Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer
Professor Tracy Comans
Professor

Tracy Comans

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 65345

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

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

187 works between 2008 and 2024

81 - 100 of 187 works

2020

Journal Article

Determining if telehealth can reduce health system costs: scoping review

Snoswell, Centaine L., Taylor, Monica L., Comans, Tracy A., Smith, Anthony C., Gray, Leonard C. and Caffery, Liam J. (2020). Determining if telehealth can reduce health system costs: scoping review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22 (10) e17298, 1-22. doi: 10.2196/17298

Determining if telehealth can reduce health system costs: scoping review

2020

Journal Article

Patient characteristics associated with a poor response to non-surgical multidisciplinary management of knee osteoarthritis: a multisite prospective longitudinal study in an advanced practice physiotherapist-led tertiary service

O'Leary, Shaun, Raymer, Maree, Window, Peter, Swete Kelly, Patrick, Elwell, Bula, McLoughlin, Ian, O'Sullivan, Will, Phillips, Ben, Wake, Anneke, Ralph, Andrew, O'Gorman, Helen, Jang, Ellen, Groves, Karen, Hislop, Andrew, Lee, Darryl, Garsden, Linda, Conroy, Michael, Wickins, Daniel, Vicenzino, Bill, Comans, Tracy, Cottrell, Michelle, Khan, Asaduzzaman and McPhail, Steven (2020). Patient characteristics associated with a poor response to non-surgical multidisciplinary management of knee osteoarthritis: a multisite prospective longitudinal study in an advanced practice physiotherapist-led tertiary service. BMJ Open, 10 (10) e037070, e037070. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037070

Patient characteristics associated with a poor response to non-surgical multidisciplinary management of knee osteoarthritis: a multisite prospective longitudinal study in an advanced practice physiotherapist-led tertiary service

2020

Journal Article

Cost comparison of different models of palliative care delivery

Comans, Tracy, Nguyen, Kim‐Huong, Stafford‐Bell, Fiona and Agar, Meera (2020). Cost comparison of different models of palliative care delivery. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 40 (1) ajag.12843, 90-93. doi: 10.1111/ajag.12843

Cost comparison of different models of palliative care delivery

2020

Journal Article

Underreporting of obesity in hospital inpatients: a comparison of body mass index and administrative documentation in Australian hospitals

Di Bella, Alexandra L., Comans, Tracy, Gane, Elise M., Young, Adrienne M., Hickling, Donna F., Lucas, Alisha, Hickman, Ingrid J. and Banks, Merrilyn (2020). Underreporting of obesity in hospital inpatients: a comparison of body mass index and administrative documentation in Australian hospitals. Healthcare, 8 (3) 334, 334. doi: 10.3390/healthcare8030334

Underreporting of obesity in hospital inpatients: a comparison of body mass index and administrative documentation in Australian hospitals

2020

Journal Article

Economic evaluation of intergenerational programs: suggested measures and design

Vecchio, N., Comans, T., Harris, P., Graham, V., Cully, A., Harris, N., Fitzgerald, J., Cartmel, J., Golenko, X. and Radford, K. (2020). Economic evaluation of intergenerational programs: suggested measures and design. Journal of Intergenerational Relationships, 19 (4), 1-20. doi: 10.1080/15350770.2020.1810194

Economic evaluation of intergenerational programs: suggested measures and design

2020

Other Outputs

Research Paper 9 - The cost of residential aged care. Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

Comans, Tracy, Nguyen, Kim-Huong, Zelenyuk, Valentin, Gray, Len, Tran, Alice, Nguyen, Bao, Wang, Zhichao and Moretto, Nicole (2020). Research Paper 9 - The cost of residential aged care. Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Royal Commission into Aged Care Qualtiy and Safety.

Research Paper 9 - The cost of residential aged care. Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety

2020

Journal Article

Does the Choice Between a Telehealth and an In-Person Appointment Change Patient Attendance?

Snoswell, Centaine L. and Comans, Tracy A. (2020). Does the Choice Between a Telehealth and an In-Person Appointment Change Patient Attendance?. Telemedicine and e-Health, 27 (7) tmj.2020.0176, 733-738. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2020.0176

Does the Choice Between a Telehealth and an In-Person Appointment Change Patient Attendance?

