Consumer Perspectives And Preferences Across The Trajectory Of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,946.00
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing health problem. An understanding of patient perspectives is important to alleviate the societal burden of CKD and improve patient survival, quality of life and health. This research will identify: information needs of patients with early-stage CKD, issues relevant to dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients, and patient preferences for organ allocation. I intend to achieve this by conducting interviews, focus groups and surveys with patients ac ....Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing health problem. An understanding of patient perspectives is important to alleviate the societal burden of CKD and improve patient survival, quality of life and health. This research will identify: information needs of patients with early-stage CKD, issues relevant to dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients, and patient preferences for organ allocation. I intend to achieve this by conducting interviews, focus groups and surveys with patients across Australia.Read moreRead less
Development And Evaluation Of A Decision Aid For Women With A Breech-presenting Baby.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$156,890.00
Summary
Many studies have shown that women want to participate in clinical decisions about the treatments they receive during pregnancy and that involvement in decision making increases satisfaction with maternity care. Decision aids are interventions to help people make specific and deliberative decisions by providing information on the options and outcomes relevant to the person's health. This project aims to develop and evaluate the world's first decision aid for women with a breech presenting baby ( ....Many studies have shown that women want to participate in clinical decisions about the treatments they receive during pregnancy and that involvement in decision making increases satisfaction with maternity care. Decision aids are interventions to help people make specific and deliberative decisions by providing information on the options and outcomes relevant to the person's health. This project aims to develop and evaluate the world's first decision aid for women with a breech presenting baby (bottom rather than head first) in late pregnancy. A decision aid for breech presentation is timely because recent results of an international trial have dramatically altered women's options in the management of breech presentation. The trial of vaginal breech birth versus planned caesarean section (CS) found overwhelming evidence of reduced infant death and disability for women with a planned CS. Planned CS is now considered best practice for delivery of a breech presentation at birth. However, another treatment option for women with a breech presentation is turning the breech to head first before birth (called external cephalic version, ECV). Each of these options (ECV or planned CS) has benefits and risks, and the relative importance of these benefits and risks varies for individual women, a scenario where a decision aid produces the greatest benefit. The breech decision aid developed in this project will be based on the best and most recently available evidence and outcomes. It will incorporate a workbook, audiotape-CD and worksheet that will guide (but not direct) women to a treatment option that best suits them, taking ~20 minutes to complete. The decision aid will be evaluated to assess the impact on women's satisfaction with decision making, knowledge, anxiety and pregnancy outcomes. If successful, the results could be applied to improve consumer information and participation in clinical decisions across a wide spectrum of pregnancy care issues.Read moreRead less
Early Detection And Treatment Of Rheumatic Heart Disease In High Risk Communities Using Community-led Approaches For Active Case Finding, Education And Engagement In Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,752.00
Summary
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) affects many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Early detection using an ultrasound of the heart (called an “echo”) can help children access treatment. Echo screening in remote communities needs active community participation and leadership in order to succeed. I will study new approaches to community-led echo screening to see if they are accurate enough, evaluate the impact of community involvement and describe outcomes for those diagnosed with RHD.
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
Personalised Nutrition To Revolutionise Gestational Diabetes Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$854,008.00
Summary
Gestational diabetes (GDM) affects 1 in 7 pregnant women, significantly increasing future risk for cardiovascular diseases in women and offspring. Clinical management of GDM is a healthy diet; but this one-size fits all approach is ineffective. We need to prevent GDM. We will use dietary modelling to inform culturally acceptable, personalised nutrition plans that will reverse metabolic risk factors to prevent GDM. Personalised nutrition represents a paradigm shift for current clinical care.
Back In The Game: Helping People Successfully Transition Back To Sport And Active Recreation After Injury
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$359,916.00
Summary
Physical inactivity costs the Australian community over $1.5 billion every year. More than half of Australian adults do not do enough activity, so promoting life-long participation is a critical public health priority. Many people who are injured while playing sport do not return to their preinjury participation even though they are physically recovered. This project will test the effectiveness of a web-based toolkit in helping people make the transition back to physical activity after injury
Consumer Information Materials And A Communication Aid For Diagnostic Tests For Breast Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$105,863.00
Summary
Many studies have now shown that the majority of patients want to participate in clinical decisions about medical treatments they might receive. As a result, information materials are being developed to help consumers and doctors work together to reach satisfying treatment decisions which are based on the best available evidence and also reflect the individual patient's needs and preferences about the treatment options. Very little is known, however, about whether consumers also want to particip ....Many studies have now shown that the majority of patients want to participate in clinical decisions about medical treatments they might receive. As a result, information materials are being developed to help consumers and doctors work together to reach satisfying treatment decisions which are based on the best available evidence and also reflect the individual patient's needs and preferences about the treatment options. Very little is known, however, about whether consumers also want to participate in decisions about whether to have a medical test. Tests can be trivial, such as a blood or urine test, or quite major and invasive, such as a biopsy or a colonoscopy. People considering a medical test might want to know the answers to the following questions: What is my chance of having the disease being tested for? If the test result is positive what is the chance I have the disease? If the test result is negative what is the chance I have the disease anyway? How will the test result influence treatment of my condition? What are possible side-effects of the test? Generally information materials about medical tests only describe the test itself, and do not contain the information people need to answer these questions. Even doctors may not have to hand the data needed to answer these questions. Yet without this information, consumers cannot make truly informed and rational choices about whether to have the test. This project aims to find out whether consumers want to participate in decisions about medical tests, what information they would want to do this, and to develop and trial information materials and a communication aid for a small number of breast cancer tests. We will use tests for diagnosing breast cancer as our model but we anticipate the work will be applicable across a wide range of medical tests.Read moreRead less