Optimising Care For Patients Diagnosed With Pancreatic Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,399,839.00
Summary
There is evidence from previous research in Queensland and NSW that elements of care provided to patients with pancreatic cancer are sub-optimal. We aim to improve compliance with evidence-based guidelines in Victoria and NSW by collecting high quality data, providing reports to hospitals benchmarking their performance against peers and working with health services to reduce variation. Making sure care known to improve practice is being delivered is as important as developing new targeted thera
Reduction Of Oxygen After Cardiac Arrest: The EXACT Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,891,021.00
Summary
We aim to conduct a Phase 3 multi-centre, randomised, controlled trial to determine whether reducing oxygen administration to target a normal level as soon as possible following successful resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, compared to current practice of maintaining 100% oxygen, improves patient survival at hospital discharge.
Increasing the quality of goods donated to charities: Two field trials. This project aims to trial three social marketing programs using controlled field experiments in partnership with Queensland Government and the National Association of Charitable Recycling Organisations. Controlled community pilot programs are planned as a means to identify the effective program for implementation nation wide by charitable recycling organisations in Year 3 of the project. The planned research aims to incre ....Increasing the quality of goods donated to charities: Two field trials. This project aims to trial three social marketing programs using controlled field experiments in partnership with Queensland Government and the National Association of Charitable Recycling Organisations. Controlled community pilot programs are planned as a means to identify the effective program for implementation nation wide by charitable recycling organisations in Year 3 of the project. The planned research aims to increase the quality of goods donated to Australian charities. Increases in the quality of goods donated to Australian charities delivers cost savings that can in turn be used to provide essential services to support more Australians who are in need. Read moreRead less
Sydney Epilepsy Incidence Study To Measure Illness Consequences (SEISMIC)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$694,067.00
Summary
Epilepsy is common, costly and neglected. This study is a prospective cohort study of newly diagnosed cases of epilepsy and aims to fill clinical, psychosocial and economic knowledge gaps in epilepsy. The network will use this new evidence for policy recommendations and strategic plans, for health systems and guidelines to improve efficiency and care and to enlighten community-based support programs, education, driving and workplace legislation. This study was developed by a health service, Epil ....Epilepsy is common, costly and neglected. This study is a prospective cohort study of newly diagnosed cases of epilepsy and aims to fill clinical, psychosocial and economic knowledge gaps in epilepsy. The network will use this new evidence for policy recommendations and strategic plans, for health systems and guidelines to improve efficiency and care and to enlighten community-based support programs, education, driving and workplace legislation. This study was developed by a health service, Epilepsy Action, Epilepsy Society of Australia and the George Institute.Read moreRead less
Using Health Economics To Strengthen Ties Between Evidence, Policy And Practice In Chronic Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,925,648.00
Summary
There is a major shortage of researchers with health economics expertise in Australia. This grant will provide training and development for a team of health economists to research chronic diseases covering issues such as: What is the value for money from investment in different treatments? How do such diseases affect the economic circumstances of families? How do we ensure that strategies to address illness work in practice and can be sustained? How do these issues get put on the policy agenda?
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
Does Fresh Frozen Plasma In Russells Viper Bite Coagulopathy Reduce The Dose And Duration Of Antivenom Therapy?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$622,344.00
Summary
This proposal seeks funding to undertake a trial of clotting factor replacement with low dose antivenom therapy in snake bite coagulopathy in Sri Lanka. The aim is to determine if factor replacement will result in a rapid return of clotting function, allow a smaller dose of antivenom and therefore reduce the potential risk of major bleeding and reactions to antivenom. This study will have international implications because globally snakebite coagulopathy is a major cause of morbidity and death .
Consumer value and disability services: The impact of increased autonomy. This project seeks to explore a key question of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS): will service provision improve when service users have the ability to choose? In 2016, the NDIS will start rolling out and nearly half a million people with a disability will be able to choose disability services. The project aims to identify changes in objective and perceived consumer value pre-NDIS and post-NDIS, and differen ....Consumer value and disability services: The impact of increased autonomy. This project seeks to explore a key question of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS): will service provision improve when service users have the ability to choose? In 2016, the NDIS will start rolling out and nearly half a million people with a disability will be able to choose disability services. The project aims to identify changes in objective and perceived consumer value pre-NDIS and post-NDIS, and differences in how market segments use their autonomy and whether this leads to differences in benefits gained from the NDIS. Findings are intended to contribute to a better understanding of when free market mechanisms serve the needs of their citizens better than traditional means of government support.Read moreRead less
The DietAdvice Website A New Innovation For Dietitians In Clinical Practice.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$140,975.00
Summary
Due to the growing incidence of obesity within Australia, use of computer technology may be a method of targeting these people by increasing access to dietary services. Currently available dietary software in the Australian context only allows analysis of nutrient information. Thus when a dietitian sees a patient they must manually translate food intake to nutrient information, a largely time consuming exercise. DietAdvice is a website that was developed for people to enter in their own food int ....Due to the growing incidence of obesity within Australia, use of computer technology may be a method of targeting these people by increasing access to dietary services. Currently available dietary software in the Australian context only allows analysis of nutrient information. Thus when a dietitian sees a patient they must manually translate food intake to nutrient information, a largely time consuming exercise. DietAdvice is a website that was developed for people to enter in their own food intakes. The food information is sent to a dietitian who develops individualised dietary advice for them. A pilot study of the website has already found it to be feasible in the primary healthcare setting. Tested for 12 months the website was used by 224 patients from GP practices in the Illawarra region of NSW. Approximately 73% of patients were overweight and patients with a high BMI were 1.88 times more likely to use the website in the comfort of their home. Further research about the website however was needed. The research to follow on from the pilot study will aim to refine the DietAdvice website, leading towards its commercialisation for dietitians in clinical practice. The research will be broken into 3 phases. Phase 1 will involve a usability test of the website, assessing the underlying algorithms and testing it with dietitians in private practice. Phase 2 will see volunteers using the website on multiple occasions after being given pre-weighed amounts of food to eat. This will determine how reliable and accurate the information is; and phase 3 will evaluate whether the website is cost effective and if it increases accessibility of health services especially in rural areas. By confirming these attributes there will be a sound basis to commercialise the product.Read moreRead less
Improving Evidence Based Care For Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$533,442.00
Summary
There is an urgent need to improve care for men with advanced prostate cancer if we wish to improve their survival. Compelling new evidence suggests we need to alter current practice by offering radiotherapy to high risk men – but will clinicians change their practice? We will develop and test ways to change practice within a network of 9 hopsitals. The study will provide crucial evidence about how to embed the recommended care into practice to improve outcomes for men with prostate cancer.