How Do Allied Health Professionals Define and Apply Equity When Making Resource Allocation Decisions?

2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 349-364
Author(s):  
Haylee Lane ◽  
Tamica Sturgess ◽  
Kathleen Philip ◽  
Donna Markham ◽  
Jill Walsh ◽  
...  

An ethnographic study was conducted in 2 stages to understand how allied health professionals define and apply equity when making resource allocation decisions. Participants were allied health managers and clinicians from Victoria, Australia. Stage 1 included 4 semi-structured forums that incorporated real-life case studies, group discussions, and hypothetical scenarios. The project’s steering committee began a thematic analysis during post-forum discussions. Stage 2 included a key stakeholder working party that further discussed the concept of equity. The forum recordings were transcribed verbatim, and a detailed thematic analysis ensured the initial thematic analysis was complete. Several domains of equity were discussed. Participants would readily identify that equity was a consideration when making resource decisions but were generally silent for a prolonged period when prompted to identify what they meant when using this term. The findings indicate that asking allied health professionals to directly state how they define and apply equity to their decision-making could be too difficult a task, as this did not elicit rich and meaningful discussions. Future research should examine individual domains of equity when applied to resource allocation decisions.

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Huglin ◽  
L. Whelan ◽  
S. McLean ◽  
K. Greer ◽  
D. Mitchell ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Allied health assistants (AHAs) support allied health professionals (AHPs) to meet workforce demands in modern healthcare systems. Previous studies have indicated that AHAs may be underutilised in some contexts. This study aims to identify factors contributing to the effective utilisation of AHAs across health, aged care and disability sectors and possible pathway elements that may optimise AHA careers in Victoria. Methods Using an interpretive description approach data collection included a workforce survey and semi structured interviews (individual and group). Data analysis included descriptive statistics, independent t-tests and thematic analysis. Participants included allied health assistants, allied health professionals and allied health leaders in the health, aged care or disability sectors; educators, managers or student of allied health assistance training; and consumers of Victorian health, disability or aged care services. Results The literature scan identified numerous potential barriers to and enablers of AHA workforce utilisation. A total of 727 participants completed the survey consisting of AHAs (n = 284), AHPs & allied health leaders (n = 443). Thirteen group and 25 individual interviews were conducted with a total of 119 participants. Thematic analysis of the interview data identified four interrelated factors (system, training, individual and workplace) in pre-employment training and workplace environments. These factors were reported to contribute to effective utilisation of the AHA workforce across health, aged care and disability sectors. Study findings were also used to create a conceptual diagram of potential AHA career pathway elements. Conclusion This study identified pre-employment and workplace factors which may contribute to the optimal utilisation of the AHA workforce across Victorian health, aged care and disability sectors. Further study is needed to investigate the transferability of these findings to national and global contexts, and testing of the conceptual model.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 412-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haylee Lane ◽  
Tamica Sturgess ◽  
Kathleen Philip ◽  
Donna Markham ◽  
Jennifer Martin ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer White ◽  
◽  
Kellie Grant ◽  
Mitchell Sarkies ◽  
Terrence Haines

Abstract Background Health policy and management decisions rarely reflect research evidence. As part of a broader randomized controlled study exploring implementation science strategies we examined how allied health managers respond to two distinct recommendations and the evidence that supports them. Methods A qualitative study nested in a larger randomized controlled trial. Allied health managers across Australia and New Zealand who were responsible for weekend allied health resource allocation decisions towards the provision of inpatient service to acute general medical and surgical wards, and subacute rehabilitation wards were eligible for inclusion. Consenting participants were randomized to (1) control group or (2) implementation group 1, which received an evidence-based policy recommendation document guiding weekend allied health resource allocation decisions, or (3) implementation group 2, which received the same policy recommendation document guiding weekend allied health resource allocation decisions with support from a knowledge broker. As part of the trial, serial focus groups were conducted with a sample of over 80 allied health managers recruited to implementation group 2 only. A total 17 health services participated in serial focus groups according to their allocated randomization wave, over a 12-month study period. The primary outcome was participant perceptions and data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach with constant comparison. Thematic saturation was achieved. Results Five key themes emerged: (1) Local data is more influential than external evidence; (2) How good is the evidence and does it apply to us? (3) It is difficult to change things; (4) Historically that is how we have done things; and (5) What if we get complaints? Conclusions This study explored implementation of strategies to bridge gaps in evidence-informed decision-making. Results provide insight into barriers, which prevent the implementation of evidence-based practice from fully and successfully occurring, such as attitudes towards evidence, limited skills in critical appraisal, and lack of authority to promote change. In addition, strategies are needed to manage the risk of confirmation biases in decision-making processes. Trial registration This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) (ACTRN12618000029291). Universal Trial Number (UTN): U1111-1205-2621.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer White ◽  
Kellie Grant ◽  
Mitchell Sarkies ◽  
Terrence Haines

