Predictors Of Poor Professional Performance In Junior Medical Staff
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$205,902.00
Summary
Medical practitioner performance is one significant risk factor for adverse health outcomes. Medical practitioner stress has implications for practitioner performance. Among new medical graduates working in the public hospital system environmental stressors such as long working hours have traditionally been blamed as the source of stress leading to reduced performance and adverse health outcomes. However, correction of environmental stresses does not necessarily reduce junior doctors stress or i ....Medical practitioner performance is one significant risk factor for adverse health outcomes. Medical practitioner stress has implications for practitioner performance. Among new medical graduates working in the public hospital system environmental stressors such as long working hours have traditionally been blamed as the source of stress leading to reduced performance and adverse health outcomes. However, correction of environmental stresses does not necessarily reduce junior doctors stress or improve performance, implying that additional personal factors predict for poor assessed performance. Such factors may include burnout, depression, anxiety and fixed personality traits. This project will allow a detailed analysis of causal relationships between fixed personality traits, induced stress states, and external life stresses. The relationship of each of these to performance will also be determined.Read moreRead less
Microglia As Primary Drivers Of Stress-induced Changes In Neuronal Connectivity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$475,781.00
Summary
Persistent exposure to stressful events can produce serious and lasting disturbances in cognitive function. Our research group has recently identified that microglia may play a very significant role in these disturbances. The studies to be undertaken in this proposal will provide fundamental knowledge on how microglia contribute to neuronal plasticity, and how microglia via their effects on neurons regulate complex cognitive behaviour.
A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial Of The Effects Of EPA-rich Fish Oil In Chronic Work Stress
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$139,328.00
Summary
Chronic work stress doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease and depression and accounts for almost 30% of all Workers Compensation costs paid by the Australian Government. Our preliminary studies have shown (1) an inverse correlation between fish consumption and work stress, and (2) a pilot randomised controlled double-blind study demonstrated that fish oil had twice the rate of stress reduction than placebo. This study aims to show that fish oil ameliorates stress in a larger population.
An Examination Of The Relationship Between Alcohol-related Injury (ARI) And Licensed Premises
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$78,686.00
Summary
There is growing interest in acute alcohol-related problems, and especially injuries. These are often experienced by young people, frequently as a consequence of intoxication or drinking in unsafe settings. Little work has been undertaken in Australia to systematically examined alcohol-related injuries (ARIs). This study will examine ARIs, identify the frequency with which such problems present to a local hospital, record the nature of the injuries, details of the person sustaining it, and the d ....There is growing interest in acute alcohol-related problems, and especially injuries. These are often experienced by young people, frequently as a consequence of intoxication or drinking in unsafe settings. Little work has been undertaken in Australia to systematically examined alcohol-related injuries (ARIs). This study will examine ARIs, identify the frequency with which such problems present to a local hospital, record the nature of the injuries, details of the person sustaining it, and the drinking location. Characteristics of drinking locations and drinking settings, in particular licensed premises, will be examined to determine their association with ARIs. Then an intervention will be undertaken in conjunction with local police, to address the conditions of the drinking environment with the aim of reducing ARIs and other alcohol-related problems stemming from licensed premises. The intervention will form part of a randomised controlled trial where licensed premises, identified through monthly police data as hot spots, receive either an intervention or act as a control. In the following month, controls receive the intervention (a cross-over design). The intervention was established in 1998 by Gold Coast police and involves police, fire and liquor licensing officers undertaking an on-site inspection and taking prescribed actions. It is hypothesised that this action should result in a decreased level of ARIs being generated from premises which receive the intervention, compared to those that do not. This is an intersectoral, collaborative project aimed at improving community safety through a concerted effort by police, health and the licensees.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of A Couple-based Program For The Transition To Parenthood.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$553,750.00
Summary
