Dean of Postgraduate Research
Vice-Chancellor’s Office
Extension: 7285
Email:
lucy.johnston@canterbury.ac.nz
Summer Research Scholarship Scheme
2015-2016
Project Application Form
Please complete and submit the application form as a WORD document and send to
summerscholarships@canterbury.ac.nz
The Project
Title of Project (max 30 words):
Big Data: Finding predictors of poor outcomes in dementia.
Project Leader(s):
Dr Hamish Jamieson (Canterbury DHB)
Professor Tim Anderson (Canterbury DHB)
Professor Philip Schluter (School of Health Science)
Professor Jennifer Brown (School of Mathematics and Statistics)
Professor John Dalrymple-Alford (Psychology Department)
Professor Tim David (High Performance Computing)
Host Department/Organization:
School of Mathematics and Statistics
Other persons involved in this topic/activity:
(List other significant members involved along with their affiliation to the research project.)
Dr Nigel Millar (Chief Medical Officer, Canterbury DHB)
Dr Matthew Croucher (Psychiatry of Old Age Specialist, Canterbury DHB)
Dr Val Fletcher (Geriatrician, Canterbury DHB)
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Brief outline of project
Describe the proposed research project – maximum of 400 words (box will expand as you type).
Note that this information will be published on the web in order to attract student applicants and therefore be
mindful of any Intellectual Property issues
The age structure of the NZ populations is changing with people living to an older age. This is not a
unique trend and is seen in many other countries. The number of people aged 65 years or older
worldwide is projected to increase three-fold in the next 40 years. This change in demographic
structure brings with it new social and economic challenges including the provision of sustainable
health and disability services.
The NZ government requires all district health boards (DHBs) to use a comprehensive standardised
assessment for aged-care people. The assessment method, the home care International
Residential Assessment Instrument (interRAI), is an international standard used by over 30
countries. Data is collected and analysed from the assessment to help promote better care and to
inform planning and policy decisions.
The purpose of this project is to analyze data from interRAI where it has been linked with health
outcome data (including hospital admissions, residential care and mortality data).
Goal: To analyse the interRAI data from the current 20,000 interRAI assessments in the Health of
Older Persons Service Level Alliance (HOPSLA) region to determine:
1. What is the dementia rate from interRAI assessments?
2. What interRAI Client Activated Protocol (CAP) scores are the best predictors of poor
outcomes (such as recurrent hospital admissions and admission into residential care).
Factors to be analysed include faecal and urinary incontinence, falls, social isolation,
depression, nutrition and reduced mobility.
3. As well as analyzing the interRAI-produced CAPS the individual questions in the interRAI
will be examined to determine key questions that predict admission into residential care
and recurrent hospital admissions.
4. Comparisons will be made between different ethnicities and DHBs.
5. A further analysis will be done on those having a cognitive performance score of 3 or above
in the interRAI (which is an indicator of dementia)
This project is part funded by the South Island Health Alliance (SIHA) DHBs. You will be working
closely with researchers from the Canterbury District Health Board, the Otago Medical School and
from UC.
Some time can be spent with staff from the Otago Medical School and the Canterbury District
Health Board.
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Benefits student will gain from involvement in the project
Describe the research experience and skills that the student will acquire through involvement in this research project –
maximum of 100 words.
This project is an exciting opportunity to use your skills to work with data to help make a real
difference in health care. By participating in the project you will be working closely with
researchers from both inside and outside UC, and on a topic that is growing fast. You will develop
not only your analysis skills but will gain experience in working with real, big data, and in an
environment where your findings will have an impact.
Specific student requirements
Please provide details of all requirements you have for the student to work on this project – for example, if specific
courses/experience are necessary.
Some experience in working with data is desirable. This project will appeal to a student in
statistics, health science, psychology, geography, mathematics or computer science.
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