Methods For Evaluating The Therapeutic Impact Of Diagnostic Tests - Development Of Guidelines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$132,325.00
Summary
New diagnostic tests are frequently adopted in clinical practice without any evidence that they improve patient outcomes. This project will produce the first guidelines about the role and optimal design of studies assessing the impact of a new test on therapeutic decisions for conclusions about its clinical value. This work will inform researchers and clinicians to improve evidence-based diagnostic practice and promote the more efficient use of limited health care resources.
Using Broadcast Media And Internet To Increase Public Understanding And Participation In Randomized Controlled Trials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$88,442.00
Summary
Around the world consumers use the media and search the internet for information regarding health and medical care. This research program aims to evaluate the validity and applicability of internet based randomized controlled trials compared to traditional methods of conducting randomized trials. The results will help determine the future direction of internet based trials, and will enhance public awareness of methods to assess the effectiveness of health care interventions.
Improving Research Evidence Quality Using Individual Patient Data, Prospective Meta-analysis And Trial Registration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$387,489.00
Summary
The quality of evidence we use to make health care decisions can be improved if we use systematic reviews that are planned ahead, that use raw data from each participant and include all the trials that have looked at the clinical problem. This research program will utilise these three ways of obtaining better quality data and will thus make research results more reliable. In particular, we will use these techniques to address health problems in mothers and babies.
Prof Lynch is an epidemiologist interested in understanding, quantifying, developing, and applying the evidence base for universal, targeted and clinical population health interventions, particularly in early life, that will improve overall population health and reduce health inequalities.
Tracking The Impact Of Drug Regulatory Actions: Consumer Health Outcomes, Risk-benefit Issues And Policy Framework.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$439,324.00
Summary
This study will explore what happens in the community when a medicine is withdrawn from the market or discredited due to safety concerns. It will examine the impacts of two recent cases of medicine withdrawal or serious long-term safety concern, on a large cohort of women with high utilisation rates who were monitored during the time the medicines were discredited. The study will be an important guide to future regulatory, media and provider responses when medicines are discredited.
Psychosocial Disorders Of Youth: A Population-based Prospective Study Into Young Adulthood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,939.00
Summary
Much earlier work in adults has pointed to the teens as a common point at which many of the important causes of chronic disease and disability in adults begin. These include problems such as tobacco use, depression and anxiety disorders, obesity, alcohol abuse and illicit drug use. However, only a prospective study is able to clarify to what extent common health risk behaviours of teenagers pose a threat to later health and well-being and what characteristics indicate those most likely to go on ....Much earlier work in adults has pointed to the teens as a common point at which many of the important causes of chronic disease and disability in adults begin. These include problems such as tobacco use, depression and anxiety disorders, obesity, alcohol abuse and illicit drug use. However, only a prospective study is able to clarify to what extent common health risk behaviours of teenagers pose a threat to later health and well-being and what characteristics indicate those most likely to go on to problems such as nicotine dependence, recurrent depression and illicit drug abuse. The proposal deals with the follow-up ten years on of a representative sample of 2000 Victorian teenagers. Seven earlier waves of data collections have ascertained levels and risk factors for common behavioural and mental health problems in the teens and early twenties. These problems included depression and anxiety, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, illicit drug use, deliberate self-harm, obesity, eating disorder, sexually risky behaviour, intravenous drug use, antisocial behaviours and accidental injury. This follow-up of participants at the age of 24 to 25 years will ascertain persisting rates of these problems including levels of substance dependence and mental disorder. Social outcomes such as educational achievement, employment, relationships, parenthood and friendships will be ascertained. In addition mouth washes will be used to collect DNA to allow investigation of genes that may make a contribution to more severe mental disorder and substance dependency. This study will give a clear picture of the outcome and consquences of common adolescent health problems. It will also clarify further psychosocial factors that contribute to their onset or outcome. Together with an analysis of candidate genes the study should make a great contribution to the information necessary for planning effective preventive intervention.Read moreRead less
Progressing Life Course Research In Psychiatric Epidemiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$331,674.00
Summary
Mental health and alcohol disorders are major public health problems which cause long-term disabilities, poor health and early mortality. Addressing these problems requires a better understanding of the early factors leading to these disorders. This research program represents a unique opportunity to increase our knowledge of the origins of these disorders and significantly contribute to improved mental health and alcohol prevention policies and programs.
The Epidemiology Of Staphylococcus Aureus And Antibiotic Resistance In Community-acquired Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,267,784.00
Summary
Staphylococcus aureus infections range from boils to life-threatening diseases and are increasingly resistant to antibiotics and difficult to treat. This study follows patients with community-acquired S. aureus infections, and close contacts, for 24 months to see if they carry S. aureus (nose swabs) or develop infection. Our data on risk factors for colonisation and infection will help doctors decide whether to trace and treat contacts of patients to protect households from further infection.