Couples who become parents face a very important and potentially very rewarding task: working together to raise their child. The current research evaluates the effects of a couple-based education program for people having their first child. The program helps couples develop realistic expectations about parenthood and effective ways of supporting each other as parents. The program also helps partners to understand and promote positive infant development, to enhance their couple communication, and ....Couples who become parents face a very important and potentially very rewarding task: working together to raise their child. The current research evaluates the effects of a couple-based education program for people having their first child. The program helps couples develop realistic expectations about parenthood and effective ways of supporting each other as parents. The program also helps partners to understand and promote positive infant development, to enhance their couple communication, and to promote a positive couple relationship while parenting. The program is offered through one face-to-face workshop held during the late stage of pregnancy, and then a home-based learning package consisting of a mix of videotaped information packages, reading and telephone based sessions with a psychologist. The overall aim is to produce an easily accessible support program for new parents that will enhance a couple's relationship with each other and their child. It is hoped this will reduce problems and enhance enjoyment of people becoming parents.Read moreRead less
Object Recognition Processes For Motor Output Formation In Visual Agnosic Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$199,260.00
Summary
Damage to the temporo-occipito-parietal areas of the brain leads to selective impairment in cognitive activities, including motor control and vision. Impaired higher visual processes necessary for object recognition, with intact primary visual functions, is defined as visual agnosia. Experimental work in this disorder has been confined largely to the perceptual aspects, neglecting the functional (motoric) consequences. In a series of kinematic and perceptual experiments, we will require patients ....Damage to the temporo-occipito-parietal areas of the brain leads to selective impairment in cognitive activities, including motor control and vision. Impaired higher visual processes necessary for object recognition, with intact primary visual functions, is defined as visual agnosia. Experimental work in this disorder has been confined largely to the perceptual aspects, neglecting the functional (motoric) consequences. In a series of kinematic and perceptual experiments, we will require patients with visual agnosia to grasp objects presented in unusual perspectives or variable illumination. The findings will enlarge our knowledge in three ways. First, they will clarify how distributed, but parallel object-recognition processes are coordinated for intended action towards a goal. Little is known about how we adapt our actions to object perception. A tool can be viewed from different angles, or as having different functional uses, but currently we are unable to explain how the mental representation influences the motor output to that tool. By studying a disrupted system, as in visual agnosia, we can speculate about the organisation of the intact system. Second, this project has important implications for new rehabilitative approaches for subjects affected by object recognition disorders. Only if we understand more fully the nature of the poor visuo-motor coordination, can we implement more efficient rehabilitative techniques. Finally, this project will also contribute to the classification of visual agnosia. Although it is commonly agreed that all agnosic patients are different, there is no standard taxonomy for the disorder. An instrument is necessary which represents the basic empirical phenomena, and which provides objective distinctions between different syndromes. Kinematic characterisation of the perceptual and motor control dysfunction in visual agnosia may be the key to open the file of this fascinating yet poorly understood disorder.Read moreRead less
Using Astrocytes To Protect The Brain From Injury: Investigating Mechanisms And Therapeutic Strategies.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$374,310.00
Summary
Brain damage caused by hypoxia (lack of oxygen) is a common problem in babies and can lead to outcomes ranging from cerebral palsy to death. We have a limited understanding of the mechanisms that cause damage, and thus very limited treatments. This project will investigate the role of cells called astrocytes in brain injury and identify novel therapeutic strategies to prevent or reverse brain damage. The outcomes of this research will ultimately lead to new treatments for hypoxic brain injury.
Microglial Paralysis In Post-stroke Neurodegeneration: Help Or Hindrance?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$512,351.00
Summary
Dementia and cognitive decline may occur months or years after a stroke, associated with delayed loss of brain cells in different brain regions. We recently discovered that the cells responsible for protection and repair of brain, called microglia, become paralysed in these regions. We will use a live-imaging microscope to determine whether the microglial paralysis causes brain cell death. We will also determine if a commonly used stroke prevention drug can worsen the microglial paralysis.