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Data access and research

BHI is enabling access to the unique NSW Patient Survey Program data asset, allowing researchers to derive greater value from patients’ feedback. This will support additional analyses and insights to inform improvements in patients’ experiences and outcomes.

Patient experience is a key component of safe, high-quality care and is embedded in NSW Health’s strategic objective to ensure patients and carers have positive experiences and outcomes that matter. NSW Patient Survey Program data can unlock the answers to many research questions of high clinical and policy relevance.

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How can I request access to NSW Patient Survey Program data?

Opportunities exist for researchers to use NSW Patient Survey Program data to produce original insights that contribute to improving patients’ experiences and outcomes – a key NSW Health system priority.

The complete Guide for researchers outlines what information is available, how it can support valuable research that informs the improvements to health services, and how to apply for access to the data in different formats.

Download the guide

Resources

Data request forms

Once you have read the Guide for researchers, please complete the relevant form and email this to BHI-enq@health.nsw.gov.au

Patient survey data request form: to request access to unit record survey data for custom analysis.

Data request form: to request already published data in a different format.

Frequently asked questions

1. What data are available?

Quantitative and qualitative data from any NSW Patient Survey Program survey that has completed data collection, data quality processing and reporting can be requested for analyses that align with the purposes of the data collection.

2. Where do I access and work on the data?

BHI uses the Secure Unified Research Environment (SURE), managed by the Sax Institute, to enable access to the data for research. To use the SURE platform, you will be required to complete training prior to accessing the facility. The SURE researcher training program covers the responsibilities of a user, information security and statistical disclosure control.

3. Is there a fee?

BHI does not charge a fee for access to data. However, there are fees associated with the use of SURE.

4. Is linked data available?

Yes, NSW Patient Survey Program data can and has been linked to other datasets. BHI is actively working on creating a linked data asset, with the first tranche of linked data at concurrent episode level expected to be available via SURE soon. The Centre for Health Record Linkage (CHeReL) also enables linkage to many datasets for individual projects.

It is advisable to gain experience of using survey data in its own right, in order to effectively and accurately analyse linked data. Projects that work first with the survey data, and then progress to linked data, are encouraged.

More FAQS in the Guide for researchers.

Research projects

Subject: The association between self-reported pain experiences in hospital and ratings of care, readmission, and emergency department visits: a population-based study from New South Wales, Australia

BHI data accessed: Adult Admitted Patient Survey

Investigators: Dr Edwin Tan, University of Sydney School of Pharmacy, Dr Diane Watson and Dr Bich Tran, Bureau of Health Information (BHI), Dr Zhaoli Dai-Keller, UNSW Sydney School of Population Health

Summary: The study underscores the prevalence of pain in hospital and the importance of patients’ positive experiences of pain management to their overall ratings, readmission and ED visits following discharge.

Publication: Anaesthesia https://doi.org/10.1111/anae.16474

Subject: The association between patient-reported experiences with hospital food services and recovery outcomes – A population survey of patients from 75 public hospitals

BHI data accessed: Adult Admitted Patient Survey

Lead investigator: Dr Zhaoli Dai-Keller, UNSW Sydney School of Population Health and the University of Sydney; Dr Diane Watson and Dr Bich Tran, Bureau of Health Information (BHI), Dr Edwin Tan, University of Sydney School of Pharmacy

Summary: The study underscores the importance of patients’ positive experiences of hospital food services in their recovery outcomes. The findings also identify several food service indicators that can be used to monitor and improve patients’ experiences and recovery outcomes in hospitals.

Publications: Clinical Nutrition ESPEN doi.org/10.1016/j.clnesp.2024.07.1062

Subject: The association between patient self-reported experiences with medication discharge counselling and hospital readmissions: A cross-sectional analysis of a population-based survey

BHI data accessed: Adult Admitted Patient Survey

Lead investigator: Dr Edwin Tan, University of Sydney School of Pharmacy; Dr Diane Watson and Dr Bich Tran, Bureau of Health Information (BHI); Dr Zhaoli Dai-Keller, UNSW Sydney School of Population Health and the University of Sydney

Summary: The study underscores the importance of patients’ positive experiences of medication management in their recovery outcomes. Patients who reported receiving comprehensive counselling on new medications were less likely to report being readmitted or visiting an ED within 30 days of discharge.

Publications: Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy doi.org/10.1016/j.sapharm.2024.09.007

Subject: Patient-reported experiences and outcomes following hospital care are associated with risk of readmission among adults with chronic health conditions

BHI data accessed: Adult Admitted Patient Survey

Investigators: Dr Diane Watson, Sadaf Marashi-Pour, Dr Bich Tran, Dr Alison Witchard, Bureau of Health Information (BHI)

Summary: This study showed that patients’ experiences in hospital are strongly associated with readmission, even after accounting for other risk factors such as age and comorbidities. The least positive experiences were associated with the highest risk of readmission, and the most positive ratings associated with the lowest risk. Accordingly, improving patients’ experiences in hospitals can help keep people healthy at home and reduce future readmissions.

Publications: PLOS ONE: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276812

Subject: Working together: innovation to improve emergency department performance, and patient outcomes and experience for five complex consumer cohorts

BHI data accessed: Emergency Department Patient Survey

Investigators: Professor Robyn Clay-Williams and Professor Rebecca Mitchell, Australian Institute of Health Innovation (AIHI) at Macquarie University

Summary: Over the next five years, BHI survey data will provide an opportunity for AIHI to review ED patients' experiences, particularly for five priority consumer cohorts (older patients, people with a mental health condition, people with a disability, Aboriginal peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds). The study's aim is to describe patient-reported experiences for patients receiving care in the ED in NSW and to examine factors that may have an impact on patient experience.

Subject: Virtual health services use by older adults with longstanding health conditions in NSW rural communities

BHI data accessed: Virtual Care Survey, 2020 to 2022, and Adult Admitted Patient Survey 2021–22

Investigators: Dr Mohammad Hamiduzzaman, University Centre for Rural Health (UCRH) and Associate Professor Vanette McLennan, Professor Vicki Flood, Ellie Price, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney

Summary: This project aims to explore the relationships between longstanding conditions and virtual health services use among older adults (65 years and over) living in rural NSW towns.

Publications: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21121678

Subject: What are the enablers and barriers to using virtual care for older patients in general practice and hospital outpatient clinics?

BHI data accessed: Virtual Care Survey, 2020 to 2022

Lead investigator: Dr Zhaoli Dai-Keller, UNSW Sydney School of Population Health

Summary: This project aims to identify enablers and barriers to the use of virtual care as compared with face-to-face consultation in older people in different disease contexts and sociodemographic backgrounds, especially those with mental health and musculoskeletal disorders, the two most common conditions among older Australians.