Overview
Background
I’m a Research Fellow and Health Economist at The University of Queensland’s Centre for the Business and Economics of Health (CBEH). My expertise is in applied economics, using econometric and discrete choice modelling techniques. I am particularly passionate about improving the lives of older people with a focus on cognitive decline, dementia, informal and formal aged care.
My research is funded through competitive grants from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), Australian Research Council (ARC), and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). I am a Chief Investigator on two MRFF grants; one is evaluating the costs and benefits of a hearing and vision intervention in home care, and another evaluating alcohol harm reduction interventions. I am a postdoc on an ARC grant that utilises economic methods to align population needs to health care and service provision, and on an NHMRC grant developing and testing new models for understanding and improving the treatment of youth substance use. I was recently awarded the Junior Research Fellowship at the University Duisburg-Essen in Germany, which allowed me to visit the Health Economics Group at CINCH for the winter semester 2024 with whom I continue to colloborate.
I hold a Bachelors degree in Health Economics from the University of Cologne, Germany (Dean’s Awards) and a Masters degree in Health Economics from the Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands (Cum Laude Award). I received my PhD in Health Economics from the University of Queensland where I was awarded the BEL faculty HDR Excellent Award.
Availability
- Dr Sabrina Lenzen is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Health Economics, University of Cologne
- Masters (Research) of Health Economics, Erasmus University of Rotterdam
- Doctor of Philosophy of Health Economics, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Health Economics
Studying issues related to efficiency, effectiveness, value and behaviour in the production and consumption of health and health care to determine how to improve health outcomes and lifestyle patterns.
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Applied Economics
Applying econometric techniques to large administrative and survey datasets, stuying the impact of health policies on health outcomes and complex real-world problems.
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Discrete Choice Modelling (DCE)
Utilising experimental designs, stated preference techniques, and choice experiments to estimate the value people place on alternative attributes of health and services in order to understand why people behave in a certain way and to predict future behaviour.
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Aged care
Examining the significant reform agenda of the aged care sector in Australia, as well as considering broader policy issues, existing challenges and future implications.
Research impacts
My work has been influential in informing and impacting health policy.
- I was recently involved in an evaluation of an increase in the midwife-to-mother ratio in Queensland hospitals. A cabinet-in-conference report was tabled by us and legislative changes in earli 2024 followed to increase nursing and midwifery ratios on a permanent basis on Queensland public hospitals.
- At the beginning of the year, I worked with the Department of Health and Aged Care and the UQ Centre for Health Services Research on developing risk adjustment models for aged care facilities in Australia. which are being implemented to improve the recently introduced Star Rating among residential aged care facilties.
- I am co-founder and convenor of the special interest group on Aged Care, Ageing and Dementia within the Australian Health Economics Association (AHES) and I work closely with aged care providers on several external grants.
Works
Search Professor Sabrina Lenzen’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Exploring the social value and design preferences for a home-based dementia community program in Australia
Lenzen, Sabrina, Gannon, Brenda, Norman, Richard, Bennett, Sally, Clemson, Lindy and Gitlin, Laura (2024). Exploring the social value and design preferences for a home-based dementia community program in Australia. The European Journal of Health Economics. doi: 10.1007/s10198-024-01738-3
2024
Journal Article
Routine outcome monitoring and feedback in alcohol and other drug treatment: A qualitative study of client perspectives on implementation
Pocuca, Nina, Tisdale, Calvert, Campbell, Gabrielle, Beck, Alison K., Ellem, Rhiannon, Quinn, Catherine A., Kelly, Peter J., Larance, Briony, Baker, Amanda L., Connor, Jason P., Marsden, John, Chan, Gary C. K., Connelly, Luke, Lenzen, Sabrina, Farrell, Michael and Hides, Leanne (2024). Routine outcome monitoring and feedback in alcohol and other drug treatment: A qualitative study of client perspectives on implementation. Drug and Alcohol Review. doi: 10.1111/dar.13962
2024
Journal Article
Informal care and financial stress: Longitudinal evidence from Australia
Koomson, Isaac, Lenzen, Sabrina and Afoakwah, Clifford (2024). Informal care and financial stress: Longitudinal evidence from Australia. Stress and Health, 40 (4) e3393, 1-20. doi: 10.1002/smi.3393
2023
Journal Article
The relationship between physical activity, cognitive function and health care use: a mediation analysis
Lenzen, Sabrina, Gannon, Brenda, Rose, Christiern and Norton, Edward C. (2023). The relationship between physical activity, cognitive function and health care use: a mediation analysis. Social Science and Medicine, 335 116202, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116202
2023
Journal Article
From population numbers to population needs: Incorporating epidemiological change into health service planning in Australia
Lenzen, Sabrina and Birch, Stephen (2023). From population numbers to population needs: Incorporating epidemiological change into health service planning in Australia. Social Science and Medicine, 328 115972, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115972
2021
Other Outputs
Microeconomic models of physical activity, cognition and health care utilization in the aging population
Lenzen, Sabrina (2021). Microeconomic models of physical activity, cognition and health care utilization in the aging population. PhD Thesis, School of Economics, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/91ddc43
2021
Journal Article
Health care use and out-of-pocket spending by persons with dementia differ between Europe and the United States
Lenzen, Sabrina, Bakx, Pieter, Bom, Judith and van Doorslaer, Eddy (2021). Health care use and out-of-pocket spending by persons with dementia differ between Europe and the United States. Medical Care, 59 (6), 543-549. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000001539
2020
Journal Article
A dynamic microeconomic analysis of the impact of physical activity on cognition among older people
Lenzen, Sabrina, Gannon, Brenda and Rose, Christiern (2020). A dynamic microeconomic analysis of the impact of physical activity on cognition among older people. Economics and Human Biology, 39 100933, 100933. doi: 10.1016/j.ehb.2020.100933
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Sabrina Lenzen is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Effectiveness of measures to reduce health system demand
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Luke Connelly
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Master Philosophy
Effectiveness of measures to reduce health system demand
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Luke Connelly
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Doctor Philosophy
Incorporating the Gains from Healthy Ageing in Health System Planning
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Luke Connelly, Dr Bao Hoang Nguyen, Emeritus Professor Stephen Birch
Media
Enquiries
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