Improving Palliative Care For People After Acute Stroke
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$96,653.00
Summary
Stroke is a leading cause of death, disability and is a symptom burden worldwide. It impacts patients and their families in various ways, including physical, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects. Stroke outcome is uncertain and decision making complex. To date, there is no integrated concept for palliative care in stroke that addresses the appropriate moment to start palliative care for stroke patients.
Understanding The Experience Of Making Decisions For Persons With Dementia And Their Carers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$71,110.00
Summary
This project aims to explore concepts of value, meaning, and experience of the diagnosis amongst sufferers of dementia through discussion of their approach to making care decisions, and reflection on how this dialogue has been conducted with others. These concepts will be assessed from the perspective of diagnosed sufferers, their primary carers and their diagnosing doctors.
Using Novel Causal Inference Approaches To Improve Decision-making In Infectious Diseases Epidemiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$76,365.00
Summary
Health care professionals face challenges in infectious diseases(ID) treatment and control from rapid spread of drug-resistant pathogens. Most evidence has come from randomised clinical trials (RCT); however, these are expensive to run, and their generalisability has been questioned. Causal inference methods are available to address this issue, but the uptake of these methods in ID has been limited. This study aims to utilise these epidemiological modelling to enhance the quality of future RCTs.
Evaluating A Clinical Information Tool That Supports Patients’ Decision Making For Treatment Of End Stage Kidney Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$80,222.00
Summary
Chronic Kidney Disease is responsible for approximately 10% of deaths in Australia and this rate is increasing. There is also a growing number of people over 65 who are progressing to end stage kidney disease (ESKD). For some elderly people dialysis treatment may not be in their best interest. This research will develop and evaluate an evidence-based information tool to assist elderly people and their families in making appropriate decisions regarding treatment options in management of ESKD.
Encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain tissue, is a complex disease and children are the most commonly affected. The Australian Childhood Encephalitis (ACE) Study, a national surveillance study, aims to describe the burden and characteristics of this disease in Australian children. The Discovery of Infectious aetiologies in Cryptic Encephalitis (DICE) study aims to perform cutting edge diagnostic tests and provide a new understanding of the infectious basis to encephalitis in Australia.
The Impact Of The Life Trajectory Of Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates On Moral Distress Of Healthcare Professionals Within Neonatal Intensive Care Units
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$46,622.00
Summary
The provision of care to the smallest and least mature babies (known as Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates) within neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) is recognised as a frequent source of distress to family and healthcare professionals alike. This study aims to explore how illness severity of preterm babies and predictions of the babies’ long-term outcomes impacts moral distress of doctors and nurses within NICUs. The results of this study will guide interventions to reduce its presence.
Analysing The Influence And Effective Strategies Of Lobbyists On Health Policy In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$72,940.00
Summary
The rising costs of poor nutrition to society are well documented, as are cost effective solutions to these issues. Despite this, very little federal money gets directed to public health nutrition. One way to change this imbalance is through advocacy work. This study will explore the private sector and its effective use of advocacy in influencing public health policy in Australia. Key elements that can be utilised by those with limited resources to influence policy change will be determined.
An Exploration Of The Nature And Meaning Of Informal Communities In Cancer Treatment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,745.00
Summary
The interactions that occur in cancer treatment with other patients, family members and staff are often unavoidable. Recent research examining patient's interactions has demonstrated the importance of these communications, as social support, a forum to exchange information and ideas, and a gathering of people facing the same challenges. This study aims to examine the role of these interactions between patients, staff and family members to explore the purposes and effects of these interactions.
Communication, Quality Of Life And Advance Care Planning For People With Motor Neurone Disease And Their Caregiver.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$108,902.00
Summary
People with motor neurone disease experience devastating deterioration in movement, communication, swallowing and ultimately breathing. Research is required to determine if the advance care planning (ACP) process for people with MND is impacted by communication impairment. This study will build evidence to improve the ACP process for this vulnerable patient group. It also aims to investigate the impact communication impairment has on caregivers’ quality of life in order to improve carer support.
Lung Volume Recruitment In Neuromuscular Disease: Can Breath-stacking Improve Lung Function, Respiratory Symptoms And Quality Of Life In People With Neuromuscular Disorders?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$108,845.00
Summary
Difficulty taking deep breaths or coughing are two of the breathing complications people with a neuromuscular disease can face. Lung volume recruitment, also known as breath-stacking, is a simple and inexpensive therapy that may help. This research will look at the short and medium-term effects of breath-stacking exercises on the breathing system. If lung volume, chest stiffness and cough effectiveness improve then symptoms, quality of life and potentially survival are likely to be better.