Testing, Translation And Uptake Of Evidence In General Practice: A Systems Approach To Rapid Translation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,411,050.00
Summary
Testing, Translation & Uptake of Evidence in General Practice: A systems approach. Though General Practice is the frontline of Australia’s health system, new research findings are often ignored by busy GPs, resulting in suboptimal care. We plan to improve this by: A. A network of influential GPs practices to test new research, B. Practice support units who provide GP and patient summaries of new research, C. Active transfer of successful new practices via social media, guidelines, and courses.
SEA-URCHIN: South East Asia - Using Research For Change In Hospital-acquired Infection In Neonates
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,303,773.00
Summary
Each year, more than one million babies die from infection before they reach one month of age. Proven and inexpensive practices to prevent and treat infection exist but they are not always followed (eg hand washing). This research will evaluate the impact of tailored implementation strategies on rates of infection and death in the neonatal units of nine hospitals in four counties in South East Asia. Staff from these units will work with Australian partners to devise, implement and evaluate diffe ....Each year, more than one million babies die from infection before they reach one month of age. Proven and inexpensive practices to prevent and treat infection exist but they are not always followed (eg hand washing). This research will evaluate the impact of tailored implementation strategies on rates of infection and death in the neonatal units of nine hospitals in four counties in South East Asia. Staff from these units will work with Australian partners to devise, implement and evaluate different strategies.Read moreRead less
Changing Decision-making Behaviour In General Practice By Providing Access To Online Evidence.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$206,375.00
Summary
The case for a shift to evidence-based practice, and the substantial economic and health outcome benefits of that shift, have been repeatedly made. Despite the vision, significant barriers to evidence-based practice remain, and the demonstration of a positive role for on-line systems would result in a significant change in strategies for clinician behaviour change. This study will make a specific and significant contribution to our understanding of the efficacy and effectiveness of online eviden ....The case for a shift to evidence-based practice, and the substantial economic and health outcome benefits of that shift, have been repeatedly made. Despite the vision, significant barriers to evidence-based practice remain, and the demonstration of a positive role for on-line systems would result in a significant change in strategies for clinician behaviour change. This study will make a specific and significant contribution to our understanding of the efficacy and effectiveness of online evidence retrieval systems as a component in any evidence-based strategy, through a rigorous and controlled approach to the study of clinical behaviour change. It will also provide a powerful test of the value of search filters as a specific technology in support of evidence retrieval. The focus on prescribing patterns in NHMRC priority areas as an outcome measure will also provide a significant data set reflecting current practice in primary care.Read moreRead less
Implementing Guidelines To Routinely Prevent Chronic Disease In General Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$764,446.00
Summary
High quality, evidence-based guidelines for preventive activities and for the implementation of prevention in general practice have been developed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and other bodies, yet available information suggests that many patients miss out on evidence-based preventive care. This project aims to evaluate current practice and develop a model of practice aimed at improving the implementation of preventive guidelines in general practice.
Reducing Antibiotic Use In Primary Care: A Cluster Randomised Trial To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of Decision Aids About Antibiotic Use For Acute Respiratory Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$325,500.00
Summary
Antibiotic resistance is a worldwide crisis. It means antibiotics no longer work. Reducing their use is critical. Acute respiratory infections (eg ear infections, sore throats, cough) are a target for reducing use as they are the most common reason that general practitioners (GPs) prescribe antibiotics, despite being usually not needed. This trial will test if decision aids reduce antibiotic use, by helping GPs and patients to discuss their benefits and harms and jointly decide about their use.
Translating Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Guidelines Into General Practice: A Behavioural Intervention Within A Systems Approach To Improve Evidence-based Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,768.00
Summary
This project will develop, evaluate and implement a combined GP and patient intervention to improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, by increasing: 1) use of CVD risk calculators; 2) guidelines-based prescribing of medication to high risk and not low risk patients; and 3) patient understanding of CVD risk/management options and involvement in decision making. This will improve care for millions of patients, reduce the cost of CVD, and develop new methods to improve other areas of health.
The OPTIMISE Project: Collaborative Improvement Of Primary Health Care Delivery To The Australian Refugee Community
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,022,303.00
Summary
Identifying and addressing the health needs of refugees arriving in Australia can be difficult amidst current primary care system limitations. Our team will build the capacity of frontline health services for providing comprehensive, evidence-based care to this vulnerable community, while addressing system gaps in health service access and coordination. Our framework for effective, practical and sustainable primary health care delivery will improve health outcomes for refugees nationally.
The Centre For Research Excellence In Minimising Antibiotic Resistance For Acute Respiratory Infections [CREMARA]
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,455,000.00
Summary
Antibiotic resistance is threat to international health. Most antibiotics are prescribed for acute respiratory infections. The Centre for Research Excellence in Minimising Antibiotic Resistance for Acute Respiratory Infections focuses on the major contributors to resistance: antibiotic overuse and person-to-person transfer of antibiotic resistance genes. Research will inform the design, evaluation and translation of urgently needed interventions, aimed at clinicians, patients and policy-makers.
A Randomised Controlled Trial Of Evidence Based Medicine In The Management Of Hypertension
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$319,475.00
Summary
Hypertension is a major condition managed in general practice. The condition is under diagnosed and under treated. Where hypertension is treated, it is often with drugs that are expensive rather than with equally efficacious inexpensive drugs. Hypertension is associated with higher risk of stroke, coronary artery disease, cardiac failure, renal disease and peripheral vascular disease. Clear evidence-based information has been available for some years that provide reasonably guidelines to practit ....Hypertension is a major condition managed in general practice. The condition is under diagnosed and under treated. Where hypertension is treated, it is often with drugs that are expensive rather than with equally efficacious inexpensive drugs. Hypertension is associated with higher risk of stroke, coronary artery disease, cardiac failure, renal disease and peripheral vascular disease. Clear evidence-based information has been available for some years that provide reasonably guidelines to practitioners of the treatment thresholds for hypertension. However, the incorporation of this evidence into general practice has been slow. This project will build upon extensive pilot work to create a system to collect diagnostic, treatment and outcome data from general practice patients. The use of peer-compared feedback, particularly related to a readily understandable health outcome measure such as blood pressure, can change clinical behaviour when provided to the treating clinician. The aim of this project is to show whether or not training in the use of an evidence-based guideline to assist doctors in the decision of whether or not to initiate antihypertensive treatment, and to provide guidance on the type of treatment, leads to better outcomes than that of feedback alone. A cost-benefit analysis will clarify the impact of guideline implementation on health care costs. The incorporation into the cost-benefit analysis of patients perceptions of treatment by doctors using a guideline will show how such practice, compared with standard care, is valued by patients. While the project will focus on hypertension, the database members will continue to develop the research capability of the database, and expand it to incorporate a range of evidence-based information to improve the quality of care for other conditions. The database could achieve an expanding and sustainable influence on the quality of primary health care.Read moreRead less