The Impact Of Declining Dental Needs Of Age Cohorts On The Cost-effectiveness Of Water Fluoridation & Supplementary Prev
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$85,600.00
Summary
This research will apply economic modelling, based on current trend-data by birth cohort on the effectiveness of water fluoridation to the evaluation of its continuing application to metropolitan water supplies. Wherever possible data from Victoria, and Australia as a whole, will be used in the modelling. It will explore the implications for policy-making in relation to maintenance of benefits gained and potential future application to non-fluoridated rural water supplies in Victoria. A key focu ....This research will apply economic modelling, based on current trend-data by birth cohort on the effectiveness of water fluoridation to the evaluation of its continuing application to metropolitan water supplies. Wherever possible data from Victoria, and Australia as a whole, will be used in the modelling. It will explore the implications for policy-making in relation to maintenance of benefits gained and potential future application to non-fluoridated rural water supplies in Victoria. A key focus is to identify and analyse data relating to the point at which there is a ‘plateauing-out’ of the benefits accruing from water fluoridation in middle and older age. The evaluation will also consider the policy implications of trends towards retention of more teeth into older age and the consequent increased exposure to both caries and periodontal disease.Read moreRead less
Fluoridation Of Water Supplies In Remote Indigenous Communities In The NT: Requirements, Feasibility & Cost Effectivenes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$72,559.00
Summary
The project has two major objectives: 1) to identify Indigenous communities that are likely to benefit most from fluoridation of the water supply, and 2) to examine the feasibility and impact of introducing a small scale fluoridation plant into at least one community. The first will be achieved through accurately mapping natural levels of fluoride in the water supply of Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory, and examining the oral health status of children in these communities. Th ....The project has two major objectives: 1) to identify Indigenous communities that are likely to benefit most from fluoridation of the water supply, and 2) to examine the feasibility and impact of introducing a small scale fluoridation plant into at least one community. The first will be achieved through accurately mapping natural levels of fluoride in the water supply of Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory, and examining the oral health status of children in these communities. The second will be achieved by installing a fluoridation plant in one or more communities that have been lobbying for fluoridation of their water supplies, and monitoring the maintenance requirements and costs of the plant, and the changes in dental health status in school children over a period of two to three years.Read moreRead less
Using Clinical And Economic Evidence To Infrom Local Decision Making In Cancer Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,836,745.00
Summary
Medicines used to treat cancer often come with a high price tag. Many countries, including Australia, are no longer able to provide free access to all medicines. For this reason, patients and their families, public hospitals and private health insurers are often asked to pay for these treatments. Currently, health professionals and patients are ill-equipped to make informed treatment choices, since both cost and efficacy must be considered. Our proposed research will address this important gap i ....Medicines used to treat cancer often come with a high price tag. Many countries, including Australia, are no longer able to provide free access to all medicines. For this reason, patients and their families, public hospitals and private health insurers are often asked to pay for these treatments. Currently, health professionals and patients are ill-equipped to make informed treatment choices, since both cost and efficacy must be considered. Our proposed research will address this important gap in current knowledge. We will use a unique web-based resource (Cancer Institute NSW Standard Cancer Treatment Program; CI-SCaT) to communicate the economic evidence needed to make informed decisions about cancer treatments. Our project will provide public access to information about the effectiveness and costs of cancer drugs. This is a world first. CI-SCaT is already the main vehicle of communication about cancer drug treatments in NSW and is widely used by cancer health professionals and patients to inform point-of-care decisions. Our project we will also identify the factors which influence the ability of cancer treatment centres to make best use of their drug budgets. By achieving this goal, we hope to demonstrate how to best use scarce resources for the benefit of all cancer patients.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of The Cost-effectiveness Of Supportive Care Coordination For Advanced Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$147,269.00
Summary
The study will test the cost-effectiveness of two models of supportive care coordination for advanced cancer against usual care: a Telephone Caseworker model and an Oncologist-GP model. Both models are aimed at improving patients' and their informal caregivers' health and psychosocial status; are patient-centred, evidence based and readily transferable across health care settings. The Telephone Caseworker model has the additional advantage of reaching people isolated through geography, physical ....The study will test the cost-effectiveness of two models of supportive care coordination for advanced cancer against usual care: a Telephone Caseworker model and an Oncologist-GP model. Both models are aimed at improving patients' and their informal caregivers' health and psychosocial status; are patient-centred, evidence based and readily transferable across health care settings. The Telephone Caseworker model has the additional advantage of reaching people isolated through geography, physical disability or age.Read moreRead less