Abstract BackgroundHealth policy and management decisions rarely reflect research evidence. In response, it is important to determine how to improve evidence-informed decision-making. As part of a broader study exploring implementation science strategies we examined how allied health managers respond to two distinct recommendations and the evidence that supports them. MethodsAllied health managers across Australia and New Zealand who were responsible for weekend allied health resource allocation decisions towards the provision of inpatient service to acute general medical and surgical wards, and sub-acute rehabilitation wards were eligible for inclusion. Consenting participants were randomised to: (1) control group or; (2) Implementation Group 1: received an evidence-based policy recommendation document guiding weekend allied health resource allocation decisions, or (3) Implementation Group 2: received the same policy recommendation document guiding weekend allied health resource allocation decisions with support from a knowledge broker. Serial focus groups were conducted with a sample of over 80 allied health managers recruited to Implementation Group 2 only. Out of 6 waves of recruitment, up to four focus groups were conducted with each wave during the 12 months study period. In total 17 health services participated in serial focus groups according to their allocated wave, over a 12-month study period. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach with constant comparison. Thematic saturation was achieved.ResultsResults provide insights into resource allocation and decision-making, including the interplay between barriers and facilitators concerning implementation of recommendations outlined in evidence-based policy recommendation document. Five key themes emerged: (1) Local data trumps, or is more influential; (2) How good is the evidence and does it apply to us; (3) It is difficult to change things; (4) Historically that’s how we have done things; and (5) What if we get complaints?ConclusionsThis study explored implementation of strategies to bridge gaps in evidence-informed decision-making. Results provide insight into barriers, which prevent the implementation of evidence base practice from fully, and successfully occurring such as attitudes towards evidence, limited skills in critical appraisal, and lack of authority to promote change. In addition, strategies are needed to manage the risk of confirmation biases in decision-making processes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-55
Author(s):  
Paul Hoehner ◽  
David H. Beyda ◽  
William P. Cheshire ◽  
Robert E. Cranston ◽  
John T. Dunlop ◽  
...  

The Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA) was founded in 1931 and is made up of the Christian Medical Association (CMA) and the Christian Dental Association (CDA). CMDA has a current membership of over 19,000 physicians, dentists, and other allied health professionals. During and in direct response to the pressing urgencies of the COVID-19 universal pandemic of 2020 the President of CMDA commissioned a special task force to provide current and future Christian reflection and guidance on triage and resource allocation policies during pandemics and other forms of crisis surge medical conditions (e.g., mass casualty situations). This is a condensed version of the CMDA special task force position statement. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 87-112
Author(s):  
Bei Dong ◽  
Stefanie L. Tate ◽  
Le Emily Xu

SYNOPSIS Regulations implemented by the SEC in 2003 and 2004 simultaneously shortened the financial statement filing deadlines and increased the time required for both the preparation of financial statements and the related audit of accelerated filers (AFs). However, there were indirect, unintended negative consequences for companies not subject to the regulations, namely, non-accelerated filers (NAFs). The new regulations imposed strains on auditor resources requiring auditors to make resource allocation decisions that negatively affected NAFs. We find that NAFs with an auditor who had a high proportion of AF clients (high-AF) had longer audit delays after the regulations were implemented than NAFs of an auditor with a low proportion of AF clients (low-AF). Further, we document that NAFs with high-AF auditors were more likely to change auditors than NAFs with low-AF auditors. Finally, NAFs that switched to auditors with less AFs experienced shorter audit delays after the auditor change. JEL Classifications: M42; M48.


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