Sexual Function And Psychosocial Wellbeing In Women After Colorectal Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,946.00
Summary
Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in Australian women. Due to advances in diagnosis and treatment, more women now survive bowel cancer. It is important to address physical, emotional and social issues that arise as a result of diagnosis and treatment to ensure long term quality of life. This project aims to determine the impact of bowel cancer psychological wellbeing and sexual function.
Advancing The Evidence-base For Childhood Brain Insult: Diagnosis, Assessment And Intervention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$575,662.00
Summary
My research has 4 primary objectives, representing major gaps in current knowledge: 1. improve knowledge of recovery and determinants of post-concussive symptoms 2. establish the impact of child brain insult on socio-emotional function and identify contributing factors 3. develop an iPad based tool for socio-emotional function 4. evaluate and disseminate e-heath treatments for child brain insult
Hip fracture secondary to falling in the elderly represents a large and rising health care problem in Australia. At least 12,000 such hip fractures occur in the elderly in Australia each year and this number is expected to increase substantially over the next several decades. Long term disability, nursing home placement, reduced quality of life, and excess mortality are known sequelae of hip fracture despite successful surgical repair. Factors have been previous identified in epidemiological res ....Hip fracture secondary to falling in the elderly represents a large and rising health care problem in Australia. At least 12,000 such hip fractures occur in the elderly in Australia each year and this number is expected to increase substantially over the next several decades. Long term disability, nursing home placement, reduced quality of life, and excess mortality are known sequelae of hip fracture despite successful surgical repair. Factors have been previous identified in epidemiological research which predict poor recovery of function and the most prominent of these are advanced age, pre-exiting mental or functional impairment, malnutrition, depression, poor social support networks, and poor gait, balance and muscle function. Current treatment paradigms for hip fracture do not uniformly screen for or appropriately address potentially reversible factors such as poor nutrition, neuromuscular dysfunction, depression, strength of social supports, or risk factors for recurrent injurious falls. It is unlikely that a unidimensional treatment will ever optimize long term functional independence in such a multifactorial syndrome. Therefore, we propose to apply a multifaceted targeted experimental treatment package (HIPFIT) to elderly patients admitted to hospital for repair of a fractured hip secondary to a fall. HIPFIT would begin in hospital and continue throughout the 12 months of follow up, using individualized treatment strategies based on periodic reassessments in these vital domains over time. The goal of the study is to reduce the number of patients requiring nursing home care at the end of 12 months, as well as to improve independence in a range of activities of daily living among experimental subjects. This would have significance not only in terms of large economic savings for the health care system but reduced personal suffering and dependency on the part of the affected individuals.Read moreRead less
Psychosocial Disability And Return To Work In Younger Stroke Survivors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$511,216.00
Summary
Each year about 12,000 Australians of working age survive a stroke. These younger survivors have responsibility for generating an income or providing care for families and state that their main objective is to return to work for financial reasons and to help rebuild confidence and independence. This observational 3 year study will determine thefactors are associated with returning to work, improving the wellbeing of thousands of stroke survivors and their families using multivariate regression.
A Study To Pilot A Clinical Trial To Test Dignity Psychotherapy For The Frail Aged
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$25,000.00
Summary
One of the greatest challenges today is to preserve the dignity of the frail elderly. Our study will test and perfect a strategy to trial a new approach for this population, Dignity Psychotherapy. The approach will document aspects of the senior's life that they regard as meaningful, want remembered, or of which they are proud. Among the terminally ill, the approach has had positive outcomes. Benefits for elders may include that the approach forms a foundation for holistic care.
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