Electronic Portable Health File (PHF) To Promote Quality Of Care And Workflow Through Continuity Of Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$694,745.00
Summary
The medical of older individuals with chronicdiseases and with multiple doctors is complex and burdensome for the patient. We have done work where the patient is given charge of a portable personal health record that he-she can update as needed and care givers update at ofiice visits. The preliminary work is positive. Two types have been investigated, an electronic patient health file (on a data stick) and a wallet size booklet. Both have been found accceptable. The goal of this project is to se ....The medical of older individuals with chronicdiseases and with multiple doctors is complex and burdensome for the patient. We have done work where the patient is given charge of a portable personal health record that he-she can update as needed and care givers update at ofiice visits. The preliminary work is positive. Two types have been investigated, an electronic patient health file (on a data stick) and a wallet size booklet. Both have been found accceptable. The goal of this project is to see if short term acceptability and satisfaction will translate into later improved outcomes such as a reduced rate of hospitalizations.Read moreRead less
I am a cardiologist and epidemiologist whose research focus is on large-scale clinical trials and epidemiological research into the prevention of cardiovascular disease, particularly in relation to treatment strategies for acute coronary syndromes, dyslip
Understanding the control of adult mosquitoes to reduce arbovirus transmission while minimising environmental and public health risk. Mosquitoes are capable of transmitting a wide range of debilitating diseases such as Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses, Murray Valley Encephalitis, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue fever and Malaria. To prevent the transmission of these diseases local authorities expend considerable resources on the control of mosquitoes. This project will increase the understan ....Understanding the control of adult mosquitoes to reduce arbovirus transmission while minimising environmental and public health risk. Mosquitoes are capable of transmitting a wide range of debilitating diseases such as Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses, Murray Valley Encephalitis, Japanese Encephalitis, Dengue fever and Malaria. To prevent the transmission of these diseases local authorities expend considerable resources on the control of mosquitoes. This project will increase the understanding of chemical control measures on adult mosquitoes and this will lead to more effective mosquito control treatments and reduce the incidence of mosquito transmitted diseases. The project will also result in a reduction in the risk from the application of pesticide to public health and the environment.Read moreRead less
Predicting Malaria and Other Vector-borne Disease Risk Using Eco-epidemiological Models. The project will benefit the nation by safeguarding public health through modelling and assessing the risk of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases such as Ross River virus and Dengue. Direct benefits will include reduced or managed risk of these mosquito-borne diseases along with a more efficient allocation of public health resources. Direct and indirect benefits will also flow to Indonesia by reducin ....Predicting Malaria and Other Vector-borne Disease Risk Using Eco-epidemiological Models. The project will benefit the nation by safeguarding public health through modelling and assessing the risk of malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases such as Ross River virus and Dengue. Direct benefits will include reduced or managed risk of these mosquito-borne diseases along with a more efficient allocation of public health resources. Direct and indirect benefits will also flow to Indonesia by reducing death and illness associated with malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. This project will further the international collaboration already begun with Indonesia and has the potential to extend into other South-East Asian countries. Read moreRead less
Sexual health promotion in Papua New Guinea: a community capacity-building approach using drama-based experiential learning methods. The Australian government is committed to developing a secure and prosperous Papua New Guinea. A major constraint to PNG's prosperity is the HIV/AIDS epidemic, fuelled by a generalised Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) epidemic. This project will build the capacity of local PNG personnel to implement, evaluate, and further develop, effective interventions based ....Sexual health promotion in Papua New Guinea: a community capacity-building approach using drama-based experiential learning methods. The Australian government is committed to developing a secure and prosperous Papua New Guinea. A major constraint to PNG's prosperity is the HIV/AIDS epidemic, fuelled by a generalised Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) epidemic. This project will build the capacity of local PNG personnel to implement, evaluate, and further develop, effective interventions based on established experiential learning modalities. Learnings from this landmark study will also provide vital information for policy makers and funding bodies in Australia and other nations, to establish more effective strategies for improving the health and wellbeing of young people and preventing the spread of STIs and HIV/AIDS.Read moreRead less
Can Lure And Kill Strategies Prevent Dengue Transmission In North Queensland, Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,621.00
Summary
