Developing Salient Messages For Indigenous Tobacco Control In Rural Aboriginal Smokers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$117,331.00
Summary
I am a General Practitioner with a keen interest in smoking cessation particularly for Aboriginal people, who have a high rate of smoking. Media messages are not to date being completely effective in this group, so I am investigating how to make more relevant and persuasive messages to support Indigenous smokers and their families (importantly pregnant smokers) to become smoke-free and encourage them to use effective treatments to do so.
What Works To Reduce Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Smoking? A National Evaluation Of Tobacco Control Initiatives For Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$120,603.00
Summary
My study ties in with a large national project that aims to find out what works to reduce smoking among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. I will look specifically at one tobacco control approach and its effect on steps toward quitting and staying quit in this group. Together with findings from the broader study, this research will provide valuable new information to help reduce smoking, the number one killer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Developing A Framework To Evaluate Low Value Prescribing In The Australian Health Care Setting
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,608.00
Summary
The aim of this project is to develop a framework to evaluate the quality of prescribing in Australia using routinely collected administrative health data. Given growing concerns regarding the quality of prescribing of psychotropic medicines and opioids, these medicines will be e focus of the study. Patterns, quality markers and health and financial consequences of poor prescribing will be assessed.
Antibiotic Allergy Testing And Its Impact On Antimicrobial Stewardship In The Immunocompromised Host
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,714.00
Summary
While antibiotic allergy labels are common, the impact on immunosuppressed patients is unknown. This collaboration between Austin Health, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and Vanderbilt University Medical Centre (USA) will be the first Australian assessment of the impacts of antibiotic allergy labels on immunosuppressed patients. This project will provide strategies to examine the impact of and revise the antibiotic allergy labels with skin prick allergy testing and advanced immunodiagnostics.
Increasing Knowledge Of Mental And Physical Harms Among People Who Inject Drugs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$88,502.00
Summary
People who inject drugs (PWID) commonly experience a range of health problems. These include injecting-related injuries and non-viral diseases (e.g. endocarditis), drug overdose and mental health problems. With a focus on reducing the presence of these harms among the injecting population, the proposed research aims to better understand the factors that contribute to PWID experiencing, or not experiencing, such harms.
Up to 50% of patients having surgery take regular medications and almost half of these patients have their medications stopped at the time of surgery. The interruption of their regular medications during this period exposes patients to associated complications. The project aims to improve the management of patients’ regular medications at the time of surgery, especially when they are fasting or nil by mouth, via a bundle of interventions that include education, reminders and audit/feedback.
New Approaches To Internet-based Substance Use Prevention For Australian Adolescents
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$83,149.00
Summary
This research aims to explore internet-based prevention programs for substance use among young people. Specifically, this thesis aims to evaluate the online, cartoon-based Climate Schools: Alcohol and Cannabis program and to develop and assess the Climate Schools: Ecstasy Module. It is anticipated that these programs will be effective in reducing alcohol and drug use, increasing drug-related knowledge and reducing intentions to use substances.
Optimising Prescribing In Older Australians: A Randomised Trial Of The Drug Burden Index With Home Medicines Review
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$96,436.00
Summary
The burden of polypharmacy in the older population is taking its toll. The average number of medicines prescribed to older Australians is on the rise, and in turn leading to increased significant costs to the public health system. Pharmacists have a crucial role to improve the quality use of medicines in older Australians. The Drug Burden Index measures a person’s total exposure to medicines. This project will evaluate the benefits of calculating the DBI for patients receiving Home Medicines Rev ....The burden of polypharmacy in the older population is taking its toll. The average number of medicines prescribed to older Australians is on the rise, and in turn leading to increased significant costs to the public health system. Pharmacists have a crucial role to improve the quality use of medicines in older Australians. The Drug Burden Index measures a person’s total exposure to medicines. This project will evaluate the benefits of calculating the DBI for patients receiving Home Medicines Reviews, conducted by pharmacists.Read moreRead less
Understanding The Impact Of Harm Reduction Program Coverage On The Incidence Of Blood Borne Viruses And Related Risk Behaviours
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$86,073.00
Summary
The provision of clean injecting equipment to people who inject drugs (PWID) is a crucial harm reduction intervention that has helped reduce the spread of blood borne viruses. The level to which PWID needs are adequately met is known as “coverage”, and it is the aim of this study to examine how variations in coverage impacts on PWID risk behaviours and health outcomes over time. This project will make important contributions to the evidence base for harm reduction and future implementation.
Models Of Care For Hepatitis C In The Era Of Directly Acting Antivirals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,608.00
Summary
This project aims to evaluate how service delivery can enhance the impact of directly acting antivirals (DAA) on hepatitis C treatment uptake in three parts: i) To assess the impact of ten integrated hepatology nurses on treatment uptake in Victoria ii) To assess the feasibility of patient driven contact tracing to treat hepatitis C with DAA in a study of people who inject drugs iii) To assess the impact of offering DAA therapy in primary health care compared with a hospital.