MOSAIC: A GP Cluster Randomised Trial To Reduce Partner Violence Among Pregnant Women And Women With Pre-school Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$432,250.00
Summary
Intimate partner abuse or domestic violence is common and damaging for women in the early childbearing years. It has a negative effect on the mental and physical health of women and their children. Because of poor health, victimised women and children are frequent attenders to family doctors (GPs), but doctors face many barriers in making an effective response. One of these barriers is the critical absence of evidence for what would help women attending GPs in dealing with partner abuse. This is ....Intimate partner abuse or domestic violence is common and damaging for women in the early childbearing years. It has a negative effect on the mental and physical health of women and their children. Because of poor health, victimised women and children are frequent attenders to family doctors (GPs), but doctors face many barriers in making an effective response. One of these barriers is the critical absence of evidence for what would help women attending GPs in dealing with partner abuse. This is vital to inform both GP training and clinical practice. There is sound evidence that home visiting or support by peers improves the health of disadvantaged mothers and children. Similarly, advocacy improves the health and wellbeing of abused women. The MOSAIC community intervention trial combines these two elements: home visiting-peer support and domestic violence advocacy and this strategy will be evaluated in a randomised trial. The trial aims to reduce partner abuse and depression among women pregnant or with children under 5 attending GPs. It also aims to strengthen mother-child bonds. Trained and supported GPs from 40 participating practices will identify 700 abused or at risk women over a 40 week period. Women in the intervention arm of the trial, identified as abused or at risk by their GPs will be offered the support of trained para-professional 'mentor mothers' for up to a year, while the comparison arm will be offered standard GP care. Recent funding allows a pilot study of mentor mother recruitment and training to be undertaken in 2003. The study will strengthen GP support for this difficult issue and build a 'critical mass' of GPs interested in partner abuse management in the 5 participating divisions. The MOSAIC study will assess the value to GPs and women of an enhanced support system for victims' care and provide much needed evidence of an intervention embedded in general practice to reduce partner abuse of pregnant women and women with young children.Read moreRead less
Characterisation Of A Type V Secretion In Escherichia Coli And Determining Its Role In Pathogenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$73,195.00
Summary
Disease causing bacteria assemble secretion systems to assist with colonisation, persistence and destruction of host tissue. These systems have been categorised as Type I to Type VI. A comprehensive understanding of these secretion systems, is of paramount importance for a complete understanding of bacterial pathogenesis. We will investigate the role of a novel Type V secretion system conserved amongst many human pathogens.
An Impirical Investigation Of Psychosis Proneness In Amphetamine Users: Current And Predictive Validity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,750.00
Summary
The use of amphetamines has increased in Australia in the last decade. According to the 1998 National Household Survey, lifetime use of amphetamines has increased by over 50% from approximately 6% in 1995 to approximately 9% in 1998; recent use (last 12 months) has increased from 2% in 1995 to approximately 4% in 1998. This increase appears to be even greater in Queensland, the site of the proposed study, which has seen both an overall increase in the use of illicit drugs and an increase in the ....The use of amphetamines has increased in Australia in the last decade. According to the 1998 National Household Survey, lifetime use of amphetamines has increased by over 50% from approximately 6% in 1995 to approximately 9% in 1998; recent use (last 12 months) has increased from 2% in 1995 to approximately 4% in 1998. This increase appears to be even greater in Queensland, the site of the proposed study, which has seen both an overall increase in the use of illicit drugs and an increase in the use of amphetamines specifically. The most recent estimate of the number of current users (use within the last 12months) aged 14 years and over in Queensland is 85.5000. This compares to 17.000 recent heroin users in the same age range. Of particular concern is the increase in the use of methamphetamine, which has high abuse potential producing euphoric effects that are similar to, but longer lasting than, those of cocaine. Also of concern, given the increasing purity and availablity of methamphetamine, is the link between amphetamine use and psychosis, a psychotic disorder characterised by sensory hallucinations, paranoid delusions and a loosening of associations. Despite this well established link, there are surprisingly few studies in which the course and onset of amphetamine psychosis has been studied. In this reseach the relationship between subclinical features of psychosis, measures of psychosis proneness and other factors implicated in the development of schizophrenia will be investigated in a prospective cohort in which amphetamine users will be followed up once per month for twelve months.Read moreRead less
Driving Change: Using Emergency Department Data To Reduce Alcohol-related Harm
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,468,026.00
Summary
The proposed project is a system change within partner emergency departments, providing them the information and tools to act on both risky alcohol consumption in individual patients and the sources of alcohol in the community which cause the harm they experience. Most importantly, the proposed public health interventions act as a tool for emergency departments to regularly raise awareness with the public and policymakers regarding the impact of alcohol on patients, clinicians and hospitals.
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
The Relationship Between Cannabis Use And Symptoms And Relapse In Psychosis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$169,604.00
Summary
Cannabis is increasingly widely used and abused by young people. Use in young people with schizophrenia is even more extensive. There is some suggestion that this drug use is a result of their illness, ie to reduce unpleasant symptoms or feelings. Equally the drug may contribute to their psychosis. This study aims to assess the degree to which psychosis may be caused by cannabis use in vulnerable young people.
A Controlled Trial Of An Opportunistic Intervention To Reduce Suicide Risk Among Alcohol And Other Substance Misusers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$361,000.00
Summary
Hopelessness, depression and suicidal ideation are common among people who misuse alcohol and other substances. A general relationship between alcohol-substance abuse and self-harming - suicidal behaviour has been recognised for decades. From the point of view of diagnosed substance abusers there is a correspondingly high incidence of suicide and self-harm. The lifetime risk for suicide in alcohol dependence is higher than for schizophrenia or affective disorder. Despite the public health and pe ....Hopelessness, depression and suicidal ideation are common among people who misuse alcohol and other substances. A general relationship between alcohol-substance abuse and self-harming - suicidal behaviour has been recognised for decades. From the point of view of diagnosed substance abusers there is a correspondingly high incidence of suicide and self-harm. The lifetime risk for suicide in alcohol dependence is higher than for schizophrenia or affective disorder. Despite the public health and personal burden associated with suicidality, the general lack of skills and focus on management of self-harm in specialised drug and alcohol services is of great concern. In this study, all patients attending drug and alcohol services will be screened for suicide risk, and offered a comprehensive psychological treatment to reduce suicide risk and the use of alcohol and other substances.Read moreRead less