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Home Research & Innovation Enablers Health Services Research Unit

Health Services Research Unit

About

Projects

Goals

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Strengthening Healthcare Through Research-Driven Solutions

Health Services Research (HSR) is a multidisciplinary field of scientific investigation that studies how social factors, financing systems, organisational structures and processes, health technologies, and personal behaviours affect accessibility, cost and quality of healthcare, and our health and well-being (as defined by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), USA, 2002).

HSR provides crucial insights to improve both processes and outcomes in healthcare, representing a strategic area to build research capabilities in SGH to put "Patients at the heart of all we do".

Established in 2012, HSRU has evolved from providing primarily statistical analysis support to offering a full spectrum of methodological expertise. This includes statistical methods, qualitative research, and economic evaluation. Drawing on this multidisciplinary capability, HSRU now also supports impact assessment, programme evaluations, and implementation research for the hospital.

Our Team

Our multidisciplinary research support team includes staff trained in:

· Biostatistics and data analytics

· Public health and preventive medicine

· Psychology and sociology

· Implementation and behavioural sciences

This unique blend of expertise enables us to approach healthcare challenges from multiple angles – delivering insights that are both rigorous and practical.

Projects

Our research portfolio spans critical areas of healthcare improvement, focusing on healthcare quality assessment, technology evaluation, and systems enhancement. Through implementation science and outcomes research, we work to bridge the gap between clinical research and practical healthcare delivery. Our collaborative projects have contributed to significant improvements in patient care protocols, healthcare efficiency, and service delivery models.

Goals

We are committed to improving patient outcomes and enhancing healthcare delivery by working alongside clinician investigators, decision-makers, and other stakeholders. Through our work, we strive to enable our clinicians as we build a healthcare system together that is efficient, equitable, and responsive to the needs of our patients. We are committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement in healthcare, ensuring that research translates into meaningful changes in healthcare delivery.

Collaborate

We offer comprehensive research support through methodological consultations and full collaborations, including:

Study Design and Analysis

Statistical methods
Qualitative research methods
Economic evaluation of healthcare interventions

Implementation and Evaluation Research

Systematic adoption of evidence-based innovations
Real-world clinical settings evaluation

Data and Registry Management

Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) Administration
Healthcare Data Analytics
De-identification of patient data for SGH researchers
Maintenance of a Registry of Databases in SGH (RoD)
Robust, structured, and insightful use of clinical data

Health Technology Assessment (HTA)

Evidence-based policy
Strategic planning for hospital-level decision-making

Whether you are planning a research project, designing an intervention, or evaluating a service, HSRU is here to support your goals. We work hand-in-hand with researchers to tackle real-world healthcare challenges, generate actionable evidence, and shape better health outcomes for the population we serve.

Abdullah, H. R., Loh, C. J., Kok, E. J., Tan, B. P., Kadir, H. A., & Au-Yong, P.-S. (2025). Preoperative anemia among elderly undergoing major abdominal surgery (Panama) is associated with early postoperative morbidity and worse quality of life outcomes. Scientific Reports, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85898-z

Fong, J. M. N., Low, S., Xu, Y., Teo, E. P. S., Lim, G. H., Zheng, H., Ang, K., Tan, N. C., Poh, C. B., Tay, H. B., Liu, A. Y. L., Chan, C. M., Tan, C. S., Lim, S. C., Bee, Y. M., & Kwek, J. L. (2025). Risk of onset of chronic kidney disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus (rock-DM): Development and validation of a 4-variable prediction model. Primary Care Diabetes, 19(3), 312–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcd.2025.02.005

Lo, L. W. T., Xu, S., Pang, H.-N., Tay, D., Yeo, S. J., Liow, M. H. L., Gek Hsiang, L., & Chen, Y. J. (2025). Outcomes of total knee replacement versus Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty in an enhanced recovery after Surgery Protocol. Journal of Orthopaedics, 60, 134–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jor.2024.09.007

