Social Aspects And Cultural Meanings Of Gynaecological Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment And Adjustment Of Victorian Women
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$158,500.00
Summary
Most research worldwide concerning gynaecological cancers has related to cervical cancer screening because of the effectiveness of Pap tests, while limited research has been conducted on social aspects of cancer. However, cancer of the uterus and ovary are among the top ten cancers in Australian women, and the diagnosis of a gynaecological cancer has a profound effect on women. This study is concerned with women's understandings of cancer disease, its treatment and outcomes, and with social fact ....Most research worldwide concerning gynaecological cancers has related to cervical cancer screening because of the effectiveness of Pap tests, while limited research has been conducted on social aspects of cancer. However, cancer of the uterus and ovary are among the top ten cancers in Australian women, and the diagnosis of a gynaecological cancer has a profound effect on women. This study is concerned with women's understandings of cancer disease, its treatment and outcomes, and with social factors that may influence their treatment decisions and care. The study will be conducted in metropolitan and rural Victoria. Women from a variety of ethnic, language and social backgrounds, who have been diagnosed with gynaecological cancer in the preceding three years, will be interviewed to gain insight into their understandings and experiences of the processes of disease, diagnosis and treatment procedures, the implications of for daily life, and the relationship of these events to their perceptions of their bodies, gender and sexuality. We will also interview oncologists and cancer support group facilitators, and participate in cancer support groups, to examine the role of such groups and to explore the experiences of health professionals providing care to women with these cancers. Research findings will be used to develop health educational information about gynaecological cancers, and to provide information to hospitals and clinicians to improve quality of clinical care and social support.Read moreRead less
Building A Suicide Prevention Campaign Targeted At Family Members And Friends Of Those At Risk Of Suicide
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$44,501.00
Summary
This research consists of a series of four studies that aim to identify the most appropriate messages for a suicide prevention campaign aimed at family members and friends of a person at risk of suicide. This campaign would aim to increase the likelihood that those family members and friends would identify that person's risk and intervene in an appropriate way to keep them safe and encourage them to get the professional help they need.
Understanding Relapse In Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: An Investigation Of Return Of Fear.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$255,014.00
Summary
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is common and results in significant impairment. There are effective psychological treatments for PTSD, yet relapse following treatment remains high. The proposed research will involve a series of experiments and observational studies to better understand the process that lead to relapse in patients receiving treatment for PTSD. The findings of these studies will assist in modifying treatment to ensure that symptom gains are maintained following treatment.
Codesigning processes to improve technology service provision for aged care. This research investigates the learning and implementation of novel technologies applying a participatory approach with aged care residents. In partnership with Martin Luther Homes (a not-for-profit aged care provider) and The Brainary (an educational technology provider), we will co-design recommendations and innovative services that are necessary to enable strategic planning and technology uptake of residents. We cre ....Codesigning processes to improve technology service provision for aged care. This research investigates the learning and implementation of novel technologies applying a participatory approach with aged care residents. In partnership with Martin Luther Homes (a not-for-profit aged care provider) and The Brainary (an educational technology provider), we will co-design recommendations and innovative services that are necessary to enable strategic planning and technology uptake of residents. We create value through the shared goal orientation bringing use of technology in aged care and business together as a service. Co-creating processes exploring technologies with older adults will translate into residents receiving the support they need. We can expect to achieve better quality of care and equity in technology use. Read moreRead less
Transforming Tourists' Antarctic Experience. With the Antarctic tourist industry currently growing and diversifying, the project aims to discover how cruise operators can foster positive and culturally informed relationships with the region among visitors of different national backgrounds. Through extensive in-situ fieldwork with partner Intrepid Travel, the project expects to generate new understandings of how operators' active mediating role combines with multisensory experience of Antarctica ....Transforming Tourists' Antarctic Experience. With the Antarctic tourist industry currently growing and diversifying, the project aims to discover how cruise operators can foster positive and culturally informed relationships with the region among visitors of different national backgrounds. Through extensive in-situ fieldwork with partner Intrepid Travel, the project expects to generate new understandings of how operators' active mediating role combines with multisensory experience of Antarctica to forge human connections with this extreme but fragile place. Anticipated outcomes include protocols for best practice in designing and implementing tourist experiences. By encouraging diverse visitors to value Antarctica, the project should benefit both operators and the polar environment.Read moreRead less
Determinants Of The Oral Health Of Adults Entering The Third Decade Life-stage
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$201,500.00
Summary
There has been a strong investment in the oral health of Australian children and their oral health has greatly improved. However, there are a number of indications that not all the gains in child and adolescent oral health are not carried through to the next life stage, adulthood. Somewhere in the intervening years, much of the gains in oral health invested in children and adolescents are dissipated. Hence, the purpose of this proposed research is to document the nature, distribution and determi ....There has been a strong investment in the oral health of Australian children and their oral health has greatly improved. However, there are a number of indications that not all the gains in child and adolescent oral health are not carried through to the next life stage, adulthood. Somewhere in the intervening years, much of the gains in oral health invested in children and adolescents are dissipated. Hence, the purpose of this proposed research is to document the nature, distribution and determinants of oral health among South Australian 29 year olds so as to identify points of intervention to maintain Australian's improved oral health further