2020

Journal Article

Progressive Resistance Plus Balance Training for Older Australians Receiving In-Home Care Services: Cost-Effectiveness Analyses Alongside the Muscling Up Against Disability Stepped-Wedge Randomized Control Trial

Hetherington, Sharon, Swinton, Paul, Henwood, Tim, Keogh, Justin, Gardiner, Paul, Tuckett, Anthony, Rouse, Kevin and Comans, Tracy (2020). Progressive Resistance Plus Balance Training for Older Australians Receiving In-Home Care Services: Cost-Effectiveness Analyses Alongside the Muscling Up Against Disability Stepped-Wedge Randomized Control Trial. Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 28 (3), 352-359. doi: 10.1123/japa.2019-0085

Progressive Resistance Plus Balance Training for Older Australians Receiving In-Home Care Services: Cost-Effectiveness Analyses Alongside the Muscling Up Against Disability Stepped-Wedge Randomized Control Trial

2020

Journal Article

Implementing an evidence‐based dementia care program in the Australian health context: a cost–benefit analysis

Rahja, Miia, Nguyen, Kim‐Huong, Laver, Kate, Clemson, Lindy, Crotty, Maria and Comans, Tracy (2020). Implementing an evidence‐based dementia care program in the Australian health context: a cost–benefit analysis. Health & Social Care in the Community, 28 (6) hsc.13013, 2013-2024. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13013

Implementing an evidence‐based dementia care program in the Australian health context: a cost–benefit analysis

2020

Journal Article

Reducing the Burden of Complex Medication Regimens: SImplification of Medications Prescribed to Long-tErm care Residents (SIMPLER) Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Sluggett, Janet K., Chen, Esa Y. H., Ilomäki, Jenni, Corlis, Megan, Van Emden, Jan, Hogan, Michelle, Caporale, Tessa, Keen, Claire, Hopkins, Ria, Ooi, Choon Ean, Hilmer, Sarah N., Hughes, Georgina A., Luu, Andrew, Nguyen, Kim-Huong, Comans, Tracy, Edwards, Susan, Quirke, Lyntara, Patching, Allan and Bell, J. Simon (2020). Reducing the Burden of Complex Medication Regimens: SImplification of Medications Prescribed to Long-tErm care Residents (SIMPLER) Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 21 (8), 1114-1120.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2020.02.003

Reducing the Burden of Complex Medication Regimens: SImplification of Medications Prescribed to Long-tErm care Residents (SIMPLER) Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

2020

Journal Article

Process evaluation of a workplace-based health promotion and exercise cluster-randomised trial to increase productivity and reduce neck pain in office workers: a RE-AIM approach

Welch, Alyssa, Healy, Genevieve, Straker, Leon, Comans, Tracy, O'Leary, Shaun, Melloh, Markus, Sjøgaard, Gisela, Pereira, Michelle, Chen, Xiaoqi and Johnston, Venerina (2020). Process evaluation of a workplace-based health promotion and exercise cluster-randomised trial to increase productivity and reduce neck pain in office workers: a RE-AIM approach. BMC Public Health, 20 (1) 180, 180. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-8208-9

Process evaluation of a workplace-based health promotion and exercise cluster-randomised trial to increase productivity and reduce neck pain in office workers: a RE-AIM approach

2020

Journal Article

A uniform data set for determining outcomes in allied health primary contact services in Australia

Moretto, Nicole, Stute, Michelle, Sam, Sonia, Bhagwat, Marita, Raymer, Maree, Buttrum, Peter, Banks, Merrilyn and Comans, Tracy A. (2020). A uniform data set for determining outcomes in allied health primary contact services in Australia. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 26 (1), 58-69. doi: 10.1071/py18104

A uniform data set for determining outcomes in allied health primary contact services in Australia

2020

Other Outputs

AD-5D algorithm for generating utility values from the QOL-AD instrument

Comans, Tracy Anne , Nguyen, Kim , Ratcliffe, Julie, Rowan, Donna and Mulhern, Brendan (2020). AD-5D algorithm for generating utility values from the QOL-AD instrument. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.14264/uql.2020.640

AD-5D algorithm for generating utility values from the QOL-AD instrument

2020

Journal Article

Allied health primary contact services: results of a 2-year follow-up study of clinical effectiveness, safety, wait times and impact on medical specialist out-patient waitlists

