Preparing Cancer Patients For Clinical Decision Making: A Randomised Trial Of Preconsultation Preparation Packages.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$228,427.00
Summary
Most cancer patients in Australia now expect and are told their cancer diagnosis. There is considerable variation in the extent to which patients are informed about treatment options and are involved in treatment decisions. It can be argued that a treatment decision should be based on the oncologist's knowledge and the patient's preference. Two possible models can achieve this optimal outcome: the oncologist decides treatment on the basis of information passed on to him-her from the patient (the ....Most cancer patients in Australia now expect and are told their cancer diagnosis. There is considerable variation in the extent to which patients are informed about treatment options and are involved in treatment decisions. It can be argued that a treatment decision should be based on the oncologist's knowledge and the patient's preference. Two possible models can achieve this optimal outcome: the oncologist decides treatment on the basis of information passed on to him-her from the patient (the enabled doctor), and the patient chooses treatment based on informaton provided by the doctor (the empowered patient). We have developed a booklet on 'how treatment decisions are made'. In a randomised trial, patients seeing an oncologist for the first time are given the booklet and shown a video of ' their' oncologist interviewing an actor patient. The subsequent consultation is audiotaped to study the effect of these interventions on patient and doctor behaviour. The results of this trial will inform the development of our new patient educational materials. We now plan to develop consultation preparation packages. Patients will be sent information at least 48 hours before their first appointment with an oncologist with the goal of helping patients to achieve their preferred involvement in the consultation. The complete package will contain four components : a booklet on how treatment decisions are made including an outline of the two treatment decision models, a question prompt sheet and recommendation to prepare a list of questions, a booklet on Patient Rights, and an introduction to the Cancer Centre. The effects of the total package, and of just the Cancer Centre component on patient preferences for information and involvement in medical decisions, their consultation behaviour, and patient and doctor satisfaction with decision making will be studied in a randomised trial with control patients receiving no preparatory materials.Read moreRead less
Understanding And Preventing Avoidable Readmissions: Development Of A Patient Centered And Disease Specific Screening Tool
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$100,000.00
Summary
This study aims to develop a screenings tool to prevent unplanned re-admissions, based on specific patient centred and disease specific factors. We will include index admission data (367,782 in 2015) of five MACH hospitals. The cohort will be divided into a group for index derivation and a group for internal validation. Variables on patient and admission characteristics are based on literature. After internal validation we will validate the tool externally and implement it in clinical practice
Fundamental flaws in the design and reporting of research outcomes can undermine evidence-based medicine, impede patient-centred care, cause harm to patients, and result in a waste of research dollars. Our 3-year multinational project engages with patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers and policy makers, to establish core outcomes in haemodialysis. This will ensure that patient-centred outcomes are consistently measured and reported in haemodialysis trials and other forms of research.
Caring For Clinician Health And Wellbeing; Protecting Patients From Harm
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,281,125.00
Summary
Doctors and other clinicians care for the health of others but their own health can also suffer. In turn, unwell clinicians may place patients at risk of harm. My research will analyse ten years of data from the Medical Board and other regulators, interview clinicians who have had a serious illness, and work with international experts to develop solutions. Together, this work will help hospitals and regulators to better protect the health of clinicians and safeguard patients from avoidable harm.
Centre Of Research Excellence: Partnering With Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease To Transform Care And Outcomes (CRE-PACT)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,500,000.00
Summary
CRE-PACT will partner with patients to generate and translate new high-priority evidence to improve outcomes that are important to people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We will address the topics and questions most important to patients. We will build the next generation of research leaders and a community of research-ready patient-partners. There will be an integrated pathway for evidence translation and implementation at a global scale to improve patient-centred outcomes.
Enhancing Communication Between Medical Oncologists And Patients With Advanced Malignancy Considering Clinical Trial Participation, With A Focus On CALD Populations
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,335.00
Summary
In the advanced stages of cancer, some patients will need to choose between multiple options - they might wish to pay for an expensive but unfunded drug, they may consider taking part in a clinical trial or opt to stay at home and focus on the time they have. This project will aim to help patients make these difficult decisions with their clinicians, and will have a focus on those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds as they face additional barriers to trial entry.
Patient-centred Volunteer Program For People With Dementia: A Stepped Wedge Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Of The MyCare Ageing Program
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
The MyCare Ageing program provides hospitalised patients with dementia and/or delirium with tailored emotional and practical support via trained volunteers in hospital and in the transition home. This project will provide critical information on whether MyCare Ageing works to reduce future hospitalisations and prevent poor patient outcomes, the factors that impact on how the program is delivered in hospital and in the community, and whether the program is cost-effective.
INTroducing A Care Bundle To Prevent Pressure Injury (the INTACT Trial)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,093,250.00
Summary
In Australia, hospital acquired pressure injuries (i.e. bedsores) range from 7.4% – 17.4%. A care bundle is a structured group of interventions associated with improved patient outcomes. The aim of this 3-year cluster randomised controlled trial is to provide rigorous evidence regarding the effect of a patient centred pressure injury prevention care bundle on the development of pressure injuries in patients at risk of developing a hospital acquired pressure injury.
Maximum Acceptable Risk Of Complication In Total Knee Arthroplasty (MARKA) Study: Using Discreet Choice Experiments To Elicit Patient And Surgeon Perception Of Acceptable Risk In Total Knee Arthroplasty
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$465,199.00
Summary
Patient expectation is the strongest predictor of satisfaction following total knee replacement. Dissatisfaction with surgery is reported in approximately 1 in 5 patients undergoing knee replacement. Unrealistic patient expectations and uninformed perceptions of potential benefits, risks and limitations of surgery lead to dissatisfaction in many cases. This study will examine the “risk-benefit” preferences in patients and surgeons considering total knee replacement as a treatment option for end- ....Patient expectation is the strongest predictor of satisfaction following total knee replacement. Dissatisfaction with surgery is reported in approximately 1 in 5 patients undergoing knee replacement. Unrealistic patient expectations and uninformed perceptions of potential benefits, risks and limitations of surgery lead to dissatisfaction in many cases. This study will examine the “risk-benefit” preferences in patients and surgeons considering total knee replacement as a treatment option for end-stage osteoarthritis.Read moreRead less
Optimising Prescribing In Older Australians: A Randomised Trial Of The Drug Burden Index With Home Medicines Review
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$96,436.00
Summary
The burden of polypharmacy in the older population is taking its toll. The average number of medicines prescribed to older Australians is on the rise, and in turn leading to increased significant costs to the public health system. Pharmacists have a crucial role to improve the quality use of medicines in older Australians. The Drug Burden Index measures a person’s total exposure to medicines. This project will evaluate the benefits of calculating the DBI for patients receiving Home Medicines Rev ....The burden of polypharmacy in the older population is taking its toll. The average number of medicines prescribed to older Australians is on the rise, and in turn leading to increased significant costs to the public health system. Pharmacists have a crucial role to improve the quality use of medicines in older Australians. The Drug Burden Index measures a person’s total exposure to medicines. This project will evaluate the benefits of calculating the DBI for patients receiving Home Medicines Reviews, conducted by pharmacists.Read moreRead less