Professor Tracy Comans
Professor

Tracy Comans

Email: 

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

Aged health care Applied economics Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Economics Health Sciences Health economics

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

Search Professor Tracy Comans’s works on UQ eSpace

238 works between 2008 and 2026
All (238) Book (1) Journal Article (192) Other Outputs (12) Conference Publication (32) Book Chapter (1)

181 - 200 of 238 works

2017

Journal Article

Private health insurance incentives in Australia: in search of cost-effective adjustments

Sowa, P. Marcin, Kault, Sam, Byrnes, Joshua, Ng, Shu-Kay, Comans, Tracy and Scuffham, Paul A. (2017). Private health insurance incentives in Australia: in search of cost-effective adjustments. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 16 (1), 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s40258-017-0338-6

Private health insurance incentives in Australia: in search of cost-effective adjustments

2017

Journal Article

An investigation of self-reported health-related productivity loss in office workers and associations with individual and work-related factors using an employer's perspective

Pereira, Michelle Jessica, Johnston, Venerina, Straker, Leon Melville, Sjogaard, Gisela, Melloh, Markus, O'Leary, Shaun Patrick and Comans, Tracy Anne (2017). An investigation of self-reported health-related productivity loss in office workers and associations with individual and work-related factors using an employer's perspective. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 59 (7), e138-e144. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001043

An investigation of self-reported health-related productivity loss in office workers and associations with individual and work-related factors using an employer's perspective

2017

Journal Article

Impact of a person-centred community rehabilitation service on outcomes for individuals with a neurological condition

Barker, Ruth N., Sealey, Cindy J., Polley, Michelle L., Mervin, Merehau C. and Comans, Tracy (2017). Impact of a person-centred community rehabilitation service on outcomes for individuals with a neurological condition. Disability and Rehabilitation, 39 (11), 1136-1142. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2016.1185803

Impact of a person-centred community rehabilitation service on outcomes for individuals with a neurological condition

2017

Journal Article

Process to establish 11 primary contact allied health pathways in a public health service

Stute, Michelle, Moretto, Nicole, Raymer, Maree, Banks, Merrilyn, Buttrum, Peter, Sam, Sonia, Bhagwat, Marita and Comans, Tracy (2017). Process to establish 11 primary contact allied health pathways in a public health service. Australian Health Review, 42 (3), 258-265. doi: 10.1071/AH16206

Process to establish 11 primary contact allied health pathways in a public health service

2017

Journal Article

Public Preferences for the Use of Taxation and Labelling Policy Measures to Combat Obesity in Young Children in Australia

Comans, Tracy, Moretto, Nicole and Byrnes, Joshua (2017). Public Preferences for the Use of Taxation and Labelling Policy Measures to Combat Obesity in Young Children in Australia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14 (3) 324, 324. doi: 10.3390/ijerph14030324

Public Preferences for the Use of Taxation and Labelling Policy Measures to Combat Obesity in Young Children in Australia

2017

Journal Article

Home Quick - occupational therapy home visits using mHealth, to facilitate discharge from acute admission back to the community

Nix, Jacqueline and Comans, Tracy (2017). Home Quick - occupational therapy home visits using mHealth, to facilitate discharge from acute admission back to the community. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 9 (1), 47-54. doi: 10.5195/ijt.2017.6218

Home Quick - occupational therapy home visits using mHealth, to facilitate discharge from acute admission back to the community

2017

Journal Article

The cost-effectiveness of a web-based multimodal therapy for unilateral cerebral palsy: the Mitii randomized controlled trial

Comans, Tracy, Mihala, Gabor, Sakzewski, Leanne, Boyd, Roslyn N. and Scuffham, Paul (2017). The cost-effectiveness of a web-based multimodal therapy for unilateral cerebral palsy: the Mitii randomized controlled trial. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 59 (7), 756-761. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.13414

The cost-effectiveness of a web-based multimodal therapy for unilateral cerebral palsy: the Mitii randomized controlled trial

2017

Journal Article

Developing a dementia-specific health state classification system for a new preference-based instrument AD-5D

