Justin R Thomas

DPhil in Evidence-Based Health Care

Thesis

Core Components of Shared Decision Making within Prehospital Care

Research abstract

I use a mixed-methods approach to synthesise and contextualise evidence that describes the core components of Shared Decision Making within Pre-Hospital Care.

 

The project will identify, describe, synthesis and contextualise evidence relating to:

  • Providing Care Options
  • Patients Preferences & Values
  • Joint Care Decision Outcomes

 

The research is intended to provide a framework for what shared decision making looks like within prehospital care. The goal is to identify any areas where SDM should be modified to better align with the care setting. Ultimately, the research intends to inform Clinical Practice Guidelines and systematically introduce patient values and care preferences into prehospital care. This will improve the quality of care delivery and the ethics of prehospital care.

Supervisor(s)

Biography

I began my DPhil in 2020, my research is focused on Shared Decision Making within healthcare. I research how healthcare professionals and patients match care options with patient values and preferences to better understand the process of treatment/care decision making.

SDM is broadly applicable to any organization that seeks to better understand the needs, values, and preferences of their clients relative to the services being offered. I use these expertise to help organizations strategically develop and orient their services to the needs, values, and preferences of their clients.

I hold a Masters in International Public Health and a Masters in Health Management from UNSW. My focus was on using data and evidence to strategically reorient healthcare systems to better align with policy, laws, and development agendas.

I also hold a Bachelors in Emergency Medical Care from UJ where I focused on clinical paramedicine and medical rescue.

Research interests

  • Strategic Resilience
  • Shared Decision Making within Healthcare
  • Health Management & Quality Improvement
  • Value Based Healthcare