UC Spark

Dr Ray Kirk

School of Health Sciences

Fields of Research

  • Decision making in health care
  • Evidence based healthcare
  • Health informatics
  • Health services research and evaluation
  • Health technology assessment

Researcher Summary

Ray's expertise encompasses a broad range of techniques used in health technology assessment, health informatics, health services research and evaluation and policy based research. Ray has a special interest in evidence based health care and has presented widely at conferences on health technology assessment issues.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Research Projects

Research Groups

Future Research

  • Use of information technology in health settings to improvement patient health outcomes
  • Health technology assessment
  • Clinical decision making in health care

Key Methodologies

  • Quality of life psychometric measurement
  • Quantitative analyses using SAS software/programming
  • Questionnaire/survey design
  • Systematic review methodology
  • Health technology assessment

Affiliations

Publications

(Selected outputs for 1998-present)

  • Brinson, D., Wallace-Bell, M., Kirk, R. and Hornblow, A. (2013) buddy-Motivational Interviewing (buddy-MI) to increase physical activity in community settings: Study protocol for a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Motivational Interviewing: Training, Research, Implementation, Practice 1(2): 6-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.5195/mitrip.2013.31. (Journal Article)
  • Parry, D., Hunter, I., Honey, M., Holt, A., Day, K., Kirk, R. and Cullen, R. (2013) Building an educated Health informatics workforce - the New Zealand experience. Adelaide, Australia: Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA) annual Health Informatics Conference, 15-18 July. (Conference Contribution - Full conference paper)
  • Sahrawat, R., Robb, M., Kirk, R. and Beckert, L. (2013) Effects of inhaled corticosteroids on normal voice production in healthy adults. Logopedics Phoniatrics Vocology (in press) (Journal Article)
  • Parry, D., Hunter, I., Honey, M., Holt, A., Day, K., Kirk, R. and Cullen, R. (2013) Priming a Health Informatics Community in a Small Nation: the New Zealand experience. Copenhagen, Denmark: The 14th World Congress on Medical and Health Informatics (MedInfo 2013), 20-23 August. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Jamieson, I., Kirk, R. and Andrew, C. (2013) Work-life balance: What Generation Y nurses want. Nurse leader (in press) (Journal Article)
  • Kirk, R. and Muir, L. (2012) Canterbury Initiative Evaluation. HSAC Report 2012; 4(1). Canterbury District Health Board. 62pp. (Report for External Body)
  • Kirk, R., Karunasekera, P. and Basu, A. (2012) Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Based Immersive Training for Education of Health Professionals: Systematic Review. Bilbao, Spain: 9th Annual Meeting of Health Technology Assessment International (HTAi), 25-27 Jun 2012. (Oral Presentation)
  • Jamieson, I., Kirk, R. and Andrew, C. (2012) Generation Y registered nurses: career commitment and consequences for retention. Kai Tiaki Nursing Research 3(1): 12-17. (Journal Article)
  • Kirk, R. (2012) New Zealand HTA projects: Could Cochrane help? Auckland, New Zealand: 20th Cochrane Collaboration Colloquium, 30 Sep-3 Oct 2012. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Gallrach, F., Hornblow, A., Croucher, M. and Kirk, R. (2012) Quality of life in dementia: Formal care and costs in New Zealand. Dresden, Germany: 11th German Congress for Health Care Research and 4th National Prevention Conference, 27-29 Sep 2012. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Bronlund, M., Kirk, R. and Basu, A. (2011) Identifying e-learning opportunities for a pharmacist lead healthcare service: The Medication Use Review (MUR). Auckland, New Zealand: Health Informatics New Zealand Annual Conference (HINZ 2011), 23-25 Nov 2011. Paper 19. http://www.hinz.org.nz/uploads/file/2011conference/P19_Bronlund.pdf. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Veerasamy, A., Kirk, R. and Basu, A. (2011) Oral Health Literacy of Parents of Preschoolers. Auckland, New Zealand: 7th Annual Conference of the New Zealand Association of Clinical Research (NZACRes), 8-9 Aug 2011. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Ichijima E., Kirk R. and Hornblow., A. (2011) Parental Support in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Cross-Cultural Comparison between New Zealand and Japan. Journal of Pediatric Nursing 26(3): 206-215. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2009.10.003. (Journal Article)