Nguyen, Kim-Huong, Mulhern, Brendan, Kularatna, Sanjeewa, Byrnes, Joshua, Moyle, Wendy and Comans, Tracy (2017). Developing a dementia-specific health state classification system for a new preference-based instrument AD-5D. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 15 (1) 21, 21. doi: 10.1186/s12955-017-0585-0

Developing a dementia-specific health state classification system for a new preference-based instrument AD-5D

2017

Journal Article

An empirical comparison of Markov cohort modeling and discrete event simulation in a capacity-constrained health care setting

Standfield, L. B., Comans, T. A. and Scuffham, P. A. (2017). An empirical comparison of Markov cohort modeling and discrete event simulation in a capacity-constrained health care setting. European Journal of Health Economics, 18 (1), 33-47. doi: 10.1007/s10198-015-0756-z

An empirical comparison of Markov cohort modeling and discrete event simulation in a capacity-constrained health care setting

2016

Journal Article

Agreement between a physiotherapist and an orthopaedic surgeon regarding management and prescription of corticosteroid injection for patients with shoulder pain

Marks, Darryn, Comans, Tracy, Thomas, Michael, Ng, Shu Kay, O'Leary, Shaun, Conaghan, Philip G., Scuffham, Paul A. and Bisset, Leanne (2016). Agreement between a physiotherapist and an orthopaedic surgeon regarding management and prescription of corticosteroid injection for patients with shoulder pain. Manual Therapy, 26, 216-222. doi: 10.1016/j.math.2016.10.001

Agreement between a physiotherapist and an orthopaedic surgeon regarding management and prescription of corticosteroid injection for patients with shoulder pain

2016

Journal Article

Evaluating the efficacy of the "support for life" program for people with dementia and their families and carers' to enable them to live well: a protocol for a cluster stepped wedge randomized controlled trial

Goeman, Dianne, Comans, Tracy, Enticott, Joanne C., Renehan, Emma, Beattie, Elizabeth, Kurrle, Susan and Koch, Susan (2016). Evaluating the efficacy of the "support for life" program for people with dementia and their families and carers' to enable them to live well: a protocol for a cluster stepped wedge randomized controlled trial. Frontiers in Public Health, 4 (OCT) 245. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2016.00245

Evaluating the efficacy of the "support for life" program for people with dementia and their families and carers' to enable them to live well: a protocol for a cluster stepped wedge randomized controlled trial

2016

Journal Article

Increasing capacity for the treatment of common musculoskeletal problems: a non-inferiority RCT and economic analysis of corticosteroid injection for shoulder pain comparing a physiotherapist and orthopaedic surgeon

Marks, Darryn, Bisset, Leanne, Comans, Tracy, Thomas, Michael, Ng, Shu Kay, O'Leary, Shaun, Conaghan, Philip G. and Scuffham, Paul A. (2016). Increasing capacity for the treatment of common musculoskeletal problems: a non-inferiority RCT and economic analysis of corticosteroid injection for shoulder pain comparing a physiotherapist and orthopaedic surgeon. PLoS ONE, 11 (9) e0162679, e0162679. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162679

Increasing capacity for the treatment of common musculoskeletal problems: a non-inferiority RCT and economic analysis of corticosteroid injection for shoulder pain comparing a physiotherapist and orthopaedic surgeon

2016

Journal Article

The efficiency of increasing the capacity of physiotherapy screening clinics or traditional medical services to address unmet demand in orthopaedic outpatients: a practical application of discrete event simulation with dynamic queuing

Standfield, L., Comans, T., Raymer, M., O'Leary, S., Moretto, N. and Scuffham, P. (2016). The efficiency of increasing the capacity of physiotherapy screening clinics or traditional medical services to address unmet demand in orthopaedic outpatients: a practical application of discrete event simulation with dynamic queuing. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 14 (4), 479-491. doi: 10.1007/s40258-016-0246-1

The efficiency of increasing the capacity of physiotherapy screening clinics or traditional medical services to address unmet demand in orthopaedic outpatients: a practical application of discrete event simulation with dynamic queuing

2016

Journal Article

Inter-rater reliability of an observation-based ergonomics assessment checklist for office workers

Pereira, Michelle Jessica, Straker, Leon Melville, Comans, Tracy Anne and Johnston, Venerina (2016). Inter-rater reliability of an observation-based ergonomics assessment checklist for office workers. Ergonomics, 59 (12), 1606-1612. doi: 10.1080/00140139.2016.1157215

