Using Linked Population-based Health-related Datasets To Optimise Cancer Care And Reduce Survival Disparities.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$850,941.00
Summary
In partnership with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, we will use detailed health data from various sources to assess how care is provided to people with cancer and determine why some have better survival than others. The findings will be used to change government policy and clinical practice in order to improve cancer outcomes for those who fair worse. We will establish a data bank to enable this information to be used to improve services into the future.
The Breast Cancer Biospecimen Resource will consist of stored samples of the majority of newly diagnosed breast cancers in NSW and through the Australian and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group together with accurate, prospectively tracked clinical data on each specimen. This facility will serve as a model for extension of similar procedures to other common Australian cancers including cancers of the lung, bowel, prostate and melanoma. Research that is facilitated by this Resource holds real ....The Breast Cancer Biospecimen Resource will consist of stored samples of the majority of newly diagnosed breast cancers in NSW and through the Australian and New Zealand Breast Cancer Trials Group together with accurate, prospectively tracked clinical data on each specimen. This facility will serve as a model for extension of similar procedures to other common Australian cancers including cancers of the lung, bowel, prostate and melanoma. Research that is facilitated by this Resource holds real promise for improving patient selection for treatment. This will return a significant humanitarian and cost saving benefit. In addition this advance would also maximise the benefit of population mammographic screening.Read moreRead less
Improving Health Outcomes For Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Australians With Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$314,644.00
Summary
Despite the high standard of health experienced in Australia in general, a disproportionate burden of cancer adversely impacts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. This research will identify the supportive care needs, quality of life, and patterns of care of Indigenous cancer patients and through engagement with Indigenous cancer survivors, community organisations and government and non-government agencies disseminate and translate these findings into policy and practice.
This award will allow Associate Professor Marie Pirotta to continue her work in establishing whether the complementary medicines widely used in our community for cancer are actually effective and safe. Her research plans include a clinical trial of acupuncture for arm swelling after breast cancer surgery and of the nutrient lycopene, found in tomatoes, for symptoms in men after treatment for prostate cancer.
Patterns Of Care And Quality Of Life In Patients With Pancreatic Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$680,010.00
Summary
Available evidence suggests that care of patients with pancreatic cancer is variable and dependent on a variety of factors such as geographic location, socioeconomic status and hospital volume. Variability in care may influence survival and quality of life of patients. We propose to conduct a comprehensive study of the management of patients with pancreatic cancer in NSW and, in a substudy in QLD, to determine how variation in management affects patient quality of life.
Closing The Divide: Aboriginal And Torres Straight Islander People And Cancer Survivorship
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$701,662.00
Summary
This project will significantly contribute to Indigenous health research through addressing the current knowledge gap about the unmet support needs of Indigenous cancer patients in Queensland. This study will also investigate if the existing cancer supportive care is adequate for Indigenous patients and how an indigenious patient navigator will adress the barriers to accessing existing care. Indigenous research capacity building is a strong element of this project.
Patterns Of Care In Patients With Pancreatic Cancer.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$94,494.00
Summary
This project will describe the treatment patterns of patients with pancreatic cancer throughout NSW and QLD. A quality of care score will be developed, and the care of patients in this cohort benchmarked against the score. The impact of patient characteristics on the quality of care provided will be assessed, as will the impact of quality of care on survival. The ultimate aim is to provide information that can be used to ensure that all patients in Australia receive optimal care.
Reducing The Burden Of Disease And Inequity Related To Indigenous Australians With Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$475,946.00
Summary
Indigenous Australians have higher incidence of cancers, higher cancer mortality rates and poorer survival compared to other Australians. My proposed program of research aims to improve patient outcomes and survival of Indigenous people with cancer. The proposed work will examine cancer care at the primary and hospital setting, identify deficiencies, and suggest mechanisms for improvement (an intervention will be tested).
A National Analysis Of The Palliative And Supportive Care Needs Of Families Whose Children Die From Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$68,250.00
Summary
Palliative and supportive care services for children dying from cancer are underdeveloped in the paediatric setting. There is an increasing awareness of the need for comprehensive care for these dying children and their families, however, there is a striking lack of evidence based literature on which to base paediatric palliaitive and supportive care models of care. This study is the first of its kind in the area of paediatric supportive and palliative care in Australia. This study will involve ....Palliative and supportive care services for children dying from cancer are underdeveloped in the paediatric setting. There is an increasing awareness of the need for comprehensive care for these dying children and their families, however, there is a striking lack of evidence based literature on which to base paediatric palliaitive and supportive care models of care. This study is the first of its kind in the area of paediatric supportive and palliative care in Australia. This study will involve five Australian states (WA, SA, VIC, NSW and QLD). To answer these research questions, a retrospective study will be undertaken because of: a)the profound impact that caring for a dying child has on the family, b) the potential effects on parents of participating in research related to the care of their dying child, and c) it has been shown that research undertaken after-death is an important method for evaluation of the quality of palliative care. The study will provide broad and detailed description of the palliative and supportive care needs of families whose died from cancer, as well as the types of care that may be required. The study will therefore, address four research questions: 1. What are the supportive and palliative care needs of families of children who have died from cancer? 2. To what extent have the supportive care and palliative care needs of families been met in both the hospital and community settings? 3. How were the supportive and palliative care needs of families of children who died from cancer met? 4. What were the perceived barriers and facilitating factors associated with the supportive care and palliative care received by families whose children died from cancer? This study is the first phase of a four-phase research program that will culminate in the development and testing of models for the provision of palliative and supportive care for parents of children with life-limiting conditions.Read moreRead less