  • Ichijima, E., Kirk, R. and Hornblow, A. (2011) Parental Support in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Cross-Cultural Comparison between New Zealand and Japan. Journal of Pediatric Nursing 26(3): 206-215. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2009.10.003. (Journal Article)
  • Sahrawat, R., Robb, M.P., Kirk, R.C. and Beckert, L. (2011) The influence of inhaled corticosteroids on normal voice production in adults: An acoustic study. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: 8th Asia Pacific Conference on Speech, Language and Hearing, 11-14 Jan 2011. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Flanagan, K., Kirk, R., Hornblow, A. and Basu, A. (2010) A New Zealand Workplace Initiative to Promote Physical Activity. Sydney, Australia: 5th All Together Better Health Conference, 6-9 Apr 2010. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Gage, J., Kirk, R. and Hornblow, A. (2010) Heart and Head: A Theoretical Explanation of the Meaning and Construction of Fatherhood for 'At Risk' Men in New Zealand. Cambridge, UK: 5th International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences, 2-5 Aug 2010. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Basu, A., Seaton, P. and Kirk, R. (2010) How to teach health care professionals to deliver telehealthcare: evidence and the model. Melbourne, Australia: 18th Annual Health Informatics Conference, 24-26 Oct 2010. In Proceedings of HIC 2010 11-14. (Conference Contribution - Paper in published proceedings)
  • Au, L., Kirk, R. and Basu, A. (2010) Knowledge, attitudes and skills (KAS) of health care workers in using ICT in Papua New Guinea: Assessing the potential needs for Telehealth. Beijing, China: Microsoft Research Asia eHealth Workshop, 4-5 Feb 2010. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Au, L., Basu, A. and Kirk, R. (2010) Knowledge, Attitudes and Skills of Using Information and Communication Technology of Health Professionals in Papua New Guinea: A Pre Assessment for Telehealth. Sydney, Australia: 5th All Together Better Health Conference, 6-9 Apr 2010. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Campbell, R., Kirk, R., Hornblow, A., Thompson, M., Lockie, C. and Koed, K. (2010) Progressing Lymphoedema Research: a New Zealand case study. Brighton, UK: 2nd International Lymphodema Framework Conference, 23-25 Mar 2010. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Gallrach, F., Kirk, R., Hornblow, A. and Croucher, M. (2010) Quality of Life of Persons with Dementia and their Caregivers in Canterbury - New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: Alzheimers New Zealand Conference 2010, 6-8 May 2010. http://www.confer.co.nz/alzheimers2010/abstracts.html#franziska. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Basu, A., Seaton, P., Kirk, R., Hanley, E., Sheehan, D., O'Steen, B. and Allan, M. (2010) Review of the effectiveness of educational tools for teaching Telehealth care. Ako Aotearoa: National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence. 43pp. (Report for External Body)
  • Kirk, R. (2010) The role of Health Technology Assessment in the evaluation of co-dependent technologies and genetic testing. Bangkok, Thailand: WHO First Global Forum on Medical Devices, 9-11 Sep 2010. (Conference Contribution - Poster presentation)
