Identifying Factors That Improve The Health Of Prisoners Who Inject Drugs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$376,658.00
Summary
Prisoners who inject drugs are highly marginalised with high rates of unresolved health and social issues and high rates of return to prison. Little is known, however, about how this group manages after release from prison. This qualitative project will allow ex-prisoners to tell their own stories of the challenges they have had and what strategies (formal and informal) they have used with the aim of informing responses in prisons and in the community setting.
A Prospective Cohort Study Of Ex-prisoners With A History Of Injecting Drug Use
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$956,020.00
Summary
Australia’s growing prison population is characterised by high rates of drug use, blood borne virus infection and poor physical and mental health. People with an injecting drug use history will undertake interviews prior to prison release, with periodic follow-up interviews for two years post-release. Interview data will be linked to corrections and community health data to explore relationships between, incarceration, health service utilisation, health outcomes, drug use and recidivism.
Improving The Health Of Indigenous And Non-Indigenous Ex-prisoners: A Multi-jurisdictional, Mixed-methods Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,447,978.00
Summary
More than 50,000 people are released from prison in Australia each year. Ex-prisoners experience high rates of mental illness, chronic disease, social disadvantage, drug dependence and premature death, yet we know almost nothing about how to improve their health outcomes. This project will identify key health issues for Indigenous and non-Indigenous ex-prisoners and generate evidence-based responses, simultaneously improving health and reducing reoffending among this highly marginalised group.
Health Outcomes And Service Utilisation In A Cohort Of People Who Inject Drugs, Sex Workers And At-risk Youth - A Record Linkage Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$458,333.00
Summary
People who inject drugs and sex workers endure poorer health and a disproportionate burden of disease than the general population. Improving health in these marginalised populations remains a challenge. To identify demographic, behavioural and clinical factors that predict health outcomes we will undertake a retrospective record linkage study in a cohort of 40000 primary care clinic attendees from a socially disadvantaged urban population with high prevalence of injecting drug use and sex work.
BIRTHPLACE IN AUSTRALIA: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$834,782.00
Summary
There is considerable debate about the safety of maternity services in Australia. This has been increased by the National Maternity Services Review and the National Maternity Plan with particular concerns about homebirth and birth centres. This study aims to examine the safety of place of birth for healthy women. This national study will include women across the country. It is the first time such a study has been undertaken in Australia and will provide much needed evidence as to the safety of p ....There is considerable debate about the safety of maternity services in Australia. This has been increased by the National Maternity Services Review and the National Maternity Plan with particular concerns about homebirth and birth centres. This study aims to examine the safety of place of birth for healthy women. This national study will include women across the country. It is the first time such a study has been undertaken in Australia and will provide much needed evidence as to the safety of place of birth.Read moreRead less
The Gudaga Study is a unique study of Aboriginal children in an urban environment on the eastern seaboard of Australia. Children were recruited at birth and have been followed up at 6-monthly intervals to age 5 years. This research aims to describe the health, early learning and service context of these urban Aboriginal children from 5 to 9 years. Detailed longitudinal data on Aboriginal children's early life experiences have not previously been collected in an urban setting.
Quantifying The Burden Of Atrial Fibrillation: Impact Of Existing And New Treatments And The Potential For Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$398,395.00
Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) causes considerable morbidity and burden to the Australian economy. We will quantify the prevalent burden and costs of hospitalised AF, ascertain the risk of major events associated with AF and the impact of existing treatments, and determine the population-attributable risk for AF due to emerging risk factors. Our data will inform clinicians and health policy makers regarding the most effective allocation of expensive health care resources to minimise the burden of AF.
Understanding Health Service System Needs For People With Intellectual Disability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,216,389.00
Summary
The health of people with intellectual disability (ID) is one of the poorest of any group in Australia. People with ID experience higher rates of ill health, poor access to responsive health services and premature death. Our research will develop the first comprehensive profile of health, health service and medicines use and costs for people with ID, and will examine the impact of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) on these metrics.
Pharmaceutical Opioids For Chronic Non-cancer Pain: Evaluating Health Outcomes And Economic Impact Over Five Years
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$775,922.00
Summary
Chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) is a major contributor to disability. Increased opioid prescribing for CNCP has produced concern about dependence and overdose in the absence on data on its long-term effectiveness. Novel statistical methods will test causal relationships over 5 years between treatment, outcomes, and costs on 1,514 CNCP patients prescribed opioids. We will answer critical questions on 5-year outcomes, and whether, and for whom, opioids and other clinical interventions reduce costs.
Improving Efficiency Of Surveillance Colonoscopy For Colorectal Cancer Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,123.00
Summary
Greater awareness of bowel cancer screening has led to increased demand and waiting times for colonoscopy. National guidelines recognise the need for research to identify the best use of colonoscopy to ensure health funds are directed where they are needed. This study aims to identify how often colonoscopy is required for the best patient outcomes. Data about cancer and death will be linked to hospital and laboratory data to identify which patients need more or less surveillance colonoscopies.