Overview
Background
Professor Tracy Comans, UQ Amplify Fellow at the Schoolf of Public Health, University of Queensland, and CEO of the National Ageing Research Institute. With her extensive background in health policy, health economics and physiotherapy, Prof Comans brings a unique perspective to her role, bridging the gap between evidence and policy. Prof Comans has been instrumental in shaping aged care policy, using her research to inform and influence implementation of the Royal Commission recommendations. Her work has led to significant advancements in the reporting of the quality of aged care services.
Her research uses economic theories and tools to understand human behaviours in health, individually and collectively, and their impacts on the health system, the wider economy and society. Prof Comans worked for 20+ years in hospital and community settings specializing in geriatric and rehabilitation physiotherapy with embedded research and has worked for over 15 years as a university researcher. She works closely with industry, people with lived experience and health care providers to develop a program of research focused on improving the quality of aged care services that is relevant to the needs of these groups.
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
2021
Journal Article
Systematised, Interdisciplinary Malnutrition Program for impLementation and Evaluation delivers improved hospital nutrition care processes and patient reported experiences – an implementation study
Bell, Jack J., Young, Adrienne M., Hill, Jan M., Banks, Merrilyn D., Comans, Tracy A., Barnes, Rhiannon and Keller, Heather H. (2021). Systematised, Interdisciplinary Malnutrition Program for impLementation and Evaluation delivers improved hospital nutrition care processes and patient reported experiences – an implementation study. Nutrition and Dietetics, 78 (5), 466-475. doi: 10.1111/1747-0080.12663
2021
Journal Article
Disparities in service and clinical outcomes in state-wide advanced practice physiotherapist-led services
Raymer, Maree, Mitchell, Louise, Window, Peter, Cottrell, Michelle, Comans, Tracy and O’Leary, Shaun (2021). Disparities in service and clinical outcomes in state-wide advanced practice physiotherapist-led services. Healthcare, 9 (3) 278, 278. doi: 10.3390/healthcare9030278
2021
Other Outputs
Materials for the effect of price changes and teaspoon labelling on intention to purchase sugar-sweetened beverages
Comans, Tracy and Vo, Vinh (2021). Materials for the effect of price changes and teaspoon labelling on intention to purchase sugar-sweetened beverages. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.14264/a0df968
2021
Journal Article
Implementation of the Living Well During Pregnancy telecoaching program for women at high risk of excessive gestational weight gain: protocol for an effectiveness-implementation hybrid study
de Jersey, Susan, Meloncelli, Nina, Guthrie, Taylor, Powlesland, Hilary, Callaway, Leonie, Chang, Angela T., Wilkinson, Shelley, Comans, Tracy and Eakin, Elizabeth (2021). Implementation of the Living Well During Pregnancy telecoaching program for women at high risk of excessive gestational weight gain: protocol for an effectiveness-implementation hybrid study. JMIR Research Protocols, 10 (3) e27196, 1-12. doi: 10.2196/27196
2021
Journal Article
A cluster-randomized trial of workplace ergonomics and neck-specific exercise versus ergonomics and health promotion for office workers to manage neck pain – a secondary outcome analysis
Johnston, Venerina, Chen, Xiaoqi, Welch, Alyssa, Sjøgaard, Gisela, Comans, Tracy A., McStea, Megan, Straker, Leon, Melloh, Markus, Pereira, Michelle and O’Leary, Shaun (2021). A cluster-randomized trial of workplace ergonomics and neck-specific exercise versus ergonomics and health promotion for office workers to manage neck pain – a secondary outcome analysis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 22 (1) 68, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s12891-021-03945-y
2021
Journal Article
Making the invisible companion of people with dementia visible in economic studies: what can we learn from social science?
