research Value-based healthcare |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08208-7 |
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