Publications

Goodall, S, Crowther, M, Bell, PF & Thompson, MM 2001, 'Ubiquitous elevated expression of MMP-2 in the vasculature of patients with aortic aneurysms', Circulation (Baltimore), vol. 104, no. 3, pp. 304-309.

Goodall, S, Crowther, M, Hemingway, DM, Bell, PR & Thompson, MM 2001, 'Ubiquitous Elevation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Expression in the Vasculature of Patients With Abdominal Aneurysms', Circulation, vol. 104, no. 3, pp. 304-309.
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Background Patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) exhibit arterial dilation and altered matrix composition throughout the vasculature. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is the dominant elastase in small AAAs, and overexpression of MMP-2 in vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) may be a primary etiological event in aneurysm genesis. The aim of this study was to investigate MMP-2 production in vascular tissue remote from the abdominal aorta. Methods and Results Inferior mesenteric vein (IMV) was harvested from patients undergoing aneurysm repair (n=21) or colectomy for diverticular disease (n=13, control). Matrix composition of the vessels was determined by stereological techniques. MMPs were extracted from tissue homogenates and quantified by gelatin zymography and ELISA. MMP-2, membrane type-1 MMP (MT1-MMP), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases type 2 (TIMP-2) expression were determined by Northern analysis. SMCs were isolated from IMV, and the production and expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in the SMC lines were quantified. Tissue homogenates and isolated inferior mesenteric SMCs from patients with aneurysms demonstrated significantly elevated MMP-2 levels, with no difference in TIMP-2 or MT1-MMP. These differences were a result of increased MMP-2 expression. Histological examination revealed fragmentation of elastin fibers within venous tissue obtained from patients with AAA and a significant depletion of the elastin within the media. In situ zymography localiz...

Haas, M, Chapman, S, Viney, R, Hall, J & Ferguson, A 2001, 'The news on health care funding: a study of reporting in the Australian print media for 1996', Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 78-84.
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Haas, M, Viney, R, Kristensen, E, Pain, C & Foulds, K 2001, 'Using programme budgeting and marginal analysis to assist population based strategic planning for coronary heart disease', Health Policy, vol. 55, no. 3, pp. 173-186.
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Haas, MR, Hall, JP & Chinchen, LA 2001, 'The moving of St Vincent's: a tale in two cities', MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA, vol. 174, no. 2, pp. 93-96.

Hall, J 2001, 'Health services research in Australia', Australian Health Review, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 35-35.
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The long-awaited Wills Implementation Committee Report (CoA 2000), which was completed by Novemberlast year, has now been released. Wills' earlier Report (CoA 1998) identified the need for the development ofhealth services research capacity in Australia, and this new Report recommends how this should be done,through the establishment and support of several large multi-disciplinary centres. These should be based aroundhealth services, health policy, health economics, public health and clinical practice and these are required to givescientific leadership to Australia's efforts in priority-driven research. They are to be funded through NHMRC,with funds rising to $10m per annum.

Hall, J 2001, 'Health, Health Care and Social Welfare', Australian Economic Review, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 320-331.
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This paper reviews the conceptualisation of social welfare in the health economics literature, and the contribution of health and health care to social welfare.

Hall, JP 2001, 'Quality of health care: an international problem', Healthcover, vol. 11, pp. 25-27.

King, MT, Hall, JP & Harnett, PR 2001, 'A randomised crossover trial of chemotherapy in the home: patient preferences and cost analysis', Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 174, no. 6, pp. 312-312.
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Shanahan, M, Haas, M, Viney, R & Cameron, I 2001, 'To HITH or not to HITH: making a decision about establishing hospital in the home', Australian Health Review, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 179-179.
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Hospital in the home is increasingly being considered as an alternative for the provision of acute care. This articleprovides an overview of Hospital in the Home in Australia, discussing some of the issues that should be consideredwhen determining whether to establish or fund hospital in the home programs such as whether efficiency is increased,care is improved and whether patients perceive more choice. These issues are discussed in the context of a transparentfunding strategy that is aimed at achieving predefined goals and objectives.

