Pandemic Influenza Containment Strategies In Aboriginal Communities: What Is Acceptable And Feasible?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,056,688.00
Summary
Influenza is a serious disease with a much greater impact in Indigenous communities. This project will work with Aboriginal communities in NSW, north Qld and WA on modifying the national pandemic influenza plan to develop control strategies that are acceptable to the culture and circumstances of those communities. A template and acceptable process will then be offered to other Indigenous communities, finally leading to negotiation to modify implementation of pandemic influenza plans.
Indigenous Community Action To Reduce Harms Associated With Heavy Cannabis Use In Cape York
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$814,163.00
Summary
Cape York Indigenous communities together with Queensland Police, are working to reduce cannabis availability. Community leaders report that cannabis use is widespread in their communities with associated problems such as violence, mental illness and economic hardship. This project will deliver tailored strategies to reduce the demand for cannabis whilst providing support and education about the effects of cannabis and reasons to avoid using it over a three year period.
Randomised Controlled Trial Of Azithromycin To Reduce The Morbidity Of Severe Bronchiolitis In Indigenous Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,456,802.00
Summary
Acute lower respiratory infections are the commonest cause of hospitalisations and retrievals from remote communities. Early severe respiratory infections likely impair lung growth. We will examine whether azithromycin (antibiotic with anti-inflammatory properties) should be used to treat infants hospitalised with bronchiolitis to reduce the severity of bronchiolitis and prevent rehospitalisation. The study potentially improves acute clinical care as well as prevents future respiratory illness.
Living In A Rural Community: A Longitudinal Study Of The Course And Outcome Of Mental Health And Wellbeing.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$841,947.00
Summary
This unique rural Australian study will investigate individual, family and community factors associated with the mental health and wellbeing of residents in rural communities of New South Wales. It aims to identify factors that may maintain or promote mental health, thereby investigating the potential protective effect of community factors, as well as more proximal social factors (such as family-household attributes and responses) on dimensions of mental health and wellbeing among rural people.
Antenatal Screening For Fetal Anomalies In Indigenous Women: Views Of Indigenous People And Their Health Care Providers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,204.00
Summary
This project aims to investigate the views of Indigenous women, their families and health service providers about antenatal screening tests for abnormalities like Down syndrome. This will contribute knowledge about why there is low uptake of screening amongst Indigenous women, and whether changes in the provision of antenatal care are required. This is important because all women, regardless of their culture or location, should be offered the same opportunities and care during pregnancy.
A Randomised Trial To Control Sexually Transmitted Infections In Remote Aboriginal Communities.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,847,403.00
Summary
This project will trial strategies for attaining clinical best practice in sexual health with an overall objective of reducing the high rates of sexually transmitted infection in remote Aboriginal communities in central and northern Australia. The trial will take place in 21 communities of which seven will be randomly assigned in each of the three years of the trial. This trial will determine whether strengthening primary health services can reduce the level of these infections.
Living In A Rural Community:determinants And Consequences Of Mental Health And Wellbeing.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$729,415.00
Summary
Th e proposed study will investigate individual, family and community factors associated with the mental health and wellbeing of residents in rural communties of NSW. It will also examine rural residents' perceptions of their mental health needs and their access and utilisation of health services. The study will be conducted in 3 rural Area Health Services in NSW (Greater Western,Hunter New England and North Coast) comprising 70% of the rural population of NSW. These health regions encompass rur ....Th e proposed study will investigate individual, family and community factors associated with the mental health and wellbeing of residents in rural communties of NSW. It will also examine rural residents' perceptions of their mental health needs and their access and utilisation of health services. The study will be conducted in 3 rural Area Health Services in NSW (Greater Western,Hunter New England and North Coast) comprising 70% of the rural population of NSW. These health regions encompass rural, remote and coastal NSW. We aim to conduct the mail and telephone survey on adults residing in 4000 households across the 3 regions. Unique aspects of the study include: i) Examination of a diverse range of rural communities which will provide the opportunity to investigate the influence and interaction of specific community characteristics on mental health. These community factors will include social and economic factors, severity of rural environmental stress (eg drought), and the levels of access to health and other services. ii) Focus on the household and its members so as to examine the mental health needs of family groups in rural communities. This cross-sectional study will form the baseline for a longitudinal study investigating the changes experienced by rural families over time and the impact of such change on mental health outcomes.Read moreRead less
