School Versus Community-based Albendazole Deworming For Control Of Soil Transmitted Helminths In School-age Children In The Philippines – A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,336,408.00
Summary
Intestinal parasites are a global health problem. The World Health Organization recommends regular distribution of deworming drugs, targeting school aged children. This is effective for the children receiving the drugs but does not have an impact in the wider community. We aim to determine the best strategy for delivery of deworming drugs, to achieve the maximum benefit both for children and wider community, by directly comparing the benefits of a school-targeted vs a community-mass approach.
WOmen's Action For Mums And Bubs (WOMB): A Pragmatic Trial Of Participatory Women's Groups To Improve Indigenous Maternal And Child Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,766,216.00
Summary
There is strong evidence elsewhere that involving community women in decision-making about strategies to improve the health of mothers and babies is a cheap and effective way of improving health. The WOMB study tests whether community women's groups improve the quality of maternal and child health care and outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, the cost-effectiveness and how it works.
Estimating The Contribution Of Adolescent Alcohol Misuse Prevention To The Reduction Of Alcohol-related Harm In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,813,958.00
Summary
This project will extend an existing national randomised trial (comparing 14 intervention and 14 control communities) to complete a novel evaluation of the longer-term benefits of community-based adolescent alcohol use prevention to reduce population rates of adolescent alcohol use by at least 15%. The project will have significant policy implications in being the first to measure the health, social and economic benefits that flow from reducing population rates of adolescent alcohol use.
Novel Interventions To Address Methamphetamines In Aboriginal Communities, Including A Randomised Trial Of A Web Based Therapeutic Tool Used To Treat Dependence In Clinical Settings.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,177,908.00
Summary
Methamphetamine use in Aboriginal communities has gained much media attention, despite limited research studies to ascertain the full extent of its use and its impact. We propose a randomised trial of a web based therapeutic tool for use in Aboriginal Medical Services to treat clients using methamphetamines. In addition we will characterise the health and well-being of Aboriginal people who use methamphetamines and trial unique Aboriginal community led interventions to address methamphetamines.
Training Health Professionals In Tobacco Cessation And Evidence Translation For Aboriginal Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$832,723.00
Summary
Our published pilot investigations have shown that smoking cessation programs among Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Australians are profoundly lacking, with current tobacco prevalence estimates still at 45%. Through a cluster randomised delayed intervention controlled trial design, our proposal includes a opportunistic approach to training existing health professionals in tobacco cessation with a number of methods to reduce tobacco prevalence amongst Indigenous Australians.
Increasing Engagement With Online Psychosocial Programs To Improve Mental Health In The Community
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$352,317.00
Summary
Online therapy programs have a strong evidence base in reducing mental health symptoms. However, take-up of these programs in the community is limited, and low adherence to these programs limits their impact. This project is a randomised controlled trial testing a novel approach to increasing uptake and adherence to psychosocial online programs, involving acceptance facilitation. Results will inform the dissemination of evidence-based psychosocial programs for a range of health conditions.
Does A Whey-Protein And Vitamin D Enriched Drink Enhance The Health Benefits Of The Lift For Life® Resistance Training Program In Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$572,023.00
Summary
Since type 2 diabetes is projected to affect over 1.8 million Australians by 2025, there is an urgent need to identify safe and acceptable population-based strategies to improve glucose metabolism and related cardiometabolic risks factors which are common in this population. This study will examine whether increased dietary protein and vitamin D treatment can enhance the effects of resistance training on body composition, glycaemic control and cardiometabolic risk factors in older adults with ty ....Since type 2 diabetes is projected to affect over 1.8 million Australians by 2025, there is an urgent need to identify safe and acceptable population-based strategies to improve glucose metabolism and related cardiometabolic risks factors which are common in this population. This study will examine whether increased dietary protein and vitamin D treatment can enhance the effects of resistance training on body composition, glycaemic control and cardiometabolic risk factors in older adults with type 2 diabetes.Read moreRead less
Optimising Men’s Uptake Of FIT Screening For Bowel Cancer: A Population Based Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$552,522.00
Summary
Men are more likely to die from bowel cancer but are not participating in the National Bowel Cancer Screening program to the same extent as women. The research group has devised simple messages that their previous research shows encourages men to use the screening kit. The team will compare the use of kits among men who get the Government’s usual invitations, with a group who receive invitations with the messages for men.
Novel Serological Tools To Aid Malaria Elimination In The Asia-Pacific
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,362,749.00
Summary
In 2014 Asia-Pacific leaders pledged a malaria free Asia-Pacific by 2030. We will contribute to this goal by developing novel antibody detection tests that can identify people with current and recent past infections. We will then evaluate the utility of these tests both in mass screening and treatment programs and for the rapid delineation of areas where transmission persists from those where it has been eliminated. This will address two major roadblocks to malaria elimination in our region.
Community Action For Smoking Cessation In Remote Aboriginal Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,162,650.00
Summary
Smoking rates halved in Australia over the past 30 years to below 20% in 2004. However, Indigenous Australians continued to smoke at more than double this rate. In remote Aboriginal communities in the NT's 'Top End', over two-thirds of the population smoke. Smoking tobacco causes the greatest burden of disease for Australians generally. For Indigenous Australians, it is the single most important reversible risk factor for morbidity and premature mortality. With no sign of reduction in smoking le ....Smoking rates halved in Australia over the past 30 years to below 20% in 2004. However, Indigenous Australians continued to smoke at more than double this rate. In remote Aboriginal communities in the NT's 'Top End', over two-thirds of the population smoke. Smoking tobacco causes the greatest burden of disease for Australians generally. For Indigenous Australians, it is the single most important reversible risk factor for morbidity and premature mortality. With no sign of reduction in smoking levels, Indigenous Australians remain at greater risk of hospitalisations or death from many tobacco-related illnesses. Smoking in Australia was reduced through individually-oriented measures, public education and supply control. These strategies have either not been tried or have not been adequately studied in Aboriginal communities. Effective interventions could provide major health gains for Aboriginal Australians and reduce health costs. The intervention we propose will be based on an agreement whereby four remote communities in the 'Top End' will make a pact with the researchers to jointly try to reduce tobacco smoking using community-wide mobilisation, training and education. The intervention with have multiple components. We will not evaluate each component separately. The effect of the whole intervention on smoking will be assessed. Tobacco sales for the whole community in these small isolated localities, a sensitive and reliable measure, should decline if the intervention works. Tobacco smokers will be assessed before the intervention in each community and followed up twice to assess quit rates. Quit rates should go up. Five years are needed for the study because smoking behaviour change does not happen quickly or at peoples' first attempt. With staggered implementation of the intervention, i.e. not starting in all communities at once, reductions in smoking in more than one community will make us confident that the intervention worked.Read moreRead less