Inter-rater Reliability And Predictive Validity Of A New Functional Capacity Evaluation For Chronic Back Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$105,794.00
Summary
Back pain costs the Australian community tens of billions of dollars. Back pain is one of the main causes of work injury and lost time from work. The longer a person is off work, the harder it is to get them back to work. Workers' compensation systems around Australia aim at getting the injured worker with back pain back to work as soon as possible. One of the difficulties in this process is determining what the person with back pain can physically do in the workplace. An evaluation technique, c ....Back pain costs the Australian community tens of billions of dollars. Back pain is one of the main causes of work injury and lost time from work. The longer a person is off work, the harder it is to get them back to work. Workers' compensation systems around Australia aim at getting the injured worker with back pain back to work as soon as possible. One of the difficulties in this process is determining what the person with back pain can physically do in the workplace. An evaluation technique, called functional capacity evaluation (known as FCE), is one method used to find out what the person with back pain physically can and cannot do. In a FCE, a trained health professional such as an occupational therapist, observes the person performing a range of physical activities like the ones he or she may have to perform in a job. The therapist closely observes the person performing activities such as lifting, carrying, kneeling, crouching, balancing, and walking and notes any limitations in the person's ability to complete the activities. The therapist makes comments about what difficulties the person may have on the job and recommendations about how these could be reduced or eliminated. The information gained from these evaluations can be valuable for the treating doctor in deciding whether the person is ready to go back to work and what duties the person can and cannot do on the job. Because of such value they provide, FCE is commonly used in rehabilitation programs endorsed by workers' compensation systems around Australia. This widespread use and endorsement of FCE occurs despite limited research on the soundness of the ratings made from these evaluations. There is a need to see whether recommendations made from FCEs are consistent between therapists (i.e. reliable) and to see if the FCE accurately predicts the person's physical capacity for work. This research will examine these issues with injured workers with back pain.Read moreRead less
The impact of incarceration on children's care: a strategic framework for good care planning. This project will study best practice for care planning of children whose primary carers are incarcerated within the Australian criminal justice system. It will develop a strategic framework for future policy and practice in Australian care planning with the aim of improving outcomes for both parents and children.
Clinical Efficacy And Physiological Mechanisms Of Nerve And Tendon Gliding Exercises For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$370,068.00
Summary
Compression of one of the major nerves at the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome) is a very common condition that significantly impacts on the well-being of the patient. To date, there is no good evidence that traditionally advocated interventions are effective in the long term. This project will evaluate the effects of a novel, active treatment strategy and will investigate the underlying mechanisms that may be associated with exercises that aim to mobilise the nerve and tendons at the wrist.
Collaborative family work in youth justice: a model for reducing recidivism in young offenders. This project will research the effect of group family counselling on outcomes for juvenile offenders. It will draw conclusions about the factors related to successful family work and could significantly reduce re-offending in the juvenile justice population.
How to do more and be more with less? Exploring Paucity Management strategies for resource poor community organisations in NSW. The research will examine the managerial strengths community organisations have developed and specialised to survive and strive under conditions of financial hardship. The aim is to develop a set of management strategies whereby organisations can do better with fewer resources. The concept of 'Paucity Management' will be tested to examine how community organisations can ....How to do more and be more with less? Exploring Paucity Management strategies for resource poor community organisations in NSW. The research will examine the managerial strengths community organisations have developed and specialised to survive and strive under conditions of financial hardship. The aim is to develop a set of management strategies whereby organisations can do better with fewer resources. The concept of 'Paucity Management' will be tested to examine how community organisations can operate with greater efficiency and ethically under such conditions.Read moreRead less
Collaborative approaches to the prevention of work related injuries in railway workers. RailCorp NSW is a large employer within the NSW transport industry sector and as such has a high potential exposure to occupational injury. RailCorp has committed to the safety of its employees through its efforts towards a systematic identification of injury risk factors to create a safer workplace as well as creating a 'risk aware safety culture'. Interventions which are effective in reducing the incidenc ....Collaborative approaches to the prevention of work related injuries in railway workers. RailCorp NSW is a large employer within the NSW transport industry sector and as such has a high potential exposure to occupational injury. RailCorp has committed to the safety of its employees through its efforts towards a systematic identification of injury risk factors to create a safer workplace as well as creating a 'risk aware safety culture'. Interventions which are effective in reducing the incidence and severity of work related injuries have not only immediate benefits both in terms of human (workforce retention, job satisfaction, job performance, etc) and financial factors for RailCorp management and its employees but has wider applications to other comparable complex high risk industries.
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Virtuous Practitioners: Empowering Social Workers. The project aims to analyse and develop core virtues of social workers to strengthen the social fabric of individuals, families and communities. The increasing demand for sound judgement and appropriate decision making, often in the unpredictable and uncertain contexts, necessitates a focus on virtue-led social workers’ action. The interdisciplinary and mixed method analysis will demonstrate the largely neglected role of virtues and or character ....Virtuous Practitioners: Empowering Social Workers. The project aims to analyse and develop core virtues of social workers to strengthen the social fabric of individuals, families and communities. The increasing demand for sound judgement and appropriate decision making, often in the unpredictable and uncertain contexts, necessitates a focus on virtue-led social workers’ action. The interdisciplinary and mixed method analysis will demonstrate the largely neglected role of virtues and or character dispositions in facilitating improved social services and in building stronger communities. The research will have both theoretical and practical implications for virtue-led social work practice that will result in communities living healthy, productive and fulfilling lives. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100047
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$309,150.00
Summary
Electronic information systems and human service organisations: the development of systems for the future. There is growing concern that current forms of electronic information systems (IS) being used in social welfare agencies are undermining rather than supporting service delivery. This project will contribute to the development of new forms of IS that support frontline practitioners and thereby improve welfare services.