
Overview
Background
Professor Tracy Comans, a UQ Amplify Fellow at the Centre for Health Services Research, University of Queensland, and an Adjunct Research Fellow at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, is renowned for her innovative application of economics in multifaceted health services contexts. Her pioneering work involves the creation of comprehensive models that extend beyond traditional economic models, enabling a broader assessment of benefits and costs.
In addition to her model development, Professor Comans applies these economic models to explore the cost-effectiveness of various health care interventions. She spearheads and cultivates health services research with a particular focus on older individuals, allied health, and rehabilitation services.
With a solid academic foundation in both physiotherapy and economics (Hons), Professor Comans brings a unique perspective to her research. Her clinical background as a physiotherapist, specializing in aged care, dementia, and rehabilitation, further enriches her work. Her expertise was recognized with a NHMRC Boosting Dementia Fellowship, which she held from 2017 to 2021.
Currently, Professor Comans is making significant strides in measuring the quality of care for older individuals. This work holds substantial potential for impacting the health and aged care industry. As our population ages, the demand for high-quality health care services tailored to the needs of older individuals is escalating. Despite this, there is a lack of agreement on what constitutes quality care for this demographic, and existing measures may not fully capture the aspects of care most important to them. Professor Comans’ work is instrumental in addressing this critical issue.
Availability
- Professor Tracy Comans is:
- Not available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor of Economics, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Economics, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma of Biostatistics, University of Sydney
Works
Search Professor Tracy Comans’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Valuing the AD-5D dementia utility instrument: an estimation of a general population tariff
Comans, Tracy A., Nguyen, Kim-Huong, Ratcliffe, Julie, Rowen, Donna and Mulhern, Brendan (2020). Valuing the AD-5D dementia utility instrument: an estimation of a general population tariff. PharmacoEconomics, 38 (8), 871-881. doi: 10.1007/s40273-020-00913-7
2025
Other Outputs
Data : Heuristics and Biases in Home Care Package Resource Allocation
Kenny, Danelle, Comans, Tracy and Breig, Zachary (2025). Data : Heuristics and Biases in Home Care Package Resource Allocation. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/b2b5de7
2025
Journal Article
The estimation of health state utility values for psychological distress in Australia: implications for future economic evaluations
Keramat, Syed Afroz, Comans, Tracy, Basri, Rabeya, Bailey, Daniel, Brooks, Deborah and Dissanayaka, Nadeeka N. (2025). The estimation of health state utility values for psychological distress in Australia: implications for future economic evaluations. Value in Health, 28 (3), 368-378. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2024.12.002
2025
Journal Article
Decisions, decisions: observations of resource allocation under consumer-directed care
Kenny, Danelle, Nguyen, Kim-Huong, Breig, Zachary, Friesen, Lana and Comans, Tracy (2025). Decisions, decisions: observations of resource allocation under consumer-directed care. Healthcare, 13 (5) 516, 1-13. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13050516
2025
Journal Article
Characteristics and longitudinal clinical outcomes of people with type 2 diabetes in regional areas accessing a tertiary telehealth service: A retrospective cohort study
Tornvall, Ida, Bennetts, Denise, Balasooriya, Namal N, Comans, Tracy, Russell, Anthony W and Menon, Anish (2025). Characteristics and longitudinal clinical outcomes of people with type 2 diabetes in regional areas accessing a tertiary telehealth service: A retrospective cohort study. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. doi: 10.1177/1357633x251314290
2025
Journal Article
Enhanced Advance care planning and life Review Longitudinal Intervention (EARLI): protocol for a cluster randomized controlled cross-over trial of life story work and facilitated advance care planning among older Australian adults in community settings
Karusoo-Musumeci, Ava, Yeoh, Ling, Walton, Rebecca, Dao-Tran, Tiet-Hanh, Halcomb, Elizabeth, Auret, Kirsten A., Clayton, Josephine M., Kurrle, Susan, Campbell, Elissa, Hilgeman, Michelle, Sinclair, Ron, Meller, Anne, Towler, Simon, Edwards, Caroline E., Comans, Tracy and Sinclair, Craig (2025). Enhanced Advance care planning and life Review Longitudinal Intervention (EARLI): protocol for a cluster randomized controlled cross-over trial of life story work and facilitated advance care planning among older Australian adults in community settings. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 149 107795, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2024.107795
2025
Journal Article
