Cortical Plasticity And Fine Motor Skills In Older Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$244,255.00
Summary
Even in healthy individuals, the ageing process is usually associated with a progressive reduction in the performance of various motor skills, such as writing, placing keys in keyholes and fastening buttons. These deficits in manual performance may be due to an age-related decline in the ability of the brain to modify its connections (plasticity) when learning new motor skills. This brain plasticity is a fundamental property of the nervous system, where it is critical for learning and memory, bu ....Even in healthy individuals, the ageing process is usually associated with a progressive reduction in the performance of various motor skills, such as writing, placing keys in keyholes and fastening buttons. These deficits in manual performance may be due to an age-related decline in the ability of the brain to modify its connections (plasticity) when learning new motor skills. This brain plasticity is a fundamental property of the nervous system, where it is critical for learning and memory, but is also important for recovery from brain injury. The goal of the proposed studies is to examine the extent of brain plasticity when performing fine motor skills in older adults, and relate this to motor performance and learning in the elderly. We will use three complementary approaches that will employ novel techniques of magnetic brain stimulation to achieve this goal. These studies will be the first to ascertain a link between deficits in brain plasticity and impaired manual performance in older adults. Furthermore, these studies will be the first to examine interventions designed to promote brain plasticity and motor performance in older adults. Because the majority of patients requiring neurological rehabilitation are in an older age group, it is important to understand the extent of brain plasticity in the elderly. This new information may ultimately lead to innovative therapeutic or rehabilitation strategies to retain or improve fine motor skills in the elderly and promote functional recovery from brain injury.Read moreRead less
Improving Outcomes For People With Cancer: Consultation Skills Training With Oncologists
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$499,070.00
Summary
Each year approximately 30,000 Australians die from cancer and 65,000 new cancers are diagnosed. Despite much research for a cure for cancer, the incidence and mortality from cancer has not changed. New treatments now cause people with cancer to live longer with the disease, so we now need to focus on efforts to optimise the quality of life of these people. Although the emotional burden on patients and families is recognized, there is a sense that this is an inevitable by-product of the disease ....Each year approximately 30,000 Australians die from cancer and 65,000 new cancers are diagnosed. Despite much research for a cure for cancer, the incidence and mortality from cancer has not changed. New treatments now cause people with cancer to live longer with the disease, so we now need to focus on efforts to optimise the quality of life of these people. Although the emotional burden on patients and families is recognized, there is a sense that this is an inevitable by-product of the disease and its management in existing clinical systems. However, this does not need to be the case. There is now ample evidence that the way that doctors interact with their patients can effect the accuracy of diagnosis and prognosis, as well as patients' satisfaction, adherence with treatment instructions and quality of life after being diagnosed with cancer. Both patient advocate groups and clinicians have called for further training for doctors to effectively manage psychosocial aspects of cancer care, however, despite this support, there have been few opportunities for such training in Australia. We have developed an innovative consultation-skills program for oncologists. So that the effectiveness of the project can be evaluated, it will be implemented as a randomised controlled trial with oncologists from major Australian cancer clinics being randomly allocated to an intervention or control group. The training program will be delivered by videoconferencing, to overcome many of the barriers that have impeded busy clinicians from participating in previous training programs. This is the first international study to use videoconferencing between remote locations for this type of consultation skills training. A variety of measures will be used to evaluate the impact of the training, including patients' quality of life, anxiety, depression and perceived needs, and oncologists' burn-out.Read moreRead less
The Pen, Or Is It The Spoken Word, That Is Mightier Than The Sword. A Study Focussed On Defining, Teaching And Assessing Skills In Effective And Therapeutic Communication
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$125,503.00
Summary
The aim of this research is to define the essential elements in effective and helpful health professional communication, convert these elements to measurable learning objectives, develop a valid method to assess competency and evaluate change that occurs when students participate in programs designed to develop communication competencies. (500 character limit including spaces and line breaks)
Improving Interpreting For Dementia Assessments: The MINDSET Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$271,586.00
Summary
The MINDSET Study aims to improve the quality of communication in an interpreter mediated cognitive assessment for dementia. Working with interpreters, clinicians, culturally and linguistically diverse people with dementia, and their carers we will co-design, trial, and implement national online training targeted at interpreters. This training will enable interpreters to be prepared and confident in performing their role impartially, effectively, and accurately.
Participation In Online Conversations By Young People With Disabilities Who Are Non-speaking: Does E-mentoring Work?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$94,378.00
Summary
Individuals who are non-speaking have limited or no use of natural speech due to disability. They use alternative methods to communicate (e.g., computerised devices). In this study young people who are non-speaking will be connected with older mentors who are also non-speaking and who are skilled users of Internet social media. The mentors will be role models providing encouragement and guidance online. Results may demonstrate improvement in the mentee’s communication and social participation
Targeting Health System Change To Provide Better Care For People With Chronic Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,562,250.00
Summary
Chronic pain causes serious impacts to quality of life but the healthcare system is not well suited to managing the problem. This research addresses 3 barriers to evidence-based care. A new model that integrates clinical care with health coaching will be adapted for different settings. A training program to help clinicians incorporate research into their practice will be designed and evaluated. A pain education program aimed at empowering people in regional areas will be rolled-out and assessed.
Evaluation Of Cognitive-behaviour Therapy For Alcohol And Other Drug Problems Among People With A Psychotic Illness
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$217,465.00
Summary
Abuse of alcohol and other drugs among people with a major psychiatric illness is a serious public health problem and cost-effective treatments need to be developed and assessed. The aim of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of a counselling intervention. 180 individuals with a psychotic illness and concurrent alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems will be randomly assigned to counselling or usual treatment and followed up for a period of 12 months. The indicators of interest include: ....Abuse of alcohol and other drugs among people with a major psychiatric illness is a serious public health problem and cost-effective treatments need to be developed and assessed. The aim of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of a counselling intervention. 180 individuals with a psychotic illness and concurrent alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems will be randomly assigned to counselling or usual treatment and followed up for a period of 12 months. The indicators of interest include: current drug use; psychiatric symptoms; self-harm; social functioning; and use of health services. Findings from the proposed study will assist in the selection of particular treatment strategies and will aid the overall development of services for people with both major mental illness and substance abuse.Read moreRead less
Development, Validation And Implementation Of A Technical And Non-technical Skills Training Curriculum For Laparoscopic Appendicectomy Surgery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$41,237.00
Summary
A structured training curriculum will be developed that can teach novice surgeons in key surgical and decision-making skills required for laparoscopic appendectomy surgery (key-hole removal of the appendix). An assessment tool that can quantitatively evaluate performance during a laparoscopic appendectomy will be developed. Using this, the ability of the developed training curriculum to improve the performance of trainee surgeons during actual laparoscopic appendectomy surgery will be evaluated.