PlaTFORM: PrevenTing Falls In A High Risk, Vision Impaired Population Through Specialist ORientation And Mobility Services: A Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$773,768.00
Summary
While many older people fall causing injury and loss of confidence, people with vision impairment and blindness have a dramatically increased risk of falls. In the PlaTFORM study we will deliver and comprehensively evaluate a falls prevention program through instructors with specialised training in orientation and mobility. This fills a gap in services and if effective will prevent injury in this vulnerable population and promote mobility.
How Does The Trunk Influence Intersegmental Coordination During Functional Tasks In Parkinson’s Disease: A Risk Factor For Falls?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$328,032.00
Summary
Differences in trunk motion during dynamic tasks may provide a mechanism of falling in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. However, objective measures are needed to discern if these differences stem from deficits in motor programming or increased trunk stiffness. This information is critical for developing effective interventions. This project will incorporate innovative techniques to examine how the trunk muscles coordinate movement and control balance during walking in PD.
Better Evidence And New Tools To Improve Health After Surgical Menopause
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,855,260.00
Summary
Surgical menopause is removal of both ovaries before natural menopause. Surgical menopause may have severe adverse health consequences including short-term symptoms and long-term risk of chronic disease, but more information is needed to inform evidence-based care. This study will deliver the best available evidence internationally on the short (up to 5 year) and long (>20 year) consequences of surgical menopause and new tools for clinicians and patients to integrate this evidence into practi ....Surgical menopause is removal of both ovaries before natural menopause. Surgical menopause may have severe adverse health consequences including short-term symptoms and long-term risk of chronic disease, but more information is needed to inform evidence-based care. This study will deliver the best available evidence internationally on the short (up to 5 year) and long (>20 year) consequences of surgical menopause and new tools for clinicians and patients to integrate this evidence into practiceRead moreRead less
Addressing Missing Links In The Care Of Older People To Improve Practice And Outcomes: Program Efficacy, Implementation Effectiveness And Knowledge Translation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$259,507.00
Summary
Many older people live with disability and can struggle to perform even simple day-to-day activities. Unfortunately, disability escalates with age. Our population is ageing rapidly—one of the fastest in the world—due to a world-class health system and low fertility. Despite a growth in health and research initiatives over the last decade, there remains much room to improve the health and well-being of older people. This research addresses this need by undertaking an innovative and targeted progr ....Many older people live with disability and can struggle to perform even simple day-to-day activities. Unfortunately, disability escalates with age. Our population is ageing rapidly—one of the fastest in the world—due to a world-class health system and low fertility. Despite a growth in health and research initiatives over the last decade, there remains much room to improve the health and well-being of older people. This research addresses this need by undertaking an innovative and targeted program of work.Read moreRead less
The ASPREE-fracture Sub-study: Does Daily Low-dose Aspirin Reduce Fracture Risk In Healthy Older Adults?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,351,150.00
Summary
Disability, mortality and healthcare burden from fractures in older people is a growing problem worldwide. This is despite decades of clinical research, best practice guidelines and advances in therapies that aim to reduce fracture risk. The World Health Organization has identified fracture prevention as a public health priority. This study will determine whether a widely available, simple and inexpensive health intervention—aspirin—can reduce the incidence of fracture and associated disability ....Disability, mortality and healthcare burden from fractures in older people is a growing problem worldwide. This is despite decades of clinical research, best practice guidelines and advances in therapies that aim to reduce fracture risk. The World Health Organization has identified fracture prevention as a public health priority. This study will determine whether a widely available, simple and inexpensive health intervention—aspirin—can reduce the incidence of fracture and associated disability amongst older Australians.Read moreRead less
Longitudinal Study Of Modifiable Influences For The Development Of Harmful Young Adult Alcohol Use And Related-problems.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,484,496.00
Summary
Young adulthood is a time of high vulnerability for alcohol use problems that are the major preventable contributor to death and injury in this age period. This 5-year project will identify modifiable influences in adolescence and young adulthood that contribute to harmful alcohol use. A cohort of almost 3,000 young people initially recruited in Victoria in 2002 (aged 11 to 15) will be followed for two further waves of data collection in 2010-11 (age 19 to 23) and 2012-13 (age 21 to 25).
A Randomized Controlled Trial Of A General Practice Based Intervention To Prevent Chronic Vascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$774,357.00
Summary
Chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes contribute greatly to the burden of disease in Australian society. Prevention of these conditions is a high priority for the health system. There is increasing evidence for the effectiveness of interventions to prevent chronic disease in those at high risk. However the feasibility of intervening through general practice and other existing services has not been demonstrated. We have previously conducted research on a structured approach ....Chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes contribute greatly to the burden of disease in Australian society. Prevention of these conditions is a high priority for the health system. There is increasing evidence for the effectiveness of interventions to prevent chronic disease in those at high risk. However the feasibility of intervening through general practice and other existing services has not been demonstrated. We have previously conducted research on a structured approach to helping patients with risk factors for chronic disease (such as smoking, poor nutrition, hazardous alcohol consumption and physical inactivity) including both cardiovascular disease and diabetes in general practice. This study aims to evaluate the impact of recalling patients to general practice for a visit to assess their risk of chronic disease and to help them to lower their risk by changes to smoking, diet, alcohol consumption and physical activity behaviours. Practices in the intervention group will receive training, practice visits, resources, and referral pathways to enable them to invite eligible patients to attend the practice for an assessment and management of their risk factors. This will include provision of education materials, support for behaviour change, referral to diet education and physical activity program and follow up. The feasibility of this type of vascular disease prevention intervention for high-risk patients has not been trialled previously in Australia. The findings of this research will help to inform Australian and State health policy especially the preventive care initiatives recently announced by the Council of Australian Governments. It will also inform practice leading to better guidelines for general practice preventive care, better support for general practice to provide preventive care for patients at risk of chronic disease and better support for patients to reduce their risk of chronic disease by changing their behaviour.Read moreRead less
Improving Metabolic Fitness In Aboriginal And Torres Straight Islander Women: A Pragmatic Controlled Trial Of Waist Loss
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$556,193.00
Summary
Torres Strait Islanders have the highest prevalence of diabetes in Australia and weight gain in young women can increase further the risk of diabetes for themselves and their babies. Waist loss can reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease. A pilot study in the Torres Strait in 2007, has demonstrated that this is achievable and acceptable in young Indigenous women. This proposal aims to conduct a larger trial, to look at effectiveness and sustainability of waist loss in young women.
REDUCING HARMS FROM SUBSTANCE MISUSE IN REMOTE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES REQUIRES INTERVENTIONS DELIVERED AS PROMISED WITH MEASURABLE IMPACTS?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$439,920.00
Summary
We cannot accurately estimate the occurrence of many diseases and risk factors for remote Indigenous communities where more of the ‘health gap’ is suffered. Interventions targeting substance misuse risk factors have not yet produced the community- and individual-level impacts they were designed to bring about. In this Fellowship, I will improve evaluation methods and measures to produce credible evidence for assessing program implementation and effectiveness in remote communities.
Increasing Knowledge Of Mental And Physical Harms Among People Who Inject Drugs
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$88,502.00
Summary
People who inject drugs (PWID) commonly experience a range of health problems. These include injecting-related injuries and non-viral diseases (e.g. endocarditis), drug overdose and mental health problems. With a focus on reducing the presence of these harms among the injecting population, the proposed research aims to better understand the factors that contribute to PWID experiencing, or not experiencing, such harms.