COM-IC – collaborative development of core outcome measures for dementia care

People living with dementia require services from multiple providers, across all care settings, ranging from primary care (GP and specialist), acute (hospital), allied health and social care. People with young onset dementia and those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds often require different types of services. While the ultimate care objective for all stakeholders is better health and quality of life for the care recipients, interventions and care models delivered in different settings and for different populations naturally lead to a wide range of instruments and approaches to report similar outcomes or events and to measure success (clinical efficacy and effectiveness, care quality and efficiency). Different assessment instruments reduce comparability across care models, leading to the slow translation of evidence into practice to improve care quality. It also results in both fragmentation and duplication of service provision across providers, creating inefficiencies in healthcare and aged care systems.

This research aims to increase comparability in dementia outcome measures, improve the consistency of impact measures at all levels of care, decrease lag between research and implementation of best-practice care, thereby improving quality and consistency of care delivery, ultimately improving the experience, health outcomes and quality of life for everyone affected by dementia.

The COM-IC Project is informed by a Stakeholder Reference Group (SRG), supported by a number of short-term working groups. We have established our SRG but are still seeking to involve people with lived experience of dementia in our working groups.

If you would like to be involved in a working group, please complete the expression of interest survey and identify which group you feel is best suited to your skills and experience. Working groups involve people from any stakeholder group, size is dependent on the task, and time commitment varies depending on project needs. Most working groups will operate for 3-6 months. You are welcome to express interest in more than one working group.

Download information sheets

What happens once I submit an expression of interest?

Expressions of interest (EOI) for working groups are still being sought. EOIs will be reviewed by the Stakeholder Reference Group. Potential members will be selected based on their experience to ensure all groups include a wide range of views.

Recruitment for working groups will occur closer to the time they are needed. If you have any queries about your EOI or need to change your response, please e-mail the COM-IC secretariat.

What is the time commitment if I participate?

Members of the Stakeholder Reference Group will be asked to commit up to 2 hours per month for up to 2 years. The time commitment for Working Groups will vary, but may be up to 4 hours per month for 3-6 months. Participants are free to withdraw at any time.

Will I be paid for my contribution?

Stakeholder Reference Group and Working Group members will be remunerated for their time at a rate of $45.00/hr in line with recommendations from Health Consumers Queensland.