The Physiology Of Health Systems: Port Lincoln As A Case Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,228,073.00
Summary
No health system in Australia has a complete, population-wide view of how they are used, by whom, and with what effect on health. Our plan is to capture and describe comprehensively all health system activity relating to a sizeable and carefully-defined Australian population and to complement this with a population-wide census of health status. Such 'intelligence' is fundamental to evaluating the current performance of health systems and to planning changes to them.
Integrating Evidence Intopolicy And Sustainableservice Delivery: The Wobbly Hub And Double Spokes Model
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$825,458.00
Summary
Vast distances and workforce shortages limit access to health services in rural and remote NSW. The University of Sydney, NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) and University of Technology Sydney, will explore current issues and develop, implement and evaluate evidence-based policies for workforce utilisation in service delivery. Expected outcomes include increased access to allied health services in Western NSW and a sustainable program of policy monitoring and development.
A Model Of Current & Potential Palliative Care Constituency: Measuring Met & Unmet Needs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$145,210.00
Summary
Although many health care providers believe palliative care should be offered to all Australians who need it, there is no population-based data to support this claim. This study will provide much needed population-based evidence by measuring the levels of met and unmet needs of people with active, progressive, advanced disease in the last 12 months of their lives. A model of current and potential palliative care constituency will be developed that will lead to improved access to palliative care ....Although many health care providers believe palliative care should be offered to all Australians who need it, there is no population-based data to support this claim. This study will provide much needed population-based evidence by measuring the levels of met and unmet needs of people with active, progressive, advanced disease in the last 12 months of their lives. A model of current and potential palliative care constituency will be developed that will lead to improved access to palliative care for people who do not traditionally access specialist palliative care services.Read moreRead less
Psychological Morbidity, Unmet Needs And Patterns Of Care In Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Cancer Patients In Au
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,405.00
Summary
Australia has one of the most culturally diverse populations in the world. There is evidence that cancer patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups have poorer outcomes. People from CALD backgrounds may experience difficulties within the Australian health system for a variety of reasons, including langauge barriers, a lack of knowledge of the healthcare system, differing beliefs and attitudes abouit illness and treatment, religious and spiritual differences, communication ....Australia has one of the most culturally diverse populations in the world. There is evidence that cancer patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups have poorer outcomes. People from CALD backgrounds may experience difficulties within the Australian health system for a variety of reasons, including langauge barriers, a lack of knowledge of the healthcare system, differing beliefs and attitudes abouit illness and treatment, religious and spiritual differences, communication difficulties and social suffering. There is good evidence that English speaking cancer patients suffer high levels of anxiety and depression, and that their needs are not currently adequately met by the current system. Previous research in psycho-oncology has on the whole excluded patients from non-English speaking backgrounds due to a lack of resources and expertise to ensure scientific validity of results. This study aims to discover the prevalence of anxiety, depression, unmet needs and access to care in 1st generation Chinese, Arabic and Greek speaking cancer patients. This study will inform the development of appropriate interventions to reduce the burden of a cancer diagnosis on these groups.Read moreRead less
Disaster risk reduction practices that leave nobody behind. This project aims to answer critical questions about how to assist people with disabilities (PWD) in disasters, what their support needs are and how they might help themselves to better prepare for disasters. Significance includes coupling a person-centred emergency preparedness tool with cross-sectoral processes to collect and use data about the support needs of PWD in emergencies, increase cross-sector communication and collaboration ....Disaster risk reduction practices that leave nobody behind. This project aims to answer critical questions about how to assist people with disabilities (PWD) in disasters, what their support needs are and how they might help themselves to better prepare for disasters. Significance includes coupling a person-centred emergency preparedness tool with cross-sectoral processes to collect and use data about the support needs of PWD in emergencies, increase cross-sector communication and collaboration between emergency managers and community services, and improve equitable access for PWD to community-level disaster risk reduction (DRR). The expected outcome will be the co-design of effective mechanisms that state & federal decision makers can use to scale-up disability-inclusive DRR across Australia.Read moreRead less
