TEXTMEDS – TEXT Messages To Improve MEDication Adherence And Secondary Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,406,875.00
Summary
TEXTMEDS will evaluate a highly innovative strategy to improve cardiovascular disease secondary prevention using cheap and widely available mobile phone technology. TEXTMEDS is a randomised controlled trial of 1400 patients with acute coronary syndrome that will examine the effect of a semi-personalised secondary prevention support program sent via mobile phone text message on the proportion taking appropriate medications for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and on cardiovascul ....TEXTMEDS will evaluate a highly innovative strategy to improve cardiovascular disease secondary prevention using cheap and widely available mobile phone technology. TEXTMEDS is a randomised controlled trial of 1400 patients with acute coronary syndrome that will examine the effect of a semi-personalised secondary prevention support program sent via mobile phone text message on the proportion taking appropriate medications for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and on cardiovascular risk factors levels (e.g. cholesterol).Read moreRead less
A Longitudinal Investigation Of The Efficacy Of Pharmacological Smoking Cessation Aids In Real-life Settings
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$592,837.00
Summary
Currently around 3 million Australians, or 17% of people aged 14 years and over, smoke tobacco daily. These smokers are at major risk of developing coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and a variety of cancers, including lung, laryngeal, oral, kidney, bladder, breast, pancreas and colon cancers. At any one time almost half of Australian smokers intend to quit smoking or have already set a date to do so but few (around 10%) succeed on each attempt. Clinical trials of quitt ....Currently around 3 million Australians, or 17% of people aged 14 years and over, smoke tobacco daily. These smokers are at major risk of developing coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and a variety of cancers, including lung, laryngeal, oral, kidney, bladder, breast, pancreas and colon cancers. At any one time almost half of Australian smokers intend to quit smoking or have already set a date to do so but few (around 10%) succeed on each attempt. Clinical trials of quitting aids, such as nicotine patches, gum and Zyban, suggest that smokers are around twice as likely to quit if using these. However clinical trials are conducted in artificial environments and these quitting aids appear to have a far smaller impact on successful quitting rates in the 'real world'. Pharmaceutical quitting aids are heavily advertised by drug companies and widely used in Australia. Futhermore the Commonwealth Government has invested over $133 million dollars subsidising such aids to Australian smokers in the past four years. However it is not known to what extent these quitting aids have made a difference to Australian smoking rates. Sales volumes of pharmaceutical quitting aids appear not to have translated into expected increases in numbers of smokers successfully quitting, suggesting they are less effective than clinical trials suggest. The present study aims to investigate whether pharmaceutical quitting aids actually are less effective in the 'real world', and if so, why.Read moreRead less
Secondary Prevention – Increasing Uptake And Engagement To Reduce Cardiovascular Events
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,747.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease is a common and long-term health problem. Dr Redfern will continue to develop new and existing strategies for increasing uptake of and adherence to long-term behavioural change by people living with heart disease. The work will encompass policy development and media campaigns as well as trialling electronic communication systems such as text messaging and smart phone applications and new approaches including providing incentives for people who enact healthy behaviours.