Nguyen, Kim-Huong and Comans, Tracy (2021). Making the invisible companion of people with dementia visible in economic studies: what can we learn from social science?. Healthcare, 9 (1) 44, 44. doi: 10.3390/healthcare9010044
2020
Journal Article
Factors affecting radiotherapy utilisation in geriatric oncology patients in NSW, Australia
Mackenzie, Penny, Vajdic, Claire, Delaney, Geoff, Gabriel, Gabriel, Agar, Meera, Comans, Tracy and Barton, Michael (2020). Factors affecting radiotherapy utilisation in geriatric oncology patients in NSW, Australia. Technical Innovations and Patient Support in Radiation Oncology, 16, 17-23. doi: 10.1016/j.tipsro.2020.09.003
2020
Journal Article
A multisite longitudinal evaluation of patient characteristics associated with a poor response to non-surgical multidisciplinary management of low back pain in an advanced practice physiotherapist-led tertiary service
O’Leary, Shaun, Raymer, Maree, Window, Peter, Swete Kelly, Patrick, Lee, Darryl, Garsden, Linda, Tweedy, Rebecca, Phillips, Ben, O’Sullivan, Will, Wake, Anneke, Smith, Alison, Pahor, Sheryl, Pearce, Luen, McLean, Rod, Thompson, David, Williams, Erica, Nolan, Damien, Anning, Jody, Seels, Ian, Wickins, Daniel, Marks, Darryn, Diplock, Brendan, Parravicini, Vicki, Parnwell, Linda, Vicenzino, Bill, Comans, Tracy, Cottrell, Michelle, Khan, Asaduzzaman and McPhail, Steven (2020). A multisite longitudinal evaluation of patient characteristics associated with a poor response to non-surgical multidisciplinary management of low back pain in an advanced practice physiotherapist-led tertiary service. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 21 (1) 807, 1-12. doi: 10.1186/s12891-020-03839-5
2020
Journal Article
Exploring the impact of obesity on health care resources and coding in the acute hospital setting: A feasibility study
Tan, Winnie S. Y., Young, Adrienne M., Di Bella, Alexandra L., Comans, Tracy and Banks, Merrilyn (2020). Exploring the impact of obesity on health care resources and coding in the acute hospital setting: A feasibility study. Healthcare, 8 (4) 459, 459. doi: 10.3390/healthcare8040459
2020
Journal Article
Some gain for a small investment: an economic evaluation of an exercise program for people living in residential aged care
Rahja, Miia, Nguyen, Kim‐Huong, Post, Danielle, Parfitt, Gaynor, Corlis, Megan and Comans, Tracy (2020). Some gain for a small investment: an economic evaluation of an exercise program for people living in residential aged care. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 40 (2) ajag.12875, 1-9. doi: 10.1111/ajag.12875
2020
Conference Publication
THE GOAL TRIAL PROTOCOL: Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment for Frail Older People With Chronic Kidney Disease to increase attainment of patient-identified goals - A cluster randomised controlled trial
Logan, B., Viecelli, A. K., Johnson, D. W., Tong, A., Comans, T., Janda, M., Pond, C., Pascoe, E., Peel, N. M., Gray, L., Pole, J., Polkinghorne, K., Jose, M., Gordon, E. H., Scholes-Robertson, N., Bailey, J., Robison, L., Hawley, C., Varghese, J., Kiriwandeniya, C., Reidlinger, D. and Hubbard, R. E. (2020). THE GOAL TRIAL PROTOCOL: Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment for Frail Older People With Chronic Kidney Disease to increase attainment of patient-identified goals - A cluster randomised controlled trial. 55th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN), Online, 28 November‐2 December 2020. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley-Blackwell.
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
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
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 David Chua
Completed supervision
-
2025
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
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Heuristics and Biases in Budgeting Decisions for Home Care Packages Under Consumer-directed Care Funding Model
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kim-Huong Nguyen, Dr Zachary Breig
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Quality measurement in aged care to inform economic analyses
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kim-Huong Nguyen
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the use of causal inference in infectious disease epidemiology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Mr Mark Chatfield, Professor Lisa Hall
-
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: Professor Shaun O'Leary, Professor Trevor Russell
Media
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