Tim Schultz

Dr Tim Schultz

Research Fellow and Postgraduate Coordinator

Adelaide Nursing School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

My current role in Adelaide Nursing School is Senior Research Fellow and Postgraduate Coordinator. I conduct and support research activities mainly related to quantitative methods in the Adelaide Nursing School, and manage the Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Program. My main areas of research lie in: (i) systematic reviews, (ii) health services research, (iii) patient safety research, and (iv) implementing evidence into practice. I am an interdisciplinary researcher who focusses on the role of nursing in healthcare delivery.
My research investigates how safe, effective and efficient healthcare can be delivered to patients in a complex and changing healthcare system, and I have a particular interest in determining how people with chronic diseases can receive care in the community (home) rather than hospital. My research into evidence implementation directly contributes to the Faculty’s ‘Translational Health Outcomes’ and ‘Surgical and Health Systems Innovation’ research programs, while my research on frailty is part of the Transdisciplinary CRE on Frailty and the Faculty’s Ageing, Frailty and Mobility research program. Additionally, my large body of systematic review work as a core staff of the Centre for Evidence Based Practice South Australia is integral to its continued success, and my international collaboration with Uppsala University supports the Adelaide Nursing School's program of work on the Fundamentals of Care.
I have a minor role in undergraduate teaching and conduct tutorials on quantitative research methods in a postgraduate course ‘NURSING 7030 - Undertaking nursing research: Exploring Issues in clinical practice’ and supervise students in the postgraduate course 7012HO Systematic Reviews of Research. I am the Adelaide Nursing School's postgraduate coordinator, responsible for managing the Higher Degree by Research Program and the Honours Coordinator.
I was previously Technical Director at the Australian Patient Safety Foundation (2008-15)

My main areas of research lie in: (i) systematic reviews, (ii) health services research, (iii) patient safety research, and (iv) implementing evidence into practice. I am an interdisciplinary researcher who focusses on the role of nursing in healthcare delivery.

For systematic reviews (SRs), I have conducted a number of Cochrane Reviews and Joanna Briggs Institute reviews. Mostly they have been reviews of effectiveness, although a few are integrated reviews combining quantitative and qualitative research. I have also conducted umbrella SRs (what Cochrane calls ‘overviews reviews’) and SRs of diagnostic test accuracy.

Current projects:

  • Butler, M., Schultz, T., & Drennan, J. (2020). Substitution of nurses for physicians in the hospital setting for patient, process of care, and economic outcomes. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020(5). https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013616/full
  • Konno, R., Inoue, K., Schultz, T., & Wiechula, R. (2019). Best evidence for advance care planning in older adults with dementia and their families: an umbrella review protocol. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports.
  • Alzhanova, A., Schultz, T., Schadewaldt, V & Hendriks, J. (2020). Effectiveness of nurse-led clinics for patients with coronary heart disease: a protocol for systematic review update.
  • Butler, M., Schultz, T., Halligan, P., Kinsman, L. & Drennan, J. (2020). The development of a core set of outcomes for hospital nurse staffing. COMET Initiative: http://www.comet-initiative.org/Studies/Details/1651
  • Contextually Appropriate Nurse Staffing Models: A Realist Review

For health services research, I am familiar with and have used the following methods: parallel and crossover RCTs, stepped wedge RCTs, interrupted time series, quasi-experimental designs (eg controlled before/after (pre-post), uncontrolled pre-post), and cross-sectional. I am familiar with other observational study designs such as cohorts studies and case-control but have not used these myself. I have a particular interest in new models of care, especially taking patients out of hospital settings and providing care in the home, new roles (eg nurse endoscopists), new designs of hospitals (eg single bedded rooms, and design of post anaesthetic recovery units), and training programs for healthcare professionals.

