What Do Australians Think About Privacy And Participation In Epidemiological Research?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,015.00
Summary
There is very little research available, in Australia or internationally, about what the general public considers privacy to be; or how important privacy protection is in the context of high and low risk epidemiological studies. We also know little about what affects willingness to participate in epidemiological research. Our research will provide an evidence base, and develop resources for the legislature, the NHMRC, ethics committees and researchers.
Health Care Priorities: The Community's Preferences For Using Community Preferences
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$52,355.00
Summary
Determining how health care resources should be allocated - often termed rationing or priority setting - has traditionally been carried out by health care personnel, usually doctors but increasingly managers. More recently there has been a move to involve the general public in this process. Much of the research in this area has focussed on the methods used to elicit community preferences. While this is an important area of investigation, a prior issue of how community members feel about the use ....Determining how health care resources should be allocated - often termed rationing or priority setting - has traditionally been carried out by health care personnel, usually doctors but increasingly managers. More recently there has been a move to involve the general public in this process. Much of the research in this area has focussed on the methods used to elicit community preferences. While this is an important area of investigation, a prior issue of how community members feel about the use of their preferences in informing health care priorities needs to be investigated. Four specific questions will be addressed in this study: (i) do members of the general public feel that, as individuals, they have a legitimate role to play in informing priority decisions in health care? if so why? if not, why not? (ii) does the nature-level-setting of the decisions for which priorities are to be set affect whether individual members of the public would wish to participate in the priority setting process? (e.g. different health services, medical procedures-treatments, diseases) (iii) whose preferences should be used if not the community's? (iv) faced ex post with the preferences of the community and the preferences (possibly different) of health service decision makers (i.e. Oexperts'), does this knowledge affect preferences for having community preferences count? A number of health authorities are currently looking for ways of engaging local communities in health care decision making. This study will indicate the appropriate levels at which community preferences are to be elicited and the type of decisions and settings in which they are most relevant.Read moreRead less
What Determines Patients' Adherence To Treatment In Cardiovascular Disease Prevention? A Process Evaluation Of The Kanyini_GAP Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$254,251.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability in Australia with a disproportionate burden borne by Aboriginal populations. Despite the existence of proven treatments, adherence to therapy is a major problem. Based on the use of well-established survey methods involving patients, GPs and pharmacists the study seeks to better understand the reasons for non-adherence and why different strategies to address this may or may not be effective.
Calling The Tune? Investigating Corporate Influences On Media Reporting Of Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,016.00
Summary
This project will examine and evaluate the relationships between Australian journalists and health-related industries (pharmaceutical, medical devices-diagnostics, complementary medicines, food and alcohol) in order to determine the extent to which, and ways in which, these relationships influence the health-related information received by health professionals and the Australian public. The project aims to inform strategies to improve industry and journalistic policy and practices.
Measuring Patient Preferences For Treatment Of Colorectal Cancer Using Discrete Choice Modelling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$188,912.00
Summary
Around the world, governments, medical professional bodies, individual clinicians and patients are trying to make decisions in health care more rationally. More of these decisions are 'informed' by evidence-based medicine, which depends on a systematic review of all relevant evidence of acceptable scientific rigour. This kind of systematic review has been conducted for the management of colorectal cancer. Patients making choices about possible treatment for colorectal cancer will then have the b ....Around the world, governments, medical professional bodies, individual clinicians and patients are trying to make decisions in health care more rationally. More of these decisions are 'informed' by evidence-based medicine, which depends on a systematic review of all relevant evidence of acceptable scientific rigour. This kind of systematic review has been conducted for the management of colorectal cancer. Patients making choices about possible treatment for colorectal cancer will then have the best 'evidence-based' information to hand. But not enough is known about what aspects of the treatment options matter most to patients. Choosing between different treatment options involves weighing up or trading-off different factors associated with each therapy. Depending on the clinical stage of their cancer, patients may have to choose between the type and size of surgical operation, whether or not to have chemotherapy and-or radiotherapy, the side effects of treatment, the chance of a recurrence of the disease and an early death as well as their quality of life. This research project will ask patients who have already been treated for their colorectal cancer what kind of tradeoffs they make between factors such as disease-free survival, toxicity of treatment and longer term quality of life. This will be done using hypothetical clinical scenarios comparing one type of treatment to another. In this way, the hypothetical choices will be informed by the patient's experience with treatment without asking them to reflect or dwell directly on their own treatment choices. The answers to the hypothetical choice questions can be used to assess what factors in treatment are most important to patients and by how much. This information can then be used by clinicians when presenting evidence-based information on treatment for patients newly diagnosed colorectal cancer.Read moreRead less
Deconstructing DTCA: Towards A Differentiated Policy Response To Direct-to-Consumer Advertising In Australia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,760.00
Summary
Spending on prescription pharmaceuticals is the fastest growing part of the health budget. In recent years attention has shifted to the impact of direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) on consumer demand and drug costs. Although DTCA is prohibited in Australia, it is clear that different types of DTCA are occurring. This study will examine the nature and range of DTCA, review the benefits and harms of DTCA, and identify the perspectives of major stakeholders regarding DTCA. The study will culmina ....Spending on prescription pharmaceuticals is the fastest growing part of the health budget. In recent years attention has shifted to the impact of direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) on consumer demand and drug costs. Although DTCA is prohibited in Australia, it is clear that different types of DTCA are occurring. This study will examine the nature and range of DTCA, review the benefits and harms of DTCA, and identify the perspectives of major stakeholders regarding DTCA. The study will culminate in a national workshop which will develop a differentiated set of recommendations for responding to different types and modes of DTCA. This is likely to lead to better health policy and to resources that may assist consumers and health professionals deal with DTCA.Read moreRead less