Judicious Use Of Antibiotics For Acute Otitis Media In Aboriginal Children: A Multi-centre Clinical Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$614,840.00
Summary
Aboriginal children living in remote communities have the highest rates of severe ear infections and associated hearing loss currently reported in the medical literature. In some rural and remote Aboriginal communities, all infants have their first infection by 3 months of age and up to 60% develop chronic suppurative otitis media (pus draining from the ears) in the first year of life. By the time they reach school-age more than 50% of children have a significant hearing loss. This has important ....Aboriginal children living in remote communities have the highest rates of severe ear infections and associated hearing loss currently reported in the medical literature. In some rural and remote Aboriginal communities, all infants have their first infection by 3 months of age and up to 60% develop chronic suppurative otitis media (pus draining from the ears) in the first year of life. By the time they reach school-age more than 50% of children have a significant hearing loss. This has important implications for their education. The aim of this study is to determine whether a new longer-acting antibiotic will be more effective in treating young Aboriginal children with new ear infections and therefore prevent the progression to chronic suppurative otitis media. The involvement of up to 20 Aboriginal communities in this well-designed clinical trial represents a major advance in the methods used to evaluate interventions in Aboriginal health. The project will also provide training in ear examination and appropriate medical management. Swabs from the nose will be taken to monitor the effect of antibiotics on the rates of antibiotic resistance. The results from this study will be directly relevant to evidence-based guidelines on the management of otitis media in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.Read moreRead less
Development And Evaluation Of A Primary Health Care Model To Prevent Dental Decay In Aboriginal Pre-school Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,482,000.00
Summary
Dental decay has been described as the most common disease of childhood that is not self-limiting or responsive to short-term pharmacological management. Regrettably, Australian Aboriginal children have, on average, twice as many teeth affected by decay as other Australian children. The disease is a particular burden for pre-school children who do not routinely have access to dental care provided by the state-territory programs. The goal of this project is to develop, implement and evaluate the ....Dental decay has been described as the most common disease of childhood that is not self-limiting or responsive to short-term pharmacological management. Regrettably, Australian Aboriginal children have, on average, twice as many teeth affected by decay as other Australian children. The disease is a particular burden for pre-school children who do not routinely have access to dental care provided by the state-territory programs. The goal of this project is to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a community-oriented, primary health care intervention to prevent dental decay among pre-school children in Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. The cluster randomized design provides a practical approach to the problem of small numbers of children living in remote communities. The results obtained from this research proposal would make an important contribution to the health care of Australian Aboriginal children and other disadvantaged children throughout the world.Read moreRead less
Developing Lung Function Reference Ranges In Aboriginal Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$875,382.00
Summary
Lung function in Aboriginal Australians may be up to 30% lower than that of the Caucasian population. Comparing a patient’s lung function result to normal is critical to help diagnose and manage lung diseases. There are no lung function normal ranges for Aboriginal Australians. Our study will measure lung function in healthy Aboriginal children and adults and develop Aboriginal specific reference values and thus help ensure the highest level of clinical care for Aboriginal patients.