Lim, C. T., Tay, S., Elangovan, S., Ong, W., Lim, G. H., Salazar, E., Chan, W. P. W., & Tan, M. T. K. (2024). Long‐term effectiveness and persistence rate of ustekinumab dose intensification in a South East Asian inflammatory bowel disease center. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 39(8), 1544–1553. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgh.16562

Lim, D. Y. Z., Chia, S. Y., Kadir, H. A., Mohamed Salim, N. N., & Bee, Y. M. (2021). Establishment of the singhealth diabetes registry. Clinical Epidemiology, 13, 215–223. https://doi.org/10.2147/CLEP.S300663

Lim, S. H., Zainal, H., Lee, L. J., Binte Sunari, R. N., Choh, A. C. L., Teo, K. Y., Tan, M. Y., Ang, S. Y., & Aloweni, F. (2024). Second victim experiences and impact among Acute Care Nurses: An exploratory study. International Nursing Review, 72(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12999

Lim, S. R., Ng, Q. X., Xin, X., Moyal-Smith, R., Etheridge, J. C., Teng, C. L., Havens, J. M., Brindle, M. E., Yong, T. T., & Tan, H. K. (2024). Going beyond compliance: A qualitative study of the practice of Surgical Safety Checklist. Social Science & Medicine, 345, 116652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.116652

Nambiar, M., Bee, Y. M., Chan, Y. E., Ho Mien, I., Guretno, F., Carmody, D., Lee, P. C., Chia, S. Y., Mohamed Salim, N. N., & Krishnaswamy, P. (2024). A drug mix and dose decision algorithm for individualized type 2 diabetes management. Npj Digital Medicine, 7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41746-024-01230-5

Ngeow, A. J. H., Moosa, A. S., Tan, M. G., Zou, L., Goh, M. M., Lim, G. H., Tagamolila, V., Ereno, I., Durnford, J. R., Cheung, S. K. H., Hong, N. W. J., Soh, S. Y., Tay, Y. Y., Chang, Z. Y., Ong, R., Tsang, L. P. M., Yip, B. K. L., Chia, K. W., Yap, K., … Tan, N. C. (2024). Development and validation of a smartphone application for neonatal jaundice screening. JAMA Network Open, 7(12). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.50260

Phang, C. C., Ng, L. C., Kadir, H. A., Liu, P., Gan, S., Choong, L. H., Tan, C. S., Bee, Y. M., & Lim, C. (2024). Recurrent hospitalizations for fluid overload in diabetes with kidney failure treated with dialysis. Cardiorenal Medicine, 14(1), 612–623. https://doi.org/10.1159/000542446

Soh, N. H., Yau, C. R. Z., Low, X. Z., Kadir, H. A., Fong, W. J., Ramalingam, M. B., Tan, P. L., Ng, K. Y. Y., Hsing, Y. T., Cai, M., Seo, C. J., Ong, J. C.-A., Chia, C. S., & Wong, J. S. M. (2024). PREHABILITATION outcomes in surgical oncology patients undergoing major abdominal surgery: A meta-analysis of Randomized Control Trials. Annals of Surgical Oncology, 32, 1236–1247. https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-024-16527-8

Soo, J. E., Chan, J. S.-E., Kadir, H. A., Chia, D. W. J., Lai, S. M., Sheth, S., Ong, M. E. H., & Chua, M. T. (2024). Characteristics of migrant workers admitted from the Emergency Department. Singapore Medical Journal. https://doi.org/10.4103/singaporemedj.smj-2023-070

Tan, J. K., Quan, L., Mohamed Salim, N. N., Tan, J. H., Goh, S.-Y., Thumboo, J., & Bee, Y. M. (2024). Machine learning–based prediction for high health care utilizers by using a multi-institutional diabetes registry: Model Training and Evaluation. JMIR AI, 3. https://doi.org/10.2196/58463

Zainal, H., Xin, X., Thumboo, J., Fong, W., & Yong, F. K. (2024). Patients’ expectations of doctors’ clinical competencies in the Digital Health Care Era: Qualitative semistructured interview study among patients. JMIR Human Factors, 11. https://doi.org/10.2196/51972