Thai Health-risk Transition: A National Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,231,214.00
Summary
Thailand's disease patterns are changing. Some changes are good but others, like emerging diabetes, heart disease and injuries, are of concern. Development-related 'health transition' can be optimised if there is information on new causes of disease - immediate risk factors, and 'upstream' economic, cultural and environmental influences. The team will study this health-risk transition in the whole Thai population - looking back 50 years, then forwards in 100,000 Sukothai Thammathirat Open Univer ....Thailand's disease patterns are changing. Some changes are good but others, like emerging diabetes, heart disease and injuries, are of concern. Development-related 'health transition' can be optimised if there is information on new causes of disease - immediate risk factors, and 'upstream' economic, cultural and environmental influences. The team will study this health-risk transition in the whole Thai population - looking back 50 years, then forwards in 100,000 Sukothai Thammathirat Open University students living all over Thailand and followed for four years. The team will map changing risks and upstream influences, produce information for Thai preventive programs, boost regional research capacity, create a regional partnership, and support PhD and postdoctoral training.Read moreRead less
A Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial Of A Herbal Preparation In Functional Dyspepsia:
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,680.00
Summary
Functional dyspepsia is characterisd by relapsing upper abdominal symptoms (pain, early satietation, fullness, bloating) without identifiable cause if routine diagnostic measures are utilised. This condition is highly prevalent affecting between 10 and 25 % of the population and causes substantial costs to the society due to medical consultations, diagnostic work-up and treatment. So far, treatments with chemically defined medication are disappointing with only a small proportion of patients exp ....Functional dyspepsia is characterisd by relapsing upper abdominal symptoms (pain, early satietation, fullness, bloating) without identifiable cause if routine diagnostic measures are utilised. This condition is highly prevalent affecting between 10 and 25 % of the population and causes substantial costs to the society due to medical consultations, diagnostic work-up and treatment. So far, treatments with chemically defined medication are disappointing with only a small proportion of patients experiencing sufficient relief. More recently, some herbal preparations have been tested in Europe in clinical trials and found to be effective, but comparisons with chemically defined treatments. However, data from Australia are lacking. In addition no study has been conducted so far that assessed and compared the cost-efficacy of a herbal preparations and a chemically defined treatment. Thus this project aims to assess and compare the effects of a standardised herbal preparation (STW-9) and-or a proton pump inhibitor on the relief of symptoms and the cost-efficacy in patients suffering from functional dyspepsia. In addition, we will assess whether there is an association between the clinical response (complete or substantial improvement of symptoms) and the symptom pattern, the changes of the sensitivity of the stomach (as assessed with a standardised nutrient challenge) and we will elucidate the role of specific receptor channels called Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels that are involved in the manifestation of abdominal sysmptoms such as pain or discomfort. This study will establish the cost-efficacy of a standardised herbal preparation (as compared to the stablshed treatment standard), allows to identify subgroups of patients who will most likely respond to therapy and gain insights into the underlying mechanisms. Thus, this study bears the potential to substantially improve the quality of care and cost efficacy of treatment of patients with this highly prevalent disease.Read moreRead less
Multi-centre RDBC Trial Of Oxygen Vs Air For Relief Of Breathlessness In Terminally-ill Patients With Intractable Dyspno
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$149,701.00
Summary
This study will compare the effects of oxygen and air in the relief of breathlessness in patients at the end of life who do not currently qualify for home oxygen. This landmark study will provide accurate information about any benefits that oxygen offers for breathlessness in this setting. This international multi-site study will ask 226 people to participate using either oxygen or air for 7 days while keeping a diary. We will measure breathlessness, quality of life, anxiety and side effects exp ....This study will compare the effects of oxygen and air in the relief of breathlessness in patients at the end of life who do not currently qualify for home oxygen. This landmark study will provide accurate information about any benefits that oxygen offers for breathlessness in this setting. This international multi-site study will ask 226 people to participate using either oxygen or air for 7 days while keeping a diary. We will measure breathlessness, quality of life, anxiety and side effects experienced.Read moreRead less