Cognitive models of decision making in clinical populations. This cognitive science project aims to develop new methods for mathematical modelling of decision making, and to apply these methods to study decision making in people with problem drug use. Precise measures of the thought processes underlying decision making in drug users will help to direct efforts to prevent and treat drug problems.
Closing The Evidence-practice Gap In Total Knee Replacement: Optimising Evidence-based Decision-making Through A Multi-dimensional Surgeon Feedback Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,091,926.00
Summary
Total knee replacement (TKR) is one of the most successful surgeries for treating knee arthritis. With an ageing population demand for TKR will increase dramatically, placing burden on our health system. It is estimated that 25% of TKRs are performed in inappropriate candidates according to evidence-based guidelines. This project evaluates a program for surgeons that will improve adherence to using guidelines, which will improve efficiencies & equitability of this important surgical procedure.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100350
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,042.00
Summary
Decoding unstable decision preferences from brain activity. We often have to make decisions despite lacking clear preferences. This leaves us susceptible to biases from stimuli and information in our environment. This project investigates how simple, perceptual decisions and financial decisions are influenced by contextual information. The project will combine state-of-the-art neuroimaging technology with machine learning methods to develop a novel decision-decoding toolbox that directly predict ....Decoding unstable decision preferences from brain activity. We often have to make decisions despite lacking clear preferences. This leaves us susceptible to biases from stimuli and information in our environment. This project investigates how simple, perceptual decisions and financial decisions are influenced by contextual information. The project will combine state-of-the-art neuroimaging technology with machine learning methods to develop a novel decision-decoding toolbox that directly predicts decision outcomes from brain activity. This will allow investigation of how decision encoding in the brain changes under the influence of contextual information, and will provide the basis for developing an advanced model for human decision-making in real-life situations.Read moreRead less
The dog that didn't bark: a Bayesian account of reasoning from censored data. This project aims to develop and test a new computational theory of inductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning involves extending knowledge from known to novel instances, and is a central component of intelligent behaviour. This project will address the cognitive mechanisms that allow people to draw inferences based on both observed and censored evidence. The project intends to test the model through an extensive program ....The dog that didn't bark: a Bayesian account of reasoning from censored data. This project aims to develop and test a new computational theory of inductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning involves extending knowledge from known to novel instances, and is a central component of intelligent behaviour. This project will address the cognitive mechanisms that allow people to draw inferences based on both observed and censored evidence. The project intends to test the model through an extensive program of experimental investigation and computational modelling. The anticipated benefits include an enhanced understanding of human inference, especially in domains such as the evaluation of forensic or financial evidence, where data censoring is common.Read moreRead less
Centre For Research Excellence In Reducing Healthcare Associated Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,495,795.00
Summary
Each year in Australia 180,000 patients suffer a healthcare associated infection. Risk can be reduced with relatively simple technology but substantial costs arise with system wide adoption and monitoring. The economic paradigm is that funds can be invested for infection reduction to save costs and lives. The CRE will reveal the cost-effectiveness of infection control programmes and show health services decision-makers how to improve patient outcomes, save resources and save lives.
An Intelligent System for Pre-Mission Analysis of Helicopter Medical Emergency Services. Paramedic crew on board air ambulance helicopter provides rescue and medical emergency, to critically injured/ill cases, in metropolitan/regional/rural areas. These operations are complex and involve mission analysis that governs critical life saving decisions. Currently the analysis and decisions are crew knowledge and experience dependent and thus prone to human error.
The complex process of mission ana ....An Intelligent System for Pre-Mission Analysis of Helicopter Medical Emergency Services. Paramedic crew on board air ambulance helicopter provides rescue and medical emergency, to critically injured/ill cases, in metropolitan/regional/rural areas. These operations are complex and involve mission analysis that governs critical life saving decisions. Currently the analysis and decisions are crew knowledge and experience dependent and thus prone to human error.
The complex process of mission analysis needs to be modelled as an 'Intelligent System' to support critical life saving decisions. In this research project, academics and paramedics will jointly develop an 'Intelligent Decision Support System' to address the key problem of pre-mission analysis and decision support, for Air Ambulance Services.
The project is in the designated research priority area for 2003 funding - 'Complex/Intelligent Systems'.Read moreRead less
Australian Predicting Infectious ComplicatioNs In Children With Cancer (PICNICC) Project
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$694,980.00
Summary
Children undergoing cancer treatment are at an increased risk of infection. This is managed by admission to hospital for antibiotics which can be a frightening experience for the child, disruptive for their family and expensive for the healthcare system. While many need admission, a proportion of patients can be safely managed at home with oral or intravenous antibiotics. This project aims to identify these children, so as to improve their quality of life, and decrease cost of treatment.
Improving Patient Management Pathways In Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$181,065.00
Summary
Age related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of vision impairment in Australians aged over 50 years. In recent years, there have been a number of diagnostic tests and new interventions developed for AMD, but it has proven challenging to communicate this information to all primary eye care practitioners. This project will investigate the reasons management guidelines are not always being followed, and develop online training to provide direct bench-to-bedside AMD education.
Centre For Research Excellence In Total Joint Replacement OPtimising OUtcomes, Equity, Cost Effectiveness And Patient Selection (OPUS)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,500,000.00
Summary
Joint replacement surgery is one of the most successful surgeries performed in Australia and globally. With an ageing population, demand for this procedure will increase dramatically, placing burden on a constrained health system. This Centre targets the journey of patients undergoing joint replacement surgery, seeking to optimise patient safety and outcomes, in addition to improving efficiencies and equitablity of this important surgical procedure.
Maximum Acceptable Risk Of Complication In Total Knee Arthroplasty (MARKA) Study: Using Discreet Choice Experiments To Elicit Patient And Surgeon Perception Of Acceptable Risk In Total Knee Arthroplasty
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$465,199.00
Summary
Patient expectation is the strongest predictor of satisfaction following total knee replacement. Dissatisfaction with surgery is reported in approximately 1 in 5 patients undergoing knee replacement. Unrealistic patient expectations and uninformed perceptions of potential benefits, risks and limitations of surgery lead to dissatisfaction in many cases. This study will examine the “risk-benefit” preferences in patients and surgeons considering total knee replacement as a treatment option for end- ....Patient expectation is the strongest predictor of satisfaction following total knee replacement. Dissatisfaction with surgery is reported in approximately 1 in 5 patients undergoing knee replacement. Unrealistic patient expectations and uninformed perceptions of potential benefits, risks and limitations of surgery lead to dissatisfaction in many cases. This study will examine the “risk-benefit” preferences in patients and surgeons considering total knee replacement as a treatment option for end-stage osteoarthritis.Read moreRead less