The Quality Of Surgical Care Project: Quality Assurance, Clinical Audit And Outcomes Evaluation In Western Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$346,018.00
Summary
The Quality of Surgical Care Project (QSCP) is a unique quality assurance program in Australia which promotes best practice in surgical and procedural care. The objectives of the QSCP are to evaluate the outcomes of surgical procedures in Western Australia (WA) and to compare them with international standards. The QSCP was established in 1996, as a collaborative venture among the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), the Department of Public Health, (UWA) and the Health Department of WA ....The Quality of Surgical Care Project (QSCP) is a unique quality assurance program in Australia which promotes best practice in surgical and procedural care. The objectives of the QSCP are to evaluate the outcomes of surgical procedures in Western Australia (WA) and to compare them with international standards. The QSCP was established in 1996, as a collaborative venture among the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), the Department of Public Health, (UWA) and the Health Department of WA. The QSCP is only possible because of the unique population-based record linkage available in this state and is consistent with priorities identified in the National Health Information Development Plan in the areas of record linkage and health outcomes, as well as with the monitoring of interventions recommended by the Taskforce on Quality in Australian Health Care. The surgical procedures reviewed are selected to include a broad range of surgical specialties on the basis of national priority, in consultation with the RACS and with input from the Australian Safety and Efficacy Register of New Interventional Procedures-Surgical (ASERNIP-S). This application proposes to continue the core program in promoting best practice in procedural care by reviewing selected procedures including the outcomes of laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures, and endoluminal stenting surgery due to their rapid proliferation during the 1990's. This second stage of the QSCP proposes the introduction of two new quality assurance themes. Firstly, to promote the clinical safety and post-implementation surveillance of new surgical interventions and other medical technology by establishing the WA Registry and Surgical Audit of New Surgical Interventions. Secondly, to comprehensively and independently audit all surgical mortality at a population level. A dissemination strategy will be established to 'complete the loop' in the evaluation and audit processes.Read moreRead less
Biomedical methods to prevent HIV include vaccines, gels used vaginally or rectally, oral medicines taken before or after potential exposure to HIV, and male and female condoms. We aim to investigate the impact of several such prevention methods, both on HIV transmission in Australia and on the behaviour of people using these technologies. Potential users' knowledge and attitudes towards such products will be explored. Results will contribute to the design of future HIV prevention studies.
This fellowship aims to develop evidence-based clinical and public health approaches to the control of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. Projects include identifying optimal treatment approaches to drug resistant tuberculosis by using meta-analyses; analysing the cost-effectiveness of strategies to prevent drug resistant tuberculosis; understanding transmission of drug resistance within households and implementing a major clinical trial of antibiotic therapy to prevent the disease.
Centre Of Clinical Research Excellence In Renal Medicine
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,000,000.00
Summary
This Centre aims to answer important research questions such as: Does screening for early renal disease prevent kidney failure? Does renal disease in Aboriginal people begin in early childhood? What causes transplanted kidneys to fail? With the worldwide editorial base of the Cochrane Renal Group, the editorial base on the National Guidelines on Renal Disease and close links with the Master of Medicine (Clinical Epidemiology) program at the University of Sydney, this Centre will also provide pro ....This Centre aims to answer important research questions such as: Does screening for early renal disease prevent kidney failure? Does renal disease in Aboriginal people begin in early childhood? What causes transplanted kidneys to fail? With the worldwide editorial base of the Cochrane Renal Group, the editorial base on the National Guidelines on Renal Disease and close links with the Master of Medicine (Clinical Epidemiology) program at the University of Sydney, this Centre will also provide proven mechanisms for clinical research training and translation of research findings into clinical practice.Read moreRead less
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.
Clinical Trials Advances For Better Health Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$8,012,612.00
Summary
The NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre (CTC) aims to use clinical trials and methodological research in trials to improve health in Australia and internationally. Its research program will initiate major new clinical trials and a comprehensive program of research into trial methods, biostatistical analysis, health outcome analysis and decision analysis. Patient preferences and decision making, particularly in cancer, will be a focus. CTC uses data from its own and other clinical trials in combined ana ....The NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre (CTC) aims to use clinical trials and methodological research in trials to improve health in Australia and internationally. Its research program will initiate major new clinical trials and a comprehensive program of research into trial methods, biostatistical analysis, health outcome analysis and decision analysis. Patient preferences and decision making, particularly in cancer, will be a focus. CTC uses data from its own and other clinical trials in combined analyses to arrive at better evidence. The NHMRC program grant will allow important research studies to be integrated with trials funded from industry and other sources and will maintain the CTC’s internationally competitive research team at the cutting edge of new trial methods and systems.Read moreRead less
Regenerative Neuroscience Strategies For Healthy Brain Ageing And Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,652.00
Summary
Promotion of healthy brain ageing and prevention of dementia are amongst Australia's greatest medical challenges and of utmost concern to the public. This Fellowship will support a multidisciplinary approach to these challenges based around regenerative neuroscience. Valenzuela's group is a world leader in the science and practice of brain plasticity, and will lead twelve interlinked studies aimed at developing better ways to prevent dementia.
This fellowship will allow the applicant to continue his studies into understanding and intervening in osteoarthritis. He will use a combination of observational studies and clinical trials to achieve this purpose.
Reducing Deaths From Pesticide Poisoning - Establishing A Regional Toxicology Research Centre.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$739,727.00
Summary
The World Health Organization estimates suggest nearly half a million people die from acute pesticide poisoning in the Asia-Pacific region each year. The Sri Lankan project will be the first attempt to systematically test whether a range of strategies can reduce long-term neurological damage and deaths from pesticides. The Australian-Sri Lankan Collaboration will, over the next five years, aim to improve assessment of sub-acute and long-term morbidity; promote 'evidence-based' treatment; develop ....The World Health Organization estimates suggest nearly half a million people die from acute pesticide poisoning in the Asia-Pacific region each year. The Sri Lankan project will be the first attempt to systematically test whether a range of strategies can reduce long-term neurological damage and deaths from pesticides. The Australian-Sri Lankan Collaboration will, over the next five years, aim to improve assessment of sub-acute and long-term morbidity; promote 'evidence-based' treatment; develop new antidotes (and assess their cost effectiveness), and see if pesticide regulation can reduce the rate of severe or fatal poisoning. If successful, this program may become a model for the region as to how to substantially reduce this largely hidden tragedy.Read moreRead less