Dengue fever is a growing threat to human health in the tropics. In north Queensland, 11 dengue outbreaks have resulted in 985 confirmed cases since 2000. Furthermore, 2004 saw the emergence of severe disease, with 4 cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever resulting in at least one death in the Torres Strait. The current dengue managment plan employs methods to control larvae and adults of the mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti. Adult control consists of spraying dark, protected areas inside houses and b ....Dengue fever is a growing threat to human health in the tropics. In north Queensland, 11 dengue outbreaks have resulted in 985 confirmed cases since 2000. Furthermore, 2004 saw the emergence of severe disease, with 4 cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever resulting in at least one death in the Torres Strait. The current dengue managment plan employs methods to control larvae and adults of the mosquito vector, Aedes aegypti. Adult control consists of spraying dark, protected areas inside houses and buildings with a residual pyrethroid insectcide. However, this method is laborious and exposes residents and the environment to pesticide. Our research team, funded by NHMRC project grant no. 279401, has developed lure and kill methods to kill Ae. aegypti mosquitoes using traps. These traps are baited with chemicals that attract female dengue mosquitoes trying to bite (host-seeking traps; HSTs) or trying to lay eggs (lethal ovitraps; LOs). The use of traps to kill specific target insects is termed lure and kill strategy. This strategy reduces the amount of pesticide used by 1000X, and are twice as fast to employ than house spraying. We are seeking funding to conduct a series of field trials to provide proof of concept that the lure and kill strategy will rapidly reduce populations of Ae. aegypti and thus stop dengue transmission. These trials will be conducted in the Cairns area. We will also trial a biodegradable lethal ovitrap that could be put into yards without having to return to retrieve the trap. The trap would simply biodegrade after 4 weeks, and thus pose no threat to become a mosquito breeding site once the pesticide had become ineffective. A biodegradable trap would be especially useful in the Torres Strait where return visits are costly and time consuming. Finally, we propose to trial a new paper strip device that emits vapors of the pyrethriod insecticide metofluthrin, shown to repel mosquitoes for weeks, to set in dengue case houses.Read moreRead less
Development of an 'ageing household' model for assessing medium to long-term vaccine impact in populations. As birth rates in developed and newly industrialising countries fall, so too do the number of households containing children, with implications for the spread of infections in families. We aim to study the influence of this phenomenon on the risk of common childhood infections, and the length of time that vaccines given in infancy will protect.
Predictors And Consequences Of Allergies That Impact On Children Getting A Healthy Start To Life:a Prospective Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$893,559.00
Summary
Allergic diseases prevent Australian children getting a healthy start to life by causing long term illnesses. This group of diseases includes asthma, hay fever, eczema and food allergies. Half of all Australian children are born into families with a history of these conditions and these children are at increased risk. Some of these children develop allergies while the others do not. It is also known that allergic conditions change over time, but we have no information on causes of these changes. ....Allergic diseases prevent Australian children getting a healthy start to life by causing long term illnesses. This group of diseases includes asthma, hay fever, eczema and food allergies. Half of all Australian children are born into families with a history of these conditions and these children are at increased risk. Some of these children develop allergies while the others do not. It is also known that allergic conditions change over time, but we have no information on causes of these changes. For example some infants with eczema continue to have eczema or develop hay fever and asthma, while others do not. The aim of this study is to determine what factors cause allergies and what factors influence these changes. This will provide evidence to guide health policy and clinical practice. Looking at the different conditions in family members over time is a good way to answer these types of questions, because parents and siblings share similar exposures, but not all the same genes. This helps to disentangle the effects of the environment and genes. The Melbourne Atopic Cohort Study (MACS) is amongst the world�s major studies on the development of allergies. MACS commenced in 1991-94 by recruiting 620 babies prior to birth. Only infants born into families with a history of allergic disease were included. MACS is unique because all family members and the home environment were assessed at the time of birth of the child. These children have been followed regularly over the first ten years of their life. The MACS now provides a unique opportunity to conduct a family study that can examine genes, childhood environment and individual risk factors for allergies. This will also allow exploration of the impact of allergies on families and the health care system, and how we can reduce that impact. Such information will provide evidence to guide health care policy and clinical practice. Also, the current study will provide a platform for future studies to investigate the progression of allergies in this family cohort. This will be the world's only longitudinal family follow-up of allergies that spans all of childhood. It will assist in reducing the impact of these common conditions, and the findings will be original and significant not only in Australia but also internationally.Read moreRead less