Healthcare spending and factors associated with fall injury in Australia residential aged care: a cohort analysis
Okafor, Charles, Balasooriya, Namal N., Page, Amy T, Hill, Anne-Marie, Etherton-Beer, Christopher D and Comans, Tracy (2025). Healthcare spending and factors associated with fall injury in Australia residential aged care: a cohort analysis. Injury Prevention ip-2024-045516, ip-2024. doi: 10.1136/ip-2024-045516
2025
Journal Article
Baseline Characteristics of Frailty and Disease Stage in Older People Living With CKD
Logan, Benignus, Pascoe, Elaine M., Viecelli, Andrea K., Johnson, David W., Comans, Tracy, Hawley, Carmel M., Hickey, Laura E., Janda, Monika, Jaure, Allison, Kalaw, Emarene, Kiriwandeniya, Charani, Matsuyama, Misa, Mihala, Gabor, Nguyen, Kim-Huong, Pole, Jason D., Polkinghorne, Kevan R., Pond, Constance, Raj, Rajesh, Reidlinger, Donna M., Scholes-Robertson, Nicole, Valks, Andrea, Wong, Germaine, Hubbard, Ruth E. and on behalf of The GOAL Trial Investigators (2025). Baseline Characteristics of Frailty and Disease Stage in Older People Living With CKD. Kidney International Reports, 10 (1), 120-133. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2024.10.009
2024
Journal Article
The Australian Frailty Network: Development of a consumer‐focussed national response to frailty
Reid, Natasha, Young, Adrienne, Baldassar, Loretta, Christoffersen, Anja, Comans, Tracy, Conroy, Simon, Etherton‐Beer, Christopher, Ferris, Jason, Singh, Maria Fiatarone, Fox, Sarah, Gordon, Emily H., Ghosh, Manonita, Guha, Chandana, Hilmer, Sarah, Kouladjian O’Donnell, Lisa, Logan, Benignus, Ludlow, Kristiana, Miller, Michelle, Morgan, Mark, Mudge, Alison, Muscedere, John, Reidlinger, Donna, Rockwood, Kenneth, Saunders, Rosemary, Ward, David, Yates, Paul and Hubbard, Ruth E. (2024). The Australian Frailty Network: Development of a consumer‐focussed national response to frailty. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 43 (4), 852-860. doi: 10.1111/ajag.13365
2024
Journal Article
A cost-effectiveness evaluation of a dietitian-delivered telephone coaching program during pregnancy for preventing gestational diabetes mellitus
de Jersey, Susan, Keramat, Syed Afroz, Chang, Angela, Meloncelli, Nina, Guthrie, Taylor, Eakin, Elizabeth and Comans, Tracy (2024). A cost-effectiveness evaluation of a dietitian-delivered telephone coaching program during pregnancy for preventing gestational diabetes mellitus. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation, 22 (1) 18. doi: 10.1186/s12962-024-00520-9
2024
Journal Article
Development of a model of help-seeking for dementia diagnosis by the person experiencing changes and family supporters
Low, Lee-Fay, Barcenilla-Wong, Annica, Laver, Kate, Yates, Mark, Gibson, Caroline, Shen, Sam, Hall, Danika, Brodaty, Henry, Pond, Dimity, Comans, Tracy, Cations, Monica, Gresham, Meredith, Laranjo, Liliana, Tan, Edwin C.K. and Phillipson, Lyn (2024). Development of a model of help-seeking for dementia diagnosis by the person experiencing changes and family supporters. Aging & Mental Health, 1-10. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2024.2430537
2024
Journal Article
Setting standards in residential aged care: identifying achievable benchmarks of care for long-term aged care services
Schwabe, Johannes, Caughey, Gillian E., Jorissen, Robert, Comans, Tracy, Gray, Len, Westbrook, Johanna, Braithwaite, Jeffrey, Hibbert, Peter, Wesselingh, Steven, Sluggett, Janet K., Wabe, Nasir and Inacio, Maria C. (2024). Setting standards in residential aged care: identifying achievable benchmarks of care for long-term aged care services. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 36 (4) mzae105. doi: 10.1093/intqhc/mzae105
2024
Journal Article
A post‐diagnosis information and support programme for dyads—People living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment and family carers: A feasibility study
Stockwell‐Smith, Gillian, Moyle, Wendy, Grealish, Laurie, Comans, Tracy, Varghese, Paul, Whitlatch, Carol and Orsulic‐Jeras, Silvia (2024). A post‐diagnosis information and support programme for dyads—People living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment and family carers: A feasibility study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 80 (11), 4422-4435. doi: 10.1111/jan.16167
2024
Journal Article
Evaluation of the Interdisciplinary Care Home-bAsed Reablement Program (I-CHARP) for people living with cognitive impairment and dementia in care homes
Jeon, Yun-Hee, Hobbs, Anthony, Nelson, Karn, Fethney, Judith, Comans, Tracy, Conway, Jane, Mowszowski, Loren, Hill, Keith, Wesson, Jacqueline, Hewitt, Jennifer, Watson, Karen, Togher, Leanne, Allman-Farinelli, Margaret, O'Connor, Claire, Quinn, John, Petrie, Glenys, O'Leary, Fiona, MacAndrew, Margaret, Beattie, Elizabeth, Stears, Marc, Hilmer, Sarah, Sykes, David, Liddell, Anne and Little, Sophia (2024). Evaluation of the Interdisciplinary Care Home-bAsed Reablement Program (I-CHARP) for people living with cognitive impairment and dementia in care homes. Journal of Advanced Nursing. doi: 10.1111/jan.16588
2024
Conference Publication
Participate-CP 2: Optimising participation in physically active leisure for children with cerebral palsy: Phase III randomized controlled trial