  • Norris, S., Kirk, R. and Scuffham, P. (2010) Using Health Economics And Outcomes Research To Inform Health Policy In New Zealand. Phuket, Thailand: ISPOR 4th Asia-Pacific Conference, 5-7 Sep 2010. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Gage, J., Kirk, R. and Hornblow, A. (2009) An Exploration of the Contribution of Fathering to Family Health, Generational Change: Building Meaningful Relationships through Fathering. Wellington, New Zealand: Families Commission Research Seminar, 16 Jun 2009. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Au, L., Basu, A. and Kirk, R. (2009) Knowledge, Attitudes and Skills of using Information and Communication Technology of Health care Workers in Papua New Guinea. Brisbane, Australia: International Conference on Successes & Failures in Telehealth 2009 (SFT-09), 10-11 Nov 2009. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Gowan, M.E., Kirk, R., Johnston, D. and Ronan, K. (2009) Measuring disaster resilience by measuring health. Portland, OR, USA: Geological Society of America (GSA) Annual Meeting 2009, 18-21 Oct 2009. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Gallrach, F., Kirk, R., Hornblow, A. and Croucher, M. (2009) Quality of life in dementia: clinical and economic findings from New Zealand. Paris, France: 19th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 5-9 Jul 2009. In The Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging 13(Suppl 1) 229. (Conference Contribution - Abstract)
  • Gallrach, F., Kirk, R., Hornblow, A. and Croucher, M. (2009) Quality of life in dementia: Money matters. Vienna, Austria: Alzheimer's Association 2009 International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease (ICAD), 11-16 Jul 2009. In Alzheimer's and Dementia 5(4, Suppl 1) S91. (Conference Contribution - Abstract)
  • Pahud, M., Kirk, R., Gage, J. and Hornblow, A. (2009) Refugee Health and Wellbeing. Wellington, New Zealand: National Refugee Resettlement Forum, 26-27 May 2009. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Hornblow, A., Pahud, M., Gage, J. and Kirk, R. (2009) The coping processes of adult refugees resettled in New Zealand. Norcia, Italy: Second World Congress of Cultural Psychiatry, 27-30 Sep 2009. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Pahud, M., Kirk, R., Gage, J.D. and Hornblow, A.R. (2009) The Coping Processes of Adult Refugees Resettled in New Zealand. New Issues in Refugee Research: Research Paper 179. Geneva, Switzerland: United Nations Refugee Agency Policy Development and Evaluation Service (UNHCR). 22pp. (Monograph)
  • Kirk, R. and Ali, W. (2008) Brief report - Collection devices for cervical screening (HSAC Report). Ministry of Health. 49pp. (Report for External Body)
  • Kirk, R. (2008) The Role of the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) and Genetic Testing. Sydney, Australia: 17th ARCS Annual Scientific Congress, 28-30 May 2008. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Kirk, R., Instone, A., Siataga, P., Ah Kuoi, A. and Lui, D. (2007) Feasibility Study into the Establishment of a Pacific Mental Health Workforce Development Organisation. Ministry of Health and the Health Research Council of New Zealand. 159pp. (Report for External Body)
  • Kirk, R., Morgan, S., McMahon, M., Mitton, C., Roughead, E., Kanavos, P. and Menon, D. (2006) Centralized drug review processes in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Adelaide, Australia: 3rd Annual Meeting Health Technology Assessment International (HTAi 2006), 2-5 Jul 2006. http://www.htai.org/australia-2006/scientific.asp. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Morgan, S.G., McMahon, M., Mitton, C., Roughead, E., Kirk, R., Kanavos, P. and Menon, D. (2006) Centralized Drug Review Processes In Australia, Canada, New Zealand, And The United Kingdom. Health Affairs 25(2): 337-347. http://dx.doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.25.2.337. (Journal Article)
  • Weir, R., Dawson, S., Hogan, S., Bidwell, S. and Kirk, R. (2006) Coronary pressure wire. Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC), Australia. 144pp. (Report for External Body)
  • Warren, H., Kirk, R., Lima, I. and Siataga, P. (2006) Searching for 'Pacific' Solutions: A community - based intervention project to minimise harm from alcohol misuse - Literature Review. ALAC, Health Research Council and the Accident Compensation Corporation. (Report for External Body)
