Does Continuity Of Primary Care Reduce Demand On Emergency Department Presentations And Hospital Admissions?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$793,864.00
Summary
Nearly 10% of admissions to hospital are thought to be potentially preventable. It has been proposed that timely and effective primary care services can prevent the onset of complications and reduce hospitalisations. This study will evaluate the influence of regular ongoing contact with a general practitioner on emergency department visits and preventable hospitalisations for patients with a range of national priority acute medical and chronic / complex conditions
A Geographic Approach To Measuring Social Deprivation And Health Care Need For Primary Health Care Policy And Planning
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$148,213.00
Summary
Understanding how and where people use and access health services, and how social disadvantage affects this is important for planning and providing primary health care services. Presenting information as maps is an effective way to explore and communicate these issues. This research program will use a geographic and map-based approach to understanding patterns of health service use and social disadvantage, to assist in developing primary health care policy.
Health Outcomes And Service Utilisation In A Cohort Of People Who Inject Drugs, Sex Workers And At-risk Youth - A Record Linkage Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$458,333.00
Summary
People who inject drugs and sex workers endure poorer health and a disproportionate burden of disease than the general population. Improving health in these marginalised populations remains a challenge. To identify demographic, behavioural and clinical factors that predict health outcomes we will undertake a retrospective record linkage study in a cohort of 40000 primary care clinic attendees from a socially disadvantaged urban population with high prevalence of injecting drug use and sex work.
Primary Health Care And Self-management For Depression And Anxiety: A Vital Community-based Study For Future Service Delivery
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$330,779.00
Summary
Depression and anxiety are widespread. As treatment is typically managed by GPs, effective primary care for these disorders is a national priority. The Australia-wide coverage of these services means that the research behind their delivery must be based on community-wide studies of primary care outcomes and determinants. There is an acute lack of such research. Dr Olesen proposes a comprehensive and innovative set of epidemiological investigations to address this gap.
A Randomised Trial Of A Clinical Prediction Tool For Targeting Depression Care (Target-D)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$944,774.00
Summary
The Target-D Study uses a novel clinical prediction tool to test a new approach to depression care in general practice based upon sub-grouping patients into low, medium and high risk of ongoing depression. Participants will be randomly allocated to targeted treatments based upon their risk profile or to usual general practice care. We will measure whether the new approach results in greater improvements in depressive symptoms, quality of life and functioning and whether there are cost benefits.
Multi-faceted E-health Interventions For Primary Health Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$359,564.00
Summary
There are large evidence practice gaps in primary health care leading to sub-optimal health outcomes. To address these gaps, I have devised HealthTracker, an e-health system for chronic disease management. I will evaluate the effectiveness of HealthTracker and develop three new system features: (1) a consumer focussed web portal, (2) three new chronic care modules for respiratory health, osteoporosis and fracture prevention, low back pain, and (3) implementation of the system in rural India.
The Development Of A Composite Index Of Need For Regional Maternity Services: The Australian Regional Birthing Index (ARBI)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$486,975.00
Summary
the Australian Regional Birthing Index (ARBI) is to be developed in response to the National Maternity Services Plan recommendation for an index to guide the provision of maternity services in rural and remote Australia. This index uses the size, remoteness, and vulnerability of the community, plus lessons learnt from the Canadian rural birth index. An Expert Panel of experienced clinicians, health planners and policy makers and managers of services will guide and test the feasibility of impleme ....the Australian Regional Birthing Index (ARBI) is to be developed in response to the National Maternity Services Plan recommendation for an index to guide the provision of maternity services in rural and remote Australia. This index uses the size, remoteness, and vulnerability of the community, plus lessons learnt from the Canadian rural birth index. An Expert Panel of experienced clinicians, health planners and policy makers and managers of services will guide and test the feasibility of implementing this index.Read moreRead less
PEACH: Patient Engagement And Coaching For Health: An Intensive Treatment Intervention For Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$304,300.00
Summary
Diabetes care is a partnership between health professionals and patients, but each faces difficulties in optimising medical care. The PEACH study exoplores how practice nurses can work with patients to empower them to manage their own condition and medicines better and be more active in working with their doctor to improve their diabetes control. The study could have important implications for patients and the way Governments fund primary care.
A Cluster Randomised Trial Of Early Intervention For Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease By Practice Nurse-GP Teams
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$818,914.00
Summary
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common problem for current or ex smokers but is often undiagnosed. Effective treatment is available so early diagnosis is important. In this study practice nurses will identify patients who are at risk of COPD and undertake case finding. Patients newly diagnosed with COPD will then be offered a novel management intervention involving the GP and practice nurse working in partnership.
Health Status And Development Among Aboriginal Infants In An Urban Community.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$436,650.00
Summary
This research is a descriptive study of the health outcomes of Aboriginal infants, born at Campbelltown Hospital. The research will build on Centre for Health Equity's (CHETRE) work, since 1997, with the Aboriginal community, Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) and Area Health Services (AHS) in the region to develop and advocate for services to address the needs of Aboriginal and other disadvantaged communities. CHETRE has supported the Aboriginal workers to develop additional services for Aborigin ....This research is a descriptive study of the health outcomes of Aboriginal infants, born at Campbelltown Hospital. The research will build on Centre for Health Equity's (CHETRE) work, since 1997, with the Aboriginal community, Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) and Area Health Services (AHS) in the region to develop and advocate for services to address the needs of Aboriginal and other disadvantaged communities. CHETRE has supported the Aboriginal workers to develop additional services for Aboriginal women, such as the Aboriginal Home Visiting Team (AHV) and assisted with evaluation of these services. The AHV management comprises representatives from AMS, AHS, the Aboriginal community and CHETRE, and will provide advice and oversight for this project. The AHV developed from community concern about health status of Aboriginal infants and provides ante and postnatal care to infants and mothers. As a part of this service Aboriginal infants are systematically identified by the AHS. Further development of services is limited by lack of information on health status, use of health services, or achievement of developmental milestones by Aboriginal infants in an urban community and the assumption that outcomes are a factor of disadvantage. The researchers intend to describe in meticulous detail obstetric outcomes for 150 Aboriginal infants and their mothers born in 2004-5 and the health and development outcomes of the infants at 12 months. Baseline information on birth weight, Apgar score and obstetric history will be collected from maternal report at 2-3 week post-delivery and from routine data collections. Infants and their mothers will be followed up prospectively with further data collection points at 6 months and 12 months. Information on health status, health service use, and achievement of developmental milestones will be obtained by measurement and maternal report. An assessment by a paediatrician will be undertaken at 12 months.Read moreRead less