Quality and outcomes of individual supported living arrangements for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This project identifies service quality aspects contributing to positive outcomes in individual supported living arrangements that enable adults with developmental disabilities to live in their own homes. 150 arrangements will be evaluated across Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, providing evidence of service quality in support of people with disability hav ....Quality and outcomes of individual supported living arrangements for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This project identifies service quality aspects contributing to positive outcomes in individual supported living arrangements that enable adults with developmental disabilities to live in their own homes. 150 arrangements will be evaluated across Western Australia, New South Wales and Victoria, providing evidence of service quality in support of people with disability having choice and control in their living arrangements.Read moreRead less
Reducing Cancer Patients Psychosocial Needs. A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$452,025.00
Summary
With 345,000 cases of cancer diagnosed each year, cancer is one of the nation's health priority areas. Although significant improvements in the early detection and treatment of cancer have increased survival, these advancements may have added to the psychological, physical and resource burdens placed on patients by increasing the time between diagnosis and definitive outcome. Addressing the physical and psychological needs of cancer patients throughout the course of their illness has become an i ....With 345,000 cases of cancer diagnosed each year, cancer is one of the nation's health priority areas. Although significant improvements in the early detection and treatment of cancer have increased survival, these advancements may have added to the psychological, physical and resource burdens placed on patients by increasing the time between diagnosis and definitive outcome. Addressing the physical and psychological needs of cancer patients throughout the course of their illness has become an important component care. A potential mechanism for reducing the psychological morbidity associated with cancer is to intervene to reduce a patient's level of unmet needs. This proposal intends to test the cost-effectiveness of an innovative intervention to reduce the level of unmet needs among colorectal patients. The study involves recruiting patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer within the past 3 months through the cancer registry and assessing their level of unmet needs at four points-at entry into the study: 6-, 12- and 18- months post diagnosis. Experimental subjects will be assigned a specially trained volunteer worker attached to the cancer council to aid the patient in identifying resources to address their unmet needs. The volunteer will act as an information resource and emotional support person. The volunteer will access information about the patients unmet needs from study questionnaires, and work with patients to devise a plan for addressing their unmet needs. The study will determine whether the level of unmet needs among cancer patients can be reduced in this manner and whether this strategy also reduces psychological distress. The proposed research is unique as it could highlight mechanisms that could be utilised by all cancer councils in Australia. The intervention has the additional benefit of being able to reach all cancer patients in a particular state regardless of their geographic location or where they receive treatment.Read moreRead less
The transition of care from ageing parents: achieving flexible relationships between adults with cerebral palsy, their siblings and service providers. The Australian community faces a significant challenge in providing life-long care for people with severe disability. We will develop a model that will assist families and service providers to make a smooth, effective transition of care and/or responsibility of adults with cerebral palsy from parents to siblings. Achieving this will increase the ....The transition of care from ageing parents: achieving flexible relationships between adults with cerebral palsy, their siblings and service providers. The Australian community faces a significant challenge in providing life-long care for people with severe disability. We will develop a model that will assist families and service providers to make a smooth, effective transition of care and/or responsibility of adults with cerebral palsy from parents to siblings. Achieving this will increase the quality of life for disabled and nondisabled family members, and ensure a more efficient use of public funding. Our findings will serve as a model for managing the life-long care of people with cerebral palsy and other severe, chronic disabilities, throughout Australia and overseas.Read moreRead less
Psychological Adjustment Following Complex Trauma Among Children And Adolescents In Emergency Settings.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$362,512.00
Summary
Children are among the most vulnerable in disaster settings, and yet little is known about the development of psychological distress following complex trauma. Research conducted at Harvard University and The University of Western Australia will investigate how daily stressors impact psychological distress and resilience among children affected by war and natural disaster. The findings will inform the development of evidence-based mental health interventions for refugee youth in Australia.