Dr Andrew McCombie, Our people, University of Otago, Christchurch, University of Otago, New Zealand

Research Officer and Data Analyst (Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand) and Honorary Senior Research Fellow (UOC)

BSc BA(Hons)(Cant)PhD(Otago)

Dr Andrew McCombie works in the Department of Surgery on various projects in inflammatory bowel disease and bowel cancer. He is a Research Officer and Data Analyst for Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand and Honorary Senior Research Fellow for the University of Otago, Christchurch.

Andrew has previously completed a long term follow up of ileal pouch surgeries performed in Canterbury in the past two decades from which two papers were published. He and Associate Professor Tim Eglinton translated the information from this study into a patient information brochure for ulcerative colitis patients considering ileal pouch surgery.

In addition to supervising and advising on numerous projects, Andrew is also presently driving studies about quality of life (10Ten Study) and mindfulness (CALM Study) in the domain of bowel cancer. He is also driving a project in predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression in major trauma patients who present to Christchurch Hospital.

Andrew has also driven projects in questionnaire validation, patient education resources, and smartphone app development.

Outside the academic environment, Andrew assists in the use of Scope and Cortex at Christchurch Hospital.

Andrew can assist with study design, study protocol writing, funding applications, navigating Māori consultation and ethics committee processes, basic-to-medium level statistics, data collection and extraction, and preparing papers for publication.

In 2014 Andrew completed his PhD in the psychological aspects of inflammatory bowel disease.

He has previously been a board member for Crohn’s and Colitis New Zealand and presently sits on the Executive for The New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology.

Research interests

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)
Bowel cancer
Psychology
Quality of Life
Psychological distress, depression, and anxiety
Smartphone apps (IBDsmart and IBDoc)
Patient education and translation of technical medical information
Computerised psychological interventions
Questionnaire writing and validation
Online questionnaire building
Randomized controlled trials
Systematic reviews (smartphone apps for IBD; computerised cognitive behavioural therapy for physical illnesses; coping strategies of IBD patients; psychotherapy for IBD)
Traumatic injury
Study design

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Publications

McCombie, A., Jordan, J., Mulder, R., Dee, K., Ong, E. L., Fernandez Zimmermann, F., Frampton, C., & Frizelle, F. (2023). A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness in recovery from colorectal cancer. Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s11655-023-3632-1

Lee, M. S., Purcell, R., McCombie, A., Frizelle, F., & Eglinton, T. (2023). Retrospective cohort study of the impact of faecoliths on the natural history of acute appendicitis. World Journal of Emergency Surgery, 18, 18. doi: 10.1186/s13017-023-00486-8

Cameron-Dunn, S., Fisher, C., Joyce, L., Huria, T., & McCombie, A. (2022, November). Outcome measures of Māori patients presenting with dental pain to Christchurch Emergency Department: An equity review. Poster session presented at the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) Spring Symposium, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Fisher, C., Sutcliffe, O., Coghlan, P., McCombie, A., & Joyce, L. (2022, November). Choosing wisely: The management of non-traumatic dental procedures at a tertiary centre in New Zealand. Poster session presented at the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) Spring Symposium, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Lo, K., Joyce, L., & McCombie, A. (2022, November). Does activating a trauma team improve trauma processes? Poster session presented at the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) Spring Symposium, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Journal - Research Article

Arnold, L., Whiteley, L., Hudson, B., McCombie, A., Coulter, G., Hegarty, J., & Eglinton, T. (2022). Evaluation of community-based CT abdomen for acute abdominal pain during COVID-19. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1557), 10-18. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

Journal - Research Article

Buchanan, J., McCombie, A., Connor, S., & Eglinton, T. (2022). Improving operative documentation in colorectal cancer surgery: Synoptic notes pave the way forward. ANZ Journal of Surgery. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/ans.17643

Journal - Research Article

Chou, E., McCombie, A., & Eglinton, T. (2022). Hospital based specialists' perspectives of teleconsultation use during COVID-19 pandemic. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1556), 94-103. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Evans, S., Olive, L., Dober, M., Knowles, S., Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, M., O, E., … Gearry, R., McCombie, A., … Mikocka-Walus, A. (2022). Acceptance commitment therapy (ACT) for psychological distress associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Protocol for a feasibility trial of the ACTforIBD programme. BMJ Open, 12, e060272. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060272