Improving Early Recognition And Response To Symptoms In Acute Cardiovascular Events.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,449.00
Summary
An important challenge facing cardiovascular public health is to improve access to treatment for acute events, like heart attacks and stroke, by improving public recognition and the initial response to symptoms. This research aims to extend the current understanding and to evaluate existing and test new interventions in this area. Outcomes from this research will inform the development of future campaigns and interventions aiming to improve symptom recognition and reduce delays in presenting to ....An important challenge facing cardiovascular public health is to improve access to treatment for acute events, like heart attacks and stroke, by improving public recognition and the initial response to symptoms. This research aims to extend the current understanding and to evaluate existing and test new interventions in this area. Outcomes from this research will inform the development of future campaigns and interventions aiming to improve symptom recognition and reduce delays in presenting to hospital for acute cardiovascular events.Read moreRead less
Are Cardiac Conditions In Older Women Managed Appropriately?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$289,492.00
Summary
Cardiac conditions, including heart attach, heart failure, angina and high blood pressure are very common among older Australians. They account for large proportions of deaths, morbidity and health care costs. For most of these conditions there are highly effective treatments, however there is evidence that these are not as well used as they should be. Also, for women, diagnosis may be delayed due to perceptions that heart disease is a problem mainly among men. The project is based on the Austra ....Cardiac conditions, including heart attach, heart failure, angina and high blood pressure are very common among older Australians. They account for large proportions of deaths, morbidity and health care costs. For most of these conditions there are highly effective treatments, however there is evidence that these are not as well used as they should be. Also, for women, diagnosis may be delayed due to perceptions that heart disease is a problem mainly among men. The project is based on the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health which includes more than 10,000 women, over half living in rural and remote areas. Women with cardiac conditions will be surveyed about their medical care. This information, together with data they have provided over the last 6 years (and Medicare data if the women have given their consent), will be compared with best practice guidelines established by NHMRC and the Heart Foundation. In this way the project will examine the adequacy of medical care among older women in sufficient detail to make actionable recommendations to health authorities for where improvements are needed.Read moreRead less
Understanding The Unique Contribution Of Sedentary Behaviour To The Cardio Metabolic Health Of Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$83,149.00
Summary
The risk of heart disease for women increases significantly with the menopause. New evidence suggests that sedentary behaviour (too much sitting as distinct from too little exercise) is also related to heart disease risk. Ms Howard's PhD research will identify whether TV time and other prolonged sitting pose a particular risk for women during and after the menopause. Her studies will identify whether there is a need for women's health recommendations on reducing sitting time.
Accurate Prediction Of Individual Risk To Disease From Genome-wide Association Studies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$269,371.00
Summary
Risk for many complex diseases (such as psychiatric disorders or heart disease) has a substantial genetic component, however few specific high risk variants have been identified. Evidence is mounting that there are likely to be hundreds of risk loci each individually conferring a very low increase in relative risk for disease. We aim to develop methods that utilise information from multiple genetic risk variants simultaneously to create a 'genomic profile' of risk.
Development Of Contemporary Surveillance And Control Methodologies For Dengue And Other Mosquito-borne Viral Diseases.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$512,290.00
Summary
This research proposal will address the need for better surveillance and control methodologies for mosquito-borne viral diseases and their vectors, including dengue and its global mosquito vector, Ae. aegypti, and a range of other important arboviral diseases throughout Australia. Research will focus in three areas: surveillance and control of Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses; development of contemporary risk management frameworks for dengue; and innovative investigations of insect age to pr ....This research proposal will address the need for better surveillance and control methodologies for mosquito-borne viral diseases and their vectors, including dengue and its global mosquito vector, Ae. aegypti, and a range of other important arboviral diseases throughout Australia. Research will focus in three areas: surveillance and control of Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses; development of contemporary risk management frameworks for dengue; and innovative investigations of insect age to provide evidence based monitoring and novel approaches to arbovirus disease prevention.Read moreRead less
Retinal Microvascular Signs In Angina And Coronary Artery Disease: The Australian Heart Eye Study (AHES)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,223.00
Summary
The Australian Heart Eye Study will determine whether vessel signs from the retina at the back of the eye are an independent marker of heart disease as assessed by a coronary angiogram. New imaging techniques permit a rapid assessment of these signs. This project could lead to the development of an innovative, non-invasive test that could be used to screen people for the risk of coronary heart disease, in addition to traditional risk factors like blood pressure, smoking, cholesterol and obesity.
Optimising Primary Care Risk Profiling And Management Of Cardiovascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,387.00
Summary
Dr Carrington's CDF will support her career progression in 4 areas of translational research: 1. Closing the gap in ATSI heart health – optimising management of heart disease in Central Australia 2. Supporting healthy regional communities - developing cost-effective risk reduction clinics 3. Coordinating the care of complex cardiac conditions – refining an electronic tool to optimise GP management 4. International heart health – develop an effective primary care model of risk reduction in Sub-Sa ....Dr Carrington's CDF will support her career progression in 4 areas of translational research: 1. Closing the gap in ATSI heart health – optimising management of heart disease in Central Australia 2. Supporting healthy regional communities - developing cost-effective risk reduction clinics 3. Coordinating the care of complex cardiac conditions – refining an electronic tool to optimise GP management 4. International heart health – develop an effective primary care model of risk reduction in Sub-Saharan AfricaRead moreRead less