Background
HSRAANZ has identified the lack of a consistent definition as one of the key challenges in health services research. There are inconsistencies in how HSR is categorised by funding bodies, which has implications for the selection of external reviewers, monitoring of HSR submissions and success rates, and maximising impact.
This strategy is proposed to improve the consistency of coding health services research.
Field of Research (FoR) codes are managed by the Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC) and are used to categorise research, researchers, and their outputs into specific disciplines. The codes are based on the field in which research is undertaken and based on the processes and techniques used in the research and development. They are organised in a hierarchical structure, with 2-digit codes representing the discipline, 4-digit codes representing similar broad methodologies and/or perspectives within the discipline, and 6-digit codes representing specific methods, approaches or perspectives.
Researchers are often required to provide FoR codes for their research when applying for funding, publishing in academic journals or reporting outputs. Typically, up to three FoR codes, at the 6-digit code level, can be chosen for each project or output.
Recommended Strategy
We recommend the following strategy for selecting three FoR codes for a Health Services Research project. However, there may be situations where an alternative combination of codes is relevant or required.
- Step 1: Select 1 x FoR code to represent your clinical area (e.g. oncology, nursing, or primary health care)
- Step 2: Select 1 x FoR code to represent the specifics of your method (e.g. panel data analysis, consumer behaviour, epidemiology, AI, etc.)
- Step 3: Select 1 x FoR code to identify your research as health services research (see list below)
- Step 4: In addition, for NHMRC grants: We recommend the Broad Research Area (BRA) 'Health Services Research' be selected.
Proposed HSR-Specific Codes
4203 HEALTH SERVICES AND SYSTEMS
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- 420305 Health and community services
- 420306 Health care administration
- 420309 Health management
- 420311 Health systems
- 420312 Implementation science and evaluation
- 420321 Rural and remote health services
- 420399 Health services and systems not elsewhere classified
3801 APPLIED ECONOMICS
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- 380102 Behavioural economics
- 380108 Health economics
4206 PUBLIC HEALTH
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- 420602 Health equity
- 420606 Social determinants of health
440706 HEALTH POLICY
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- 450409 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services
Examples
Example 1 (Economic Evaluation): A project looking at the cost effectiveness of a smoking cessation program for pregnant women would use the following FoR codes:
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- FoR code for clinical area: 321102 - Cancer diagnosis
- FoR code for method: 420312 - Implementation science and evaluation
- FoR code for health services research: 380108 – Health Economics
Example 2 (Qualitative Research): A project using qualitative research methods to investigate a nursing and midwifery support program for First Nations women and babies:
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- FoR code for clinical area: 420402 – Midwifery models of care and place of birth (or 450413 – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwifery and paediatrics)
- FoR code for method: 441006 – Sociology methodology and research methods
- FoR code for health services research: 450409 – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services
This resource has been developed by HSRAANZ to support consistent classification of health services research across funding applications and publications. For questions or feedback, please contact HSRAANZ.
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