Australian Vietnam Veterans Health Study: Cohort Wave 2
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$575,250.00
Summary
Military records show that Australia has committed troops to war since the time of the Boer War, continuing commitments through World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Malaya Emergency, the Vietnam Conflict, the Gulf War, and numerous peacekeeping operations across the world, yet there has never been an epidemiological cohort study that tracked the path of their health and their lives after their return. This study will provide an approximate 10-year followup of an established cohort of Austral ....Military records show that Australia has committed troops to war since the time of the Boer War, continuing commitments through World Wars I and II, the Korean War, the Malaya Emergency, the Vietnam Conflict, the Gulf War, and numerous peacekeeping operations across the world, yet there has never been an epidemiological cohort study that tracked the path of their health and their lives after their return. This study will provide an approximate 10-year followup of an established cohort of Australian Vietnam veterans, which was the first such study ever conducted of returned Australian servicemen. It will test diagnostic stability and chart the trajectory of health and welfare over time in the men and relate this to possible causal determinants including military service, combat deployment and trauma exposure, post traumatic stress disorder and alcohol disorders. It will also allow us to examine the role of their previous health state, determined 10 years ago, in relation to their current health state. Data and methodology from the Australian Bureau of Statistics national surveys on physical and mental health will be incorporated so that comparisons can be made with Australian population data for the study group. Significantly, wave 1 preceded automatic compensation for veterans for cancer and PTSD; provoked the DVA's national survey that led to a $32M government program response; fed into the DVA mental health policy; fed into the Army selection guidelines for overseas service via the Psychology Corps; fed into DVA policy re Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service. Wave 2 will continue this informative process as the cohort ages. This study will provide a firmer basis for treatment of war veterans and others whose lives are visited by trauma, physical ill-health, alcohol disorders, or mental health problems in adulthood.Read moreRead less
Optimising Care For Patients Diagnosed With Pancreatic Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,399,839.00
Summary
There is evidence from previous research in Queensland and NSW that elements of care provided to patients with pancreatic cancer are sub-optimal. We aim to improve compliance with evidence-based guidelines in Victoria and NSW by collecting high quality data, providing reports to hospitals benchmarking their performance against peers and working with health services to reduce variation. Making sure care known to improve practice is being delivered is as important as developing new targeted thera
Exploring Barriers To Radiotherapy Utilization And Developing A Patient Reported Tool To Measure The Inconvenience Associated With Accessing And Utilising Radiotherapy Services
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
Understanding how much inconvenience patients will accept in order to gain an outcome benefit radiotherapy (RT), may help understand & improve access to RT, influence doctors� attitudes on referring for RT & enhance shared decision making. RT related choices are important to all patients but likely to be particularly relevant to those from rural & remote areas. This research will explore perceptions of RT & develop a tool to measure RT-related inconvenience.
Reducing Demand On Emergency Departments In The Last Year Of Life
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$371,049.00
Summary
People in their last year of life who attend emergency departments (EDs) could often be better cared for elsewhere. Our severely overcrowded EDs, and the staff who work in them, are poorly equipped to provide appropriate end-of-life care. This research describes how people in their last year of life use EDs, the impact of this use upon ED services and how the provision of adequate primary care and supportive care services in the community care may be a more appropriate and economically viable op ....People in their last year of life who attend emergency departments (EDs) could often be better cared for elsewhere. Our severely overcrowded EDs, and the staff who work in them, are poorly equipped to provide appropriate end-of-life care. This research describes how people in their last year of life use EDs, the impact of this use upon ED services and how the provision of adequate primary care and supportive care services in the community care may be a more appropriate and economically viable option for people at the end-of-life.Read moreRead less
Investigating Rising Demand For Emergency Health Care With An Ageing Population
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$311,860.00
Summary
The increase and acceleration in demand for emergency healthcare by the elderly is a key issue facing health policy makers. This fellowship will compare utilisation of emergency health services by elderly populations of two large Australian cities, Perth and Melbourne; and test whether an Emergency Department (ED)-based intervention reduces the likelihood of re-presentation to ED and/or hospital admission to hospital. The results will provide valuable information for service providers and policy ....The increase and acceleration in demand for emergency healthcare by the elderly is a key issue facing health policy makers. This fellowship will compare utilisation of emergency health services by elderly populations of two large Australian cities, Perth and Melbourne; and test whether an Emergency Department (ED)-based intervention reduces the likelihood of re-presentation to ED and/or hospital admission to hospital. The results will provide valuable information for service providers and policy makers.Read moreRead less
Development Of A Palliative Care Service For Rural And Remote Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$150,000.00
Summary
This project will develop, implement and evaluate a new model of providing palliative care to individuals in rural and remote communities that will utilise existing health and community resources to provide palliative care. As the number of patients requiring palliation in rural and remote communities is small, the service may not function at all times but come together (pop-up) as required. Evaluation of the model in three different types of rural communities will be undertaken in three states ....This project will develop, implement and evaluate a new model of providing palliative care to individuals in rural and remote communities that will utilise existing health and community resources to provide palliative care. As the number of patients requiring palliation in rural and remote communities is small, the service may not function at all times but come together (pop-up) as required. Evaluation of the model in three different types of rural communities will be undertaken in three states (New South Wales, Queensland and West Australia). Phase I will develop a framework to assist rural communities undertake a critical palliative care service review. Phase II will implement and evaluate the model, leading to recommendations for provision of best practice palliative care more generally in rural communities.Read moreRead less