Integrated Design Program

Rapid, evidence-based decision-making is critical during a disease outbreak response however compliance by stakeholders is necessary to ensure that such decisions are effectiveespecially if the response depends on voluntary action. This mixed method study evaluated technical policy decision-making processes during the 2007 outbreak of equine influenza in Australia by identifying and analysing the stakeholder network involved and the factors driving policy decision-making. The study started with a review of the outbreak literature and published policy documents. This identified six policy issues regarding policy modifications or differing interpretations by different state agencies. Data on factors influencing the decision-making process for these six issues and on stakeholder interaction were collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 24 individuals representing 12 industry and government organisations. Quantitative data were analysed using social network analysis. Qualitative data were coded and patterns matched to test a predetermined general theory using a method called theory-oriented process-tracing. Results revealed that technical policy decisions were framed by social, political, financial, strategic and operational considerations. Industry stakeholders had influence through formal pre-existing channels, yet specific gaps in stakeholder interaction were overcome by reactive alliances formed during the outbreak response but outside the established system. Overall, the crisis management system and response was seen as positive and 75100% of individuals interviewed were supportive of, had interest in and considered the outcome as good for the majority of policy decisions, yet only 4675% of those interviewed considered that they had influence on these decisions. Training to increase awareness and knowledge of emergency animal diseases and response systems will improve stakeholder participation in emergency disease management and preparedness for future emergency animal disease incursions.

Objective: To determine whether Care Navigation (CN), a nurse-led hospital-based coordinated care intervention, reduced the use of hospital services and improved quality of life for patients with chronic illness. Design: Randomised controlled trial; participants were allocated to CN or standard care.

Our paper focuses on the implementation in practice of an integrated care policy for severe and complex mental ill-health: Partners in Recovery. In order to be effective care for people experiencing chronic and complex mental ill-health must be supported by a framework which takes in multiple services whose focus extends throughout and beyond the health system (for example, targeted mental health, medical care, social care, housing). In Australia this landscape is populated by services whose priorities and policy frameworks are disconnected. Services working within the same policy environment also frequently compete with each other for funding, further complicating the integration of services for the benefit of consumers. Objective of the policies and targeted population: Partners in Recovery (PIR) is a national initiative designed and funded to improve the system response to, and outcomes for, people with severe and persistent mental illness who have complex needs through better coordination of clinical and other support needs for individuals and at the system level. PIR was funded by the Federal Gillard Government at $430 million over 2012-2016 and was implemented by Lead Organisations in 48 Medicare Local regions across Australia. Lead Organisations are designed to "work at a systems level and be the mechanism to drive collaboration between relevant sectors, services and supports within the region to ensure that all relevant needs of people in the target group are identified and met." This study focuses on two Lead Organisations in the Western Sydney region -covering a population of more than 1.4 million and with a concentration of some of the largest unmet needs in Australia. Methods: PIR is a case study in integrated care in a 'difficult' setting. Our study is a prospective evaluation of three elements of PIR: 1) recovery based outcomes for individual consumers, 2) recovery orientation of service delivery and processes and 3) outcomes in relation to system integration. We are collecting cyclical qualitative and quantitative data over a three year period, comprising of interviews with service providers, mapping of referral patterns and service connections,

In Saudi Arabia, the mortality of diabetes is currently reported at 6%. A well-administered referral system is crucial in aiding the management of this disease. A single reviewer employed a systematic approach to searching the literature databases with regard to the question: what are the attributes of referral systems in Saudi Arabia for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D)? The results were analysed in order to provide recommendations to improve the Saudi health system. Twelve primary studies were identified from a systematic search. Overall, the 12 studies did not clearly mention any of the factors of a good referral system. The referral problems identified by this study included patients' unnecessary requests for referral, unstructured referral letters, and unclear dissemination guidelines for referral. This research attempted to identify the efficiency of the referral processes that were implemented for patients with T2D. The majority of the included studies were completely ...

Triggers was a 16-week classroom investigation into how to use communication design to change habits. Students in this graduate-level class partnered with a classmate, identified habit loops, prototyped and tested possible solutions that could bring awareness to the problem (making design changes as needed), tracked the quantitative and/or qualitative changes, and measured how behavior changed. Topics ranged from procrastination, creative confidence, eating less meat, calling your mom more often, doodling in more productive ways, and grinding your teeth less. Students focused on a human-centered, holistic, and empathic approach, and applied Design Thinking methodologies to their challenge. Students had an adequate amount of time to understand how design can change behaviors and some outlined their methodology in the form of a toolkit that others might use to change their habits.