Systematic Diabetic Retinopathy Screening And Monitoring Of Early Stage Disease In General Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$260,569.00
Summary
The project will assess the accuracy, acceptability and relative cost effectiveness of general practice based diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening and monitoring, with ophthalmic support and education via videoconferencing. Accredited GPs will screen for DR using non-mydriatic cameras as part of the Diabetes Annual Cycle of Care and monitor patients with minimal to moderate levels of DR but no sight threatening signs, with virtual ophthalmology support. Positive project outcomes have the capacity ....The project will assess the accuracy, acceptability and relative cost effectiveness of general practice based diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening and monitoring, with ophthalmic support and education via videoconferencing. Accredited GPs will screen for DR using non-mydriatic cameras as part of the Diabetes Annual Cycle of Care and monitor patients with minimal to moderate levels of DR but no sight threatening signs, with virtual ophthalmology support. Positive project outcomes have the capacity to effect policyRead moreRead less
Bridging The Gap: Addressing Refugee Inequalities Through Primary Health Care Service Reform
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$690,568.00
Summary
This proposal will develop and test interventions to reform maternity and maternal & child health systems to tackle known inequalities in health and health care for vulnerable families, particularly clients of refugee backgrounds. Innovation in system redesign and service delivery will result in sustainable improvements in access to and quality of care and measurable improvements in maternal, newborn and child health.
National Research Partnership To Improve Primary Health Care Performance And Outcomes For Indigenous Peoples
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,625,617.00
Summary
This Partnership will 1) investigate the variation in the quality of care in Aboriginal primary health care services in participating jurisdictions; 2) explore the factors which underlie variation in quality of care; 3) examine strategies that have been useful in improving the quality of care; and 4) use the findings from 2 and 3 above to support efforts to strengthen the quality of primary care at a local, regional and national level with a view to improving the health of Indigenous Australians
Investigating Best Practice Primary Care For Older Australians With Diabetes Using Data Linkage
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$522,278.00
Summary
This study will use data linkage to examine questions about health service use by older Australians to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes. It will lead to a better understanding of the uptake of community based care initiatives and incentives through general practice, the factors that assist or impede uptake, and the impact of these on patient outcomes such as hospitalisation. The research findings will address important questions of interest to practitioners and policy advisors.
A Geographic Approach To Measuring Social Deprivation And Health Care Need For Primary Health Care Policy And Planning
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$148,213.00
Summary
Understanding how and where people use and access health services, and how social disadvantage affects this is important for planning and providing primary health care services. Presenting information as maps is an effective way to explore and communicate these issues. This research program will use a geographic and map-based approach to understanding patterns of health service use and social disadvantage, to assist in developing primary health care policy.
Population Health Planning For Rural Medicare Locals: Evaluating A Community Participation Method For Delivering Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$438,587.00
Summary
The study, in six communities, will evaluate whether an evidenced based method of rural community participation from the UK translates to assist healthcare planning by Medicare Locals. Medicare Locals must involve local people in designing services to improve health, but lack methods to do this. The focus of the study is oral health, a major issue in rural areas. The study evaluates whether new services are designed and implemented and whether there is change to health knowledge and behaviours.
People who have experienced a previous heart attack or stroke are at greatest risk of having another cardiovascular event. Drug treatment, with aspirin and medication to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, has been shown to substantially reduce this risk. Despite good evidence that these drugs are effective, and that their use is recommended in both Australian and international guidelines, many people who should be taking these medications on a long-term basis are not. This may partly be due t ....People who have experienced a previous heart attack or stroke are at greatest risk of having another cardiovascular event. Drug treatment, with aspirin and medication to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, has been shown to substantially reduce this risk. Despite good evidence that these drugs are effective, and that their use is recommended in both Australian and international guidelines, many people who should be taking these medications on a long-term basis are not. This may partly be due to under-prescribing by doctors, but it is also likely that asymptomatic patients are discouraged by the cost and inconvenience of taking many tablets. In the first study of its kind in this country, we will determine whether a strategy based on the provision of recommended treatments in a single pill (a polypill) will result in better use of these drugs, and as a consequence, will achieve optimum practice in patients with heart disease or stroke. Under the care of their general practitioner, 1000 such patients will be randomly allocated to the polypill, or to continuing their usual treatment. At the end of 2 years, both groups will be assessed for the proportion of people still prescribed and taking all recommended treatments. We will also collect information on the attitudes and experiences of those participating in the study of prescribing (by doctors), dispensing (by pharmacists) and taking (by patients) the polypill. As cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of illness and death in Australia, finding new ways to ensure the maximum use of known, effective preventive treatments in patients with heart disease and stroke, particularly to those who have less access to health care, is of critical importance. The polypill represents a novel strategy with the potential to achieve this objective, and to improve the clinical care and well-being of many thousands of Australians.Read moreRead less
Re-orientating General Practice Systems Toward Youth Friendly Care: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,387,497.00
Summary
This project aims to improve young people's health care by helping general practice become youth friendly and measuring the effects of this on: willingness to visit for mental health and risky behaviours such as tobacco, alcohol and other drug use and unprotected sex; parents' perceptions of the care received; the sense of competence staff have in dealing with young people's issues; the practice's effectiveness in responding to young people's health risks and on the cost of general practice.
Health Status And Development Among Aboriginal Infants In An Urban Community.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$436,650.00
Summary
This research is a descriptive study of the health outcomes of Aboriginal infants, born at Campbelltown Hospital. The research will build on Centre for Health Equity's (CHETRE) work, since 1997, with the Aboriginal community, Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) and Area Health Services (AHS) in the region to develop and advocate for services to address the needs of Aboriginal and other disadvantaged communities. CHETRE has supported the Aboriginal workers to develop additional services for Aborigin ....This research is a descriptive study of the health outcomes of Aboriginal infants, born at Campbelltown Hospital. The research will build on Centre for Health Equity's (CHETRE) work, since 1997, with the Aboriginal community, Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) and Area Health Services (AHS) in the region to develop and advocate for services to address the needs of Aboriginal and other disadvantaged communities. CHETRE has supported the Aboriginal workers to develop additional services for Aboriginal women, such as the Aboriginal Home Visiting Team (AHV) and assisted with evaluation of these services. The AHV management comprises representatives from AMS, AHS, the Aboriginal community and CHETRE, and will provide advice and oversight for this project. The AHV developed from community concern about health status of Aboriginal infants and provides ante and postnatal care to infants and mothers. As a part of this service Aboriginal infants are systematically identified by the AHS. Further development of services is limited by lack of information on health status, use of health services, or achievement of developmental milestones by Aboriginal infants in an urban community and the assumption that outcomes are a factor of disadvantage. The researchers intend to describe in meticulous detail obstetric outcomes for 150 Aboriginal infants and their mothers born in 2004-5 and the health and development outcomes of the infants at 12 months. Baseline information on birth weight, Apgar score and obstetric history will be collected from maternal report at 2-3 week post-delivery and from routine data collections. Infants and their mothers will be followed up prospectively with further data collection points at 6 months and 12 months. Information on health status, health service use, and achievement of developmental milestones will be obtained by measurement and maternal report. An assessment by a paediatrician will be undertaken at 12 months.Read moreRead less