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.
The First Placebo-controlled Trial Of Paracetamol For Back Pain.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$626,021.00
Summary
Each year in Australia over $1Billion is spent on treatments for low back pain. An important approach to solving this problem is to evaluate back pain treatments that are readily available, safe, cheap and effective. Our previous work suggests that regular paracetamol may be such a treatment. We propose to conduct the first ever placebo controlled trial of paracetamol for acute low back pain in a large clinical trial.
A Clinical Trial Of Manipulative Therapy And/or NSAIDs For Significant Acute Low Back Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$521,625.00
Summary
Acute low back pain is a disabling condition with many sufferers being unable to perform their family or work duties due to severe pain. Treatment of acute LBP is also costly, this condition being one of the most frequent problems managed by general practitioners. Guidelines about how to treat patients with acute low back pain have suggested that advice and paracetamol should be the first line of treatment. In patients with insufficient pain relief two of the most frequently used additional trea ....Acute low back pain is a disabling condition with many sufferers being unable to perform their family or work duties due to severe pain. Treatment of acute LBP is also costly, this condition being one of the most frequent problems managed by general practitioners. Guidelines about how to treat patients with acute low back pain have suggested that advice and paracetamol should be the first line of treatment. In patients with insufficient pain relief two of the most frequently used additional treatments are anti-inflammatory medication and manipulative physiotherapy. However, to date it is not known whether the addition of one or both of these treatments results in faster recovery for the patient. Our clinical trial will clarify whether the addition of (i) anti-inflammatory medication and-or (ii) manipulative physiotherapy, to advice and paracetamol given by the doctor results in a faster recovery for the patient with acute low back pain. This results of this study will make it possible for general practitioners to manage acute low back pain in an evidence-based way.Read moreRead less
I am a paediatrician and respiratory physician with a passion in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and evidence-based clinical practice. My research is built upon a philosophy that encompasses linkages between research, quality clinical work an
This project aims to establish agreement on appropriate methods to analyse evidence in support of medical treatments directed at laboratory tests (such as blood cholesterol) and to classify the evidence according to how convincing it is. The goal of those developing new drugs targeting one of these laboratory tests is to have their evidence sufficiently convincing that the drug will be approved for sale and used because doctors and patients believe its use will translate into a patient benefit.
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.
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
The Efficacy Of Manipulation For Recent Onset Neck Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$393,974.00
Summary
Neck pain is extremely common, with a point prevalence of 46% in the general community. Neck pain can cause significant disability, and is the second most common injury causing people to take time off work. Neck pain and its associated disability clearly poses a substantial social and economic burden. Neck manipulation (high velocity thrust of the joints, often associated with a click) is widely used by physiotherapists for the management of recent onset neck pain, but there is no clear evidence ....Neck pain is extremely common, with a point prevalence of 46% in the general community. Neck pain can cause significant disability, and is the second most common injury causing people to take time off work. Neck pain and its associated disability clearly poses a substantial social and economic burden. Neck manipulation (high velocity thrust of the joints, often associated with a click) is widely used by physiotherapists for the management of recent onset neck pain, but there is no clear evidence for its efficacy. In addition, the use of manipulation is associated with serious, although rare, adverse events such as stroke or even death. The risk-benefit analysis, therefore, does not clearly favour manipulation because efficacy has not been established, while the risks are serious, but infrequent. The findings of the proposed study will clearly and precisely determine the efficacy of manipulation compared with the safer treatment technique of mobilisation (gentle oscillatory pressure applied to the joints), information that is currently unavailable. This information is of vital importance to many different disciplines, including health professionals, insurance companies, and to administrators for development of health policy. Our findings will thus provide evidence-based guidelines for the use of manipulation, and will ultimately lead to safer practice of physiotherapy for neck pain.Read moreRead less