Needs Based Access To Specialist Palliative Care Services: Development And Evaluation Of A Consumer Toolkit
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$286,572.00
Summary
The study will test the cost-effectiveness of two models of supportive care coordination for advanced cancer against _usual care�: a Telephone Caseworker model and an Oncologist-GP model. Both models are aimed at improving patients� and their informal caregivers� health and psychosocial status; are patient-centred, evidence based and readily transferable across health care settings. The Telephone Caseworker model has the additional advantage of reaching people isolated through geography, physica ....The study will test the cost-effectiveness of two models of supportive care coordination for advanced cancer against _usual care�: a Telephone Caseworker model and an Oncologist-GP model. Both models are aimed at improving patients� and their informal caregivers� health and psychosocial status; are patient-centred, evidence based and readily transferable across health care settings. The Telephone Caseworker model has the additional advantage of reaching people isolated through geography, physical disability or age.Read moreRead less
Prelim Study Of Association Between Nutritional Indices, Psychosocial Factors, Cytokines & Survival Advanced Cancer Pati
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$24,820.00
Summary
This preliminary project aims to evaluate associations between cancer cachexia, psychosocial factors and cytokine levels in blood. The final decline of most patients with advanced cancer is associated with the cancer cachexia syndrome, triggered in part by cytokine release. Measuring cytokines may enable identification of patients about to enter this final stage. Further, factors like mood and social support appear to alter cytokine levels. The associations established by this study may point to ....This preliminary project aims to evaluate associations between cancer cachexia, psychosocial factors and cytokine levels in blood. The final decline of most patients with advanced cancer is associated with the cancer cachexia syndrome, triggered in part by cytokine release. Measuring cytokines may enable identification of patients about to enter this final stage. Further, factors like mood and social support appear to alter cytokine levels. The associations established by this study may point to treatment options that can delay the terminal phase while improving quality of life.Read moreRead less
The number of Australians with dementia is increasing and so therefore is the frequency of people with dementia presenting to general practice. There is a recent evidence based clinical practice guideline to inform the diagnosis and management of people with dementia and the support of their carers. Many of the recommendations from this guideline are relevant to Australian general practitioners. Strategies to implement guidelines into practice are needed in all areas of health care, but changing ....The number of Australians with dementia is increasing and so therefore is the frequency of people with dementia presenting to general practice. There is a recent evidence based clinical practice guideline to inform the diagnosis and management of people with dementia and the support of their carers. Many of the recommendations from this guideline are relevant to Australian general practitioners. Strategies to implement guidelines into practice are needed in all areas of health care, but changing clinical practice is complex and a body of research developing methods of identifying barriers to specific practice changes is emerging. This project aims to support GPs in improving the general practice based care of people with dementia, and so improve their quality of life. In addition we aim to contribute to the body of knowledge about how to bring about practice change and implement a clinical practice guideline. We plan to design a strategy for implementing this new guideline into practice, working with GPs to change their practice where needed. We will test the effect of this strategy on the care of people with dementia, on their quality of life and on that of their carers.Read moreRead less
Expectations And Barriers In The Ambulance Service And Palliative Care Interface
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$49,916.00
Summary
There are over 6000 paramedics in Australia. The ambulance service is faced with palliative care on a daily basis throughout the country. Their involvement in palliative care is diverse and may include response to end of life calls, response to aid home care, response to manage acute events, providing health transport and collaborating with other care givers. The nature of this involvement, and the broader policy, operational, clinical and social implications has not been researched in Australia ....There are over 6000 paramedics in Australia. The ambulance service is faced with palliative care on a daily basis throughout the country. Their involvement in palliative care is diverse and may include response to end of life calls, response to aid home care, response to manage acute events, providing health transport and collaborating with other care givers. The nature of this involvement, and the broader policy, operational, clinical and social implications has not been researched in Australia. This study will survey paramedics across two states to describe their involvement in palliative care, and the issues and challenges associated with provision of this service.Read moreRead less