Multicentre Evaluation Of A Clinical Pathway For Chronic Cough In Children- Can Its Use Improve Clinical Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$971,362.00
Summary
Chronic cough is a common presenting symptom to doctors. It is associated with significant morbidity and may be a symptom of a serious underlying problem. This is especially pertinent to Aboriginal children. In this study we will examine the utility and efficacy of an evidence based clinical pathway for the management of chronic cough in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children. This study will contribute to clinical policy and improve clinical outcomes and early diagnosis of respiratory illnesses
Safe Koori Kids: Community Based Approaches To Indigenous Injury Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$671,905.00
Summary
The study will involve the development of an intervention targeting Indigenous children, schools and families and schools in urban environments. Specifically, over a three year period, the proposed research aims to: explore the incidence and impact of intentional and unintentional injury in selected urban Indigenous communities in NSW and identify factors contributing to positive and negative consequences relating to injury; develop and evaluate initiatives in Indigenous communities aimed at inc ....The study will involve the development of an intervention targeting Indigenous children, schools and families and schools in urban environments. Specifically, over a three year period, the proposed research aims to: explore the incidence and impact of intentional and unintentional injury in selected urban Indigenous communities in NSW and identify factors contributing to positive and negative consequences relating to injury; develop and evaluate initiatives in Indigenous communities aimed at increasing resiliency in at-risk children, youth and families; and make recommendations for changes to policy and practice across a range of government portfolios and non-government organisations. Injury, which has received almost no research attention among Indigenous populations, is the leading cause of death, illness and disability for young Australians with the burden of injury for Indigenous Australians significantly higher than for the non-Indigenous population. Indigenous children and youth are over-represented in both intentional (eg. suicide, domestic violence and abuse, assaults and self-harm) and unintentional (eg. burns, road injury, falls and drowning) injury statistics. The complexity of injury to Indigenous people and its 'downstream' impact on families and communities has been documented in recent studies and reports. Although Indigenous children and youth are particularly vulnerable to the impact of injury, there have been few studies that have documented the incidence and impact of injury on Indigenous children or which have offered sustainable and culturally acceptable solutions to the problem of injury. The proposed research focuses on the development of effective, sustainable and culturally acceptable interventions for Indigenous children and youth based on an Indigenous perspective.Read moreRead less
Selective Use Of Long-term Antibiotics For Chronic Lung Obstructive Disease In Aboriginal Adults: A Multi-centre Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$446,800.00
Summary
Indigenous Australians suffer from well-documented health disadvantage. This is demonstrated particularly for chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD-COAD). In remote communities nearly 15% of Aboriginal Australians suffer from COPD. This is reflected in death rates that show Aboriginal Australians as 6 times more likely to die from COPD and to be hospitalised much more frequently for this condition. Treatment options for COPD once it is established are however limited. Although smoking is a well ....Indigenous Australians suffer from well-documented health disadvantage. This is demonstrated particularly for chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD-COAD). In remote communities nearly 15% of Aboriginal Australians suffer from COPD. This is reflected in death rates that show Aboriginal Australians as 6 times more likely to die from COPD and to be hospitalised much more frequently for this condition. Treatment options for COPD once it is established are however limited. Although smoking is a well recognised cause of COPD it is becoming clear that in Aboriginal Australians additional factors are likely to be important. Aboriginal Australians have higher rates of bacterial respiratory infections compared non-Indigenous Australians and it is likely that this is an important preventable factor in the establishment and progression of COPD. The aim of this study is thus to determine if the judicious use of regular antibiotics will be effective in treating Aboriginal adults with COPD. Particularly we aim to determine if this treatment can prevent acute exacerbations, which are associated with hospitalisation and death, and reduce inflammation in the airways, which is associated with continuing damage to the lungs and progressive disability. The involvement of 4 Aboriginal communities in this well-designed clinical trial is an important advance in the methods used to evaluate interventions in Aboriginal health. The project will also provide local training and equipment to improve the assessment and management of respiratory disease in remote Aboriginal communities. Finally the results of this study will be directly relevant to evidence-based guidelines that are currently utilised for the management of COPD in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.Read moreRead less