Stute, Michelle, Moretto, Nicole, Waters, Rebecca, Raymer, Maree, Sam, Sonia, Bhagwat, Marita, Banks, Merrilyn, Comans, Tracy and Buttrum, Peter (2020). Allied health primary contact services: results of a 2-year follow-up study of clinical effectiveness, safety, wait times and impact on medical specialist out-patient waitlists. Australian Health Review, 45 (3), 344-352. doi: 10.1071/ah19225

Allied health primary contact services: results of a 2-year follow-up study of clinical effectiveness, safety, wait times and impact on medical specialist out-patient waitlists

2020

Book

Learnings from the development of a disease-specific utility instrument for economic evaluation

Comans, Tracy, Nguyen, Kim-Huong and Welch, Alyssa (2020). Learnings from the development of a disease-specific utility instrument for economic evaluation. London, United Kingdom : SAGE Publications. doi: 10.4135/9781529742855

Learnings from the development of a disease-specific utility instrument for economic evaluation

2019

Journal Article

Does telerehabilitation result in inferior clinical outcomes compared with in-person care for the management of chronic musculoskeletal spinal conditions in the tertiary hospital setting? A non-randomised pilot clinical trial

Cottrell, Michelle A., O'Leary, Shaun P., Raymer, Maree, Hill, Anne J., Comans, Tracy and Russell, Trevor G. (2019). Does telerehabilitation result in inferior clinical outcomes compared with in-person care for the management of chronic musculoskeletal spinal conditions in the tertiary hospital setting? A non-randomised pilot clinical trial. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 27 (7), 1357633X1988726-452. doi: 10.1177/1357633x19887265

Does telerehabilitation result in inferior clinical outcomes compared with in-person care for the management of chronic musculoskeletal spinal conditions in the tertiary hospital setting? A non-randomised pilot clinical trial

2019

Journal Article

Longevity of pulmonary rehabilitation benefit for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - health care utilisation in the subsequent 2 years

Walsh, James R., Pegg, Jane, Yerkovich, Stephanie T., Morris, Norman, McKeough, Zoe J., Comans, Tracy, Paratz, Jenny D. and Chambers, Daniel C. (2019). Longevity of pulmonary rehabilitation benefit for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - health care utilisation in the subsequent 2 years. BMJ Open Respiratory Research, 6 (1) e000500, e000500. doi: 10.1136/bmjresp-2019-000500

Longevity of pulmonary rehabilitation benefit for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - health care utilisation in the subsequent 2 years

2019

Other Outputs

Valuing quality of life for people living with dementia: what really matters to people with dementia and their caregivers?

Comans, Tracy, Nguyen, Kim-Huong and Welch, Alyssa (2019). Valuing quality of life for people living with dementia: what really matters to people with dementia and their caregivers?. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland.

Valuing quality of life for people living with dementia: what really matters to people with dementia and their caregivers?

2019

Journal Article

Simulation of health care and related costs in people with dementia in Australia

Standfield, Lachlan, Comans, Tracy and Scuffham, Paul A. (2019). Simulation of health care and related costs in people with dementia in Australia. Australian Health Review, 43 (5), 531-539. doi: 10.1071/AH18022

Simulation of health care and related costs in people with dementia in Australia

2019

Journal Article

How do people with dementia and family carers value dementia‐specific quality of life states?: an explorative “Think Aloud” study

Ratcliffe, Julie, Hutchinson, Claire, Milte, Rachel, Nguyen, Kim‐Huong, Welch, Alyssa, Caporale, Tessa, Corlis, Megan and Comans, Tracy (2019). How do people with dementia and family carers value dementia‐specific quality of life states?: an explorative “Think Aloud” study. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 38 (S2), 75-82. doi: 10.1111/ajag.12646

How do people with dementia and family carers value dementia‐specific quality of life states?: an explorative “Think Aloud” study