  • Hider, P., Weir, R., Hogan, S., Bidwell, S., Day, P., Hall, K. and Kirk, R. (2005) Cardiac resynchronisation therapy for severe heart failure. Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC). Australian Department of Health and Ageing. 315 pp. (Technical Report)
  • Cleland, G., Bray, A., Kirk, R., Sharp, S., Kelly, B., Stewart, C. and Siataga, P. (2005) Giving Disabled Children and Youth a Voice in Projects Affecting Their Lives. Dunedin, New Zealand: Children and Family Policy Conference, Jul 2005. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Stewart, C., Bray, A., Sharp, S., Kelly, B., Cleland, G., Kirk, R. and Siataga, P. (2005) Improving Inter-sector Collaboration. Auckland, New Zealand: the Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability (ASSID) 40th Annual Conference, 10-13 Oct 2005. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Claire Stewart, Anne Bray., Sarah Sharp, Bernie Kelly., Grant Cleland, Ray Kirk. and Philip Siataga. (2005) Improving Inter-sector Collaboration.. Auckland. NZ.: Australasian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability (ASSID) 40th Annual Conference, 10-13 October 2005.. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Doughty, C., MacCormick, A., Roake, J., Fraser, J., Hider, P., Kirk, R., Parry, B., van Rij, A. and Theis, J-C. (2005) Prioritisation of elective surgery in New Zealand: The Reliability Study. New Zealand Medical Journal 118(1219): 1590-1603. http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal/118-1219/1590/. (Journal Article)
  • Cleland, G., Sharp, S., Stewart, C., Siataga, P., Kirk, R., Kelly, B., Mirfin-Veitch, B. and Bray, A. (2005) Project for evaluation of Intersectoral Disability Needs Assessment and Service Coordination Trials. Health Research Council and Ministry of Health. 240 pp. (Technical Report)
  • Pam Smartt, Ray Kirk., Margaret Paterson, Ian Sheerin., Sarah Hogan. and Robert Weir. (2004) CEA-SCAN® for imaging recurrence and/or Metastases in patients with histologically demonstrated carcinoma of the colon or rectum. Medical Services Advisory Committee. Australian Department of Health and Ageing. http://www7.health.gov.au/msac/pdfs/reports/msac1062.pdf. (Technical Report)
  • Robert Weir, Shelagh Dawson., Pamela Smartt, Sarah Hogan., Ian Sheerin, Ray Kirk. and Susan Bidwell. (2004) Polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with BCR-ABL gene rearrangement in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Medical Services Advisory Committee. Australian Department of Health and Ageing. 106. (Technical Report)
  • Shelagh Dawson, Sarah Hogan., Ray Kirk. and Margaret Paterson. (2003) Optical biometry using partial coherence interferometry prior to cataract surgery. Medical Services Advisory Committee (Australia). Australian department of health and ageing. http://www7.health.gov.au/msac/pdfs/reports/msac1050.pdf. (Technical Report)
  • Robert Weir, Pam Smartt., Pim Borren, Ray Kirk. and Susan Bidwell. (2003) Pathology Testing - (a) Nucleic Acid Amplification (NAA) testing in haematological malignancy. (ii) Polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with PML-RARœ and PLZF-RARœ gene rearrangement in acute promyelocytic leukaemia. Medical Services Advisory Committee (Australia). Australian Department of Health and Ageing. http://www7.health.gov.au/msac/pdfs/reports/ref09aii.pdf. (Technical Report)
  • Robert Weir, Pam Smartt., Pim Borren, Ray Kirk. and Susan Bidwell. (2003) Polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with AML1-ETO and CBFß-MYH11 gene rearrangement in acute myeloid leukaemia. Medical Services Advisory Committee (Australia). Australian Department of health and Ageing. http://www7.health.gov.au/msac/pdfs/reports/msacref9aiii.pdf. (Technical Report)
  • Robert Weir, Pam Smartt., Pim Borren, Ray Kirk. and Susan Bidwell. (2003) Polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with BCR-ABL gene rearrangement in chronic myeloid leukaemia. Medical Services Advisory Committee (Australia). Australian Department of Health and Ageing. http://www7.health.gov.au/msac/pdfs/reports/msacref9ai.pdf. (Technical Report)
