Dr Fiona Imlach

Fiona Imlach image MB ChB (Auckland), MPH, FNZCPHM, PhD (Otago)

Honorary Senior Research Fellow

Contact details

Research interests and activities

Fiona is an epidemiologist who has worked on range of research topics, including primary health care, inequalities, child poverty, mental health, alcohol and cancer. She was a tutor in public health for 4th year medical students in 2021–2023.

She is also co-founder of the charity Migraine Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand, formed in 2022 to raise awareness of the impact of migraine disease and support people living with migraine in New Zealand.

Fiona has a special interest in research into the impact and burden of migraine disease in New Zealand. Research methodologies include qualitative and quantitative data analysis.

Publications

McInnarney, B., Imlach, F., Kennedy, J., & Garrett, S. M. (2024). Patient perceptions of barriers to effective migraine management in Aotearoa New Zealand. Journal of Primary Health Care. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1071/HC24020 Journal - Research Article

Imlach, F., & Garrett, S. (2024). Use of medications for migraine in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 137(1599), 65-87. Retrieved from https://www.nzmj.org.nz/ Journal - Research Article

Peterson, D., Imlach, F., & Cunningham, R. (2024). Mental health and aging in New Zealand: mixed-methods analysis of experiences of healthcare from a survey of older adults with mental health conditions. Kōtuitui, 1-15. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/1177083X.2024.2344511 Journal - Research Article

Cunningham, R., Stanley, J., Imlach, F., Haitana, T., Lockett, H., Every-Palmer, S., Clark, M. T. R., Lacey, C., Telfer, K., & Peterson, D. (2024). Cancer diagnosis after emergency presentations in people with mental health and substance use conditions: A national cohort study. BMC Cancer, 24, 546. doi: 10.1186/s12885-024-12292-9 Journal - Research Article

Garrett, S. M., & Imlach, F. (2024). The impact of living with migraine disease in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 137(1592), 54-76. Retrieved from https://www.nzmj.org.nz/ Journal - Research Article

2024

Journal - Research Article

Cunningham, R., Imlach, F., Haitana, T., Clark, M. T. R., Every-Palmer, S., Lockett, H., & Peterson, D. (2024). Experiences of physical healthcare services in Māori and non-Māori with mental health and substance use conditions. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/00048674241238958

2023

Journal - Research Article

Cunningham, R., Imlach, F., Every-Palmer, S., Haitana, T., & Peterson, D. (2023). Dealing with discrimination in physical health care services: Strategies of people with mental health and substance use conditions. Journal of Patient Experience. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1177/23743735231211778

Cunningham, R., Imlach, F., Haitana, T., Every-Palmer, S., Lacey, C., Lockett, H., & Peterson, D. (2023). It’s not in my head: A qualitative analysis of experiences of discrimination in people with mental health and substance use conditions seeking physical healthcare. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1285431. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1285431

Cunningham, R., Imlach, F., Lockett, H., Lacey, C., Haitana, T., Every-Palmer, S., Clark, M. T. R., & Peterson, D. (2023). Do patients with mental health and substance use conditions experience discrimination and diagnostic overshadowing in primary care in Aotearoa New Zealand? Results from a national online survey. Journal of Primary Health Care, 15(2), 112-121. doi: 10.1071/HC23015

Journal - Research Other

Imlach, F., Dunn, A., Costello, S., Gurney, J., & Sarfati, D. (2023). Driving quality improvement through better data: The story of New Zealand's radiation oncology collection. Journal of Medical Imaging & Radiation Oncology, 67, 119-127. doi: 10.1111/1754-9485.13488

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Garrett, S., & Imlach, F. (2023). Experiences of living with migraine disease in Aotearoa NZ: A survey. Proceedings of the New Zealand Primary Health Care, General Practice & Rural Health Research Symposium. (pp. 8). Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/wellington/departments/primaryhealthcaregeneralpractice

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Imlach, F. (2023, July). Equally well: The evidence. Verbal presentation at the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) Conference for General Practice, Tāmaki Makaurau - Auckland, New Zealand.

2022

Journal - Research Article

Officer, T. N., McKinlay, E., Imlach, F., Kennedy, J., Churchward, M., & McBride-Henry, K. (2022). Experiences of New Zealand public health messaging while in lockdown. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 46(6), 735-737. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.13297

Dunn, A., Costello, S., Imlach, F., Jo, E., Gurney, J., Simpson, R., & Sarfati, D. (2022). Using national data to model the New Zealand radiation oncology workforce. Journal of Medical Imaging & Radiation Oncology, 66, 708-716. doi: 10.1111/1754-9485.13448

Officer, T. N., Imlach, F., McKinlay, E., Kennedy, J., Pledger, M., Russell, L., … McBride-Henry, K. (2022). COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and wellbeing: Experiences from Aotearoa New Zealand in 2020. International Journal of Environmental Research & Public Health, 19(4), 2269. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19042269

