Prof Lynch is an epidemiologist interested in understanding, quantifying, developing, and applying the evidence base for universal, targeted and clinical population health interventions, particularly in early life, that will improve overall population health and reduce health inequalities.
Improving The Evidence Base For Suicide Prevention Initiatives
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$772,209.00
Summary
The burden of suicide persists partly because we don’t know what works and what doesn’t work in suicide prevention. Relatively little research effort has been invested in studies that can tell us how best to direct resources. The problem is compounded by a disconnect between researchers and decision-makers. Through this Fellowship, Jane Pirkis will develop and implement a model for working with decision-makers to generate the best possible evidence upon which to base suicide prevention policy.
Randomised Controlled Trial Of Multimedia Patient Education Approaches To Preventing In-hospital Falls
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$524,137.00
Summary
In hospital falls are one of the most frequently occurring adverse events in Australian hospitals. They are the cause of considerable patient morbidity, stress to family members and care givers, and health care resource use. However, there are many potential causes of in-hospital falls which has made minimising them a difficult task for hospitals around the country. Recent evidence has indicated that a patient intervention strategy is useful for preventing in-hospital falls as a part of a multi- ....In hospital falls are one of the most frequently occurring adverse events in Australian hospitals. They are the cause of considerable patient morbidity, stress to family members and care givers, and health care resource use. However, there are many potential causes of in-hospital falls which has made minimising them a difficult task for hospitals around the country. Recent evidence has indicated that a patient intervention strategy is useful for preventing in-hospital falls as a part of a multi-factorial falls prevention program. This research aims to investigate the effectiveness and economic benefit of two approaches to providing patient education for the prevention of in-hospital falls. Patients at high risk for falls will be recruited from the Princess Alexandra Hospital and be randomly allocated to either a DVD + 4 sessions of face-to-face education with an occupational therapist program, to a DVD alone education program, or to a usual care with no additional education control condition. Patients will be followed up until their discharge from hospital and the number of in-hospital falls they incur will be compared between groups. It is expected that both the DVD + 4 sessions of face-to-face education with an occupational therapist program, to a DVD alone education program will be effective in reducing falls and that the DVD alone education program will demonstrate the greater cost-effectiveness in reducing falls. Stemming from this research, it is anticipated that a cost-effective resource for preventing in-hospital falls will be developed and evaluated such that it can be used in hospitals Australia wide.Read moreRead less
The IDEAL Trial - Initiating Dialysis Early And Late
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$752,500.00
Summary
Kidney replacement therapy by dialysis has in the past been provided for patients with endstage renal failure once their remaining kidney function has deterioriated to less than 5-10% of normal. There has been an increasing trend in recent years to offer dialysis therapy at an earlier stage of kidney failure, such that more than 20% of dialysis patients in Australia (and up to 35% in some subgroups) now commence that therapy when their remaining kidney function is greater than 10%. This change h ....Kidney replacement therapy by dialysis has in the past been provided for patients with endstage renal failure once their remaining kidney function has deterioriated to less than 5-10% of normal. There has been an increasing trend in recent years to offer dialysis therapy at an earlier stage of kidney failure, such that more than 20% of dialysis patients in Australia (and up to 35% in some subgroups) now commence that therapy when their remaining kidney function is greater than 10%. This change has occurred because of the unproven belief that earlier dialysis may be associated with a better health outcome. However, dialysis treatment is associated with complications and it is very expensive. Therefore, it is important to determine the health and economic consequences of commencing dialysis early rather than late. The IDEAL trial (Initiating Dialysis Early And Late) is a large multi-centre study being conducted in many renal units in Australia and New Zealand, which will determine whether it is better, in terms of health outcomes and total cost of treatment, to commence dialysis at a time when remaining kidney function is between 10 and 14% or between 5 and 7% of normal.Read moreRead less