Examples of our work: Evidence Collection – Literature Review

Identification of an Evidence-based Model for Expanded DVA Online Mental Health Services – Department of Veterans’ Affairs

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) engaged HMA to identify an evidence-based model for expanded DVA online mental health services.  HMA adapted the Behaviour Intervention Technology Model (BITs model) framework to guide design of two proposed interventions: a) a 24-hour on-line support service, and b) a professionally moderated peer-to-peer forum. Key tasks in the project included:

• assessing the broad scope of the two interventions and identifying issues that require consideration in formulating the operational design
• stakeholder consultations and design workshop
• preparation of detailed use cases for both services
• preparing a draft design and functional specification based on workshop feedback, and
• preparation of a final report on the design and evaluation strategy that synthesises all the material prepared in the previous project stages.

This project was completed in March 2016.

Cost-effectiveness Review into Ongoing Pharmacy Workforce Programs – Department of Health

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia under the Third, Fourth and Fifth Community Pharmacy Agreements, implemented initiatives that sought to address the unequal distribution of the pharmacy workforce between metropolitan centres and rural and remote communities. These comprise 12 individual programs across the Rural Pharmacy Workforce Programme and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforce Programme.

The Department of Health engaged HMA to provide a cost-effectiveness review into these programs and their respective impact on the rural and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pharmacy workforce. Key tasks involved in this project included:

• undertaking a situation analysis
• PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) analysis of national and international workforce programs
• extensive consultation with community pharmacists, university educators, recipients and beneficiaries of the programs, peak bodies and other relevant stakeholders
• assessment of relative need including analysis of health workforce program data
• evidence synthesis using data triangulation methodology, and
• a final report.

The project was completed in September 2017.