The CRE in Telehealth will advance knowledge and research capacity in telehealth to increase the availability of healthcare to all Australians. Modern communication technologies used in telehealth have the potential to revolutionise healthcare delivery. The CRE will focus on health service settings where access is currently challenging: Small rural hospitals; residential aged care facilities; people’s homes (particularly for disabled and older people); and indigenous communities.
Improving Pre-pregnancy Health And Pregnancy Outcomes In North Queensland Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Communities.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,819.00
Summary
It is widely recognised that one of the best protections against poor pregnancy outcomes is to have women commence pregnancy in good health, because healthy mothers tend to have healthy babies. The key aim of this research program is to identify opportunities and time-points for effective primary, secondary and tertiary interventions to improve health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women of childbearing age and their infants in north Queensland communities.
Preventing Hospital Readmission In A Regional Australian Hospital Setting
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$565,695.00
Summary
Hospitals face high levels of emergency presentations and demand for inpatient care particularly for Aboriginal Australian people from remote communities. Readmissions lead to overcrowded emergency departments and poorer patient outcomes. We will evaluate the efficacy of a multidimensional case-based management intervention linking hospital and primary health in a regional Australian hospital with the aim of reducing hospital readmission and improving patient outcomes.
Development Of A Slit Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscope As A Screening Tool In Glaucoma Diagnostics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$195,830.00
Summary
Glaucoma is typified by progressive optic disc cupping and loss of fibres with consequent characteristic field defects. Direct imaging of the retina and quantitative assessment of such images greatly increases early diagnosis of this blinding disease. The proposed device, a laser line scanning ophthalmoscope, could support non-invasive imaging to obtain 3-D information in a simple and cost effective way. This could provide objective clinical parameters to support the decision making process.
Cannabis And Mental Health In Cape York Aboriginal Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$313,786.00
Summary
High rates of cannabis use and dependence are key factors contributing to the high mental health burden in Indigenous Australians. To date, there is very limited understanding of the nature and prevalence of these impacts in remote Indigenous communities where cannabis use is very high. The key objective of this research program is to document, for the first time, the mental health impacts of cannabis use in Aboriginal Australians living in remote Cape York communities.
Fluoridation Of Water Supplies In Remote Indigenous Communities In The NT: Requirements, Feasibility & Cost Effectivenes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$72,559.00
Summary
The project has two major objectives: 1) to identify Indigenous communities that are likely to benefit most from fluoridation of the water supply, and 2) to examine the feasibility and impact of introducing a small scale fluoridation plant into at least one community. The first will be achieved through accurately mapping natural levels of fluoride in the water supply of Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory, and examining the oral health status of children in these communities. Th ....The project has two major objectives: 1) to identify Indigenous communities that are likely to benefit most from fluoridation of the water supply, and 2) to examine the feasibility and impact of introducing a small scale fluoridation plant into at least one community. The first will be achieved through accurately mapping natural levels of fluoride in the water supply of Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory, and examining the oral health status of children in these communities. The second will be achieved by installing a fluoridation plant in one or more communities that have been lobbying for fluoridation of their water supplies, and monitoring the maintenance requirements and costs of the plant, and the changes in dental health status in school children over a period of two to three years.Read moreRead less
Improving Dementia Education Access (the IDEA Study) For Clinical Hospital Staff In Regional And District Hospitals: A Cluster Randomised Study To Improve Knowledge And Patient Outcomes.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$613,303.00
Summary
This research concerns the evidence-based development, national administration, and systematic evaluation of a targeted online dementia education intervention among clinical staff in regional and district hospitals. The research aims to improve knowledge of dementia among clinical staff, enhance patient outcomes, and reduce costs by addressing four outcome levels: clinical learning needs, learning outcomes, engagement and behaviour change, and organisational performance.
Acceptability And Effectiveness Of The DESMOND Diabetes Self-management Program For Indigenous Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$531,966.00
Summary
The ‘Diabetes Education Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed’ (DESMOND) program was developed in the UK to help people live with their diabetes. It has been shown to be beneficial for a number of ethnic minority groups in the UK and has been trialed in Australia. At the request of Indigenous community and health care services, this project will test whether this program would be widely accepted by and be beneficial to Indigenous Australians.
Evaluating A Weight Gain Prevention Study In Rural Australian Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$87,290.00
Summary
Overweight and obesity are crucial health issues worldwide with the prevalence estimated at 1.5 billion. In Australia 34% of women aged 26-31 years are overweight or obese and women living in rural communities are gaining weight faster than urban dwelling women. The work undertaken in this PhD will comprehensively evaluate and assist in the implementation of a large cluster randomized control trial testing the effectiveness of a low intensity, healthy lifestyle intervention to prevent weight gai ....Overweight and obesity are crucial health issues worldwide with the prevalence estimated at 1.5 billion. In Australia 34% of women aged 26-31 years are overweight or obese and women living in rural communities are gaining weight faster than urban dwelling women. The work undertaken in this PhD will comprehensively evaluate and assist in the implementation of a large cluster randomized control trial testing the effectiveness of a low intensity, healthy lifestyle intervention to prevent weight gain in women living in rural Australia.Read moreRead less