Street, D & Wilson, WH 2001, 'Resolvable Designs for Resolving Disputes', Journal of Combinatorial Mathematics and Combinatorial Computing, vol. 38, pp. 139-148.

Street, DJ, Bunch, DS & Moore, BJ 2001, 'OPTIMAL DESIGNS FOR 2^kPAIRED COMPARISON EXPERIMENTS', Communications in Statistics - Theory and Methods, vol. 30, no. 10, pp. 2149-2171.
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In this paper we establish the form of the optimal paired comparison design when there are k attributes, each with two levels, for testing for main effects, for main effects and two factor interactions and for main effects and two and three factor interactions. In all cases we assume that all pairs with the same number of attributes different appear equally often. In this setting the D and A optimal designs for main effects are the foldover pairs and those for main effects and two factor interactions have pairs in which about half the attributes are different. Copyright © 2001 by Marcel Dekker, Inc.

Viney, R 2001, 'Funding arrangements for pharmaceuticals: can economic evaluation promote efficiency?', Australian Health Review, vol. 24, no. 2, pp. 21-21.
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The media coverage of health resource allocation, even in the 'quality' press, is generally simplified, reducingthe issue to winners and losers in political terms, and rarely providing any in-depth analysis of policy initiatives.Policies are generally analysed in terms of how difficult they will be for politicians to 'sell' and the effect theywill have on electoral success rather than the impact they will have on the health of the population, on resourceallocation or on equity of access (Haas et al. 2001). The recent media attention on the Pharmaceutical BenefitsAdvisory Committee is a case in point.

Viney, R, Haas, M, Shanahan, M & Cameron, I 2001, 'Assessing the value of hospital-in-the-home: lessons from Australia', Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 133-138.
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Objectives: To identify factors that influence the cost-effectiveness of hospital-in-the-home (HITH) and to discuss the impact of funding arrangements in creating incentives or disincentives for the establishment of HITH services. Methods: A review of HITH services in Australia was undertaken. Based on the review, factors affecting the relative costs of HITH and conventional care were identified, in particular, the effect of funding and organisational arrangements on the incentives for managers and providers to choose between HITH and conventional care. Results: The review of HITH services identified a wide range of models of HITH in Australia. Factors identified as important to the success of HITH included demographic and location issues, referral mechanisms, the choice of staffing and the management of the programme. However, it was clear that the structure of the programme often related to funding arrangements. Issues such as 'incentive funding', establishment costs and opportunity for costshifting were identified as being relevant to incentives for the efficient provision of HITH. Conclusions: Evaluations are essential to inform decisions about whether HITH is likely to be a viable and costeffective alternative to inpatient care. However, the relative costs of HITH and conventional care will depend on local factors. From the point of view of the decision-maker, these will be affected by funding and organisational arrangements. Funders must be aware that complex financial incentives may mask the true costs of HITH services relative to hospital services. They need to ensure that the incentives created by funding arrangements are transparent.

Anderson, R, Eyeson-Annan, M, Banks, C & Hall, JP 1970, 'Assessing the economic benefits of population health surveys: the example of the NSW Health Survey', 23rd Australian Health Economics Society Conference, Canberra.

Boyer, M, Viney, RC, Fulham, MJ, King, MT, McCaughn, B, Kenny, PM, Pollicino, C & McLean, J 1970, 'A randomised trial of conventional staging (CS) with or without positron emission tomography (PET) in patients with stage 1 or 2 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer', American Society of Clinical Oncology Conference, San Francisco.

Bridges, JF, stewart, S, King, MT & Van Gool, K 1970, 'Portfolio theory and the evaluation of public health interventions', The Proceedings of the Joint Statistical Meetings, American Statistical Association, Atlanta, Georgia.

Bridges, JF, stewart, S, King, MT & Van Gool, K 1970, 'Understanding the effects of a portfolio of medical interventions', 17th Annual meeting of the International Society of Technology Assessment in Health Care (ISTAHC), Philadelphia, USA.

