Dr Adam Elshaug

Biography/ Background

Dr Adam Elshaug holds a Hanson Institute Research Fellowship with Adelaide Health Technology Assessment (AHTA) and is Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Public Health, School of Population Health and Clinical Practice. Adam trained in clinical epidemiology and health services and policy research. His Doctorate (awarded December, 2007) and postdoctoral research has focussed in the area of disinvestment – clinical and policy barriers to and, policy reform and implementation. Disinvestment and comparative effectiveness research involves the development and application of epidemiological, economic, ethical and policy appraisals of existing health care interventions that are ineffective, less effective or inappropriately applied with a view to reducing these in favour of more effective health care practices.

Adam is working with government, academic, insurance and health technology assessment groups in Australia (federal/state) and internationally (Spain, UK, Canada, USA) to advance policy reform and is collaborating extensively on research projects - to advise and assist with research methods, and policy and practice developments in this area.

Qualifications:

B.A., B.Sc.(Hons), M.P.H., Ph.D. 

Disciplinary Orientation:

Health Services and Policy Research; Epidemiology (Clinical)

Areas of Interest:

• Comparative effectiveness research and policy models to support the re-allocation of resources away from ineffective, less effective or inappropriately applied health care practices;
• Clinical and policy assessments in healthcare to advance the translation of evidence into practice;
• Clinical and cost-effectiveness research and explorations of opportunity cost;
• Multiple stakeholder participation and engagement in health care decision making;
• Health Technology Assessment

Current Projects:

As well as pursuing his own Fellowship program, Dr Elshaug is Manager (and a Chief Investigator) of the NHMRC-funded ASTUTE Health Study (Assessing Service and Technology Use To Enhance Health). For details please follow this link:

http://www.adelaide.edu.au/ahta/whatwedo/disinvestment/  

Select Media Interest in Research:

• ABC Radio National Health Report http://www.abc.net.au/rn/healthreport/stories/2008/2176447.htm
• Medical Observer ‘Push for evidence-based approach to funding health interventions’ 6/3/09 http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/Articles/News/0,1734,4079,06200903.aspx
• ABC Radio South Queensland  ‘Could your doctor be wasting your time and money? 2/3/09 http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2009/03/could-your-doct.html?program=southern_queensland_drive

Teaching:

• Public Health 1A & 1B: Core courses in the B.Health.Sci;
• Foundations of Public Health: Postgraduate GCPH/GDPH/MPH/MHEP
• Ethics, Economics and Epidemiology: Core course in 3rd year Medicine;
• Postgraduate teaching in epidemiology, health services and health systems (MPH/MHEP);
• Available to supervise Honours, Masters and PhD students.

Select Publications:

8. Elshaug AG, Moss JR, Littlejohns P, Karnon J, Merlin TL and Hiller JE. Identifying existing health care services that do not provide value for money. Medical Journal of Australia, 2009; 190(5): 269-273. http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/190_05_020309/ell10663_fm.html  

7. Elshaug AG, Hiller JE and Moss JR. Exploring policy makers' perspectives on a clinical controversy: airway surgery for adult obstructive sleep apnoea. Quality & Safety in Health Care, 2009; 18(5): 397-401. http://qshc.bmj.com/content/vol18/issue5/

6. Elshaug AG, Hiller JE and Moss JR. Exploring Policymakers' Perspectives on Disinvestment from Ineffective Health Care Practices. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 2008; 24(1): 1-9. http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=1661452&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S0266462307080014 

5. Elshaug AG, Moss JR, Hiller JE and Maddern GJ. Upper airway surgery should not be first line treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea in adults. BMJ (British Medical Journal), 2008; 336(7634): 44-45. http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/336/7634/44

4. Elshaug AG, Hiller JE, Tunis SR and Moss JR. Challenges in Australian policy processes for disinvestment from existing, ineffective health care practices. Australia and New Zealand Health Policy, 2007; 4: 23 (31 October 2007). http://www.anzhealthpolicy.com/content/4/1/23

3. Elshaug AG, Moss JR, Southcott A and Hiller JE. Redefining success in airway surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A meta analysis and synthesis of the evidence. Sleep, 2007; 30(4): 461-467. http://www.journalsleep.org/ViewAbstract.aspx?pid=26783 

2. Elshaug AG, Moss JR, Southcott A and Hiller JE. An analysis of the evidence-practice continuum: Is surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea contraindicated? Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 2007; 13(1): 3-9. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118000993/abstract

1. Elshaug AG, Moss JR and Southcott A. Implementation of a split-night protocol to improve efficiency in assessment and treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea. Internal Medicine Journal; 2005; 35(4): 251-254.

Current Category 1 Research Grants:

• 2009-2011 NHMRC Project Grant (565327). Hiller JE, Elshaug AG, Braunack-Mayer A, Moss JR, Wale J, Buchan H. Title: Changing policy and practice in health care. $860,750
• 2008-2011 ARC Linkage (LP0883930). CIs: Karnon JD, Beilby J, Holton CH, Hakendorf PH, Ben-Tovim DI, Ryan P, Eckermann SD, Sawyer MG, Roos NP, Woollacott AL, Banham D, Pegram R, Thompson S, Elshaug AG. Title: Evaluating the long-term costs and benefits of community-based initiatives. $300,000

Entry last updated: Sunday, 22 Nov 2009