
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
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, 1-10. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037070
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
2019
Journal Article
Implementation of simulation modelling to improve service planning in specialist orthopaedic and neurosurgical outpatient services
Moretto, Nicole, Comans, Tracy A., Chang, Angela T., O’Leary, Shaun P., Osborne, Sonya, Carter, Hannah E., Smith, David, Cavanagh, Tania, Blond, Dean and Raymer, Maree (2019). Implementation of simulation modelling to improve service planning in specialist orthopaedic and neurosurgical outpatient services. Implementation Science, 14 (1) 78, 78. doi: 10.1186/s13012-019-0923-1
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Tracy Comans is:
- Not available for supervision
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Heuristics and Biases in Budgeting Decisions for Home Care Packages Under Consumer-directed Care Funding Model
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Len Gray, Dr Kim-Huong Nguyen, Dr Zachary Breig
-
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
Improving diabetes care with digital health
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kim-Huong Nguyen, Dr David Chua
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the use of causal inference in infectious disease epidemiology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Mr Mark Chatfield, Professor Lisa Hall
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
Enquiries
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