Whiplash injury incurs a huge health burden on Australia as many people do not recover well. This project aims to implement and evaluate a Clinical Pathway of Care for whiplash injury that guides primary care providers in their assessment and treatment of people with acute whiplash. This will improve health ouctomes and recovery following the injury.
Improving Evidence Based Care For Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$533,442.00
Summary
There is an urgent need to improve care for men with advanced prostate cancer if we wish to improve their survival. Compelling new evidence suggests we need to alter current practice by offering radiotherapy to high risk men – but will clinicians change their practice? We will develop and test ways to change practice within a network of 9 hopsitals. The study will provide crucial evidence about how to embed the recommended care into practice to improve outcomes for men with prostate cancer.
Improving Patient Management Pathways In Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$181,065.00
Summary
Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision impairment in Australians aged over 50 years. In recent years, there have been a number of diagnostic tests and new interventions developed for AMD, but it has proven challenging to communicate this information to all primary eye care practitioners. This project will investigate the reasons management guidelines are not always being followed, and develop online training to provide direct bench-to-bedside AMD education.
A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Of Nurse And General Practitioner Partnership For Care Of COPD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$449,377.00
Summary
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic disease that can progress to severe disability and use of hospital services. It is an important cause of both death and disability in Australia. Specifically it is the third leading cause of disease burden after heart disease and stroke. Smoking is the most important cause of the disease and there is strong evidence that smoking cessation will largely prevent progression of COPD. National evidence based guidelines for management of COPD w ....Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic disease that can progress to severe disability and use of hospital services. It is an important cause of both death and disability in Australia. Specifically it is the third leading cause of disease burden after heart disease and stroke. Smoking is the most important cause of the disease and there is strong evidence that smoking cessation will largely prevent progression of COPD. National evidence based guidelines for management of COPD were published in 2003 but these need to be implemented in the community. General practice is well placed to have a key role in early intervention and evidence based management of COPD. There is evidence that specialised nurses working in collaboration with GPs can improve the care the chronic illnesses including COPD. Care Plans with input from health professionals from a range of disciplines have been recommended for COPD but there are barriers to implementing these in general practice. This project brings together nurse assistance and care planning in a model of care designed to deliver best practice management of COPD in the community. The aim of this research is to evaluate the impact of anurse and GP partnership for care of COPD. We will examine the effect on quality of care and health outcomes at 6 and 12 months follow up. Our hypothesis is that the use of a nurse to work as a team with the patient and GP to develop and implement a care plan based on clinical practice guidelines will improve the quality of care received and have a beneficial effect on the patients' respiratory and overall health. This research will be of major significance for improving COPD care in the community and will have far reaching implications for both policy and practice. It will also define a new role for nurses and GPs working in partnership.Read moreRead less
Implementing Guidelines To Routinely Prevent Chronic Disease In General Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$764,446.00
Summary
High quality, evidence-based guidelines for preventive activities and for the implementation of prevention in general practice have been developed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and other bodies, yet available information suggests that many patients miss out on evidence-based preventive care. This project aims to evaluate current practice and develop a model of practice aimed at improving the implementation of preventive guidelines in general practice.
The Centre for Research Excellence in Nursing Interventions for Hospitalised Patients will provide evidence to improve the nursing care of a broad range of hospitalised patients who are at risk of complications related to compromised skin integrity and poor pain/anxiety management. Systematic reviews and clinical trials will provide the basis for developing clinical practice guidelines to assist nurses in providing high quality care to the 3.5 million Australians admitted to hospital each year.
Improving Strategies To Support Pregnant Aboriginal Women To Quit Smoking
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$380,891.00
Summary
The overall objective of this project is to produce new knowledge about effective strategies for decreasing the smoking rates in pregnant Aboriginal women. The studies aim to: 1. Understand pregnant Aboriginal smokers attitudes to and experiences of using quit smoking methods 2. Understand what behaviour change techniques may be useful for pregnant Aboriginal women who smoke 3. Explore clinicians’ knowledge, attitudes and practices of providing behavioural counselling and nicotine replacemen
Electronic Decision Support For Osteoporosis Care To Assist Clinicians And Patients In Primary Care And Hospitals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$598,570.00
Summary
Currently there is so much health information for doctors and consumers to sift through important health conditions can be missed. In a world first, a computer decision aid is being developed that will link risk factors for fracture and osteoporosis with the latest scientific evidence about investigations and treatment. It’s not just for doctors but also for the public; with a consumer decision aid being developed to place the latest scientific evidence about osteoporosis at your fingertips.
A Pilot Dementia Clinical Quality Registry To Improve Dementia Clinical Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,571,501.00
Summary
Clinical Quality Registries collect health data about the quality of clinical care and assist the implementation and monitoring of clinical guidelines into practice. Registries can identify variations in clinical care across geographical areas, facilitate further research into a condition, and help refine and develop new guidelines over time. This proposal will test procedures and pilot a clinical quality registry for dementia, using data from a well-characterised cohort.
Evidence-based Recommendations For Interpregnancy Intervals In High-income Countries
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$423,305.00
Summary
This study will identify the optimal and harmful interpregnancy intervals for a range of maternal and child outcomes in three high-income countries. With a study population of more than 7.5 million births and a longitudinal study design that matches pregnancies to the same women, this study will inform new interpregnancy interval recommendations for high-income countries that will lead to a reduction in avoidable excess morbidities attributable to uninformed pregnancy planning.