Sakzewski, L., Reedman, S., Elliott, C., Ziviani, J., Novak, I., Trost, S., Majnemer, A., Comans, T., Shikako, K., Ware, R., McNamara, L., Williams, S., Keramat, S., Brookes, D. and Boyd, R. (2024). Participate-CP 2: Optimising participation in physically active leisure for children with cerebral palsy: Phase III randomized controlled trial. American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Quebec, QC Canada, 23-26 October 2024. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2024
Journal Article
Assessing a suitable radiotherapy utilisation benchmark for older patients with head and neck cancer
Mackenzie, Penny, Vajdic, Claire, Delaney, Geoff, Comans, Tracy, Agar, Meera, Gabriel, Gabriel and Barton, Michael (2024). Assessing a suitable radiotherapy utilisation benchmark for older patients with head and neck cancer. Clinical Oncology, 36 (10), e381-e387. doi: 10.1016/j.clon.2024.05.014
2024
Journal Article
Factors Associated with Advance Care Planning Engagement Among Community‐Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Dao‐Tran, Tiet‐Hanh, Yeoh, Ling, Comans, Tracy, Karusoo‐Musumeci, Ava, Auret, Kirsten A., Sinclair, Ron, Hilgeman, Michelle M., Clayton, Josephine M., Halcomb, Elizabeth, Campbell, Elissa, Meller, Anne, Walton, Rebecca, Kurrle, Susan and Sinclair, Craig (2024). Factors Associated with Advance Care Planning Engagement Among Community‐Dwelling Older Adults: A Cross‐Sectional Study. Journal of Clinical Nursing. doi: 10.1111/jocn.17458
2024
Journal Article
The association between vitamin D deficiency and multiple sclerosis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Balasooriya, Namal N., Elliott, Thomas M., Neale, Rachel E., Vasquez, Paola, Comans, Tracy and Gordon, Louisa G. (2024). The association between vitamin D deficiency and multiple sclerosis: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders, 90 105804, 105804. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2024.105804
2024
Conference Publication
Participate-CP 2: optimizing participation in physically active leisure for children with cerebral palsy: phase III randomized controlled trial
Sakzewski, L., Novak, I., Elliott, C., Reedman, S., Majnemer, A., Ziviani, J., Trost, S., Comans, T., Shikako, K., Ware, R., McNamara, L., Williams, S., Keramat, S., Brookes, D. and Boyd, R. (2024). Participate-CP 2: optimizing participation in physically active leisure for children with cerebral palsy: phase III randomized controlled trial. Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Cairns, QLD Australia, 31 July-3 August 2024. Chichester, West Sussex United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
2024
Journal Article
Quality indicators to monitor the quality and safety of care for older people: a scoping review protocol
Lathlean, Timothy J.H., Inacio, Maria C., Westbrook, Johanna, Gray, Len, Braithwaite, Jeffrey, Hibbert, Peter, Comans, Tracy, Crotty, Maria, Wesselingh, Steve, Sluggett, Janet K., Ward, Stephanie, Wabe, Nasir and Caughey, Gillian E. (2024). Quality indicators to monitor the quality and safety of care for older people: a scoping review protocol. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 22 (9), 1857-1865. doi: 10.11124/jbies-23-00212
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Tracy Comans is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Improving diabetes care with digital health
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kim-Huong Nguyen, Dr David Chua
-
Doctor Philosophy
DEVELOPMENT OF A PICTURE-BASED QUALITY-OF-LIFE ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Anthony Angwin, Professor Nadeeka Dissanayaka
-
Doctor Philosophy
Heuristics and Biases in Budgeting Decisions for Home Care Packages Under Consumer-Directed Care
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Len Gray, Dr Kim-Huong Nguyen, Dr Zachary Breig
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the use of causal inference in infectious disease epidemiology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Mr Mark Chatfield, Professor Lisa Hall
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the use of causal inference in infectious disease epidemiology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Mr Mark Chatfield, Professor Lisa Hall
-
Doctor Philosophy
Embracing Digital Health: Investigating the potential of an mHealth-supported model of care for type 2 diabetes in regional, rural, and remote Queensland
Associate Advisor
Completed supervision
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Quality measurement in aged care to inform economic analyses
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kim-Huong Nguyen
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Embracing Digital Health: Investigating the potential of an mHealth-supported model of care for type 2 diabetes in regional, rural, and remote Queensland
Associate Advisor
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Telerehabilitation in the management of chronic musculoskeletal conditions: an implementation science approach
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Shaun O'Leary, Professor Trevor Russell
Media
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