Evaluating Hand Hygiene Interventions And Their Ability To Reduce Haelthcare Associated Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$508,848.00
Summary
Healthcare associated infection is a major problem for Australian hospitals. One of the best ways to reduce it is to improve hand hygiene among hospital workers. The National Hand Hygiene Initiative (NHHI) is currently being implemented to improve hygiene among health care workers. This research will evaluate the NHHI and measure how well the program works, what factors are important to its success, and whether implementing the program is good value for money.
Evaluation Of Alcohol Management Plans (AMPs), Cape York, North Queensland
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$626,395.00
Summary
The study will describe long-term impacts on important health and social outcomes of restricting alcohol in Cape York, Queensland. It will assess the impacts and cost-effectiveness of the Queensland Government’s Alcohol Management Plans implemented from 2002-03. The researchers will use de-identified data on injury, violence, health and social indicators. The study will map whether AMP components were delivered as promised and the extent to which they were welcomed by Cape York communities.
Effectiveness, Cost-effectiveness And Cost-benefit Of A Single Annual Professional Intervention For The Prevention Of Childhood Dental Caries In A Remote Rural Indigenous Community
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,050,869.00
Summary
The aim of the study is to reduce the high prevalence of tooth decay in children in a remote, rural Indigenous community, by application of a single annual dental preventive intervention. Most dental preventive interventions require regular re-application (3 monthly), which is not possible in resource constrained communities. Importantly, the study will assess cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness for broader implementation across similar communities in Australia and internationally.
REACH: Researching Effective Approaches To Cleaning In Hospitals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$657,862.00
Summary
Healthcare associated infections are a major challenge for hospitals. Infections can spread via the patient environment, because colonized patients and staff can contaminate surfaces and equipment with micro-organisms. Cleaning is a vital component of patient care, but is a complex process with little real evidence to inform practice. This project will take a targeted approach to improving hospital cleaning to reduce infection rates; and examine the cost-effectiveness of this approach.
Centre For Research Excellence In Reducing Healthcare Associated Infection
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,495,795.00
Summary
Each year in Australia 180,000 patients suffer a healthcare associated infection. Risk can be reduced with relatively simple technology but substantial costs arise with system wide adoption and monitoring. The economic paradigm is that funds can be invested for infection reduction to save costs and lives. The CRE will reveal the cost-effectiveness of infection control programmes and show health services decision-makers how to improve patient outcomes, save resources and save lives.
Prevention Of Complications In Type 2 Diabetes By Using ICT To Optimise Self-management
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$849,181.00
Summary
The impact of the diabetes epidemic on individuals and society is severe but can be reduced by improving diabetes self-management. Conducted in partnership with Diabetes Australia (Queensland, Victoria, WA) and Roche Diagnostics, this research will evaluate the 'real world' implementation of a telehealth program, already successfully trialled, which has the potential to provide a low cost and effective program to a large number of Australians with type 2 diabetes.
Helping Women Meet Their Activity Goals: Randomised Trial Of A Personalised Program Delivered By Mobile Telephone
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$493,346.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Australian women, but is less likely among women who are active. Because women are less active than men, and women with young children are the least active of all, we developed a program to increase postnatal women's physical activity. Women in the pilot study reported high program satisfaction and more physical activity, because the program focused on them (not their kids) and helped them prioritise time for physical activity.
Improving Outcomes Of Preschool Language Delay In The Community: Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$927,327.00
Summary
7-15% of preschool children have language delay, so are vulnerable to poor lifelong academic, social and economic outcomes. Small trials suggest that intervention helps. This randomized trial aims to find out the population costs and benefits of optimized intervention for 4 year olds following systematic identification of language delay. Because we have studied the 1500 participants since infancy, the trial could also shed light on why some children respond better than others to treatment.
Population Outcomes And Cost-effectiveness Of Universal Newborn Hearing Vs Risk Factor Screening At Age 5 Years.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,423.00
Summary
Universal newborn hearing screening (UNHS) is being widely implemented because it is thought to greatly improve outcomes for children with congenital deafness. However, it is also very costly. Between 2003-5, all New South Wales babies were offered UNHS, while Victorian babies were offered a risk-factor screening and referral program. This two-year 'natural experiment' paves the way for a unique population effectiveness and cost-effectiveness study of UNHS as the children reach 5 years of age.
Using Conversational Computer Technology To Improve Diabetes Management: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$708,606.00
Summary
The diabetes epidemic is a growing challenge for the Australian health care system with over 1 million Australians living with diabetes. The impact on individuals' lives and the whole of Australian society is very substantial indeed. There is very good evidence that this impact would be reduced by developing new approaches to manage the disease and facilitate improved self-management. Recent developments in information and communications technologies offer some promising new ways and tools for a ....The diabetes epidemic is a growing challenge for the Australian health care system with over 1 million Australians living with diabetes. The impact on individuals' lives and the whole of Australian society is very substantial indeed. There is very good evidence that this impact would be reduced by developing new approaches to manage the disease and facilitate improved self-management. Recent developments in information and communications technologies offer some promising new ways and tools for achieving this. This research will evaluate a computer-controlled, interactive telephone system for improving the management and self-management of Type 2 diabetes in addition to routine care. Patients with Type 2 diabetes will be recruited from Brisbane and each patient will be randomly assigned to receive either this new program or just their usual care from their doctor or Diabetes Clinic. The first group will call the system weekly for six months using a regular phone or a mobile phone if they wish. During the call, they will answer questions by speaking into the phone, listen to feedback and strategies for improving management of their diabetes and then discuss their next targets and behavioural actions. They will receive systematic and tailored advice on blood glucose testing, nutrition and physical activity, as well as medication taking and foot care. The system individualises conversations according to the user s answers and responses over all the interactive sessions. The trial will formally evaluate the clinical impact on blood glucose control and the adoption and maintenance of the targeted health habits, as well as the intervention s cost-effectiveness and users satisfaction with the system. This project s significance lies in the excellent potential of using this new technology to provide a 'low cost' but effective program to help people better manage Type 2 diabetes.Read moreRead less