Improving Outcomes For People With Cancer: Consultation Skills Training With Oncologists
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$499,070.00
Summary
Each year approximately 30,000 Australians die from cancer and 65,000 new cancers are diagnosed. Despite much research for a cure for cancer, the incidence and mortality from cancer has not changed. New treatments now cause people with cancer to live longer with the disease, so we now need to focus on efforts to optimise the quality of life of these people. Although the emotional burden on patients and families is recognized, there is a sense that this is an inevitable by-product of the disease ....Each year approximately 30,000 Australians die from cancer and 65,000 new cancers are diagnosed. Despite much research for a cure for cancer, the incidence and mortality from cancer has not changed. New treatments now cause people with cancer to live longer with the disease, so we now need to focus on efforts to optimise the quality of life of these people. Although the emotional burden on patients and families is recognized, there is a sense that this is an inevitable by-product of the disease and its management in existing clinical systems. However, this does not need to be the case. There is now ample evidence that the way that doctors interact with their patients can effect the accuracy of diagnosis and prognosis, as well as patients' satisfaction, adherence with treatment instructions and quality of life after being diagnosed with cancer. Both patient advocate groups and clinicians have called for further training for doctors to effectively manage psychosocial aspects of cancer care, however, despite this support, there have been few opportunities for such training in Australia. We have developed an innovative consultation-skills program for oncologists. So that the effectiveness of the project can be evaluated, it will be implemented as a randomised controlled trial with oncologists from major Australian cancer clinics being randomly allocated to an intervention or control group. The training program will be delivered by videoconferencing, to overcome many of the barriers that have impeded busy clinicians from participating in previous training programs. This is the first international study to use videoconferencing between remote locations for this type of consultation skills training. A variety of measures will be used to evaluate the impact of the training, including patients' quality of life, anxiety, depression and perceived needs, and oncologists' burn-out.Read moreRead less
The Pen, Or Is It The Spoken Word, That Is Mightier Than The Sword. A Study Focussed On Defining, Teaching And Assessing Skills In Effective And Therapeutic Communication
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$125,503.00
Summary
The aim of this research is to define the essential elements in effective and helpful health professional communication, convert these elements to measurable learning objectives, develop a valid method to assess competency and evaluate change that occurs when students participate in programs designed to develop communication competencies. (500 character limit including spaces and line breaks)
Improving Interpreting For Dementia Assessments: The MINDSET Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$271,586.00
Summary
The MINDSET Study aims to improve the quality of communication in an interpreter mediated cognitive assessment for dementia. Working with interpreters, clinicians, culturally and linguistically diverse people with dementia, and their carers we will co-design, trial, and implement national online training targeted at interpreters. This training will enable interpreters to be prepared and confident in performing their role impartially, effectively, and accurately.
Participation In Online Conversations By Young People With Disabilities Who Are Non-speaking: Does E-mentoring Work?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$94,378.00
Summary
Individuals who are non-speaking have limited or no use of natural speech due to disability. They use alternative methods to communicate (e.g., computerised devices). In this study young people who are non-speaking will be connected with older mentors who are also non-speaking and who are skilled users of Internet social media. The mentors will be role models providing encouragement and guidance online. Results may demonstrate improvement in the mentee’s communication and social participation
Discussing Prognosis & End-of-life Issues In Palliative Care: Current Practice & Dvlpmnt Of Evidence Based Trng Program
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$149,955.00
Summary
Discussing prognosis and end-of-life issues is of key importance to palliative care patients and their families. We will a) prepare evidence based communication guidelines on these topics, b) analyse audio-taped consultations to see how these issues are currently discussed and c) develop and pilot a communication training module for palliative care clinicians. This could improve clinical practice, enhance patients' and families' psychological well-being and help patients to make appropriate deci ....Discussing prognosis and end-of-life issues is of key importance to palliative care patients and their families. We will a) prepare evidence based communication guidelines on these topics, b) analyse audio-taped consultations to see how these issues are currently discussed and c) develop and pilot a communication training module for palliative care clinicians. This could improve clinical practice, enhance patients' and families' psychological well-being and help patients to make appropriate decisions and prepare for their death.Read moreRead less
Although medical tests and procedures can save lives, sometimes too much medical intervention can be harmful. In low back pain, for example, high numbers of X-ray, CT and MRI scans are provided unnecessarily. There is good evidence that imaging scans for low back pain can cause more harm than good. At the same time, people can miss out on treatments that we know to be effective. This fellowship will enable me to discover ways to ensure people receive the right care for low back pain.
Understanding Childhood Speech And Language Disorders: What Goes Wrong, When And Why It Matters?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$466,849.00
Summary
My vision for the next five years is to improve greatly the diagnosis, prevention and management of childhood communication impairments. Making a difference for these children and their families means improving our understanding of how speech and language develops, what goes wrong, when, and why it matters. My research program will target each of these topics and outline a plan for translation, that is how to get the new knowledge and best evidence into practice.
Communication Disabilities And Patient Safety In Hospital.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$341,111.00
Summary
Hospital patients with communication disabilities are up to three times more likely than other patients to experience preventable, harmful patient safety incidents. We will develop (a) a theoretically sound and evidence based framework that helps to prevent and manage patient safety incidents, and (b) a Clinical Audit Tool for Communication in Hospital (CATCH) to improve patient safety for adults with little or no speech. This information will reduce costs associated with adverse events, and imp ....Hospital patients with communication disabilities are up to three times more likely than other patients to experience preventable, harmful patient safety incidents. We will develop (a) a theoretically sound and evidence based framework that helps to prevent and manage patient safety incidents, and (b) a Clinical Audit Tool for Communication in Hospital (CATCH) to improve patient safety for adults with little or no speech. This information will reduce costs associated with adverse events, and improve patient care.Read moreRead less
I am a speech pathologist working with patients who have suffered a traumatic brain injury or stroke. Brain injury is the leading cause of disability in young Australians with devastating life consequences. A common problem is communication difficulties, which leads to relationship breakdowns, unemployability, and social isolation. This Fellowship will deliver innovative communication treatments to improve the social outcomes of people with brain injury, their families and the community.
How Language Develops, What Goes Wrong, And Why It Matters: Following The Early Language In Victoria Study To Age 13
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$857,242.00
Summary
One in five children start school with low language. Little is known about the long term effects on developmental, educational attainment and other outcomes later in life. In this landmark study we will track the children's language, literacy and wellbeing from ages 8 to 12 years. We will capture the children's ability as they finish their primary school education and prior to the crucial transfer to high school.