Current projects:

  • Single bed hospitals: nursing workflows and patients experience
  • Transdisciplinary frailty research to achieve healthy ageing
  • Evaluating the South Australian health transform, inspire, engage and redesign leadership and management training program
  • Integration of a mindfulness intervention into undergraduate third year nursing student curriculum to build sustainable resilience skills

For patient safety research, I have been involved in studies that have developed and analysed data from incident reporting systems, especially in emergency medicine and medical imaging (radiology), acute care hospitals, and with respect to electronic health records, and documentation of allergies. I was involved in developing content for the International Classification for Patient Safety, for World Health Health Organisation and am interested in other quality improvement activities (eg human factors training) and their impact on patient safety outcomes.

Current projects:

  • Review of the SA Health Safety Learning System

For implementing evidence into practice, I have been directly involved in a program for residential aged care staff to improve their use of evidence, assessment of the context in which care is provided in hospitals (within the PARIHS framework of knowledge translation), nutrition screening in hospitals, and hydration for hospital patients.

Current projects:

  • Improving evidence utilisation by health professionals in public health centres (Puskesmas) to reduce neonatal mortality in South Kalimantan

2019 - 2020 – SA Health – Review of the Safety Learning System (as CI-B with Adelaide Nursing School, University of Adelaide).

2018-19 Australia - Indonesia Institute - Improving evidence utilisation in Puskesmas (health centres) in South Kalimantan (as CI-A with Adelaide Nursing School, University of Adelaide)

2017-18 Aus Aid Alumni Program - Improving evidence utilisation by health professionals in public health centres (Puskesmas) to reduce neonatal mortality in South Kalimantan (as CI-B with Adelaide Nursing School, University of Adelaide.

2017–18 SA Health - Evaluating nurse endoscopist roles in a metropolitan health service South Australia (as CI-C with Adelaide Nursing School, University of Adelaide)

2017 - Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Thirteenth clinical safety review of the My Health Record system: Review of allergy and adverse drug reaction (ADR) incidents associated with clinical information systems (as CI-D with Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University)

2017 - Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care – A pooled analysis of vendor calls to the My Health Record helpline (as CI-A with Adelaide Nursing School, University of Adelaide)

2016-17 - Biogen Australia and New Zealand - A pilot study of the safety and clinical effectiveness, acceptability and cost effectiveness of home infusions of Tysabri (Tysabri®) by ambulatory care nurses for people with multiple sclerosis? (as CI-B with School of Nursing, University of Adelaide)

2016-17 - Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care ‘Clinical safety implications of calls to the ‘My Health Record’ Helpline’ (as CI-A with School of Nursing, University of Adelaide).

2016-17 - ANMF SA - Single bed hospitals: nursing workflows and patients experience (with School of Nursing, University of Adelaide)

2016-17 - HCF Research Foundation - Evaluating costs and impact of early-discharge for planned caesarean sections: Setting the Benchmark (with School of Nursing, University of Adelaide)

2015-2020 - NHMRC CRE – Transdisciplinary frailty research to achieve healthy ageing (as Associate Investigator, with School of Nursing, University of Adelaide)

2015-16 - SA Health Commitment to Care ‘Evaluating 4 Change’ (with School of Nursing, University of Adelaide)

2015-2016 - Australasian College for Emergency Medicine ‘Emergency Medicine Event Reporting System national implementation’ (with Australian Patient Safety Foundation).

2014-15 Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care ‘Analysis of Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) incidents and supporting a proposed Clinical Incident Management Framework’ (with Australian Patient Safety Foundation).

2014 - Australasian College for Emergency Medicine ‘Emergency Medicine Event Reporting System national implementation’ (with Australian Patient Safety Foundation).

2014 - Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists ‘Radiology Events Register’ (with Australian Patient Safety Foundation)

2013 - Heart Foundation SA ‘Evaluation of the ‘My Heart, My Life’ booklet for patients with coronary heart disease’ (with School of Nursing, University of Adelaide)

2013 - University of Adelaide DVCR Interdisciplinary Research Fund ‘Healthy Ageing - What interventions optimise independence and promote healthy ageing in the community? (with School of Nursing, University of Adelaide)

2012 - HCF Medical Research Foundation ‘Surgical safety checklist use in Australian hospitals’ (with Australian Patient Safety Foundation, Joanna Briggs Institute)

2012 - Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists ‘Lessons for practice from closed case notifications to medical defence organisations’ (with Australian Patient Safety Foundation and A/Prof Stacy Goergen).