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2028
    The clinical and cost effectiveness of the Action Falls rehabilitation programme compared to usual care alone to reduce falls in stroke survivors (The FISS-AUSTRALIA trial)
    NHMRC-National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaborative Research Grants
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Derivation, Validation and Implementation of a Digital Frailty Index for Acute Care Settings in Queensland
    NHMRC Partnership Projects
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    The clinical and cost-effectiveness of lumbar fusion surgery for patients with persistent, severe low back pain: FusiOn veRsus bEst coNServative Care (the FORENSIC trial)
    NHMRC-National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaborative Research Grants
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2025
    The Australian Consortium for Aged Care - Quality Measurement Toolbox (ACAC-QMET): Improving Quality of Care through Better Measurement and Evaluation (MRFF DAAC Grant administered by University of So
    South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Limited
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    Australian Cerebral Palsy Musculoskeletal Health Network
    NHMRC MRFF EPCDR - Chronic Musculoskeletal Conditions in Children and Adolescents
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Evaluation of primary care and help-seeking promotion programs to increase dementia diagnosis and early treatment (MRFF DAAC Grant administered by University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    Frailty KIT: An Australian Frailty Network to Create Knowledge, Implement Findings and Support Training
    NHMRC MRFF Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2028
    ACTIVE KNEECAPs! tArgeted effeCTIVE treatments for adolescent KNEECAP pain
    NHMRC MRFF EPCDR - Chronic Musculoskeletal Conditions in Children and Adolescents
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    Optimising functional and social independence and safety of older people living with dementia in care homes: Implementation research (NHMRC Partnership Projects administered by University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    Reverse or Anatomical (replacement) for Painful Shoulder Osteoarthritis: Differences between Interventions. Acronym; RAPSODI (NHMRC-NIHR grant administered by Deakin University).
    Deakin University
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    Centre of Research Excellence - REduce the burden of antimicrobial reSistance through oPtimal, persONalised Dosing (RESPOND)
    NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    The Enhanced Advance care planning & life Review Longitudinal Intervention (EARLI) study: Increasing proactive care planning in Australian community aged care settings (NHMRC TCR administered by UNSW)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Taking a whole of day approach to optimising activity to prevent dementia in people with type 2 diabetes (NHMRC Boosting Dementia Research Grant led by USQ)
    University of Southern Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    ACTIVE STRIDES-CP: Randomised trial of Intensive Rehabilitation (Combined Intensive Gait and Cycling Training) for children with moderate to severe bilateral cerebral palsy
    NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Alignment, Harmonisation, and Results: translating Core Outcome Measures to Improve Care (COM-IC) for People Living with Dementia into Australian practice
    NHMRC MRFF Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    School Readiness child outcomes of early neuroprotection/ early neurorehabilitation for infants at high risk of Cerebral Palsy- in the first 2,000 days
    NHMRC MRFF PPHR - Maternal Health and First 2000 Days, Early Childhood, and Exercise and Nutrition
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2026
    4CD - Connecting Care for Complex Chronic Disease - Diabetes [REMODeL an Integrated Model of Care for Diabetes (Re-IMCD)] (Metro South HHS Research Support Scheme grant administered by MNHHS)
    Metro South Health Research Support Scheme Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    The GOAL Trial: Comprehensive geriatric assessment for frail older people with chronic kidney disease to increase attainment of patient-identified goals: A cluster randomised controlled trial
    NHMRC Targeted Research
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2022
    Equity Framework: System Analysis
    Health and Wellbeing Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    The harms and benefits of sun exposure: striking the right balance (Cancer Australia PdCCRS grant led by QIMR Berghofer)
    QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
    Open grant
  • 2021
    Digital Hospital: A cost-benefit analysis to inform business cases
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2021
    Taking a whole of day approach to optimising activity to prevent dementia in people with type 2 diabetes
    Boosting Dementia Research Grants (PR5): Implementing Dementia Risk Reduction and Prevention Research
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Improving Australia's Dementia Statistic
    Boosting Dementia Research Grants Scheme (PR6): Improving Dementia Data and Methods
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    Implementation of GLA:D in Queensland public health services: towards a standardised non-surgical management approach for hip and knee osteoarthritis
    Metro North Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    A trial to evaluate innovative models of respite care. Implementing an inter-generational community day care centre for Australians living with cognitive decline (and carers) and younger...
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Develop a preference based measure to value quality of life for people with a diagnosis of dementia or cognitive decline - under 9100000 (NHMRC Partnership Centre administered by University Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2021
    Ensuring the sustainability of care for people with dementia now and into the future
    NHMRC Boosting Dementia Research Leadership Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Sustainable, Cost Effective, Smart Assisted Independent Living - Smarter Safer Homes (SCEFSAIL-SSH) (DACS grant administered by CSIRO)
    CSIRO
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2019
    The Partnership Centre on Dealing with Cognitive and Related Functional Decline in Older People (NHMRC Partnership Centre administered by The University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2017
    A workplace-based exercise intervention to prevent and reduce the economic and personal burden of non-specific neck pain in the office personnel
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Professor Tracy Comans is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Professor Tracy Comans's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au