Journal - Research Article

Kim, E., Fernando, C., McCombie, A., Bailey, W., Frizelle, F., Glyn, T., Porter, C., Wakeman, C., & Creagh, T. (2022). Abdominal and perineal hernia rates following vertical rectus abdominis myocutaneous (VRAM) flap reconstruction : A supraregional experience. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 75, 1158-1163. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2021.11.002

Journal - Research Article

Nonis, M., McCombie, A., Wakeman, C., Fleischer, D., & Joyce, L. (2022). Trauma team activation: Improved care of major trauma patients. New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1562), 78-92. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/

Journal - Research Article

Bothara, R. K., Raina, A., Carne, B., Walls, T., McCombie, A., Ardagh, M. W., & Joyce, L. R. (2021). Paediatric presentations to Christchurch Hospital Emergency Department during COVID-19 lockdown. Journal of Paediatrics & Child Health, 57, 877-882. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15347

Journal - Research Article

Fan, D., Scowcroft, H., McCombie, A., Duncan, R., & Wakeman, C. (2021). A comparison of major trauma admissions to Christchurch Hospital during and after COVID-19 lockdown in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1540), 46-55. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Gearry, R. B., McCombie, A. M., Vatn, M., Rubin, D. T., Steinwurz, F., Loftus, E. F., … the World Gastroenterology Organization. (2021). What are the most challenging aspects of inflammatory bowel disease? An international survey of gastroenterologists comparing developed and developing countries. Inflammatory Intestinal Diseases, 6(2), 78-86. doi: 10.1159/000512310

Journal - Research Article

Joyce, L. R., Richardson, S. K., McCombie, A., Hamilton, G. J., & Ardagh, M. W. (2021). Mental health presentations to Christchurch Hospital Emergency Department during COVID-19 lockdown. Emergency Medicine Australasia, 33, 324-330. doi: 10.1111/1742-6723.13667

Journal - Research Article

McCombie, A. M., Frampton, C. M., & Frizelle, F. A. (2021). Quality of life preferences in colorectal cancer patients aged 80 and over. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 91, 1859-1865. doi: 10.1111/ans.16739

Journal - Research Article

Raina, A., Carne, B., Bothara, R., McCombie, A., Gee, P., & Joyce, L. (2021). Paediatric exploratory ingestion presentations to Christchurch Hospital emergency department during 2019. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1541), 45-56. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Reynolds, M., McCombie, A., Jeffery, M., Mulder, R., & Frizelle, F. (2021). Impact of burnout on empathy. New Zealand Medical Journal, 134(1530), 12-20. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Turner, G. A., O'Grady, M. J., Senadeera, S. C., Wakeman, C. J., McCombie, A., Purcell, R. V., & Frizelle, F. A. (2021). The prevalence of right-sided colonic diverticulosis in a New Zealand population. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 91, 2110-2114. doi: 10.1111/ans.16995

Journal - Research Article

Glyn Mullaney, T., McCombie, A., Wakeman, C., Eglinton, T., & Gearry, R. (2020). Surveillance for dysplasia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: An updated national survey of colonoscopic practice in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1517), 56-65. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Hackett, R., Gearry, R., Ho, C., McCombie, A., Mackay, M., Murdoch, K., … Inns, S. (2020). New Zealand national audit of outpatient inflammatory bowel disease standards of care. Clinical & Experimental Gastroenterology, 13, 285-292. doi: 10.2147/CEG.S259790

Journal - Research Article

Jones, C., Wadham, B., Morriss, W., McCombie, A., Evans, M., & Wakeman, C. (2020). An audit of fluid resuscitation practice in trauma patients with major haemorrhage at Christchurch Hospital. New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1525), 11-17. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Article

Lopez, R. N., McCombie, A., Gearry, R. B., & Day, A. S. (2020). Impact of a camp upon disease-specific knowledge and quality of life in children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory Intestinal Diseases, 5, 65-69. doi: 10.1159/000505918

