‘Agents Of Change’: Improving Post Diagnosis Care For People With Dementia And Their Carers Through The Establishment Of A National Quality Collaborative To Implement Guideline Recommendations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$770,518.00
Summary
This project aims to improve outcomes for people with dementia and their carers by focussing on three areas of post diagnostic care: exercise, multicomponent occupational therapy to promote independence and carer support programs. We will establish networks with health professionals at a variety of organisations across Australia and work with these health professionals to improve care practices within their organisation.
Developing A Sustainable Community Based Response To Asbestos-related Diseases In Aboriginal Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$623,155.00
Summary
Asbestos-related disease in remote Aboriginal communities where asbestos mining has occurred over many decades is an under-recognised problem. In contrast to many occupationally-exposed groups, little is known or published on the burden of disease affecting these communities and health program responses based on good science are underdeveloped. This project will support two Aboriginal community-controlled primary health care services to: estimate the number of people affected in local communitie ....Asbestos-related disease in remote Aboriginal communities where asbestos mining has occurred over many decades is an under-recognised problem. In contrast to many occupationally-exposed groups, little is known or published on the burden of disease affecting these communities and health program responses based on good science are underdeveloped. This project will support two Aboriginal community-controlled primary health care services to: estimate the number of people affected in local communities; find the best way to diagnose and manage lung and asbestos disease and prevent complications; advocate for affected individuals, families and communities. Rather than the usual 'in-out' health survey, this research project will build the capacity of local communities and health service to implement and sustain holistic responses.Read moreRead less
Patterns Of Cancer Care For Indigenous People In NSW
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,690,636.00
Summary
Cancer is the second biggest killer of Indigenous Australians: for some cancers the mortality rate is more than 3 times higher in Aboriginal people and overall it is 60% higher. While differences in stage at diagnosis and the type and duration of care received by Aboriginal people may contribute to the higher mortality, this has not been studied in detail. New South Wales has the largest Aboriginal population in Australia. Reliable and current data on cancer care for NSW Aboriginal people will a ....Cancer is the second biggest killer of Indigenous Australians: for some cancers the mortality rate is more than 3 times higher in Aboriginal people and overall it is 60% higher. While differences in stage at diagnosis and the type and duration of care received by Aboriginal people may contribute to the higher mortality, this has not been studied in detail. New South Wales has the largest Aboriginal population in Australia. Reliable and current data on cancer care for NSW Aboriginal people will allow health services to better target cancer care. The aims of this project are: to determine whether Aboriginal people are being diagnosed with cancer at later stages; to describe the barriers to Aboriginal people being diagnosed earlier and accessing cancer care; to describe the care that Aboriginal people with cancer are currently receiving; and to compare their level and types of care with that received by non-Indigenous people. We will conduct four studies to address these aims. We will conduct interviews with Aboriginal people diagnosed with cancer and Aboriginal health workers who look after people with cancer to find out about their perceptions and experiences of Aboriginal people dealing with cancer. We will analyse a data set containing records from the NSW Central Cancer Registry and hospital admission records for people living in NSW. Treatments for cancer for Aboriginal and non-Indigenous people will be compared. This analysis will be complemented by an examination of records at Aboriginal Medical Services to obtain information on other treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy and referrals to specialists. We will also conduct a population-based patterns of care study where questionnaires seeking information about the diagnostic tests performed and types of treatment given will be sent to doctors who have treated Aboriginal people with cancer. In addition, information will be obtained from Aboriginal people with newly diagnosed cancer about the clinical pathway that led to the diagnosis.Read moreRead less
An Integrated Health-sector Strategy To Combat COPD And Asthma In Vietnam: A Pragmatic Stepped Intervention Cluster Randomized Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,894,349.00
Summary
Chronic lung diseases are a major challenge for resource limited settings. In Vietnam, where smoking rates in males are around 50%, there is an urgent need for better strategies to prevent and treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. We will perform a study of a low-cost integrated intervention including a health-system based smoking cessation program and the targeted use of proven therapy for COPD and asthma - inhaled corticosteroids - to reduce the burden of lung disease.
Optimising Pharmaceutical Care For People With Dementia In Acute Care Settings
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$719,637.00
Summary
Delivering appropriate acute care services for people with dementia is a major healthcare challenge in Australia. People with dementia do not receive appropriate care in hospitals and are more likely to experience worse clinical outcomes compared to people without dementia. This proposal will establish the first large-scale multi-centre cohort of inpatients with dementia, to systematically investigate the impact of hospitalisation on prescribing, clinical and patient-centred outcomes.
RARE-Bestpractices: Best Practices For Management Of Rare Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$640,231.00
Summary
Although by definition rare, over 8000 rare diseases affect approximately 1.2 million Australians. Patient care has suffered from fragmented approaches and lack of information available to health professionals. This project brings together major experts on rare diseases to improve the translation of scientific progress into tangible benefits for patients. The ultimate impact of this work will be the significant improvement of health outcomes and quality of life for rare disease patients and redu ....Although by definition rare, over 8000 rare diseases affect approximately 1.2 million Australians. Patient care has suffered from fragmented approaches and lack of information available to health professionals. This project brings together major experts on rare diseases to improve the translation of scientific progress into tangible benefits for patients. The ultimate impact of this work will be the significant improvement of health outcomes and quality of life for rare disease patients and reducing inequality in care.Read moreRead less
ELders AT Ease Program (ELATE): A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Of A Sustainable And Scalable Mental Health Service For Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$999,551.00
Summary
Elders living in residential facilities suffer significant levels of depression or anxiety. This study examines an innovative program to improve mental health of residents living in such facilities. The program involves counselling, staff training and family support. The study uses a cluster randomised controlled trial of facilities to evaluate the impact of ELATE: Elders at Ease Program” on residents’ psychological wellbeing, staff knowledge, family carer stress and, health care costs.
Multidimensional Assessment Of The Health Impacts Of Infrasound: Two Randomised Controlled Trials
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,943,934.00
Summary
The human health impact of infrasound that comes from wind turbines has not been well researched. We will assemble a team of researchers with a broad range of expertise to run a short term and longer term study to investigate whether exposure to infrasound causes health problems. The short term study will be lab based and run for three one week periods and the longer term study will be community based and run for six months. Sleep quality, balance, mood, cardiovascular health will be measured.
Long-term Outcome Of Individuals Who Had A First-episode Psychosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,344,905.00
Summary
The long-term illness course and outcomes of patients treated for first episode psychosis are poorly understood especially in terms of important domains such as social and vocational functioning, physical health, and quality of life. This treated cohort study of a sample of 786 patients, 15 years after their first episode of psychosis will be one of the longest and largest conducted to date. Results of the study will inform clinical practice and policy development.
Personalised Prognostic Tools For Early Psychosis Management (PRONIA)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$401,739.00
Summary
Psychosis can be a devastating illness with harmful long-term consequences, such as chronic schizophrenia. To avoid distress, deterioration, and potential disability, we need more accurate tools to personalise treatment for individuals by understanding their prognosis. The PRONIA project will help to improve methods of predicting outcomes by working with our European colleagues to create a cybernetic prognostic system for psychosis that uses brain imaging, genetics, cognition, and clinical marke ....Psychosis can be a devastating illness with harmful long-term consequences, such as chronic schizophrenia. To avoid distress, deterioration, and potential disability, we need more accurate tools to personalise treatment for individuals by understanding their prognosis. The PRONIA project will help to improve methods of predicting outcomes by working with our European colleagues to create a cybernetic prognostic system for psychosis that uses brain imaging, genetics, cognition, and clinical markers.Read moreRead less