HealthPathways: a detailed analysis of utilisation trends in the northern Sydney region
Kimberly E. Lind
A D , Mikaela Jorgensen A , Chanelle Stowers B and Martyn Brookes C
A Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Level 6, 75 Talavera Road, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia.
B Sydney North Health Network, Level 5, Tower 2, 475 Victoria Avenue, Chatswood, NSW 2067, Australia.
C Northern Sydney Local Health District, Douglas Building, Level 5 Reserve Road, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: klind@arizona.edu
Australian Journal of Primary Health 26(4) 338-343 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY20010
Submitted: 17 January 2020 Accepted: 4 May 2020 Published: 2 July 2020
Abstract
This study developed a model for using Google Analytics (GA) data to evaluate utilisation trends of the Sydney North HealthPathways portal. HealthPathways GA data merged with dates of page localisations and promotional events from March 2017 through June 2018 were analysed to evaluate engagement and use of HealthPathways, integration into clinical practice and how HealthPathways is used. Descriptive statistics and plots were generated for each clinical stream and page for the number of users per month (total, new and return users), mean time on page, navigation and search terms. The number of page views, new users and return users increased during the study period. Each clinical stream had between 26 and 2508 views, with a median of 199 views (interquartile range 84–461 views). Individual pages had 0–12 388 total views. Return users visited seven times on average. Most usage occurred between mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Diabetes was the most frequently viewed and searched clinical stream, followed by palliative care. These streams had the greatest number of promotional events. Increasing use of and interaction with HealthPathways suggests that it is a useful tool to support clinical practice among northern Sydney primary care providers.
Additional keywords: evidence-based practice, primary health care.
References
Akehurst J, Sattar Z, Gordon I, Ling J (2018) Implementing online evidence-based care pathways: a mixed-methods study across primary and secondary care. BMJ Open 8, e022991| Implementing online evidence-based care pathways: a mixed-methods study across primary and secondary care.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 30598485PubMed |
Alison Boughey Consulting (2014) HealthPathways: an evaluation of its implementation in five Australian Medicare Locals. (AML Alliance: Manuka, ACT, Australia) Available at http://www.alisonbougheyconsulting.com.au/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Alison-Boughey-Consulting-AML-Alliance-HealthPathways-evaluation-final-report.pdf [Verified 3 December 2019]
Chow JSF, Gonzalez-Arce VE, Tam CWM, Neville B, McDougall A (2018) HealthPathways implementation on type 2 diabetes: a programmatic evaluation (HIT2 evaluation). Journal of Integrated Care
| HealthPathways implementation on type 2 diabetes: a programmatic evaluation (HIT2 evaluation).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gill SD, Mansfield S, McLeod M, von Treuer K, Dunn M, Quirk F (2019) HealthPathways improving access to care. Australian Health Review 43, 201–216.
| HealthPathways improving access to care.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gray JS, Swan JR, Lynch MA, Tay TM, Mackenzie M-J, Wiggers JH, Harrison KA, McDonald RC, O’Dea IP, Harrigan LM, Fitzgerald SM, Hunter and New England HealthPathways Steering Committee (2018) Hunter and New England HealthPathways: a 4-year journey of integrated care. Australian Health Review 42, 66–71.
| Hunter and New England HealthPathways: a 4-year journey of integrated care.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28214475PubMed |
Mansfield SJ, Quirk F, von Treuer K, Gill G (2016) On the right path? Exploring the experiences and opinions of clinicians involved in developing and implementing HealthPathways Barwon. Australian Health Review 40, 129–135.
| On the right path? Exploring the experiences and opinions of clinicians involved in developing and implementing HealthPathways Barwon.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26691571PubMed |
McDougall A, Tam M, Gonzalez-Arce V, Ben N, Chow J (2018) Partnership to Health Pathways. International Journal of Integrated Care 18, 278
| Partnership to Health Pathways.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McGeoch G, Anderson I, Gibson J, Gullery C, Kerr D, Shand B (2015a) Consensus pathways: evidence into practice. The New Zealand Medical Journal 128, 86–96.
McGeoch G, McGeoch P, Shand B (2015b) Is HealthPathways effective? An online survey of hospital clinicians, general practitioners and practice nurses. The New Zealand Medical Journal 128, 36–46.
Robinson S, Varhol R, Bell C, Quirk F, Durrington L (2015) HealthPathways: creating a pathway for health systems reform. Australian Health Review 39, 9–11.
| HealthPathways: creating a pathway for health systems reform.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25433515PubMed |
Stokes T, Tumilty E, Doolan-Noble F, Gauld R (2018) HealthPathways implementation in a New Zealand health region: a qualitative study using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. BMJ Open 8,
| HealthPathways implementation in a New Zealand health region: a qualitative study using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 30598490PubMed |
Sydney Local Health District (2015) Sydney HealthPathways interim report, progress, achievements & reflection, March to September 2014. NSW Government, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
