How Do Risk Factors For Complicated Grief Identified Before Death Contribute To Outcomes For The Bereaved?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$137,000.00
Summary
By identifying if complicated grief risk factors lead to complicated grief after the death of a loved one, early intervention can be targeted to maximize benefit. This study will consult bereaved individuals before and after the death to assess protective and risk factors associated with complicated grief outcomes. Complicated grief is poorly understood, yet research has shown that it is associated with poorer mental and physical health. The findings are expected to be relevant to bereavement se ....By identifying if complicated grief risk factors lead to complicated grief after the death of a loved one, early intervention can be targeted to maximize benefit. This study will consult bereaved individuals before and after the death to assess protective and risk factors associated with complicated grief outcomes. Complicated grief is poorly understood, yet research has shown that it is associated with poorer mental and physical health. The findings are expected to be relevant to bereavement services, and have significance locally and abroad.Read moreRead less
In Australia, over 2,000 families every year have a stillborn child. Each of these deaths places a heavy psychological and financial burden on parents and families and the wider community. Progress in preventing these deaths has been very slow and despite the impact of this loss, the care provided for parents following a stillbirth is often inadequate. I am leading a national research program to reduce stillbirth and improve care for parents when their child is stillborn.
Strengthening Community Based Paliative Care Services: Towards A Better Understanding Of Medical Aspects Of Caring For C
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$68,892.00
Summary
Caring for children [and their families] in the palliative phase of an illness offers unique challenges. Community based palliative care programs provide a predominantly adult focused service, their experience with children being limited by smaller numbers. This study aims to better characterize the medical aspects of caring for terminally ill children in Australia, thru the use of a parental survey in a large representative cohort at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne (RCH). The focus wil ....Caring for children [and their families] in the palliative phase of an illness offers unique challenges. Community based palliative care programs provide a predominantly adult focused service, their experience with children being limited by smaller numbers. This study aims to better characterize the medical aspects of caring for terminally ill children in Australia, thru the use of a parental survey in a large representative cohort at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne (RCH). The focus will be to identify issues relating to symptom assessment and management, family and caregiver support and psychosocial-bereavement support. The knowledge gained will be used to redesign-strengthen links between paediatric hospitals and community based palliative care programs.Read moreRead less
In Australia, over 2000 families suffer the tragedy of stillbirth each year. By building on our achievements of the first Stillbirth CRE rapidly translating new research into maternity care, we will reduce stillbirth rates by 20%, and reduce inequities in stillbirth rates by Australia by 2025. We also anticipate a reduction in adverse neonatal outcomes. When stillbirth or neonatal death does occur, our research aims to ensure that all women and families receive optimal care.
Stillbirth is a global public health problem. In Australia, almost 3,000 stillbirths occur each year and death places a significant psychological burden on parents, families and caregivers. The community impacts through social and economic costs are also substantial. Many stillbirths are preventable with known and novel interventions. Through a CRE dedicated to stillbirth, we aim to strengthen our collaborations locally and internationally, and reduce stillbirth, and improve care for parents.
Predicting The Individual Risk Of Prostate Cancer In Australian Men
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$348,656.00
Summary
Prostate cancer is a major cause of disability and death in Australian men. A number of factors, particularly age and family history, influence the risk of prostate cancer but, in contrast to breast cancer, we don't know what is the risk of developing prostate cancer over a period of time for a man with a specific set of risk factors. In fact, while a number of statistical models have been developed that use a woman's risk factor profile to estimate her risk of breast cancer, none is currently a ....Prostate cancer is a major cause of disability and death in Australian men. A number of factors, particularly age and family history, influence the risk of prostate cancer but, in contrast to breast cancer, we don't know what is the risk of developing prostate cancer over a period of time for a man with a specific set of risk factors. In fact, while a number of statistical models have been developed that use a woman's risk factor profile to estimate her risk of breast cancer, none is currently available for prostate cancer. We will apply standard statistical methods to existing data from the Australian Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer study and from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to develop a prostate cancer risk prediction model. We will test how factor like age, detailed family history, diet, baldness status and possibly previous PSA tests and prostate biopsies predict the risk. After developing the model, we will test the accuracy of the predictions in three ways. First, using existing data from the Australian Prostate Cancer Family Study, we will see whether the number of cases in a group of men is close to the number predicted by the model (calibration). Second, to test whether the model discriminate well men who develop prostate cancer from those who do not, we will collect family trees in a sample from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study. We will use these data also to estimate the optimal cut point: men above this level of risk will be considered at high risk. Third, we will apply the model to existing data from the Dutch Prostate Cancer Family Study (DPCFS) to test whether the optimal cut point identify high-risk men and to validate the model in a non-Australian population. Finally, we will prepare a computer package that health professionals will use as decision-making tool in different scenarios including individual cancer risk assessment, design of prevention trials and targeting prevention programs to high-risk men.Read moreRead less
Intelligent Total Body Scanner For Early Detection Of Melanoma
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$499,963.00
Summary
Melanoma is the 4th most common cancer in Australia; the main screening tool is a time-consuming total body examination with a hand-held dermoscope. This project aims to develop a total body scanner using fast-refocusing lenses to take total body dermoscopy images of all skin lesions in approximately 6 minutes, integrated with a computer aided diagnostic tool providing a risk score for each lesion incorporating medical history, genotypic and phenotypic risk markers.
Following bereavement, 10%-15% of people suffer prolonged grief (PG) that can cause mental and physical problems for many years. This project will study community and treatment-seeking samples of bereaved people to identify trajectories of grieving, predictors of responding across time, and identify mechanisms of change in treatment of PG. This project represents a significant advance in our understanding of PG and will help reduce the burden of this condition.