Research

Publications 

Dhingra, A., Fiorentini, G., & Connelly, L. (2025). The impact of individuals’ preventive behaviours on health and healthcare utilisation. Economics & Human Biology, 101486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2025.101486 

Abstract: We investigate the impact of preventative health behaviour of an individual, colon screening, on health outcomes and healthcare utilisation. We employ an instrumental variable approach to address the circularity in this relationship, using eye examination as our instrument. Our instrument exploits the fact that individuals who comply with recommendations or exhibit positive health behaviours tend to cluster and comply with recommendations for other positive health behaviours as well. We use two-stage least square regressions using data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe. The results show that undertaking colon screening increases the probability of hospitalisations, especially those that are planned. It also leads to an increase in the probability of a diagnosis of cancer and colon cancer, while reducing the probability of death in the subsequent period. Heterogeneity checks provide evidence that these results are driven mostly by females, unmarried individuals, people with more than two co-morbidities and people with lower education and income. The results highlight the need to promote targeted information and preventive medicine to enhance early detection of cancer, which may increase the probability of survival, and reduce avoidable burden on the healthcare system, especially amongst the vulnerable groups 

Dhingra, A., Gannon, B., Connelly, L., & Mishra, G. (2025). Equity in Use and Financing of Assisted Reproductive Technologies: Does income matter? Economics & Human Biology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2025.101491 

Abstract: This study estimates inequity for a relatively low frequency-of-use and expensive health service, Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in Australia,  that nevertheless has health and well-being related consequences. Although the universal healthcare system provides rebates, a policy to put a monetary cap was introduced in 2010, thereby increasing the co-payments for consumers. These government co-financing decisions include a trade-off between subsidising ART for the wealthy and prioritising insurance for low-income households. Such decisions require careful consideration since they may have profound equity implications. This study produces empirical evidence on inequity in the use and financing of ARTs, using linked administrative data from the years before the policy change, 2006, 2009 and after the policy change, 2012.  The results indicate that there is pro-rich inequity in the use of ARTs, which decreases post-policy change and the financing of ART is regressive for the year 2009 pre-policy change and is less regressive after the policy change. 

Gannon, B., Aung, P.M., Dhingra, A. et al. (2025). Examining the magnitude of inequality and inequity in use of healthcare resources among older Australians with cognitive decline. International Journal of Equity in Health 24, 76 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-025-02432-3 

Abstract: Background: This study investigates whether healthcare utilisation among older Australians is equitable, particularly focusing on people with cognitive decline from age 50. It investigates the economic concept of horizontal inequity in various types of healthcare use among older Australians and compares inequity among three groups: a representative sample of all individuals aged 50 and above, those with cognitive impairment, and individuals with a disability. Additionally, we examine changes in these patterns over time. Methods and data: This study utilizes cross-sectional data for 2013 and 2017 from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey to investigate four types of healthcare utilisation-general practitioner (GP), specialist, dental, and hospital admissions. We calculate the concentration index to measure the inequality and inequity in use. To quantify inequity, we correct for differences in needs and health status, following the indirect standardisation approach. Results: Our findings suggest that among the three samples, the inequity faced by older Australians with cognitive impairment is the most pronounced. Individuals with higher socioeconomic status used dental care more, while GP visits were concentrated among the lower socioeconomic groups in 2013. By 2017, all types of healthcare except GP visits favour the better-off people (pro-rich). Among those with disabilities, we find a pro-rich distribution of dental care in both 2013 and 2017, and pro-rich inequity in the usage of specialist visits, even after adjusting for needs. Conclusion: Pronounced disparities are observed among older people with cognitive impairment. Further targeting of policies to improve access to healthcare for older vulnerable Australians is recommended, to help achieve equitable and universal coverage in Australia. 

Dhingra, A., Fiorentini, G., Fouda, A., & Moy, N. (2025). Tough versus soft regulations to promote generic medications in Italy. The European Journal of Health Economics, 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-025-01826-y 

Abstract: This paper investigates the effects of regulations aiming to optimise the multi-agency relationships, with a focus on the prescription choice between generic versus branded medications. In 2012, Italian legislators introduced two laws targeting general practitioners prescription behaviour, a soft (recommendations) law followed by a hard (mandatory) law to promote generic medication. We implement a regression discontinuity in time framework and an event study to quarterly administrative data for individuals with chronic kidney disease linked to data from their general practitioners in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.  The results indicate that the policies were effective, but had modest effects on increasing the prescription of generic medications. Hard laws seem to have played a key role in driving this change.  Heterogeneity checks provide evidence that less competition among GPs and interaction with specialists increased generic medication prescriptions.

Working Papers 

Prevention, Healthcare Use and Health Outcomes: Evidence from Couple-Level Data (with Gianluca Fiorentini and Luke Connelly) - Under Review

Healthcare Expenditure for Breast Cancer Survivors (with Brenda Gannon, Terence Cheng, Luke Connelly and Gita Mishra) - Revise and Resubmit from the European Journal of Health Economics.

Body Mass Index and Healthcare Expenditure: Where to draw the line? (with Brenda Gannon, Mark Harris, Luke Connelly and Gita Mishra)  - Under Review

Work in Progress

Integrated Care, Engaging Patients and Financial Incentives: The Impact of Primary Care Nursing Programs (with Gianluca Fiorentini and Luke Connelly) 

Re-Hospitalisations among Congestive Heart Failure Patients: The Impact of Primary Care Nursing Programs (with Gianluca Fiorentini and Luke Connelly) 

Inequity and Inequality in Utilisation of Mental Healthcare in Australia: The Role of the Mental Health Workforce (with Brenda Gannon, Phyo Aung and Yaying Zhou)