This program of research will develop and evaluate improved strategies for communication and decision making in medical testing for consumers, patients and clinicians. Better understanding about medical tests and improved interventions to support decision making will enable patients and clinicians make more informed and more appropriate decisions about when and when not to test. This work forms part of a broader objective to build health literacy and shared health decision making in Australia.
Maternal Vaccination: Perceptions, Behaviours And A Communication Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$38,631.00
Summary
This study aims to understand the barriers that pregnant women and new mothers may have to receiving vaccines that can protect them and their children against whooping cough and influenza. Based on this research I will develop an educational intervention that can help mothers make informed decisions about receiving these vaccinations at the right time.
Evaluation And Optimisation Of Paediatric Vaccination Programs In Australia And The Region
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$293,426.00
Summary
Vaccines are highly effective in preventing infection. Increasing numbers of vaccines are available to children and to national immunisation programs. Research is required to ensure that vaccines included in national programs are effective and safe. We must also understand why some children are not vaccinated and to assess ways to improve uptake. Focusing on two common disease, influenza and pneumococcal disease, this fellowship will address these unanswered questions.
Better Use Of Established Medications For The Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$348,768.00
Summary
My PhD research showed that placing several heart protection drugs into one pill helped many more people take these drugs. I am now looking at the best way to use ‘polypills’ in ‘real-life’. I will identify what is preventing use of polypills, in a country where they are currently available. I will examine new strategies that promote identifying patients who are eligible for polypills. I will also investigate whether the same concept can be used to improve blood pressure control.
IPrevent: Development And Pilot Testing Of An Evidence-based, Tailored, Computerised Risk Assessment And Decision Support Tool To Facilitate Discussions About Breast Cancer Prevention And Screening Measures.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,143.00
Summary
Women at increased risk for breast cancer should be identified and offered prevention and intensified screening. Yet most women don’t know their personal risk for breast cancer. We will develop a user friendly, computerised tool which, used with her doctor, will help each woman understand her personal breast cancer risk and the benefits and disadvantages of prevention and screening strategies. It will empower women to understand and take control of their breast cancer risk.
Improving The Quality Of Maternity Care For Women With Female Genital Mutilation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$181,065.00
Summary
Although we know how to manage the complications and care for pregnant women affected by Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) health outcomes for these women remain poorer than other women in Australia. Women with FGM are dissatisfied with their maternity care and health professionals lack skills. This project aims to improve maternity care for FGM affected women by implementing women centred guidelines to assist communication between women and health professionals and ensure shared decision making.
Multi-dimensional Temporal Abstraction to Support Neonatal Clinical Research. Each year, the death of a baby causes grief for thousands of Australian parents, contributes to depression and considerable anxiety in the population. In this work we propose procedures that will significantly reduce this unhappy scenario. The availability of a complex trend and pattern analysis will give Neonatologists access to predictive clinical analysis that has not previously been available locally or internation ....Multi-dimensional Temporal Abstraction to Support Neonatal Clinical Research. Each year, the death of a baby causes grief for thousands of Australian parents, contributes to depression and considerable anxiety in the population. In this work we propose procedures that will significantly reduce this unhappy scenario. The availability of a complex trend and pattern analysis will give Neonatologists access to predictive clinical analysis that has not previously been available locally or internationally. Thus, significant benefits in terms of lower mortality rates and lower long-term disability rates among babies requiring special care is possible. This research will provide the basis for future projects that will support regional hospitals.Read moreRead less
The Increasing Burden Of Stroke With Ageing: Using CARAT To Optimise Preventative Treatment In The Community
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$709,036.00
Summary
This clinical trial will test whether a novel clinical tool can assist GPs in improving the prevention of stroke in the community, especially in older people and those with atrial fibrillation (an irregular heartbeat). This tool, called CARAT (Computerised Antithrombotic Risk Assessment Tool), has been developed to help GPs calculate a patient's risk of stroke and then identify the optimal preventative medicine. Selecting appropriate therapy is important to prevent stroke and avoid side-effects.