Recent work: Health
National primary health survey
Point Research was commissioned to cognitively test, refine and evaluate the draft prmary health survey tool. Cognitive testing is used to understand how patients understand and interpret questions and instructions. The aim was to find out from patients:
- If the survey instructions are easy to understand;
- If the questions are easy to understand;
- If the questions are relevant;
- If the survey enables them to talk about what they think is important;
- If any important questions are missing.
- The first phase involved cognitively testing the questions with patients in fifteen focus groups from five PHOs;
- The second phase involved testing the draft set of questions online with a wider set of patients from PHOs, along with staff from practices, PHOs and DHBs;
- The third phase involved testing the revised survey on patients via patient interviews.
01. Patient Experience (ongoing)
We have developed an in-patient and out-patient survey incorporating the dimensions of care that have been identified internationally as being highly correlated with patient satisfaction. These dimensions have been adapted to a New Zealand setting, in recognition of our cultural differences and differences in our healthcare approach. The dimensions have now been tested in a New Zealand setting and found to be highly correlated with patient satisfaction.
The in-patient and out-patient surveys are a key component of some New Zealand DHB’s (ADHB, CMDHB, CCDHB) and private hospitals (Gillies Hospital, Grace Hospital) patient engagement framework. They are designed to capture the areas of patient experience most important to patients and their whānau and families. The results are used to identify strengths, weaknesses and drive quality improvements.
Read a case study about the design and implementation of Patient Experience with the Auckland District Health Board here.
The in-patient and out-patient surveys are a key component of some New Zealand DHB’s (ADHB, CMDHB, CCDHB) and private hospitals (Gillies Hospital, Grace Hospital) patient engagement framework. They are designed to capture the areas of patient experience most important to patients and their whānau and families. The results are used to identify strengths, weaknesses and drive quality improvements.
Read a case study about the design and implementation of Patient Experience with the Auckland District Health Board here.
02. Muscular Dystrophy Association (2014)
The Muscular Dystrophy Association of NZ provides a social support service called the MDA Fieldwork Service that seeks to make a difference in the lives of people living with a neuromuscular condition. No formal comparison between those who receive the service and those who don’t has yet been carried out.
The purpose of this study was to provide a comparison between those receiving services and those not receiving services and identify benefits of receiving the MDA Fieldwork service. The research will assist in the review of the MDA Fieldwork Practice Framework and the future development of the fieldwork service to best meet the needs of people living with neuromuscular conditions
The purpose of this study was to provide a comparison between those receiving services and those not receiving services and identify benefits of receiving the MDA Fieldwork service. The research will assist in the review of the MDA Fieldwork Practice Framework and the future development of the fieldwork service to best meet the needs of people living with neuromuscular conditions
03. National Patient Experience Cognitive testing (2014)
Feedback about the care received in public hospitals is a valuable indicator of how well health services are working for patients and their families. Until recently New Zealand did not have a consistent national approach to the collection, measurement and use of patient experience information.
Point Research cognitively tested a set of national patient experience indicators which are now being used to understand patients’ views of the care they receive, and to make health care more responsive to their needs. The information gathered at local, regional and national levels through these measures can now be used to benchmark patient experience across the country and to improve services locally. The indicators are currently being collected via questionnaires completed by patients, carers and family/whānau.
The programme was led by the Health Quality & Safety Commission and jointly managed with the Ministry of Health, with input from the sector and consumers. A Task and Finish group comprised of representatives from the Commission, the Ministry of Health policy team and the National Health Board was established to oversee the programme. Our role was to test the indicators that could be used to measure patient experience, in order to make sure they were relevant and understood by patients.
Point Research cognitively tested a set of national patient experience indicators which are now being used to understand patients’ views of the care they receive, and to make health care more responsive to their needs. The information gathered at local, regional and national levels through these measures can now be used to benchmark patient experience across the country and to improve services locally. The indicators are currently being collected via questionnaires completed by patients, carers and family/whānau.
The programme was led by the Health Quality & Safety Commission and jointly managed with the Ministry of Health, with input from the sector and consumers. A Task and Finish group comprised of representatives from the Commission, the Ministry of Health policy team and the National Health Board was established to oversee the programme. Our role was to test the indicators that could be used to measure patient experience, in order to make sure they were relevant and understood by patients.
04. Te Whare Awhina review (2012)
Te Whare Awhina is an accommodation facility located on the site of Auckland Hospital, which provides temporary accommodation for the whānau of ADHB patients, particularly those living outside of the Auckland region.
The purpose of this report was to find out from Te Whare Awhina residents and staff how staying at the whare supports their involvement in patient care, and where improvements can be made. The intention of the report is to inform a potential upgrade of Te Whare Awhina facility to accommodate the projected increase in whānau who may use the facility in the future. This is in line with the aim of Auckland District Health Board which is to support whānau to take a greater role as care partners for Auckland District Health Board patients.
The purpose of this report was to find out from Te Whare Awhina residents and staff how staying at the whare supports their involvement in patient care, and where improvements can be made. The intention of the report is to inform a potential upgrade of Te Whare Awhina facility to accommodate the projected increase in whānau who may use the facility in the future. This is in line with the aim of Auckland District Health Board which is to support whānau to take a greater role as care partners for Auckland District Health Board patients.
05. Auckland Local Health Needs Survey (2012)
In October 2012 Point Research worked with the Auckland District Health Board on a survey of community members in the ADHB area to understand residents' views on their health status and the health of their community, their experiences of health services in their area, and what they think could be done to lift and protect the health of their community.
06. Refugee Health Collaboration (2012)
This evaluation assessed the the impact and effectiveness of the Auckland-based Refugee Health Collaborative project. The project goal was to: improve the health outcomes of the refugee population through supporting primary health care practices to deliver high quality health services to refugees.
07. Employer attitudes towards employing people with a disability (2012)
This research, prepared for the Ministry of Social Development's Think Differently campaign, explored New Zealand employers’ attitudes towards employing disabled people
Employers were asked a range of questions in order to find out more about the qualities they looked for in potential employees, what they thought were the barriers to the employment of disabled people, about their attitudes towards disabled people, how they thought staff and customers perceived disabled staff and to what extent they were influenced in their employment decisions by the reactions of others.
Overall, the research found an apparent `hierarchy’ of disability where the type and severity of the impairment does appear to have an impact on employers’ perception of the employability of disabled people, regardless of whether someone is perceived as being capable of doing a job or not.
It also found that perceptions about how staff, customers and clients might react might be giving employers social permission not to hire disabled people.
Employers were asked a range of questions in order to find out more about the qualities they looked for in potential employees, what they thought were the barriers to the employment of disabled people, about their attitudes towards disabled people, how they thought staff and customers perceived disabled staff and to what extent they were influenced in their employment decisions by the reactions of others.
Overall, the research found an apparent `hierarchy’ of disability where the type and severity of the impairment does appear to have an impact on employers’ perception of the employability of disabled people, regardless of whether someone is perceived as being capable of doing a job or not.
It also found that perceptions about how staff, customers and clients might react might be giving employers social permission not to hire disabled people.