Etheridge, J. C., Moyal-Smith, R., Lim, S. R., Yong, T. T., Tan, H. K., Lim, C., Rothbard, S., Murray, E. J., Sonnay, Y., Brindle, M. E., & Havens, J. M. (2023). Implementation of a device briefing tool reduces interruptions in surgery: A nonrandomized controlled pilot trial. Surgery, 173(4), 968–972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2022.12.009

Gardner, D., Tan, H. C., Lim, G. H., Oo, M. Z., Xin, X., & Chandran, S. R. (2023). Relationship between CGM-derived nocturnal hypoglycemia and subjective sleep quality in people with type 1 diabetes. Scientific Reports, 13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47351-x

Goh, O. Q. M., Xin, X., Lim, W. T., Tan, M. W. J., Kan, J. Y. L., Osman, H. B., Kee, W., Teo, T. Y., Tan, W. B., Kang, M. L., & Graves, N. (2023). Economic evaluation of novel models of care for patients with acute medical problems. JAMA Network Open, 6(9). https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.34936

Tan, J. K., Lim, G. H., Mohamed Salim, N. N., Chia, S. Y., Thumboo, J., & Bee, Y. M. (2023). Associations between mean hba1c, hba1c variability, and both mortality and macrovascular complications in patients with diabetes mellitus: A registry-based Cohort Study. Clinical Epidemiology, 15, 137–149. https://doi.org/10.2147/CLEP.S391749

Tan, W. H., Ho, A., Kadir, H. A., Zin, T. K., Jordan, H. C., Lee, H. Y., Pang, S. M., Yeo, Y. W., Choo, K. J. L., & Oh, C. C. (2023). Incidence of cutaneous graft‐versus‐host disease in a singapore academic medical centre – A retrospective cohort study. Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 64(1), e26–e33. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajd.13980

Tan, J. K., Mohamed Salim, N. N., Lim, G. H., Chia, S. Y., Thumboo, J., & Bee, Y. M. (2022). Trends in diabetes-related complications in Singapore, 2013–2020: A registry-based study. PLOS ONE, 17(10). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275920

Lim, C. C., Tan, N. C., Teo, E. P. S., Kadir, H. A., Kwek, J. L., Bee, Y. M., Ang, A. T. W., Teo, S. H., Kaushik, M., Tan, C. S., & Choo, J. C. J. (2021). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of acute kidney injury and hyperkalemia in older adults: A retrospective cohort study and external validation of a clinical risk model. Drugs & Aging, 39, 75–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-021-00907-w

Ow Yong, L. M., Xin, X., Wee, J. M. L., Poopalalingam, R., Kwek, K. Y. C., & Thumboo, J. (2020). Perception survey of crisis and emergency risk communication in an acute hospital in the management of COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore. BMC Public Health, 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-10047-2

Kumar, R., Teo, E. P. S., Tan, W. B., Choi, X., Chia, P. Y., Lee, H. L., Tan, C.-K., Chang, J. P., Krishnamoorthy, T. L., Tan, H. K., Goh, G. B., Wang, Y. T., Xin, X., & Chow, W. C. (2019). A randomised clinical trial of the safety, cost effectiveness and patient experience of nurse‐led telemonitoring of chronic hepatitis B patients. GastroHep, 1, 249–255. https://doi.org/10.1002/ygh2.365

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SGH Enablers

Health Services Research Unit (HSRU)

Optimizes healthcare delivery through evidence-based research and outcome studies

Clinical Innovation and Technology Unit (CITU)

Develops technological solutions to address clinical challenges in healthcare

Clinical Trials & Research Centre (CTRC)

Provides end-to-end support for clinical trials and research studies

Department of Clinical Translational Research (DCR)

Transforms laboratory discoveries into practical clinical treatments and applications

Biomechanics Lab

Studies movement science to improve patient rehabilitation and musculoskeletal care

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (DSAIL)

Applies AI and analytics to enhance healthcare delivery outcomes

Pathological Sciences

Advances disease diagnostics through innovative pathology research and methods

Radiological Sciences

Develops advanced imaging techniques for improved diagnosis and treatment

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