Value-Based Healthcare In Elective Coronary Stenting
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,236,881.00
Summary
Coronary stents are wire mesh tubes inserted into cholesterol blockages in heart blood vessels (arteries) thus improving coronary blood flow and alleviating chest pain. Although life saving in acute heart attacks, their value is limited in stable patients and may be associated with severe complications. In partnership with the health department, this project will evaluate how many patients continue to experience chest pain after elective coronary stenting so that can be used more effectively.
ELders AT Ease Program (ELATE): A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Of A Sustainable And Scalable Mental Health Service For Australian Residential Aged Care Facilities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$999,551.00
Summary
Elders living in residential facilities suffer significant levels of depression or anxiety. This study examines an innovative program to improve mental health of residents living in such facilities. The program involves counselling, staff training and family support. The study uses a cluster randomised controlled trial of facilities to evaluate the impact of ELATE: Elders at Ease Program” on residents’ psychological wellbeing, staff knowledge, family carer stress and, health care costs.
Health Related Quality Of Life After Critical Illness In Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$105,842.00
Summary
The aim of this study is to determine the health related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients after critical illness. There is currently a paucity of evidence about the long-term HRQoL outcomes of critically ill patients in Australia. The ‘value-added’ aspects of this study are that it is a large multi-centre, Australian study, using a well-validated instrument examining HRQoL in regard to local context, enabling comparison with international studies.
Using Linked Population-based Health-related Datasets To Optimise Cancer Care And Reduce Survival Disparities.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$850,941.00
Summary
In partnership with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, we will use detailed health data from various sources to assess how care is provided to people with cancer and determine why some have better survival than others. The findings will be used to change government policy and clinical practice in order to improve cancer outcomes for those who fair worse. We will establish a data bank to enable this information to be used to improve services into the future.
Post-discharge Care And Recovery Of Seriously Injured Patients In A Regionalised Trauma System
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
The establishment of hospital trauma centres has improved survival for seriously-injured patients. However, there is still potential to improve the care of trauma patients following their discharge from hospital, particularly when they live outside big cities. This research will investigate the challenges faced by trauma patients in accessing follow-up care after they leave hospital, whether this influences their long-term recovery and what can be done to improve their care.
Development Of Quality Indicators For The Frail Elderly In Acute Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,311.00
Summary
Frail older people are particularly vulnerable to a range of mishaps while in hospital. Good care can reduce the frequency and extent of these problems. Quality indicators (QIs) assist hospitals, and clinical service units within them, to appraise their performance, and to compare it to other hospitals. QIs for the measurement of outcomes for the frail aged in the acute care setting do not exist in Australia or overseas. We aim to develop these indicators during this study.
Ear Health, Hearing, Speech And Language Development In Urban Aboriginal Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$445,617.00
Summary
Studies from the Northern Territory and Western Australia have established that Aboriginal children experience earlier, more frequent and more severe middle ear disease than any other children worldwide. There is little information on Aboriginal communities in urban setings or those living in NSW. This study will fill this knowledge gap by examining the burden of middle ear disease, hearing impairment and consequent speech and language delays in urban Aboriginal children in NSW.
Using Clinical And Economic Evidence To Infrom Local Decision Making In Cancer Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,836,745.00
Summary
Medicines used to treat cancer often come with a high price tag. Many countries, including Australia, are no longer able to provide free access to all medicines. For this reason, patients and their families, public hospitals and private health insurers are often asked to pay for these treatments. Currently, health professionals and patients are ill-equipped to make informed treatment choices, since both cost and efficacy must be considered. Our proposed research will address this important gap i ....Medicines used to treat cancer often come with a high price tag. Many countries, including Australia, are no longer able to provide free access to all medicines. For this reason, patients and their families, public hospitals and private health insurers are often asked to pay for these treatments. Currently, health professionals and patients are ill-equipped to make informed treatment choices, since both cost and efficacy must be considered. Our proposed research will address this important gap in current knowledge. We will use a unique web-based resource (Cancer Institute NSW Standard Cancer Treatment Program; CI-SCaT) to communicate the economic evidence needed to make informed decisions about cancer treatments. Our project will provide public access to information about the effectiveness and costs of cancer drugs. This is a world first. CI-SCaT is already the main vehicle of communication about cancer drug treatments in NSW and is widely used by cancer health professionals and patients to inform point-of-care decisions. Our project we will also identify the factors which influence the ability of cancer treatment centres to make best use of their drug budgets. By achieving this goal, we hope to demonstrate how to best use scarce resources for the benefit of all cancer patients.Read moreRead less