Haas, MR & Van Gool, K 1970, 'Estimating the benefits of preventing cardiovascular disease: when is an ounce of prevention worth a pound of cure?', 23rd Australian Health Economics Society Conference, Canberra.

Haas, MR, Savage, EJ, Van Gool, K & Birch, S 1970, 'Breast screening utilisation in NSW: the impact of income, region and ethnicity', Health Services Research Association of Australia and New Zealand Conference, Wellington, NZ.

Haas, MR, Van Gool, K, Birch, S & Savage, EJ 1970, 'Breast screening utilisation in NSW: the importance of region and socio-economic status', 3rd International Health Economics Association Conference, York, UK.

Hall, JP 1970, 'Do public health advocates have to be extra-welfarists?', 23rd Australian Health Economics Society Conference, Canberra.

Hall, JP 1970, 'Setting priorities in drug and alcohol treatment services', Australian Professional Society on Alcohol and Other Drugs (APSAD), Sydney.

Hall, JP 1970, 'The future of health services research in Australia', National Demonstration Hospitals Program Phase 3 Conference, Sydney.

Hall, JP 1970, 'The public view of private health insurance', Health Policy Institute Colloquium, University of Sydney.

Hall, JP & Haas, MR 1970, 'Research and public policy: If health economics is the answer, what is the question?', Where to with Health Economics, Royal Childrenâ¿¿s Hospital and Murdoch Childrenâ¿¿s Research Institute, Melbourne.

Hall, JP & Haywood, P 1970, 'The introduction of economics into evidence based guideline construction', 2nd New Zealand Australia Health Services & Policy Research Conference, Wellington, NZ.

Hall, JP, King, MT, Louviere, JJ & De Abreu Lourenco, R 1970, 'Choice modelling: What do consumers value from carrier status screening? An application of choice modelling.', International Health Economics Association (iHEA) 3rd World Conference, York, UK.

Harris, L & Viney, RC 1970, 'Intra-faculty curriculum collaboration: costs and benefits', Ed-Health 2001: Collaboration for Quality Learning, inaugural College of Health Sciences Conference, University of Sydney.

Haywood, P & Hall, JP 1970, 'The introduction of economics into evidence based guideline construction', 23rd Australian Health Economics Society Conference, Canberra.

Haywood, P & Hall, JP 1970, 'The introduction of integrated care arrangements', 2nd New Zealand Australia Health Services & Policy Research Conference, Wellington, NZ.

Kenny, PM, Hall, JP, Viney, RC, Haas, MR & King, MT 1970, 'Validity of choice modelling for measuring consumer preferences in health', 2nd New Zealand Australia Health Services & Policy Research Conference, Wellington, NZ.

Lancsar, E, Van Gool, K, Viney, RC & Hall, JP 1970, 'Funds pooling in Australia: diving into the deep end', 2nd New Zealand Australia Health Services & Policy Research Conference, Wellington, NZ.

Pollicino, C & Hall, JP 1970, 'Managing elective surgical waiting lists: A new approach', 2nd New Zealand Australia Health Services & Policy Research Conference, Wellington, NZ.

Pollicino, C, Haas, MR & Viney, RC 1970, 'Preferences and perceptions of patients with non-small cell lung cancer', 2nd New Zealand Australia Health Services & Policy Research Conference, Wellington, NZ.

Van Gool, K, Lancsar, E, Viney, RC & Hall, JP 1970, 'The Australian health care system: Where does it hurt?', 2nd New Zealand Australia Health Services & Policy Research Conference, Wellington, NZ.

Viney, RC 1970, 'Using stated preference discrete choice modelling to test the form of the utility function for health care', 23rd Australian Health Economics Society Conference, Canberra.

Viney, RC, Hall, JP & Louviere, JJ 1970, 'Applying stated preference discrete choice modelling to health program evaluation', 2nd New Zealand Australia Health Services & Policy Research Conference, Wellington, NZ.