2012 - Australasian College of Emergency Medicine – Emergency Medicine Event Reporting System (with Australian Patient Safety Foundation).

I have a minor role in undergraduate teaching, leading problem-based learning and small group discovery experience classes. I conduct tutorials on quantitative research methods in a postgraduate course ‘NURSING 7030 - Undertaking nursing research: Exploring Issues in clinical practice’ and supervise students in the postgraduate course 7012HO Systematic Reviews of Research.

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2018 Principal Supervisor Nurse-led Clinics for Cardiac Patients Master of Clinical Science Master Part Time Mrs Ainagul Alzhanova
    2018 Co-Supervisor Factors Influencing Nurses’ Intention to Work in the Oncology Specialty: A Mixed Method Study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Omar Awadh M Alrasheedi
    2017 Co-Supervisor Determinants for Nursing Sensitive Patients' Safety Outcome Among Admitted Patients Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Ashagre Molla Assaye
    2015 Principal Supervisor Employee Reaction to Change, and Development and Maintenance of Resilience Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Jodie Ann Shoobridge
    2012 Principal Supervisor The Effectiveness of Yoga and Meditation for Managing Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Nicole Anne Snaith

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2016 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Developing a Patient-Centred Management Program for People with Heart Failure in Jordan Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Osama Ahmad Hamdan Alkouri
    2016 - 2020 Co-Supervisor A Qualitative Study of Healthcare Workers' and Patients' Perspectives on Changing the Model of Care from Outpatient to In-Home for the Infusion of Natalizumab Master of Clinical Science Master Part Time Mrs Mahasen Juaton
    2015 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Developing a model of care for a 4-6 bedded Post Anaesthetic Recovery Unit: a Delphi study Master of Clinical Science Master Part Time Ms Louise McGuire
    2012 - 2014 Principal Supervisor The Diagnostic Test Accuracy of Clinical Swallow Assessment for Oropharyngeal Aspiration: A Systematic Review Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Miss Marissa Romano
    2012 - 2015 Principal Supervisor Comparative outcomes of craniectomy versus cranial remodelling in the human infant with isolated sagittal synostosis Master of Clinical Science Master Part Time Dr May Thwin
    2011 - 2012 Co-Supervisor The Safe Administration of Rapid Rituximab Infusion: An Evidence-Based Approach Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Siew Ping Lang
    2010 - 2015 Co-Supervisor Emergency Care Perceptions and Responses to Alcohol-Intoxicated Women Victims of Violence: Current Perceptions and Responses, What Influences Them, and Whether They Can Be Changed Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Dr Amy Marshall
    2010 - 2015 Co-Supervisor The Culture in Safety Culture: Exploration of Patient Safety Culture in Saudi Arabian Operating Theatres Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Fahad Dhafer E Algahtani
    2009 - 2011 Principal Supervisor The Accuracy of Influenza A (H1N1) "Swine Flu" Laboratory Testing: A systematic Review of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Master of Clinical Science Master Full Time Dr Sarahlouise White
    2007 - 2010 Co-Supervisor Role of Gerontological Nurse Practitioner in Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Ms Caroline Grace Lee
    2006 - 2008 Co-Supervisor Action Research in Preventing Workplace Burnout in Rural Remote Community Mental Health Nursing Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mrs Eileen Margaret Petrie
    2006 - 2008 Co-Supervisor Lived Experience of Overseas-Qualified Nurses from Non-English-Speaking Backgrounds in Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Rie Konno
    2005 - 2008 Co-Supervisor The Development of an Evidence-Based Conceptual Framework for Undergraduate Nursing Curricula in Sri Lanka Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Rasika Jayasekara Gangoda Arachchilag
  • Position: Research Fellow and Postgraduate Coordinator
  • Phone: 83136270
  • Email: tim.schultz@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences, floor 4
  • Room: WS4064.26
  • Org Unit: Nursing
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