The Australasian Kidney Trials Network will facilitate well-conducted clinical research and foster collaboration between leading researchers in kidney disease. The Network�s focus will be to answer important questions about prevention and treatment of kidney disease to improve health and quality of life outcomes. The Network will be at the forefront of knowledge creation and address complex economic, technological and social needs relating to the patient care and the translation of research into ....The Australasian Kidney Trials Network will facilitate well-conducted clinical research and foster collaboration between leading researchers in kidney disease. The Network�s focus will be to answer important questions about prevention and treatment of kidney disease to improve health and quality of life outcomes. The Network will be at the forefront of knowledge creation and address complex economic, technological and social needs relating to the patient care and the translation of research into clinical practice.Read moreRead less
Optimising Emergency And Trauma Systems Through Evidence Based Pathways
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,049.00
Summary
Developing systems for emergency and trauma care based on strong evidence and robust data systems is crucial to the acute health sector. Through an extensive, well recognised collaboration of research groups at The Alfred, Monash and the National Trauma Research Institute, we aim to undertake world leading systems development both locally and globally, focusing on prehospital, emergency and trauma clinical care pathways significantly reducing mortality and improving functional outcomes.
Methods For Evaluating The Therapeutic Impact Of Diagnostic Tests - Development Of Guidelines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$132,325.00
Summary
New diagnostic tests are frequently adopted in clinical practice without any evidence that they improve patient outcomes. This project will produce the first guidelines about the role and optimal design of studies assessing the impact of a new test on therapeutic decisions for conclusions about its clinical value. This work will inform researchers and clinicians to improve evidence-based diagnostic practice and promote the more efficient use of limited health care resources.
A Prospective Study Of The Aetiology, Associations, Clinical Features And Outcomes Of Community-acquired Pneumonia In Children And Adults In Tropical Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$106,937.00
Summary
Pneumonia is common in Australia and often requires hospital admission. The germs that cause pneumonia in tropical Australia are less well known than southern Australia and likely to be different. This study will identify which germs cause pneumonia in people in tropical Australia and will identify which people become more unwell. I aim to identify the best antibiotics to use, the differences between children and adults, Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and people living in different areas.
Refining Methods For Obtaining, Synthesising And Interpreting Research Evidence In Surgery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,312.00
Summary
Research evidence plays a crucial role in improving clinical care. However the main forms of evidence and the tools that facilitate evidence use - namely randomised controlled trials (RCT) and structured systematic reviews of existing research - have had limited application in surgery for a variety of reasons. This project aims to promote the use of research evidence in surgical decision making by developing tools tailored to the predominance of non-RCTs in surgery and surgeons' information need ....Research evidence plays a crucial role in improving clinical care. However the main forms of evidence and the tools that facilitate evidence use - namely randomised controlled trials (RCT) and structured systematic reviews of existing research - have had limited application in surgery for a variety of reasons. This project aims to promote the use of research evidence in surgical decision making by developing tools tailored to the predominance of non-RCTs in surgery and surgeons' information needs.Read moreRead less
To Apply Evidence Based Practice To Optimise The Laboratory Diagnosis Of Muscular Dystrophies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$82,642.00
Summary
Currently in Australia, muscular dystrophy diagnosis entails detailed biochemical analyses mainly performed within research laboratories. We will use evidence based practice to optimise the laboratory diagnosis of muscular dystrophies, and provide information for genetic and clinical counselling and prevention to improve the standard of service for those with the disease. Assessment of diagnostic efficacy and cost-efficiency will aid in evaluating diagnostic approaches for other rare disorders.
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
Patients with a first seizure (FS) presenting to EDs receive widely varied and often non-evidenced based care. This can result in future hospital admissions for seizures, injuries, and deaths. Researchers will undertake a literature review and analysis of current management of FS patients. It will be determined if delayed assessments are associated with poorer outcomes and higher treatment costs. We will create a tool to help predict chance of seizure recurrence following a FS.
Improving Research Evidence Quality Using Individual Patient Data, Prospective Meta-analysis And Trial Registration
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$387,489.00
Summary
The quality of evidence we use to make health care decisions can be improved if we use systematic reviews that are planned ahead, that use raw data from each participant and include all the trials that have looked at the clinical problem. This research program will utilise these three ways of obtaining better quality data and will thus make research results more reliable. In particular, we will use these techniques to address health problems in mothers and babies.