Journal - Research Article

McCombie, A., Walmsley, R., Barclay, M., Ho, C., Langlotz, T., Regenbrecht, H., Gray, A., … Inns, S., & Schultz, M. (2020). A noninferiority randomized clinical trail of the use of the smartphone-based health applications IBDsmart and IBDoc in the care of inflammatory bowel disease patients. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 26(7), 1098-1109. doi: 10.1093/ibd/izz252

Journal - Research Article

Paulides, E., Daker, C., Frampton, C., Gearry, R. B., Eglinton, T., de Boer, N. K. H., … McCombie, A. M. (2020). Overcoming workplace disability in IBD patients: An observational study. Inflammatory Intestinal Diseases, 5(2), 84-92. doi: 10.1159/000506702

Journal - Research Article

Richard, L., Noller, G., Derrett, S., Sullivan, T., Doolan-Noble, F., McCombie, A., Schultz, M., Ho, C., & Stokes, T. (2020). Patients' accounts of living with and managing inflammatory bowel disease in rural Southern New Zealand: A qualitative study. BMJ Open, 10, e041789. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-041789

Journal - Research Article

Waddell, O., McCombie, A., & Frizelle, F. (2020). Colostomy and quality of life after spinal cord injury: Systematic review. BJS Open, 4, 1054-1061. doi: 10.1002/bjs5.50339

Journal - Research Article

Wall, C. L., McCombie, A., Mulder, R., Day, A. S., & Gearry, R. B. (2020). Adherence to exclusive enteral nutrition by adults with active Crohn’s disease is associated with conscientiousness personality trait: A sub-study. Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, 33(6), 752-757. doi: 10.1111/jhn.12787

Journal - Research Article

Karim, S., Porter, J. A., McCombie, A., Gearry, R. B., & Day, A. S. (2019). Transition clinics: An observational study of themes important to young people with inflammatory bowel disease. Translational Pediatrics, 8(1), 83-89. doi: 10.21037/tp.2019.01.04

Journal - Research Article

Paulides, E., Gearry, R. B., de Boer, N. K. H., Mulder, C. J. J., Bernstein, C. N., & McCombie, A. M. (2019). Accommodations and adaptations to overcome workplace disability in inflammatory bowel disease patients: A systematic review. Inflammatory Intestinal Diseases, 3(3), 138-144. doi: 10.1159/000495293

Journal - Research Article

Paulides, E., Kim, C., Frampton, C., Gearry, R. B., Eglinton, T., Leong, R. W., … McCombie, A. M. (2019). Validation of the inflammatory bowel disease disability index for self-report and development of an item-reduced version. Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 34, 92-102. doi: 10.1111/jgh.14496

Journal - Research Article

Wall, C. L., McCombie, A. M., Gearry, R. B., & Day, A. S. (2019). Newly diagnosed Crohn's disease treated with standard care or enteral nutrition: Psychological outcomes over 6 months. Inflammatory Intestinal Diseases, 4(1), 7-13. doi: 10.1159/000497323

Journal - Research Article

Wright-McNaughton, M., ten Bokkel Huinink, S., Frampton, C. M. A., McCombie, A. M., Talley, N. J., Skidmore, P. M. L., & Gearry, R. B. (2019). Measuring diet intake and gastrointestinal symptoms in irritable bowel syndrome: Validation of the Food and Symptom Times diary. Clinical & Translational Gastroenterology, 10, e00103. doi: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000103

Journal - Research Article

Asl Baakhtari, S., McCombie, A., Ten Bokkel Huinink, S., Irving, P., Siegel, C. A., Mulder, R., … Gearry, R. (2018). Observational study of perspectives of inflammatory bowel disease patients concerning the use of corticosteroids. Digestive Diseases, 36(1), 33-39. doi: 10.1159/000478772

Journal - Research Article

McCombie, A. M., Frizelle, F., Bagshaw, P. F., Frampton, C. M., Hewett, P. J., McMurrick, P. J., … on behalf of the ALCCaS Trial group. (2018). The ALCCaS Trial: A randomized controlled trial comparing quality of life following laparoscopic versus open colectomy for colon cancer. Diseases of the Colon & Rectum, 61(10), 1156-1162. doi: 10.1097/dcr.0000000000001165

