A Randomised, Double Blinded Intervention Study To Assess Health Effects Of Drinking Water From Rainwater Tanks
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$860,510.00
Summary
We are planning to perform a study in Adelaide to assess if drinking untreated rainwater causes a health risk. Eight years into a drought Australia's water sources are becoming increasingly depleted, so we need to reduce water consumption and consider using alternative sources of water. Increased use of rainwater is one of a number of solutions available. However, current recommendations state that rainwater can be safely used for purposes other than drinking, but because of potential contaminat ....We are planning to perform a study in Adelaide to assess if drinking untreated rainwater causes a health risk. Eight years into a drought Australia's water sources are becoming increasingly depleted, so we need to reduce water consumption and consider using alternative sources of water. Increased use of rainwater is one of a number of solutions available. However, current recommendations state that rainwater can be safely used for purposes other than drinking, but because of potential contamination and limited evidence regarding safety, drinking untreated rainwater is not approved by state health departments. The main outcome of this study will be to determine whether drinking untreated water from rainwater tanks poses a significant health risk. Additionally, we will determine if specific tank or maintenance characteristics can be identified that increase illness risk. The study design consists of following the health of 300 families who drink unboiled rainwater. Families will have a special tap installed that draws water through a water treatment unit (WTU). Half the families will have a working WTU and half will have a sham unit identical in appearance. The functional units sterilise water to remove any microorganisms present, while the sham filters have no effect. All participating families will keep a health diary for one year to record how often they suffer gastroenteritis. Neither the families nor the research workers will know which type of filter has been fitted. Water samples will be collected from selected households. At the end of a year the number of illnesses in the two groups will be compared. If those drinking rainwater from a sham filter suffer more often, then rainwater would be implicated as a source of gastroenteritis. This study will provide health authorities with a better understanding of the relationship between rainwater consumption and human health, and will provide data regarding safe uses of this alternative water source.Read moreRead less
Improving Outcomes For Patients Receiving Outpatient Chemotherapy Through A Shared Care Pathway Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$623,887.00
Summary
Many cancer patients receiving chemotherapy treatment continue to experience serious side effects at home, where they struggle to self-manage and often go to hospital after symptoms have worsened. We have developed an innovative clinical pathway involving the provision of home-based assessment, clinical care and advice by community nurses, which aims to help patients without creating new health service positions. Our study will test if the pathway decreases unplanned hospital visits, improves pa ....Many cancer patients receiving chemotherapy treatment continue to experience serious side effects at home, where they struggle to self-manage and often go to hospital after symptoms have worsened. We have developed an innovative clinical pathway involving the provision of home-based assessment, clinical care and advice by community nurses, which aims to help patients without creating new health service positions. Our study will test if the pathway decreases unplanned hospital visits, improves patient well-being and is cost-effective.Read moreRead less
Using Health Literacy (HL) Approaches To Develop And Apply Interventions To Improve Health Services And Generate Equitable Health Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,209.00
Summary
Health literacy is the ability to find, understand and use health information and healthcare services effectively. The Fellowship will advance the understanding of health literacy. It will determine how poor health literacy might cause health inequalities and with this information, develop and test interventions to improve the response of the healthcare system. The research will make it easier for disadvantaged and vulnerable people to get care, be understood and have their needs recognised and ....Health literacy is the ability to find, understand and use health information and healthcare services effectively. The Fellowship will advance the understanding of health literacy. It will determine how poor health literacy might cause health inequalities and with this information, develop and test interventions to improve the response of the healthcare system. The research will make it easier for disadvantaged and vulnerable people to get care, be understood and have their needs recognised and met.Read moreRead less
Integrated Kids Hubs - Ensuring Equity of Access for Children. The Integrated Kids Hubs - Ensuring Equity of Access for Children project aims to determine if integrated Hubs are effective in increasing access to child and family services for disadvantaged urban and regional families with children aged 3 years and under, thus improving early identification of developmental vulnerability, parental wellbeing and capacity, and addressing unmet psychosocial needs. If these issues are not identified a ....Integrated Kids Hubs - Ensuring Equity of Access for Children. The Integrated Kids Hubs - Ensuring Equity of Access for Children project aims to determine if integrated Hubs are effective in increasing access to child and family services for disadvantaged urban and regional families with children aged 3 years and under, thus improving early identification of developmental vulnerability, parental wellbeing and capacity, and addressing unmet psychosocial needs. If these issues are not identified and addressed early, these children will go on to struggle in school and life. We will use a pragmatic trial design (meaning the research is embedded in our usual practice), determine the social return on investment, and establish what is needed to scale up the Hubs across NSW and Australia.Read moreRead less
Medicine-associated Dementia And Cognitive Impairment: Identifying The Problem, Reducing The Harm
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$513,116.00
Summary
Several studies have shown an association between use of anticholinergic or sedative medicines and increased risk of dementia. Questions remain about whether these medicines cause dementia (or are just used by people already at risk), whether or not cognitive function improves if the medicines are stopped or if the dose is reduced, and the characteristics of patients most likely to use these medicines. This program of research aims to answer these questions.
Improving The Control Of Hypertension In Rural India: Overcoming The Barriers To Diagnosis And Effective Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,059,784.00
Summary
We know little about barriers to the control of high blood pressure in rural regions of low income countries. These rural areas differ in the proportion of people with high blood pressure, the risk factors for high blood pressure and most likely the barriers to good treatment of blood pressure. We aim to find out what these barriers are, and develop and test a program that can be used to improve control of high blood pressure in very diverse settings.
Preventing mental health problems in children: a population-based cluster controlled trial. The National Mental Health Survey (2000) found 1 in 7 children have externalising (aggression) and internalising (anxiety, depression) problems. Early mental health problems beget later problems with high costs to society, including clinical, remedial education and criminal justice services. Hence, early prevention is vital for national well-being and productivity. The few preventive early childhood progr ....Preventing mental health problems in children: a population-based cluster controlled trial. The National Mental Health Survey (2000) found 1 in 7 children have externalising (aggression) and internalising (anxiety, depression) problems. Early mental health problems beget later problems with high costs to society, including clinical, remedial education and criminal justice services. Hence, early prevention is vital for national well-being and productivity. The few preventive early childhood programs to date are limited in effectiveness and not truly population-based. The proposed parenting / family support trial aims to overcome these obstacles, by comparing and costing two approaches that can be implemented within whole communities. The trial will help clarify optimal primary care to prevent mental health problems early in life.Read moreRead less
Delivery of child health care to families outside hospitals is of increasing importance in Australia. In many poor countries it makes the difference between death and survival. Bringing in depth knowledge and capacity from working in disadvantaged communities in Australia, Africa and the UK, Dr Edmond will develop a timely action research agenda to understand the barriers to care outside hospitals and how to improve access, participation and child health outcomes in Western Australia