Developing Innovative, Effective And Evidence-based Dietary Interventions For Prevention And Treatment Of Child Obesity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$288,650.00
Summary
Obesity rates for Australian children continue to rise. Reversing this trend remains a key challenge in establishing a strong foundation early in childhood for a long and healthy life. How to help children and families balance food intake with activity levels in order to achieve and maintain a healthy weight remains unclear. This research program aims to inform best practice about which food patterns and dietary advice are more best in helping families eat well and reverse the obesity epidemic.
Population-based Approaches To Physical Activity Promotion: Improving The Evidence For Website-delivered Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$292,639.00
Summary
As most Australians do not engage in sufficient physical activity to achieve health benefits, effective low-cost programs are needed. Computerised programs delivered via the Internet can provide unique personally-relevant activity information for individuals, can effectively reach large numbers of people and can help them to increase activity levels. This research will evaluate website-delivered physical activity programs and will find ways of improving their reach, appeal and effectiveness.
A Multilevel Study Of Socioeconomic Position And Physical Activity: Environmental And Individual-level Determinants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$429,000.00
Summary
Regular physical activity offers many health benefits, whereas inadequate activity is a leading cause of premature death and disability and a major contributor to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. Socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are least likely to be physically active, and they experience higher rates of death and morbidity for conditions directly linked to inactivity. Currently, our understanding of why socioeconomic groups differ in their physical activity is limited ....Regular physical activity offers many health benefits, whereas inadequate activity is a leading cause of premature death and disability and a major contributor to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity. Socioeconomically disadvantaged groups are least likely to be physically active, and they experience higher rates of death and morbidity for conditions directly linked to inactivity. Currently, our understanding of why socioeconomic groups differ in their physical activity is limited, and very little research has investigated this issue. This study will investigate why socioeconomic groups differ in their physical activity, by examining the influence of neighbourhood and individual-level factors. Neighbourhood factors include people's access to recreational facilities such as swimming pools, tennis courts, golf clubs, gyms, local parks, walking and bicycle paths; prices for entry to recreational facilities and opening hours; physical characteristics of the neighbourhood including public transport, presence of footpaths and street lighting, speed limits on local streets, availability of local services such as shops and schools, and; aesthetic characteristics, such as the presence and size of parks and green spaces, and traffic density. Individual factors include personal enjoyment, knowledge, confidence, type of occupation and hours worked, family responsibilities, age, health status, and whether other family member or friends engage in physical activity. A major aim of the study is to determine whether environmental or individual factors are more important in influencing participation in physical activity. The study will produce new knowledge to inform future public health strategies directed at increasing physical activity among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, and these will have the potential to reduce socioeconomic health inequalities, as well as contribute to an overall reduction of the disease burden attributable to chronic conditions.Read moreRead less
PEACH: Patient Engagement And Coaching For Health: An Intensive Treatment Intervention For Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$304,300.00
Summary
Diabetes care is a partnership between health professionals and patients, but each faces difficulties in optimising medical care. The PEACH study exoplores how practice nurses can work with patients to empower them to manage their own condition and medicines better and be more active in working with their doctor to improve their diabetes control. The study could have important implications for patients and the way Governments fund primary care.
A Comparison Of Arthroscopic Synovial Biopsy Based Targeted Biologic Therapy Versus Conventional Therapy In Rheumatoid Arthritis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$133,351.00
Summary
This proposed study will investigate if treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on biopsy of affected joints’ lining is better than standard therapy (not based on the results of biopsy). Current strategies to treat RA not infrequently result in incomplete disease suppression with potentially resultant joint damage, in part because of lack of definite guidelines to individualise treatment. We propose that therapy on the basis of the analysis of biopsy of joint lining will lead to better dise ....This proposed study will investigate if treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on biopsy of affected joints’ lining is better than standard therapy (not based on the results of biopsy). Current strategies to treat RA not infrequently result in incomplete disease suppression with potentially resultant joint damage, in part because of lack of definite guidelines to individualise treatment. We propose that therapy on the basis of the analysis of biopsy of joint lining will lead to better disease control than the currently prevalent approach.Read moreRead less
Microbial Restoriation In Crohn's Disease: A Randomised Trial Of Faecal Microbial Transplanatation In Crohn's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$487,123.00
Summary
Crohn's disease causes inflammation and damage to the digestive tract. Compelling evidence suggests that the bacteria in the gut play an important role in the onset of disease. Changing the gut bacteria through the administration of healthy stool to a patient, faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), is safe and may be effective. This placebo controlled trial will determine whether FMT (delivered via capsule) can control inflammation in Crohn's. Results will change current treatment paradigms.
A La CaRT: Australasian Laparoscopic Cancer Of The Rectum Trial. A Phase III Prospective Randomised Trial Comparing Laparoscopic-assisted Resection Versus Open Resection For Rectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$599,054.00
Summary
The major treatment for rectal cancer is surgical removal of tumour with a large cut through the abdomen. There is a newer, less invasive procedure known as laparoscopic resection which enables the same surgery to be performed using a scope inserted in the abdomen and another smaller incision for removal of the tumour. This study is being conducted to determine whether the newer procedure is as safe and effective as the current procedure. Patients on the trial will be given either laparoscopi
Improving Outcomes For People With Depression In Community Settings: A Cluster RCT
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$803,554.00
Summary
Depression affects 350 million people worldwide. Given the pivotal role of primary care in the management of depression, effective strategies are needed to assist GPs in the delivery of patient-centred depression care. This study will test the effectiveness of providing GPs with education; as well as feedback about patients’ self-reported depressive scores using a standardised instrument and perceived need and preferences for help. This cluster RCT will be the first Australian trial of its kind.