Journal - Research Article

Lee, Y., McCombie, A., Gearry, R., Frizelle, F. A., Vanamala, R., Leong, R. W., & Eglinton, T. (2016). Disability in restorative proctocolectomy recipients measured using the inflammatory bowel disease disability index. Journal of Crohn's & Colitis, 10(12), 1378-1384. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjw114

Journal - Research Article

McCombie, A., Gearry, R., Andrews, J., Mulder, R., & Mikocka-Walus, A. (2016). Does computerized cognitive behavioral therapy help people with inflammatory bowel disease? A randomized controlled trial. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 22(1), 171-181. doi: 10.1097/mib.0000000000000567

Journal - Research Article

McCombie, A., Langlotz, T., Barclay, M., Walmsley, R., Regenbrecht, H., & Schultz, M. (2016). Systematic review of IBD smartphone apps for symptom monitoring and communication with healthcare professionals. Journal of mHealth, 3(3), 36-41. Retrieved from http://www.thejournalofmhealth.com/

Journal - Research Article

McCombie, A., Lee, Y., Vanamala, R., Gearry, R., Frizelle, F., Mckay, E., Williman, J., & Eglinton, T. (2016). Early postoperative complications have long-term impact on quality of life after restorative proctocolectomy. Medicine, 95(27), e3966. doi: 10.1097/md.0000000000003966

Journal - Research Article

McCombie, A., Swaminathan, A., Mulder, R., Frampton, C., Kortlever, T., & Gearry, R. (2016). The IBD-Cope: A new instrument for measuring coping in inflammatory bowel disease patients. Journal of Crohn's & Colitis, 10(6), 678-686. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjw028

Journal - Research Article

McCombie, A. M., Mulder, R. T., & Gearry, R. B. (2015). Coping strategies and psychological outcomes of patients with inflammatory bowel disease in the first 6 months after diagnosis. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, 21, 2272-2280. doi: 10.1097/mib.0000000000000476

Journal - Research Article

McCombie, A., Gearry, R., Andrews, J., Mikocka-Walus, A., & Mulder, R. (2015). Computerised cognitive behavioural therapy for psychological distress in patients with physical illnesses: A systematic review. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, 22(1), 20-44. doi: 10.1007/s10880-015-9420-0

Journal - Research Article

McCombie, A., Gearry, R., & Mulder, R. (2014). Preferences of inflammatory bowel disease patients for computerised versus face-to-face psychological interventions. Journal of Crohn's & Colitis, 8(6), 536-542. doi: 10.1016/j.crohns.2013.11.011

Journal - Research Article

McCombie, A. M., Mulder, R. T., & Gearry, R. B. (2013). How IBD patients cope with IBD: A systematic review. Journal of Crohn's & Colitis, 7(2), 89-106. doi: 10.1016/j.crohns.2012.05.021

Journal - Research Article

McCombie, A. M., Mulder, R. T., & Gearry, R. B. (2013). Psychotherapy for inflammatory bowel disease: A review and update. Journal of Crohn's & Colitis, 7(12), 935-949. doi: 10.1016/j.crohns.2013.02.004

Journal - Research Article

Fulforth, J., Gearry, R., on behalf of the CCNZ #wecantwait committee, including Stein, R., & McCombie, A. (2022). Inequitable access to IBD therapies extends beyond developing nations. Journal of Crohn's & Colitis, 16(1), 173-174. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjab108

Journal - Research Other

McCombie, A., Arnold, M., O'Connor, M., Stein, R., Fulforth, J., Brown, B., & Gearry, R. (2020). Why does Pharmac neglect inflammatory bowel disease? New Zealand Medical Journal, 133(1527), 111-115. Retrieved from https://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Journal - Research Other

McCombie, A., Gearry, R. B., Lopez, R. N., Lönnfors, S., & Day, A. S. (2017). Enhancements in confidence, acceptance, and friendship at a summer camp for children with inflammatory bowel disease [Short communication]. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition, 65(3), 311-313. doi: 10.1097/mpg.0000000000001526

Journal - Research Other

Buchanan, J., McCombie, A., & Eglinton, T. (2022). Synoptic versus narrative operative reporting of colorectal cancer-specific quality measures. Colorectal Disease, 24(Suppl. 1), (pp. 87). doi: 10.1111/codi.16048