Viney, RC, Pollicino, C, Haas, MR, King, MT & Kenny, PM 1970, 'Assessing the value of a PET scan for patients with non-small cell lung cancer', International Health Economics Association (iHEA) 3rd World Conference, York, UK.

Haas, M, Hall, J & De Abreu Lourenco, R CHERE 2001, It's what's expected: genetic testing for inherited conditions, CHERE Discussion Paper No 46, Sydney.
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The development of new genetic technology brings with it responsibility for evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of testing programs, including gaining an understanding of the value of information. This study examined the factors individuals took into account when making decisions about having a genetic test for Tay Sachs Disease. Fifteen people participated in an in-depth interview as they attended a clinic for genetic testing. A thematic analysis of the data was undertaken. Participants were most influenced to have testing by personal factors: e.g. ethnic background and desire to have children. Disease characteristics were also important. The results informed the development of a Stated Preference Discrete Choice (SPDCM) experiment. Participants were motivated to have testing by a need for reassurance and certainty. Thus, information was an important outcome for them. The results of the SPDCM experiment indicate that participants valued information positively thus providing support for the findings of the qualitative research.

Hall, J CHERE 2001, The public view of private health insurance, CHERE Discussion Paper No 45, Sydney.
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Until the 1996 Federal election, the Liberal Party remained committed to the repeal of Medicare. In that election the Liberal platform endorsed the continuation of Medicare, and support for private health insurance. Since then the Government has pursued a strategy of support for private health insurance involving three stages: one, rebates for the poor and penalties for the well-off; two, universal rebates; and three, departure from community rating to what has been described as ?lifetime health cover?. This paper reviews the coverage by the quality media of the private health insurance issue from the beginning of 1996 (prior to the beginning of the formal election campaign) to the end of 1999 (after the announcement of lifetime health cover). Over 500 articles were reviewed. Federal elections and budgets are most likely to trigger articles on private health insurance. The topic has become newsworthy, with stories now appearing which report only changes in insurance coverage. Most articles report differing perspectives on the issue; however, opposing views are frequently given little column space and appear at the end of the article. While many articles report events in a factual way, there are a significant number which provide only one perspective or viewpoint. The media rely heavily on authoritative experts and these are usually spokespersons for the private sector and the organised medical profession. When independent figures are quoted, there has been no disclosure of any financial or other links with the private health sector. The story angle was generally conflict between the various stakeholders, although the politics of health policy was also a major theme. The editorials, in contrast, urged a view of what was good for the country, rather than the winners/losers in a political conflict. The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) took quite different stances on the issue of access, hospital costs and the importance of community rating. Clearly,...

Shanahan, M, van Gool, K, Haas, M & Kenny, P CHERE 2001, Economic evaluation of the NSW hospital in the home pilot project, CHERE Project Report No 15, Sydney.
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As part of an NSW Department of Health initiative to explore innovative models of providing hospital type care, Hospital in the Home (HITH) was expanded to rural areas.For the purpose of this initiative HITH was defined as the provision of acute health care which is provided to people living in their homes, or in their usual place of residence. The HITH programs were to be an alternative to acute inpatient care in the hospital.Several rural hospitals were selected to pilot the program, and as part of the pilot they agreed to participate in an evaluation of HITH in rural settings. The pilot program ran for a year ? starting approximately September 1998 with the evaluation beginning aftercompletion of all pilots.The Centre for Health Economics (CHERE), using data that was collected as part of the pilot project, data from the Case Mix Policy Unit and interviews with various providers undertook a limited economic evaluation. The goals of the pilot project were to try toascertain whether HITH was an effective, and less costly way to provide care, whether it improved continuity of care, access to care, and was viable in rural areas. The ability to answer these questions was limited given the data available and the scope of the project. However, even though there are limitations to the study the results provide some useful information for evaluating HITH in a rural setting.

Viney, R, van Gool, K & Haas, M CHERE 2001, Hospital in the Home in NSW, CHERE Project Report No 16, Sydney.