Improving Rehabilitation Outcomes Through Self-Management: My Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$743,438.00
Summary
We must ensure patients have enough therapy practice for the best inpatient rehabilitation outcomes. During rehabilitation, we know patients don't often receive enough therapy and actually spend most of the day sitting and lying down. My Therapy was designed to increase independent practice of therapy exercises during rehabilitation, in addition to usual care, without additional staff. Through My Therapy, patients achieved 100 extra minutes of weekly therapy participation and better function.
Does Rehabilitation Increase The Functional Independence Of People With Friedreich Ataxia?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$81,811.00
Summary
Friedreich Ataxia (FRDA) is a disease which reduces the ability to walk. People decline rapidly and are usually dependent on a wheel-chair by 20-30 years of age. This research will examine the impact of changes in leg function, including strength and balance, on the capacity to walk. This research will determine if rehabilitation can improve walking ability and reduce the decline in FRDA. The results of this research will ensure people with FRDA are provided with the most appropriate care.
A Telehealth Intervention To Delay Functional Decline In Community-dwelling People With Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$476,399.00
Summary
Telehealth programs are becoming increasingly popular as a way to increase the accessibility of services and reduce the costs associated with health professionals travelling to the client's home. This project will examine whether an evidence based intervention that delays functional decline can be delivered via videoconferencing and whether this method of delivery is as effective.
High Risk Prescribing In Older Australians: Prevalence, Outcomes And Potential For Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$595,628.00
Summary
Older people are the most likely to be prescribed medicines yet they are the most likely to be harmed by their medicines. The extent of and trends in high risk prescribing among older Australians are not known. This project will use large-scale linked data to determine the prevalence, risk factors, clinical consequences and costs of high risk prescribing among older people in Australia. The findings of this project will be used to identify targets for minimising harm relating to use of medicines ....Older people are the most likely to be prescribed medicines yet they are the most likely to be harmed by their medicines. The extent of and trends in high risk prescribing among older Australians are not known. This project will use large-scale linked data to determine the prevalence, risk factors, clinical consequences and costs of high risk prescribing among older people in Australia. The findings of this project will be used to identify targets for minimising harm relating to use of medicines.Read moreRead less
Optimising Functional Independence Of Older Persons With Dementia: Implementation And Evaluation Of The Interdisciplinary Home-bAsed Reablement Program (I-HARP)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,864,345.00
Summary
We propose to trial a practical, evidence based model, called the Interdisciplinary Home-bAsed Reablement Program, I-HARP, designed to improve functional independence of community dwelling older people with dementia. I-HARP will be implemented and evaluated, for its effectiveness and implementation outcomes in two different settings of hospital and community aged care. Ultimately, the program will help them live well and stay at home, while delaying entry into higher home or residential care.
Training To Enhance Lower Limb Motor Control In Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$107,204.00
Summary
Currently very few evidence based methods that can improve control in muscles affected by cerebral palsy (CP) exist. This project will investigate whether it is possible to increase strength and co-ordination in legs muscles affected by CP through targeted training. The project will also determine if non-invasive brain stimulation during training may enhance motor learning and if positive gains in strength and co-ordination might enhance the ability to do tasks like walking or climbing stairs.
Clinical Outcomes From High Risk Medicines In Older Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,946.00
Summary
Older adults frequently take multiple medicines for multiple medical conditions. At present, there is very limited information on the trends and risks associated with medicines use in older Australians. This project will utilise large linked health datasets to determine the prevalence, risk factors and clinical consequences from high risk medicines in older adults in Australia. The findings of this project will contribute to identifying targets to improve prescribing, and health in this populati ....Older adults frequently take multiple medicines for multiple medical conditions. At present, there is very limited information on the trends and risks associated with medicines use in older Australians. This project will utilise large linked health datasets to determine the prevalence, risk factors and clinical consequences from high risk medicines in older adults in Australia. The findings of this project will contribute to identifying targets to improve prescribing, and health in this population.Read moreRead less
Do People With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Benefit From Making Errors? A Clinical Trial Of The Efficacy Of Error-based Learning And Errorless Learning Training
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$579,142.00
Summary
People with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) have trouble recognising changes in their abilities and often fail to notice mistakes on daily tasks. Although people can learn strategies, these are rarely used as needed in daily life. This study will determine whether people with severe TBI become more self-aware and able to transfer what they learn when they are made aware of their errors, as compared to when other people prevent them from making errors. The findings will have major implication ....People with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) have trouble recognising changes in their abilities and often fail to notice mistakes on daily tasks. Although people can learn strategies, these are rarely used as needed in daily life. This study will determine whether people with severe TBI become more self-aware and able to transfer what they learn when they are made aware of their errors, as compared to when other people prevent them from making errors. The findings will have major implications for rehabilitation of neurological disorders.Read moreRead less
Brain Ageing – Understanding The Relationships Between Brain Structure, Gait, Cognition And Falls
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$184,768.00
Summary
This fellowship will support novel population-based research directed at understanding how the ageing brain is associated with cognition and the control of gait in older people, and whether early gait changes are able to predict serious adverse outcomes such as future dementia and falls. A better understanding of the relationship between the brain, cognition and mobility is crucial in the step towards successful ageing of older Australians.
Improving The Communication Of People With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Clinical Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,293.00
Summary
Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of disability in young Australians, and is particularly prevalent in young men. The condition disturbs thinking and problem solving. Ultimately, these problems manifest in impaired verbal communication. Communication problems following traumatic brain injury can make critical relationships-such as father, husband, and employee-impossible to sustain. Those affected are socially inappropriate and uncomfortable to be around, which causes a lifetime of los ....Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of disability in young Australians, and is particularly prevalent in young men. The condition disturbs thinking and problem solving. Ultimately, these problems manifest in impaired verbal communication. Communication problems following traumatic brain injury can make critical relationships-such as father, husband, and employee-impossible to sustain. Those affected are socially inappropriate and uncomfortable to be around, which causes a lifetime of lost friendships, unemployability, and social isolation. Minimisation of these lifelong effects is of the utmost importance to the health of those affected, and is critical to reducing the economic burden of the condition. Two approaches have been shown to improve the communication of those with traumatic brain injury. Training in social skills is helpful, as is training partners to deal with difficult communication behaviours. However, to date, no research has concurrently studied these two approaches to rehabilitation. Consequently, it is unknown whether best results are achieved with either one of the two methods, or both. The present project uses a clinical trials approach in an innovative evaluation of three methods of treating those with traumatic brain injury compared with a control group. The trial involves the conceptual advances of including cost effectiveness of treatment as an outcome measure, and inclusion of advanced methods to measure the intricacies of verbal communication. The multidisciplinary team of Chief Investigators has international track records in the requisite disciplines for the study of traumatic brain injury and its rehabilitation.Read moreRead less