Inter-rater reliability of an observation-based ergonomics assessment checklist for office workers

2016

Journal Article

The increase in healthcare costs associated with frailty in older people discharged to a post-acute transition care program

Comans, Tracy A., Peel, Nancye M., Hubbard, Ruth E., Mulligan, Andrew D., Gray, Leonard C. and Scuffham, Paul A. (2016). The increase in healthcare costs associated with frailty in older people discharged to a post-acute transition care program. Age and Ageing, 45 (2) afv196, 317-320. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afv196

The increase in healthcare costs associated with frailty in older people discharged to a post-acute transition care program

2016

Journal Article

Exploration of the economic and quality of life impact on carers of individuals undergoing community rehabilitation

Comans, Tracy A., Sealey, Cindy J., Mervin, Merehau C. and Barker, Ruth N. (2016). Exploration of the economic and quality of life impact on carers of individuals undergoing community rehabilitation. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 23 (10), 493-498. doi: 10.12968/ijtr.2016.23.10.493

Exploration of the economic and quality of life impact on carers of individuals undergoing community rehabilitation

2015

Journal Article

Streamlining clinical practice in an Australian community rehabilitation service using The Calderdale Framework

Patterson, Sarah A., Comans, Tracy A., Pitt, Erin L. and Currin, Michelle L. (2015). Streamlining clinical practice in an Australian community rehabilitation service using The Calderdale Framework. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 22 (9), 434-441. doi: 10.12968/ijtr.2015.22.9.434

Streamlining clinical practice in an Australian community rehabilitation service using The Calderdale Framework

2015

Journal Article

Mitii™ ABI: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial of a web-based multi-modal training program for children and adolescents with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

Boyd, Roslyn N., Baque, Emmah, Piovesana, Adina, Ross, Stephanie, Ziviani, Jenny, Sakzewski, Leanne, Barber, Lee, Lloyd, Owen, McKinlay, Lynne, Whittingham, Koa, Smith, Anthony C., Rose, Stephen, Fiori, Simona, Cunnington, Ross, Ware, Robert, Lewis, Melinda, Comans, Tracy A. and Scuffham, Paul A. (2015). Mitii™ ABI: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial of a web-based multi-modal training program for children and adolescents with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). BMC Neurology, 15 (140) 140, 140. doi: 10.1186/s12883-015-0381-6

Mitii™ ABI: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial of a web-based multi-modal training program for children and adolescents with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

2015

Journal Article

The impact of onsite workplace health-enhancing physical activity interventions on worker productivity: a systematic review

Pereira, Michelle Jessica, Coombes, Brooke Kaye, Comans, Tracy Anne and Johnston, Venerina (2015). The impact of onsite workplace health-enhancing physical activity interventions on worker productivity: a systematic review. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 72 (6), 401-412. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2014-102678

The impact of onsite workplace health-enhancing physical activity interventions on worker productivity: a systematic review

2015

Journal Article

Healthcare resource use in patients of the Australian Transition Care Program

Comans, Tracy A., Peel, Nancye M., Cameron, Ian D., Gray, Leonard. and Scuffham, Paul A. (2015). Healthcare resource use in patients of the Australian Transition Care Program. Australian Health Review, 39 (4), 411-416. doi: 10.1071/AH14054

Healthcare resource use in patients of the Australian Transition Care Program

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 - 2029
    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 - 2027
    Australian Cerebral Palsy Musculoskeletal Health Network
    NHMRC MRFF EPCDR - Chronic Musculoskeletal Conditions in Children and Adolescents
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    DRIVE CP: Directing Research In Very Early Cerebral Palsy (NHMRC CRE administered by University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    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 - 2028
    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

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    To know me is to understand me: Digital life story packages in dementia care transitions (MRFF DAAC externally led by Australian National University (ANU)
    The Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2024
    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
  • 2021 - 2022
    Equity Framework: System Analysis
    Health and Wellbeing Queensland
    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 - 2022
    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 - 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 - 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 - 2026
    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
    Digital Hospital: A cost-benefit analysis to inform business cases
    Queensland Health
    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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 - 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

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

Enquiries

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