Imlach, F., McKinlay, E., Kennedy, J., Pledger, M., Middleton, L., Cumming, J., & McBride-Henry, K. (2022). Seeking healthcare during lockdown: Challenges, opportunities and lessons for the future. International Journal of Health Policy & Management, 11(8), 1316-1324. doi: 10.34172/ijhpm.2021.26

2021

Journal - Research Article

Imlach, F., McKinlay, E., Kennedy, J., Morris, C., Pledger, M., Cumming, J., & McBride-Henry, K. (2021). E-prescribing and access to prescription medicines during lockdown: Experience of patients in Aotearoa/New Zealand. BMC Family Practice, 22, 140. doi: 10.1186/s12875-021-01490-0

2020

Journal - Research Article

Imlach, F., McKinlay, E., Middleton, L., Kennedy, J., Pledger, M., Russell, L., … McBride-Henry, K. (2020). Telehealth consultations in general practice during a pandemic lockdown: Survey and interviews on patient experiences and preferences. BMC Family Practice, 21(1), 269. doi: 10.1186/s12875-020-01336-1

2014

Journal - Research Article

Gunasekara, F. I., Richardson, K., Carter, K., & Blakely, T. (2014). Fixed effects analysis of repeated measures data. International Journal of Epidemiology, 43(1), 264-269. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyt221

McKenzie, S. K., Imlach Gunasekara, F., Richardson, K., & Carter, K. (2014). Do changes in socioeconomic factors lead to changes in mental health? Findings from three waves of a population based panel study. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 68, 253-260. doi: 10.1136/jech-2013-203013

2013

Journal - Research Article

Imlach Gunasekara, F., Carter, K., & McKenzie, S. (2013). Income-related health inequalities in working age men and women in Australia and New Zealand. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 37(3), 211-217. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12061

Carter, K. N., Imlach Gunasekara, F., Blakely, T., & Richardson, K. (2013). Health shocks adversely impact participation in the labour force in a working age population: A longitudinal analysis. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 37(3), 257-263. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12068

Pega, F., Carter, K., Kawachi, I., Davis, P., Imlach Gunasekara, F., Lundberg, O., & Blakely, T. (2013). The impact of in-work tax credit for families on self-rated health in adults: A cohort study of 6900 New Zealanders. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 67, 682-688. doi: 10.1136/jech-2012-202300

Carter, K., Imlach Gunasekara, F., & Blakely, T. (2013). The relationship between trends in income inequalities and poverty in New Zealand. Policy Quarterly, 9(2), 24-29.

Gunasekara, F. I., Carter, K. N., Crampton, P., & Blakely, T. (2013). Income and individual deprivation as predictors of health over time. International Journal of Public Health, 58(4), 501-511. doi: 10.1007/s00038-013-0450-9

Sloane, K., Wilson, N., & Gunasekara, F. I. (2013). A content analysis of the portrayal of alcohol in televised music videos in New Zealand: Changes over time. Drug & Alcohol Review, 32(1), 47-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2012.00477.x

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Carter, K., Gunasekara, F. I., Gunalara, Crampton, P., & Blakely, T. (2013). Poverty and individual deprivation as predictors of self-rated health over time. Australasian Epidemiologist, 20(2), (pp. 37-38). [Abstract]

2012

Journal - Research Article

Carter, K. N., Imlach-Gunasekara, F., McKenzie, S. K., & Blakely, T. (2012). Differential loss of participants does not necessarily cause selection bias. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 36(3), 218-222. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2012.00867.x

Gunasekara, F. I., Carter, K., & Blakely, T. (2012). Comparing self-rated health and self-assessed change in health in a longitudinal survey: Which is more valid? Social Science & Medicine, 74(7), 1117-1124. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.11.038

Gunasekara, F. I., Carter, K. N., Liu, I., Richardson, K., & Blakely, T. (2012). The relationship between income and health using longitudinal data from New Zealand. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 66(6), e12. doi: 10.1136/jech.2010.125021

Journal - Research Other

Imlach Gunasekara, F., & Carter, K. (2012). Persistent deprivation in New Zealand children: Results from longitudinal survey data. New Zealand Medical Journal, 125(1362). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Imlach Gunasekara, F., & Carter, K. (2012). Persistent low income in New Zealand children: Results from longitudinal survey data. New Zealand Medical Journal, 125(1362). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Wilson, N., & Imlach Gunasekara, F. (2012). Fortify minimum alcohol prices with excise tax. BMJ, 344, e2723. doi: 10.1136/bmj.e2723

