Consumer Perspectives And Preferences Across The Trajectory Of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,946.00
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing health problem. An understanding of patient perspectives is important to alleviate the societal burden of CKD and improve patient survival, quality of life and health. This research will identify: information needs of patients with early-stage CKD, issues relevant to dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients, and patient preferences for organ allocation. I intend to achieve this by conducting interviews, focus groups and surveys with patients ac ....Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing health problem. An understanding of patient perspectives is important to alleviate the societal burden of CKD and improve patient survival, quality of life and health. This research will identify: information needs of patients with early-stage CKD, issues relevant to dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients, and patient preferences for organ allocation. I intend to achieve this by conducting interviews, focus groups and surveys with patients across Australia.Read moreRead less
Robust Control and System Identification of Highly Resonant Systems. The modelling and control of complex and highly resonant systems is of increasing engineering importance due to their occurence in a wide variety of emerging areas in aerospace, acoustics, robotics and ``smart'' structures. At the same time, effective tools tailored towards identifying the necessary models, and synthesising the necessary controllers for these systems are in their infancy. This arises from special difficulties ....Robust Control and System Identification of Highly Resonant Systems. The modelling and control of complex and highly resonant systems is of increasing engineering importance due to their occurence in a wide variety of emerging areas in aerospace, acoustics, robotics and ``smart'' structures. At the same time, effective tools tailored towards identifying the necessary models, and synthesising the necessary controllers for these systems are in their infancy. This arises from special difficulties encountered via the high dimensionality of the structures involved. This research project will employ new methods from the fields of robust control and multivariable system identification theory to lead to new and high performance solutions in this area.Read moreRead less
Development And Evaluation Of A Decision Aid For Women With A Breech-presenting Baby.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$156,890.00
Summary
Many studies have shown that women want to participate in clinical decisions about the treatments they receive during pregnancy and that involvement in decision making increases satisfaction with maternity care. Decision aids are interventions to help people make specific and deliberative decisions by providing information on the options and outcomes relevant to the person's health. This project aims to develop and evaluate the world's first decision aid for women with a breech presenting baby ( ....Many studies have shown that women want to participate in clinical decisions about the treatments they receive during pregnancy and that involvement in decision making increases satisfaction with maternity care. Decision aids are interventions to help people make specific and deliberative decisions by providing information on the options and outcomes relevant to the person's health. This project aims to develop and evaluate the world's first decision aid for women with a breech presenting baby (bottom rather than head first) in late pregnancy. A decision aid for breech presentation is timely because recent results of an international trial have dramatically altered women's options in the management of breech presentation. The trial of vaginal breech birth versus planned caesarean section (CS) found overwhelming evidence of reduced infant death and disability for women with a planned CS. Planned CS is now considered best practice for delivery of a breech presentation at birth. However, another treatment option for women with a breech presentation is turning the breech to head first before birth (called external cephalic version, ECV). Each of these options (ECV or planned CS) has benefits and risks, and the relative importance of these benefits and risks varies for individual women, a scenario where a decision aid produces the greatest benefit. The breech decision aid developed in this project will be based on the best and most recently available evidence and outcomes. It will incorporate a workbook, audiotape-CD and worksheet that will guide (but not direct) women to a treatment option that best suits them, taking ~20 minutes to complete. The decision aid will be evaluated to assess the impact on women's satisfaction with decision making, knowledge, anxiety and pregnancy outcomes. If successful, the results could be applied to improve consumer information and participation in clinical decisions across a wide spectrum of pregnancy care issues.Read moreRead less
Early Detection And Treatment Of Rheumatic Heart Disease In High Risk Communities Using Community-led Approaches For Active Case Finding, Education And Engagement In Care
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,752.00
Summary
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) affects many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Early detection using an ultrasound of the heart (called an “echo”) can help children access treatment. Echo screening in remote communities needs active community participation and leadership in order to succeed. I will study new approaches to community-led echo screening to see if they are accurate enough, evaluate the impact of community involvement and describe outcomes for those diagnosed with RHD.
Participation In Online Conversations By Young People With Disabilities Who Are Non-speaking: Does E-mentoring Work?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$94,378.00
Summary
Individuals who are non-speaking have limited or no use of natural speech due to disability. They use alternative methods to communicate (e.g., computerised devices). In this study young people who are non-speaking will be connected with older mentors who are also non-speaking and who are skilled users of Internet social media. The mentors will be role models providing encouragement and guidance online. Results may demonstrate improvement in the mentee’s communication and social participation
Personalised Nutrition To Revolutionise Gestational Diabetes Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$854,008.00
Summary
Gestational diabetes (GDM) affects 1 in 7 pregnant women, significantly increasing future risk for cardiovascular diseases in women and offspring. Clinical management of GDM is a healthy diet; but this one-size fits all approach is ineffective. We need to prevent GDM. We will use dietary modelling to inform culturally acceptable, personalised nutrition plans that will reverse metabolic risk factors to prevent GDM. Personalised nutrition represents a paradigm shift for current clinical care.