Madeleen Van der Merwe

MADELEEN VAN DER MERWE is an MPhil STUDENT, researching statistical errors in health journal articles, with a background in survival analysis, (logistic) regression models, and biostatistics. She has experience analysing large datasets using Kaplan-Meier survival curves, Cox proportional hazards models, and the Greenwood method, as well as applying logistic and multinomial regression models to evaluate clinical outcomes and healthcare interventions.

She is involved in the MRFF Impact project, specifically evaluating the Adoption, Impact, and Sustainability of Evidence-Based Practice in Health Care: Co-Design and Evaluation of Projects, Systems, and Processes. Her role includes analysing the distribution and effectiveness of Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grants, focusing on measuring the impact of the 2022 Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Grant Opportunity, which sits within the Clinician Researcher Initiative in the Researcher Theme.

Her responsibilities in this project include building surveys, analysing survey data, and developing case studies to assess how research funding translates into healthcare improvements. She applies statistical analysis and program evaluation techniques to identify factors that facilitate adopting evidence-based practice in clinical settings. Drawing on her experience in data extraction, systematic reviews, and statistical reporting, she works closely with researchers and healthcare professionals to ensure that findings are not only rigorous but also practically implementable.

Published publications

van der Merwe, M., Atkins, T., Scott, A. M., & Glasziou, P. P. (2024). Diagnostic Assessment via Live Telehealth (Phone or Video) Versus Face-to-Face for the Diagnoses of Psychiatric Conditions: A Systematic Review. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 85(4), 24r15296. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.24r15296

Scott, A. M., Sanders, S., Atkins, T., van der Merwe, M., Sunner, C., Clark, J. & Glasziou, P. (2024). The impact of telehealth care on escalation to emergency care: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. p. 1357633X241259525
Glasziou, P., Sanders, S., Byambasuren, O., Thomas, R., Hoffmann, T., Greenwood, H., van der Merwe, M. & Clark, J. (2024). Clinical trials and their impact on policy during COVID-19: a review. [version 1; peer review: 2 approved].  Wellcome Open Research, 9, 20.

Michaleff, Z. A., Hattingh, L., Greenwood, H., Mickan, S., Jones, M., van der Merwe, M., Thomas, R., Carlini, J., Henry, D., Stehlik, P., Glasziou, P. & Keijzers, G. (2023). Evaluating the use of clinical decision aids in an Australian emergency department: A cross‐sectional survey. Emergency Medicine Australasia.

Wahi, S., Michaleff, Z.A., Lomax, P., Brand, A., van der Merwe, M., Jones, M., Glasziou, P. & Keijzers, G., 2023. Evaluating the use of the ABCD2 score as a clinical decision aid in the emergency department: Retrospective observational study. Emergency Medicine Australasia: EMA, 1-7.

Lewis, E. T., Hammill, K., Culbert, R., van der Merwe, M., Sahay, A., Turner, R., & Cardona, M. (2023). Delivering Prognostic News to Older People with Chronic Disease: What Format Preference and Level of Involvement in Decision Making? A Hospital Survey. Healthcare, 11(3), 444.

Thompson, K., Hammond, N., Lynch, D., Van Der Merwe, M., Modra, L., Yong, S.A., Grattan, S. & Stokes-Parish, J., 2023. Perceptions of gender equity among critical care and other health professionals: A cross-sectional survey. Australian Critical Care. 

Commissioned reports

Evaluation of the Medical Research Future Fund Clinical Trials Activity. A report on the review or the Medical Research Future Fund’s (MRFF) Clinical Trials Activity Initiative. Scott, A. Glasziou, P.P., Van der Merwe, M., Sanders, S., Beller, E. May 2023. Institute for Evidence Based-Medicine.

Review of evidence regarding the efficacy and effectiveness of Medicare Benefits Schedule health assessment services within primary care. Scott, A. Glasziou, P.P., Van der Merwe, M., Sanders, S., Beller, E., 31 Oct 2022.

Guidance in the evidence ecosystem: An analysis and synthesis of best-evidence, and a flow-chart with frameworks and tools Moynihan, R. N. (ERA2018 Researcher), Albarqouni, L., Van der Merwe, M., Clark, J. (ERA2018 Researcher) & Glasziou, P. P. (ERA2018 Researcher), 27 Oct 2022, Bond University .