Improving School Transition By Improving Child Sleep: A Translational Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$745,827.00
Summary
A successful transition to school sets a child on a path for life. A poor transition can lead to early drop out, poor peer relationships and poor emotional skills. In 2008/09, we found that a brief sleep intervention for children improved key determinants of a successful transition including social-emotional functioning and parent mental health. We now plan to see if the same intervention, delivered by school nurses, can have a similar effect.
Can Home-visiting Improve Early School Entry Outcomes?: Following The Right@home Randomised Trial To Age 5 Years
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,042,204.00
Summary
Inequalities in health and developmental outcomes are evident by the time Australian children start school. The “right@home” randomised controlled trial (2013-2016) will evaluate the impact of sustained nurse home visiting for the most disadvantaged families through targeted and intensive delivery of child health, development and parenting support until the children turns 2 years. Follow-up to school entry will evaluate the impact on health and developmental outcomes at ages 3 and 5 years.
Improved Hygiene Measures For Australian Child Care Centres: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$440,573.00
Summary
Roughly fifty percent of young Australian children receive care outside their home. As greater numbers of women choose to continue working after childbirth, the proportion of children exposed to group care in the first few years of life will continue to increase. In developed countries child care attendance has been shown to be the most important modifiable risk factor for respiratory tract infections and otitis media. A previous study in nine Darwin child care centres demonstrated high rates of ....Roughly fifty percent of young Australian children receive care outside their home. As greater numbers of women choose to continue working after childbirth, the proportion of children exposed to group care in the first few years of life will continue to increase. In developed countries child care attendance has been shown to be the most important modifiable risk factor for respiratory tract infections and otitis media. A previous study in nine Darwin child care centres demonstrated high rates of respiratory tract infections, otitis media, antibiotic use and colonisation with both penicillin-sensitive and penicillin-resistant pneumococci. This study will assess the impact of simple hygiene measures on rates of pneumococcal colonisation, respiratory infection, otitis media, and pneumococcal antibiotic resistance. Twenty child care centres will be randomised to receive additional training and education in the prevention of spread of respiratory infection or routine care. Outcomes measures will include the number of new infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, reported illnesses, and rates of otitis media and nasal discharge documented by fortnightly examination with video recording and tympanometry. Efficacy of the intervention will be estimated at the end of the school year (9 months after the intervention) to avoid bias associated with changes in the child care environment that occur over the school holidays. The centres randomised to routine care will receive the full intervention at the completion of the study and all centres will be re-assessed 6 months .Read moreRead less
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of A Code Game Alarm Compared With A Standard Alarm For Treating Nocturnal Enuresis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$349,740.00
Summary
Bedwetting affects 10% of school-aged children. It has psychosocial and cognitive effects on sufferers which is reversible with appropriate treatment. First line treatment for bedwetting is alarm therapy. 1-3 fail alarm treatment becaues of not waking to alarm noise. A novel alarm which enhances wakening has been developed and predicts to be 80-95% effective. This study compares the novel alarm to a standard alarm for treating bedwetting.This simple devise can be used in the home setting.
Population Paediatrics And Translational Child Health Research
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,550.00
Summary
My vision for the next five years is that children will have the best possible health outcomes, both in childhood and as adults, from effective, systematic and sustainable primary and secondary care. My program’s core is population-based efficacy and translational trials of the highest quality. My intellectual leadership and contribution were recognised in the 2009 Australian Health Minister’s Prize and, in 2008, an NHMRC Excellence Award.
Preventing Early Academic Problems By Improving Working Memory: Translational Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$831,085.00
Summary
Learning difficulties are common and can cause school failure and poor self-esteem. They are associated with specific problems with temporarily remembering and using information (‘working memory’). Research suggests that improving working memory might improve academic achievement. We will study this intervention in a large group of primary school children who have poor working memory. If successful, the intervention will provide a way to improve the learning skills of these high-risk children.
Improving Outcomes Of Preschool Language Delay In The Community: Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$927,327.00
Summary
7-15% of preschool children have language delay, so are vulnerable to poor lifelong academic, social and economic outcomes. Small trials suggest that intervention helps. This randomized trial aims to find out the population costs and benefits of optimized intervention for 4 year olds following systematic identification of language delay. Because we have studied the 1500 participants since infancy, the trial could also shed light on why some children respond better than others to treatment.