PEACH: Patient Engagement And Coaching For Health: An Intensive Treatment Intervention For Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$304,300.00
Summary
Diabetes care is a partnership between health professionals and patients, but each faces difficulties in optimising medical care. The PEACH study exoplores how practice nurses can work with patients to empower them to manage their own condition and medicines better and be more active in working with their doctor to improve their diabetes control. The study could have important implications for patients and the way Governments fund primary care.
A Multilevel Study Of Socioeconomic Position And Physical Activity: Environmental And Individual-level Determinants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$429,000.00
Summary
Regular physical activity offers many health benefits, whereas inadequate activity is a leading cause of premature death and disability and a major contributor to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. Socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are least likely to be physically active, and they experience higher rates of death and morbidity for conditions directly linked to inactivity. Currently, our understanding of why socioeconomic groups differ in their physical activity is limited ....Regular physical activity offers many health benefits, whereas inadequate activity is a leading cause of premature death and disability and a major contributor to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. Socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are least likely to be physically active, and they experience higher rates of death and morbidity for conditions directly linked to inactivity. Currently, our understanding of why socioeconomic groups differ in their physical activity is limited, and very little research has investigated this issue. This study will investigate why socioeconomic groups differ in their physical activity, by examining the influence of neighbourhood and individual-level factors. Neighbourhood factors include people's access to recreational facilities such as swimming pools, tennis courts, golf clubs, gyms, local parks, walking and bicycle paths; prices for entry to recreational facilities and opening hours; physical characteristics of the neighbourhood including public transport, presence of footpaths and street lighting, speed limits on local streets, availability of local services such as shops and schools, and; aesthetic characteristics, such as the presence and size of parks and green spaces, and traffic density. Individual factors include personal enjoyment, knowledge, confidence, type of occupation and hours worked, family responsibilities, age, health status, and whether other family member or friends engage in physical activity. A major aim of the study is to determine whether environmental or individual factors are more important in influencing participation in physical activity. The study will produce new knowledge to inform future public health strategies directed at increasing physical activity among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, and these will have the potential to reduce socioeconomic health inequalities, as well as contribute to an overall reduction of the disease burden attributable to chronic conditions.Read moreRead less
The Ecstasy Check-Up: A Multi-site Trial Of A Brief Intervention For Ecstasy Use Among Regular Ecstasy Users
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$458,432.00
Summary
Rates of ecstasy use have continued to rise rapidly over the past 10-15 years, particularly among young people. This is of concern, as several studies indicate that ecstasy is associated with a range of short- and long-term harms. Although many users acknowledge risks associated with ecstasy use, few users seek treatment. Therefore, the current project will aim to reduce ecstasy use and harm by providing non-treatment seeking ecstasy users with a brief motivational intervention.
The Feasibility And Effectiveness Of A Family-based Intervention For Indigenous Australians With Alcohol Dependence.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$218,291.00
Summary
This study aims to determine the feasibility of implementing a family-based intervention in an Indigenous community-controlled health service in rural NSW and it's level of acceptability to Indigenous patients. The expected main benefits of implementing the family-based intervention are increases in the percentage of Indigenous individuals with alcohol dependence entering and engaging in evidence-based treatment.
A Randomised Trial Assessing A Shade Development Intervention In Secondary Schools For Adolescent Skin Cancer Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$709,615.00
Summary
Skin cancer is a significant burden to health costs, and morbidity and mortality in Australia. Reduction of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in sunlight, particularly during childhood and adolescence is an important strategy for preventing skin cancer in later life. Adolescents have been particularly resistant to skin cancer prevention messages. Despite a high knowledge of skin cancer, the majority of Australian adolescents report a reliance on sunscreen, a resistance to hat wearing, and ....Skin cancer is a significant burden to health costs, and morbidity and mortality in Australia. Reduction of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in sunlight, particularly during childhood and adolescence is an important strategy for preventing skin cancer in later life. Adolescents have been particularly resistant to skin cancer prevention messages. Despite a high knowledge of skin cancer, the majority of Australian adolescents report a reliance on sunscreen, a resistance to hat wearing, and commonly experience sunburn, an important indicator of increased risk of skin cancer. Psycho-social interventions have shown limited influence on adolescents' sun protective behaviours to date. The current research proposal explores an alternative approach to psycho-social interventions for adolescents. The study will assess the effect of increasing available shade at secondary schools. In a randomised control trial study design, the change in the number of students using certain outdoor areas at intervention schools will be observed 'before' and 'after' the installation of built shade sail structures. Our main hypothesis states that the number of students using these newly shaded areas in intervention schools will increase compared with use of equivalent unshaded areas in control schools. Shade development is increasingly becoming an issue for secondary schools and given both the high cost of providing shade structures and adolescents' resistance to other forms of sun protection it is important to establish that adolescents will use this form of sun protection. This study will determine whether adolescents actively avoid or seek shade and so provide evidence for informing decisions about further investment in shade provision in schools.Read moreRead less
Evaluation Of An Instrument For Management Of Behavioural And Psychological Symptoms Of Dementia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$598,468.00
Summary
Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) distress the patient and others. The behaviours, and not the underlying causes, are often treated with antipsychotics, despite side effects and low efficacy. An assessment instrument for care staff to determine and address causes of BPSD will be implemented. We predict training will reduce inappropriate prescribing and other reasons for distress. Where medication is required, detailed information will assist more targeted prescribing.
Comorbid Affective Disturbance In A Model Of Absence Epilepsy - Shared Causation Linked To Morphological Abnormality?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$502,650.00
Summary
People with epilepsy commonly suffer from severe mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety. These disturbances are underdiagnosed and undertreated, and are often more debilitating than the epilepsy. This project will investigate whether treatment of psychiatric disturbance with antidepressants also results in reduced seizure incidence in an animal model of epilepsy. Results generated from the study will provide clinicians strong rationale for aggressive treatment of such mood complaints.