Assessing risk in aged mental health care. This study will explore practices and developments in relation to the assessment of risk in aged persons mental health from the perspective of multiple stakeholders. The aims are to gain a thorough understanding of existing practices with a view to developing and evaluating a comprehensive risk assessment model. The outcomes will enhance the provision of mental health services within aged mental health services.
Preventing hospital readmissions and loss of functional ability in high risk older adults: A randomised controlled trial. Older people have higher rates of hospital admission and readmission due to complications and falls. During hospitalisation, many older people experience functional decline which impacts on their future independence. Acute hospital services comprise the largest section of health expenditure in Australia, costing $26,413 million/year. Prevention or delay of disease is known to ....Preventing hospital readmissions and loss of functional ability in high risk older adults: A randomised controlled trial. Older people have higher rates of hospital admission and readmission due to complications and falls. During hospitalisation, many older people experience functional decline which impacts on their future independence. Acute hospital services comprise the largest section of health expenditure in Australia, costing $26,413 million/year. Prevention or delay of disease is known to produce more effective use of services. This study will compare the effectiveness of innovative strategies to prevent deconditioning, functional decline and hospital readmissions. Comparative analysis of these strategies will provide information with potential to reduce costs whilst improving functional status, psychosocial well-being and independence in older peopleRead moreRead less
Comprehensive discharge-planning and in-home follow-up for older adults incorporating exercise strategies to avoid de-conditioning and reduce risk of hospital re-admission. Older people have significantly higher rates of hospital admission and length of stay than the general population and higher rates of hospital re-admission due to complications and falls. During hospitalisation, older people experience significant functional decline which impacts on their future levels of independence and qua ....Comprehensive discharge-planning and in-home follow-up for older adults incorporating exercise strategies to avoid de-conditioning and reduce risk of hospital re-admission. Older people have significantly higher rates of hospital admission and length of stay than the general population and higher rates of hospital re-admission due to complications and falls. During hospitalisation, older people experience significant functional decline which impacts on their future levels of independence and quality of life. This research aims to design, deliver and evaluate an innovative model of discharge planning and in-home exercise-based follow-up for community-living frail older people at high risk of hospital re-admission as a means of promoting health. Results should delay occurrence of disease, reduce re-admissions, and improve functional status, psycho-social well-being and patient satisfaction.Read moreRead less
Developing a novel method for delivering a behavioral intervention for decreasing morbidity in women with a chronic disease: a randomized controlled trial. Currently there are 209.8 deaths from heart, stroke and vascular diseases per 100 000 of the Australian female population each year, with the rates being considerably high in the elderly female population. Despite the potential benefits of behavioural strategies to prevent morbidity in women with chronic disease, studies to date have not targ ....Developing a novel method for delivering a behavioral intervention for decreasing morbidity in women with a chronic disease: a randomized controlled trial. Currently there are 209.8 deaths from heart, stroke and vascular diseases per 100 000 of the Australian female population each year, with the rates being considerably high in the elderly female population. Despite the potential benefits of behavioural strategies to prevent morbidity in women with chronic disease, studies to date have not targeted women who already have a chronic disease in a clinical setting. This research study will address this, helping postmenopausal women who have chronic disease change negative health behaviours and increase physical activity and self efficacy, improve quality of life and decrease blood pressure, obesity and tobacco use.Read moreRead less
The efficacy of a referral and physical activity program for survivors of prostate cancer. Although survival rates of prostate cancer are approximately 83 per cent with earlier detection and improved treatment modalities, prostate cancer survivors are at an increased risk of dying from co-morbidities, which may be prevented or ameliorated through participation in physical activity. This project aims to establish an effective and sustainable referral and physical activity program to improve the ....The efficacy of a referral and physical activity program for survivors of prostate cancer. Although survival rates of prostate cancer are approximately 83 per cent with earlier detection and improved treatment modalities, prostate cancer survivors are at an increased risk of dying from co-morbidities, which may be prevented or ameliorated through participation in physical activity. This project aims to establish an effective and sustainable referral and physical activity program to improve the health outcomes of prostate cancer survivors by utilising the influence of clinicians in their delivery of information to patients. This concept of a referral and physical activity program has the potential to translate across all cancer tumour streams to reduce the physiological and psychological burden associated with living with cancer.Read moreRead less
Improving safety and quality: psychosocial influences of managing medicines by consumers with chronic health problems. Many Australians have multiple chronic conditions that require complex prescribed medicine regimens to control symptoms and prevent further illness. Long-term health outcomes depend on how well consumers manage their medicines. This project will contribute to the development and evaluation of a medicine self-management training package to help consumers understand and manage the ....Improving safety and quality: psychosocial influences of managing medicines by consumers with chronic health problems. Many Australians have multiple chronic conditions that require complex prescribed medicine regimens to control symptoms and prevent further illness. Long-term health outcomes depend on how well consumers manage their medicines. This project will contribute to the development and evaluation of a medicine self-management training package to help consumers understand and manage their complex medication regimens. Optimal medicine self-management improves the consumer's general wellbeing and benefits the Australian community through promoting good health and reducing health care costs.Read moreRead less
Turning them on: engaging young people in disrupting silences about their sexual wellbeing. This project will investigate what young people think they should be taught in school-based sexuality education programs. This information will inform the re-design of these programs and promote the sexual health of the next generation of Australians.
Effective management of challenging behaviours in cognitively impaired aged care residents through a research-based nursing care model. Challenging behaviours associated with cognitive impairment, such as screaming and perseveration, marks a decisive turning point in the life situation for an older person, heralding a deterioration in their quality of life and placement in an aged care facility. Staff can promote the residents health and well-being through person-centred care approaches. The stu ....Effective management of challenging behaviours in cognitively impaired aged care residents through a research-based nursing care model. Challenging behaviours associated with cognitive impairment, such as screaming and perseveration, marks a decisive turning point in the life situation for an older person, heralding a deterioration in their quality of life and placement in an aged care facility. Staff can promote the residents health and well-being through person-centred care approaches. The study employs Dementia Care Mapping to achieve these goals for the resident through participatory action research. The expected outcomes are a significant reduction in contextual factors that trigger these challenging behaviours, an improvement in the residents health, well-being and quality of life, and increased knowledge, skills and empowerment in staff.Read moreRead less
School drug education for junior high school students in Victoria - Assessing the impact of a state-wide, evidence-based intervention
. Young people are faced with numerous and powerful influences to use both legal and illicit drugs, and drug education can play an important counterbalancing role in shaping a normative culture of safety, moderation and informed decision making in this group. The research will develop, implement and evaluate one all encompassing, evidence-based, drug education pr ....School drug education for junior high school students in Victoria - Assessing the impact of a state-wide, evidence-based intervention
. Young people are faced with numerous and powerful influences to use both legal and illicit drugs, and drug education can play an important counterbalancing role in shaping a normative culture of safety, moderation and informed decision making in this group. The research will develop, implement and evaluate one all encompassing, evidence-based, drug education program for junior high school students across Victoria. The study is unique in its size and scope and will be of national benefit because its findings will influence the nature of future drug education in all secondary schools in Australia.Read moreRead less
Enhancing health literacy to optimise health equality across Victorian communities. Health literacy—the ability to seek, understand and use health information—is a major influence on equitable health outcomes for Australians. This project will take a fresh approach to health literacy to understand vulnerable members of our community and develop supports and interventions that aim to assist services to reduce health inequalities.