into adulthood. The specific aims of the research are to document the oral health of a cohort of 29 year olds describe their dental life history and key proximate influences on their oral health identify significant determinants of their oral health to compare the cohort with a representative SA sample of the same age. This project will approach some 3,763 29 year old adults who participated in earlier research as 13 year olds in 1988-89. It will also compare these adults with a random sample of 557 further 29 year olds from the SA Electoral Roll. Participants will be interviewed and then dentally examined, providing a range of key outcome measures on oral health status and explanatory factors from when they were 13 years old, their dental history and circumstances as 29 year olds. The research project is expected to provide detailed documentation of the prevalence and severity of oral disease and its distribution in an adult cohort, and exploration of the dental life history and current determinants of the oral disease observed. It is anticipated that the strength of hypothesised relationships of determinants will have direct policy implications.Read moreRead less
Consumer preferences for voluntary carbon mitigation in the aviation sector. The demand for aviation is rapidly adding to carbon emissions. Little is known about consumer preferences for aviation carbon offsets and how they evolve over time. This hinders the expansion of voluntary schemes at a crucial period in history. This research will investigate consumers offset preferences and their willingness to pay for aviation carbon mitigation using a novel time series methodology. The project aims to ....Consumer preferences for voluntary carbon mitigation in the aviation sector. The demand for aviation is rapidly adding to carbon emissions. Little is known about consumer preferences for aviation carbon offsets and how they evolve over time. This hinders the expansion of voluntary schemes at a crucial period in history. This research will investigate consumers offset preferences and their willingness to pay for aviation carbon mitigation using a novel time series methodology. The project aims to inform government policies and to help industry to develop carbon offset programs which are more likely to be supported by consumers, thus helping to reduce carbon emissions in the long term. It also aims to profile carbon offsetting groups to support communication activities to increase the size and value of offsets.Read moreRead less
Designing distanced intergenerational interaction with tangible technology. Older people and their young relatives/grandchildren who are geographically distanced cannot currently experience closeness in tangible ways, which are the natural ways they would play and build relationships in “real” life. Enabling this connection would have positive impacts for both groups, and two types of technologies – Mixed Reality and Tangibles - can be explored to allow us to understand how to do this. We will d ....Designing distanced intergenerational interaction with tangible technology. Older people and their young relatives/grandchildren who are geographically distanced cannot currently experience closeness in tangible ways, which are the natural ways they would play and build relationships in “real” life. Enabling this connection would have positive impacts for both groups, and two types of technologies – Mixed Reality and Tangibles - can be explored to allow us to understand how to do this. We will develop approaches to distanced tangible intergenerational interaction which are designed specifically to increase intergenerational closeness and to be innovative and subtle so that they fit seamlessly into the lives of older people and young children.Read moreRead less
Evaluating Perceptual Benefits Of Bilateral Cochlear Implants For Young Children And Infants
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$452,843.00
Summary
The cochlear implant (bionic ear) has revolutionised communication for children with profound hearing loss. Nevertheless, children with the standard single implant still face huge challenges in educational and social settings. Difficulties include understanding speech that is soft, or speech in noisy environments, such as the classroom. Also, with one implant, children cannot locate the source of sound, such as the speaker in a group conversation, team-mates during sport, or an oncoming car. Res ....The cochlear implant (bionic ear) has revolutionised communication for children with profound hearing loss. Nevertheless, children with the standard single implant still face huge challenges in educational and social settings. Difficulties include understanding speech that is soft, or speech in noisy environments, such as the classroom. Also, with one implant, children cannot locate the source of sound, such as the speaker in a group conversation, team-mates during sport, or an oncoming car. Research with other normal hearing and hearing impaired groups suggests that two (bilateral) implants may possibly improve performance in these conditions. Although hundreds of children worldwide have received bilateral implants, very limited evidence is available to indicate whether two implants are significantly better than one, especially for young children. The main aim of the research is to evaluate the improvement in listening performance when young children and infants use two implants as compared with one. An additional aim is to gain clinical knowledge of bilateral implant use in order to develop selection criteria and management protocols for young bilateral candidates in the future. Results of this research will determine if bilateral implants should become a standard option for young children at the RVEEH-University of Melbourne Implant Clinic. The results will be published and presented internationally to influence clinical practice worldwide. All children using a cochlear implant, or in need of one in the future, will benefit as the study outcomes will indicate the best choice of hearing devices for individual children, and help to determine best-practice management if bilateral implants become an option for all children.Read moreRead less
Developing Accessible Playgrounds for Children with Vision Impairment. Children who are blind or have low vision (BLV) often have difficulties accessing and interacting with playgrounds, most of which are not equipped to support them. Through consultation, collaboration and co-creation with the BLV community, foundational knowledge on the user experience of playgrounds, an evaluation framework for auditing existing playgrounds and design guidelines for creating or retrofitting playgrounds will b ....Developing Accessible Playgrounds for Children with Vision Impairment. Children who are blind or have low vision (BLV) often have difficulties accessing and interacting with playgrounds, most of which are not equipped to support them. Through consultation, collaboration and co-creation with the BLV community, foundational knowledge on the user experience of playgrounds, an evaluation framework for auditing existing playgrounds and design guidelines for creating or retrofitting playgrounds will be developed that support the unique challenges of BLV children and carers. Importantly it will promote access, orientation, physical and social play for BLV children, with improved cognitive, physical and social development, thus enabling a more inclusive and healthy society.Read moreRead less