Brett Abbenbroek
UTS offers a blend of impactful research with vocational application which is extremely valuable.
Key research areas/interests: Nursing, ICUs, critical care
Principal Supervisor: Professor Christine Duffield
Summary of research project: 'The impact of Intensive Care Unit Organisation on Patient and Nurse Outcomes: The 'Hot-Floor' Study'
As the international demand for critical care increases, Intensive Care Units (ICUs) must meet new standards in regards to organisational transformation. The regionalisation of services, although improving the demand for critical care, has led to a preference for a ‘hot-floor’ model of organisation. The research, which took place in 2014, involved comparing traditional models against ‘hot-floor’ in two tertiary level ICUS; matched on service level, patient casemix, structural factors, operational management processes and workforce. This was combined with two study arms with a retrospective analysis conducted of patient outcomes from a randomised sample of 1000 records in one study arm. The second study arm involved a prospective cross sectional survey of ICU nurses to evaluate outcomes using internationally validated instruments including the Practice Environment Scale-Nurse Work Index and Maslach’s Burnout Inventory.
Why did you decide to embark on your research degree at the Faculty of Health at UTS?
While I was an ICU nurse manager leading the transition from a traditional ICU model to the ICU hot-floor, I oversaw significant organisational changes including growth in the staffing establishment from around 100 to 300 clinical staff. While there, I identified an evidence gap within the relevant patient and nurse outcomes literature which could inform better management practices for sustainable change. I wanted my research to bridge this gap.
What contribution to knowledge are you planning to make with your research project? What impact / change might that bring about?
I am planning to contribute to a better understanding of the impact organisational factors have on patient and nurse outcomes in the ICU context. I hope my findings will translate into the development of relevant health policies and improved and perhaps in some cases, even new practice guidelines
Who will benefit from your research? How?
Benefits are envisaged for the healthcare sector, patents and the clinical workforce. Outcomes for critically ill patients and nurses will be positively impacted by better informed determination of ICU organisational models and the structural and operational requirements for effective management.
How did you go about selecting your supervisor?
My supervisors are internationally recognised leaders within the sectors of both health services management and intensive care clinical outcomes research. Highly regarded in all academic and professional facets of their industry sectors, my research is likely to produce translational findings that will have a tangible impact on outcomes.
What advice would you give to future research students thinking about starting a higher degree in research at the Faculty of Health?
When considered in its entirety, the requirements of a higher research degree seem insurmountable. Invest time in good project management and focus on specific deliverables to tackle what needs to be done for robust and ethical methods. Attend relevant events on campus, like the 3-minute thesis competition, and try to publish as you go. These are great motivators.
What has been the most valuable aspect of your research student experience at the Faculty of Health at UTS?
I have studied at a number of universities for different degrees and have found UTS to be superior in terms of logistics, resources and responsiveness to support my candidature. UTS has a unique blend of high impact academic research with vocational application which is incredibly valuable for the many of us who combine work and study within our chosen professions.
