A Geographic Approach To Measuring Social Deprivation And Health Care Need For Primary Health Care Policy And Planning
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$148,213.00
Summary
Understanding how and where people use and access health services, and how social disadvantage affects this is important for planning and providing primary health care services. Presenting information as maps is an effective way to explore and communicate these issues. This research program will use a geographic and map-based approach to understanding patterns of health service use and social disadvantage, to assist in developing primary health care policy.
Dental Service Utilisation In Young Adults: A Function Of Need, Health Behaviours Or Socio-demographic Variables?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$58,190.00
Summary
Over the past 20 years there have been significant gains made in the oral health of children, with the majority of 12 year olds in Australia in 1996 having no dental decay. There are however some indications that young adulthood may have become a period of increased risk of dental disease, as young adults leave home, become increasingly independent, have financial pressures whilst establishing themselves and change their diet and other habits. In 1998-99 a baseline study was conducted on a sampl ....Over the past 20 years there have been significant gains made in the oral health of children, with the majority of 12 year olds in Australia in 1996 having no dental decay. There are however some indications that young adulthood may have become a period of increased risk of dental disease, as young adults leave home, become increasingly independent, have financial pressures whilst establishing themselves and change their diet and other habits. In 1998-99 a baseline study was conducted on a sample of Adelaide young adults 20-24 years using telephone interviews and oral examinations. Data was obtained on dental visiting patterns, socio-economic status, living arrangements, and health behaviours such as smoking and playing sport, as well as oral health. This study seeks to follow-up the sample of 1265 young adults who were interviewed in 1998-99 to ascertain any changes in oral health and utilisation of dental services. Data on socio-economic status, living arrangements and health behaviours will also be collected to determine whether any changes in those factors may explain changes in visiting behaviour and oral health. In addition participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire on satisfaction with dental care. Permission will be sought to gain access to participants School Dental Service records to determine whether any relationship exists between childhood visiting patterns and those in adulthood. This study will enable identification of the factors which affect oral health and dental utilisation in young adults to assist in the development of oral health promotion strategies to encourage timely, effective and appropriate dental service utilisation and preventive behaviours. To improve the oral health of Australians the maintenance of gains made in childhood is essential.Read moreRead less
The Western Australian Record Linkage Project: Population-Based Studies Of Health System Utilisation And Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$975,923.00
Summary
Through the unique combination of the WA Record Linkage Project and research expertise applied consistently over a 5 year period, the project will provide information on the health system's performance, which is difficult to obtain in any other way. Five priority themes will be developed: (1) INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH CARE, in particular a better understanding of the effects of social disadvantage, lack of private health cover and living in rural and remote areas on health care access and outcomes. ....Through the unique combination of the WA Record Linkage Project and research expertise applied consistently over a 5 year period, the project will provide information on the health system's performance, which is difficult to obtain in any other way. Five priority themes will be developed: (1) INEQUALITIES IN HEALTH CARE, in particular a better understanding of the effects of social disadvantage, lack of private health cover and living in rural and remote areas on health care access and outcomes. (2) PREVENTABLE INPATIENT TIME through research into the causes of preventable inpatient time and the role of the hospital and general practice in reducing these risks. (3) PROMOTING BEST PRACTICE IN SURGICAL and PROCEDURAL CARE through systematic evaluation of the appropriateness and outcomes of surgical procedures. (4) CLINICAL SAFETY AND POST-IMPLEMENTATION SURVEILLANCE to ensure the safety of new technology. Finally, (5) METHODOLOGIC DEVELOPMENTS to provide better methods of record linkage to evaluate the health system. The project is consistent with priorities set in the National Health Information Development Plan in record linkage and health outcomes, as well as the monitoring of interventions recommended by the Taskforce on Quality in Australian Health Care, and the national agenda given to the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care. The work will examine health system access and outcomes for five of the six focus areas chosen by the Australian health ministers. Moreover, the results will be used to advocate on behalf of vulnerable populations in a country that prides itself on universal access to high quality health services. In view of the relevance of the project to existing priorities, and the unique opportunities afforded by the WA Record Linkage Project, a substantial, beneficial impact on health policy and practice is anticipated, as well as new research methods and findings that will contribute to international knowledge.Read moreRead less
Gudaga Project: Understanding The Health, Development, And Service Use Of Aboriginal Children In An Urban Environment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,424,845.00
Summary
The Gudaga project is a birth cohort of Aboriginal children that will be followed from 18 months to 5 years and describe their health, development and service (health and children's) use. This is the first study of its kind in Eastern Australia. The research team are working closely with stakeholders in Aboriginal health care including the Aboriginal community to implement the research. The research will contribute to services for Aboriginal children in the local and wider community.
The burden of kidney disease in Australia is rising. Differences in the burden, patterns of care and outcomes of kidney disease for people in rural and urban regions, along with the tools to address these differences, remain poorly understood. Research exploring patient, provider and health system barriers to equitable care is required if health outcomes are to improve.
The Gudaga Study is a unique study of Aboriginal children in an urban environment on the eastern seaboard of Australia. Children were recruited at birth and have been followed up at 6-monthly intervals to age 5 years. This research aims to describe the health, early learning and service context of these urban Aboriginal children from 5 to 9 years. Detailed longitudinal data on Aboriginal children's early life experiences have not previously been collected in an urban setting.
Smoking Attributable Health Service Use Among Australian Subpopulations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$302,123.00
Summary
Research from overseas indicates that the health impact of smoking might be greater in certain groups of the Australian population. In order to test this hypothesis, this research aims to determine whether smoking has a greater impact in individuals of lower socioeconomic status, residents of rural or remote areas, people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, and/or individuals with certain ethnic backgrounds. This will help to provide support for programs designed to reduce harm a ....Research from overseas indicates that the health impact of smoking might be greater in certain groups of the Australian population. In order to test this hypothesis, this research aims to determine whether smoking has a greater impact in individuals of lower socioeconomic status, residents of rural or remote areas, people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, and/or individuals with certain ethnic backgrounds. This will help to provide support for programs designed to reduce harm arising from smoking in these groups.Read moreRead less
Economic Evaluation Of The Costs And Benefits Of Options For Publicly Funded Dental Care Provision In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$219,135.00
Summary
Governments and administrators of public dental services (PDS) currently address resource allocation problems with little guidance from the public. This project will provide evidence of population priorities that can underpin planning for public dental care and provide direction for priorities in PDS A cost-benefit analysis of dental care, to guide future decisions, will be conducted by comparing the community's willingness to pay for dental services and the cost of providing those services.