Full bibliography

Study topic
Evaluation of the implementation and impact of 3D HealthPathways across Wairarapa, Hutt Valley, and Capital & Coast District Health Boards in New Zealand.

Study type
Mixed-methods process and outcome evaluation, including interviews, Google Analytics, documentary analysis, and DHB outcome data.

Key findings

• By March 2018, 362 pathways had been localised and the site had reached over 1 million page views, with 2,712 users accessing an average of 4.89 pages per session.
• HealthPathways were used regularly by primary care clinicians for assessment, management, referral, and learning, with usage ranging from a few times a month to daily.
• 90% of homepage views were driven by search, indicating strong user engagement and reliance on the platform.
• HealthPathways supported consistent, quality care, increased clinician confidence, and improved communication between primary and secondary care.
• Patient benefits included receiving the right treatment at the right time, closer to home, with more efficient referrals.
• System benefits included reduced demand on secondary services, improved referral quality, and support for integration initiatives.
• Case studies (e.g. dementia, cellulitis, DVT, asthma, bowel cancer) showed improved referral appropriateness, reduced wait times, and increased community-based management.
• HealthPathways were seen as essential by clinicians, with risks identified around outdated content potentially undermining credibility.
• HealthPathways were less used for identifying community resources, except in pathways like dementia where this was more prominent.
• The evaluation recommended prioritising reviews, increasing resources, improving monitoring, and enhancing secondary care engagement.