  • Kirk, RC. (2002) Evaluating surgical interventions.. Sydney, Australia: Clinical Trials Centre Symposium, 22 October 2002.. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Kirk, R., Barnett, P., Clayden, C., Cumming, J., Heckert, K., Penrose, A., Pitama, S., Richards, D. and Siataga, P. (2002) Evaluation of the Pegasus Health Global Budget Contract. Health Funding Authority. New Zealand Health Technology Assessment Research Unit. http://nzhta.chmeds.ac.nz/publications/phevaluation_report.pdf. (Technical Report)
  • Gage, J.D. and Kirk, R.C. (2002) First time fathers: Perceptions for preparedness for fatherhood. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research 34(4): 15-24. (Journal Article)
  • Hider, P., Helliwell, P., Ardagh, M. and Kirk, RC. (2001) The epidemiology of emergency department attendances in Christchurch. New Zealand Medical Journal 114: 157-159. (Journal Article)
  • Kirk, RC. (2000) Developing a communciation and dissemination strategy for INAHTA.. Loosdrecht, The Netherlands: the INHTA Annual Meeting, 22 June, 2000.. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Town, I., Fraser, P., Graham, S., McSweeney, W., Brockway, K. and Kirk, R.C . (2000) Establishment of a Smoking Cessation Programme in primary and secondary care in Canterbury. New Zealand Medical Journal 113: 117-119. (Journal Article)
  • Kirk, RC. (2000) Health Technology Assessment: An essential tool for health sector reform.. Auckland, New Zealand: AIC National Health Summit 2000 Conference,, 29 March 2000.. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Green, F.T. and Kirk, R.C. (2000) Primary care managed maternity services in a New Zealand cohort.. St Andrews, Scotland: the Fourth International Conference, Strategic Issues in Health and Management, 1 April 2000.. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Hider, P., O'Hagan, J., Bidwell, S. and Kirk, RC. (2000) rise in acute medical admissions.. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Medicine 30: 252-260. (Journal Article)
  • Kirk, RC., Hider, P. and Nicholas, B. (1999) Critical appraisal evidence for effectiveness.. Wellington, NZ: the 2nd Annual New Zealand Guidelines Group Conference, 27 May 1999.. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Hider P, Nicholas B. and Kirk R. (1999) Evidence-based policy: health technology assessment, systematic reviews and NZHTA. Australasian Epidemiologist november (Journal Article)
  • Kirk, RC. (1999) Methodological approaches and dissemination activities in HTA.. Crieff, Scotland: INAHTA workshop at the INAHTA Annual General Meeting, June 1999.. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Kirk, RC. (1999) NZHTA - an introduction. Christchurch, NZ: joint Canterbury University and Christchurch School of Medicine Research Forum, 20 May 1999.. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Kirk, R. C. (1998) An evaluation of the Child Assault Prevention (CAP) Project 1997.. New Zealand Assault Prevention Centre.. (Report for External Body)
  • Pitcher, J., Latham, S., Mather, J., Telfer, L., Todd, G., Dore, J., Hawkins, M. and Kirk, R. (1998) Christchurch Review of Early Childhood Education.. The Christchurch City Council, Ministry of Education and Early Childhood Development Unit.. (Report for External Body)
  • Hider P, Kirk R., Bidwell S, Weir R. and Tolan C. (1998) Emergency Department Attendance. Ministry of Health. Christchurch: New Zealand Health Technology Assessment Clearing House. (Technical Report)
  • Kirk, RC., Bidwell, S. and Dovey, S. (1998) Evidence based medicine and NZHTA. Dunedin, NZ: Health Information Association pre-conference study day, 4 October, 1998.. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Kirk, RC. and Cook, L. (1998) Health outcomes and health technology: screening for OME (glue ear): it’s a sticky problem.. Canberra, Australia: the Health Outcomes Conference – Implementing the health outcomes approach,, 7 August 1998.. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)
  • Kirk, RC. (1998) New Zealand Health Technology Assessment (NZHTA) – methodology. Montebello Chateau, Quebec, Canada.: Annual General Meeting of INAHTA, 11 June 1998.. (Conference Contribution - Oral presentation)