The Indigenous Australian Malnutrition project aims to explore the burden and impact of malnutrition particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients in hospital. The project includes the development and validation of the Australian Nutrition Tool (ANT) and validating the Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST) as an appropriate screening tool for Indigenous Australian patients. The project also aims to determine the prevalence of adult malnutrition and explore its burden and impact.
The Burden And Risk Factors Of Depressive Disorders In Indigenous Australians: Implications For Early Detection And Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
This Fellowship addresses the high rates of depression amongst Indigenous Australians. The proposed work will quantify the extent to which two major risk factors contribute to the burden of depression in this population and the burden avertable from interventions to modify these risk factors. Findings would inform resource allocation and health service delivery, and in doing so, present opportunities for improvements in the health of Indigenous Australians.
Burden Of Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) And Impact Of Prevention Strategies: Comprehensive Evidence To Drive The RHD Endgame
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$960,655.00
Summary
Rheumatic heart disease is chronic damage to the heart valves caused by repeated bouts of acute rheumatic fever. Both are preventable, yet rates among Indigenous Australians are of the highest recorded. We propose to undertake the first multi-jurisdictional study of these conditions to determine trends in occurrence and evaluate the impact of existing interventions in Australia. Findings will be used to inform the development of a roadmap to remove RHD as a public health problem in Australia.
Economic Evaluation Of Interventions To Reduce The Burden Of Harm From Alcohol Misuse In Indigenous Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$609,571.00
Summary
Indigenous people live considerably less than non-Indigenous Australians. Governments spend millions each year trying to close this health gap but there is little evidence to demonstrate that this money is being spent appropriately. This project aims to evaluate the return on investment on funds spent on addressing the harm caused by alcohol misuse in Indigenous Australians. These results will strengthen the evidence-base required to develop appropriate Indigenous health policy in Australia.
Uptake Of Evidence To Policy: The Indigenous Burden Of Disease Case Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$439,210.00
Summary
Burden of Disease (BOD) methods were designed with the intention of assisting health policy makers in decision making. Using a unit called the Disability Adjusted Life Year, the process measures both death and disability caused by disease or illness, allowing the burden of differing diseases to be compared, and priorities clarified. This research will improve communication between researchers, community and policy makers by showing how the Indigenous BOD study has been used in policy processes.
Impact Of Co-morbidities On Screening, Diagnosis, Treatment And Survival Of Cervical Cancer Amongst Australian Indigenous And Non-Indigenous Women: 1997-2009
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$98,236.00
Summary
Indigenous women are more likely than non-Indigenous Australian women to be diagnosed with cervical cancer and are less likely to survive it. This study will investigate the impact of co-exisiting chronic diseases (co-morbidities) on cervical cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment and survival outcomes for Indigenous compared to non-Indigenous women. Results from this study will assist in directing future public health initiatives that aim to improve outcomes for women with cervical cancer.
Gotta Be Sit Down And Worked Out Together- A Program For Carers Of Older People In Aboriginal Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,742,188.00
Summary
"Gotta be sit down and worked out together" is a participatory program for carers of older people with physical and mental health problems who live in remote Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley. This project aims to assist community carers to select, develop and implement programs to address their unmet health needs, utilising a community based participatory action research approach. The program emphasises the need to foster empowerment, improve psychological well being and carer burden.
Evidence-based Policy To End Rheumatic Heart Disease In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$128,224.00
Summary
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) occurs when untreated infections from streptococcal bacteria cause heart valve damage. RHD is almost exclusively a disease of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Researchers are working on an endgame for RHD which will provide a set of recommendations to end the disease. This PhD is to understand how to ensure those recommendations are implemented. The outcomes will also help to control other diseases which are more common in Indigenous Australians.