2011

Journal - Research Article

Imlach Gunasekara, F., Butler, S., Cech, T., Curtis, E., Douglas, M., Emmerson, L., Greenwood, R., Huse, S., Jonggowisastro, J., Lees, C., … McConnell, D., Mogos, A., Azmy, N. I. M., Newman, S., & O'Donnell, K. (2011). How do intoxicated patients impact staff in the emergency department? An exploratory study. New Zealand Medical Journal, 124(1336). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/124-1336/4710/content.pdf

Gunasekara, F. I., Carter, K., & Blakely, T. (2011). Change in income and change in self-rated health: Systematic review of studies using repeated measures to control for confounding bias. Social Science & Medicine, 72(2), 193-201. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.10.029

Journal - Research Other

Wilson, N., Sloane, K., Imlach Gunasekara, F., & Thomson, G. (2011). Portrayal of tobacco in televised music videos: Content analysis and trends [Letter]. New Zealand Medical Journal, 124(1343). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/124-1343/4890/content.pdf

Wilson, N., Imlach Gunasekara, F., & Thomson, G. (2011). The benefits and harms of alcohol use in New Zealand: What politicians might consider [Viewpoint]. New Zealand Medical Journal, 124(1336). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/124-1336/4706/content.pdf

Wilson, N., & Imlach Gunasekara, F. (2011). New Zealand's alcohol plan is less than ″half hearted″ [Letter]. BMJ, 342, d2147. doi: 10.1136/bmj.d2147

Sloane, K., Imlach Gunasekara, F., & Wilson, N. (2011). Consistently cheap alcohol: National data on discounts for an 8-week period [Letter]. New Zealand Medical Journal, 124(1329). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/124-1329/4553/content.pdf

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Gunasekara, F. I., Carter, K., & McKenzie, S. (2011). Differences in health and health inequalities between Australia and New Zealand: A working paper. Proceedings of the Hilda Survey “10th Anniversary” Research Conference. Retrieved from http://melbourneinstitute.com/miaesr/events/conferences/conferences_HILDA_2011.html

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Carter, K., Gunasekara, F. I., McKenzie, S., & Blakely, T. (2011). Differential loss of participants does not necessarily cause selection bias. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 65(Suppl. 1), (pp. A180). doi: 10.1136/jech.2011.142976f.99

2010

Journal - Research Other

Imlach Gunasekara, F., & Wilson, N. (2010). Very cheap drinking in New Zealand: Some alcohol is more affordable than bottled water and nearly as cheap as milk [Letter]. New Zealand Medical Journal, 123(1324). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/123-1324/4396/content.pdf

Imlach Gunasekara, F., Wilson, N., & Edwards, R. (2010). Is New Zealand lagging behind other OECD countries in measures to reduce alcohol-related harm? [Letter]. New Zealand Medical Journal, 123(1321). Retrieved from http://journal.nzma.org.nz/journal/123-1321/4330/content.pdf

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Gunasekara, F., Carter, K., & Blakely, T. (2010, September-October). How do changes in income affect the health of the poor and the chronically ill? Poster session presented at the Australasian Epidemiological Association (AEA) Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney, Australia.

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Imlach Gunasekara, F. (2010). Rich and well, poor and sick? The relationship between income and self-rated health from the New Zealand household panel Survey of Family, Income and Employment (SoFIE) (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. 521p.

2009

Journal - Research Article

Carter, K. N., Blakely, T., Collings, S., Gunasekara, F. I., & Richardson, K. (2009). What is the association between wealth and mental health? Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 63(3), 221-226. doi: 10.1136/jech.2008.079483

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Gunasekara, F. I., Carter, K., Blakely, T., & Liu, I.-M. (2009). Determining the effect of change in income on self-rated health using regression models “ordered, linear, fixed or random”? Proceedings of the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) Conference. (pp. 9-10). Retrieved from http://www.iser.essex.ac.uk/files/conferences/bhps/2009/BHPS2009_Abstracts.pdf

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Imlach Gunasekara, F., Carter, K., Richardson, K., & Blakely, T. (2009). Do changes in income affect self-rated health? Proceedings of the New Zealand Public Health Association Annual Conference: Research & Values: The Underpinnings of Public Health Practice. (pp. 38). Retrieved from http://www.pha.org.nz/phaconference.html

Gunasekara, F. I. (2009). What affects self-rated health over time in New Zealand: Money, jobs or family? Australasian Epidemiologist. 16(2), (pp. 72). [Abstract]

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Gunasekara, F. I. (2009, September). Do changes in income really influence health? Poster session presented at the Third Annual Division of Health Sciences Research Forum, Wellington, New Zealand.

2008

Journal - Research Other

Gunasekara, F. I., Carter, K., & Blakely, T. (2008). Glossary for econometrics and epidemiology. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 62(10), 858-861.

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Imlach Gunasekara, F., Blakely, T., & Carter, K. (2008). Do income changes over time affect changes in self-rated health? Proceedings of the Population Health Congress. (pp. 31-35). Maroochydore, Australia: Australian Health Promotion Association. [Full Paper]