Economic Decision Making in Complex Health Systems

Online Participant Information Statement 

Research Project
“A study of economic evaluation and resource allocation decision-making in Australia’s health care system, using complex adaptive systems theory.” 

(1)  What is the study about?

    Despite the growing number of published studies, very little is known about the influence of economic evaluation information on financial health care decision-making and resource allocation. The purpose of this research study is to investigate how decision makers in Australia’s Health Care System use economic evaluation information and other information for making such complex decisions.

(2)  Who is carrying out the study?

    The study is being conducted by Mr. Abdolvahab Baghbanian and will form the basis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Sydney under the supervision of Doctors Ian Hughes and Freidoon A. Khavarpour, both of Faculty of Health Sciences, the University of Sydney.

(3)  What does the study involve?

    Participants in the study will be Australian residents working full-time and administering parts of the Australia’s health care system at Federal, State/Territory or regional levels.
    The study will be conducted in two stages, using an online questionnaire and interview. You can choose to participate in none, one or both.

    Stage 1. Participants will be asked to complete a simple electronic survey (on-line questionnaire) asking for background information and questions about decision-making and economic evaluation. It will also ask participants if they would like to participate in Stage 2 of the study, the interview.
    Stage 2. In this stage a single (face to face) interview will be arranged for those participants who have expressed their interest in being interviewed. The interviews will be conducted at a time and place convenient to the participants and with their consent will be recorded for further analysis.

(4)  How much time will the study take?

    It is estimated that it will take approximately 40 minutes to fill out the questionnaire and not more than 80 minutes for the interview.

(5)  Can I withdraw from the study?

    Being in this study is completely voluntary.  You are not under any obligation to consent to either stage of the study. Participants may withdraw from the study at any time without giving reasons and without consequences.

(6)  Will anyone else know the results?

    All aspects of the study, including results, will be strictly confidential and only the researcher and the supervisors will have access to information on participants “except as required by law”.  Reports of the study will be posted on the project website and may be submitted for publication, but individual participants will not be identifiable in any reports. The researchers will not be able to identify individuals.

 (7)  Will the study benefit me?

    There are no direct, tangible benefits from participating, but the information you provide should help improve decision making for health care managers.

 (8)  Can I tell other people about the study?

    You may tell anybody about the study. Only people who are managing or administering some parts of Australia’s health care system are invited to participate.

(9)  What if I require further information?

    When you have read this information, the research team is available to discuss it with you further and answer any questions you may have. If you would like to know more at any stage, please feel free to contact any of the following researchers in the study.

(10)   What if I have a complaint or concerns?

To proceed to the questionnaire, please click on the “I Agree” button below.

  I Agree      I Do Not Agree

Thank you for choosing to contribute to this research.