Evaluation of the Health Navigators

Description

This evaluation aims to document and measure the role and effectiveness of the health navigators in community-based services participating in the research. Both the role itself and the impact that navigators have had on the capacity of clients to cope with their condition were examined. The programs being evaluated were the Kalwyn Health Services Social Health Program and Krurungal Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Welfare Corporation's Community Pathway Connector Program.

Research questions included:

1. Does the addition of a clinical care co-ordination model improve self-management of clients living with severe and complex mental health conditions?

2. How does condition-specific nurse/allied health-led mental health co-ordination differs from a more generalist nurse-led navigator approach?

3. Are there any specific trigger points, relationships or factors that can assist in identifying ‘at risk’ clients who would benefit most from co-ordinated care?

4. Are there any correlations between variables that need to be considered in future planning of co-ordinated models of care?

5. Does increased involvement in the management of long-term conditions affect care workers’ resilience and resistance to compassion fatigue?

6. Can the cost-benefit of co-ordinated care using social return on investment methods, quality of life scales, and acute service utilisation be effectively measured?

Regions in scope

Gold Coast Queensland

Funding entity

Gold Coast Primary Health Network

Research/evaluation entity

Central Queensland University

Status

Completed

Start date

2020

End date

2021