Person-centred Environment And Care For Residents With Dementia: A Cost-effective Way Of Improving Quality Of Life And Q
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,548,805.00
Summary
Improving the quality of life (QOL) and quality of care for persons with dementia are important areas of Australian health research. A growing body of evidence shows that QOL in dementia can be improved by relatively simple and inexpensive modifications to nursing care practices and the physical environment. Most studies in these areas are observational, few have utilized a randomized control group design, and none has included economic evaluation. This study will address these deficiencies. Thi ....Improving the quality of life (QOL) and quality of care for persons with dementia are important areas of Australian health research. A growing body of evidence shows that QOL in dementia can be improved by relatively simple and inexpensive modifications to nursing care practices and the physical environment. Most studies in these areas are observational, few have utilized a randomized control group design, and none has included economic evaluation. This study will address these deficiencies. This is the first time that a randomized controlled trial of Person-Centred Care (PCC) and Person-Centred Environment Design (PCD) will be undertaken. The study will be conducted in 40 residential aged care services in New South Wales, to determine the efficacy and cost effectiveness of implementing PCC and PCD separately, and in combination, in improving resident quality of life and quality of care.Read moreRead less
This study proposes to examine the quality of procedural medical care provided by rural doctors who are not specialists. The disciplines of Anaesthetics, Surgery and Obstetrics will be included. Most of these services in rural Australia are not provided by specialist medical practitioners, but rather by rural general practitioners who have obtained additional training, albeit shorter than that undertaken by specialist trainees, and who are supported by skilled nurses and other health professiona ....This study proposes to examine the quality of procedural medical care provided by rural doctors who are not specialists. The disciplines of Anaesthetics, Surgery and Obstetrics will be included. Most of these services in rural Australia are not provided by specialist medical practitioners, but rather by rural general practitioners who have obtained additional training, albeit shorter than that undertaken by specialist trainees, and who are supported by skilled nurses and other health professionals in relatively small rural hospitals. Patients and rural doctors often have little choice but to manage urgent cases locally and in some cases experienced and skilled local teams are able to offer a wider range of services, including a limited number of elective procedures. Despite underlying assumptions that the quality of the services cannot match that of specialist care in larger hospitals, there is no agreement on what constitutes quality of rural procedural care and little evidence that the quality is different. This issue is important as substantial government funds are spent on recruiting, training and retaining a qualified rural medical workforce, and yet fewer rural doctors are providing these services and fewer rural hospitals have the facilities to support those rural doctors still providing the services. Further, measuring the quality of care is a complex issue on which different stakeholders may have different views. This study proposes a multi-perspective approach to assessing the quality of care through a number of case studies provided by rural doctors.Read moreRead less
Improving Quality Of Life Of People With Dementia Living In Residential Care Facilities A Randomised Trail Of Educat Int
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$777,409.00
Summary
The DIRECT study aims to determine if education of General Practitioners (GPs) and Residential Care Staff can improve the quality of life (QOL) of people with dementia living in Residential Care Facilities (RCF). Our hypothesis is that a systematic educational intervention delivered to GPs and RCF staff will improve care delivery, leading to measurable improvements in the quality of life of residential care recipients. We hypothesise that education delivered to GPs will have additive effects to ....The DIRECT study aims to determine if education of General Practitioners (GPs) and Residential Care Staff can improve the quality of life (QOL) of people with dementia living in Residential Care Facilities (RCF). Our hypothesis is that a systematic educational intervention delivered to GPs and RCF staff will improve care delivery, leading to measurable improvements in the quality of life of residential care recipients. We hypothesise that education delivered to GPs will have additive effects to education delivered to RCF staff. Dementia is the leading cause of non-fatal disease burden among older Australians. Of people with dementia, nearly half live in RCF. There appears to be much scope to improve care, and thus QOL, for people with dementia living in residential facilities. However, the most effective way to translate knowledge regarding the components of high quality care into practice is uncertain and there is a paucity of Australian data to guide practice. Education of RCF staff is likely to be the cornerstone of improved care for recipients of residential care who have dementia. GPs also play a key-role in the care of older people living in RCF, including collaboration in the development of management plans, prescription of medications and initiation of health referrals. A detailed action research process with data collected from surveys, focus groups and pilots will be used to develop educational programmes for delivery to GPs and RCF staff. The primary outcome of the study will be quality of life of the people with dementia, assessed by themselves, their family carers and the staff looking after them. Several tools incorporating different sources of information will be used to assess QOL in a comprehensive fashion. Secondary outcomes will include knowledge among GPs and RCF staff regarding dementia, markers of quality care, participants’ sleep quality, and carer satisfaction. It is anticipated that the results will fill this current gap in evidence and will be of value to policy makers and stakeholders from the Residential Care Industry and Peak Community and General Practice bodies. The study results will have tangible implications for proprietors, managers and staff from the residential care sector and policy makers. The results have potential to directly benefit the quality of life of both patients and carers.Read moreRead less
How To Address The ‘Shocking Tale Of Neglect’ In Aged Care Through Transparency, Accountability, And The Use Of High-Quality Analytics
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,337,350.00
Summary
The Royal Commission into Aged Care shows that an improved understanding of how the aged care sector is caring for older Australians is a national priority. The Registry of Senior Australians, a large-scale registry database that I developed, will be used to evaluate the health and wellbeing of older Australians. This research will enable me to develop and implement a transparent outcome monitoring system and tools to address the “Shocking Tale of Neglect” older Australians are experiencing.
Incorporating Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) Into Clinical Registries
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$181,065.00
Summary
Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are questionnaires that measure a person's physical symptoms such as pain or nausea, quality of life, and well-being. Traditionally these measures have not been used to assess the quality of medical treatments in routine care. This project seeks to implement PROMs alongside biological outcomes into the national kidney dialysis (ANZDATA) registry, and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability by patients, clinicians and policy makers
Music Therapy Interventions For Dementia: Cluster Randomised Control Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,014,430.00
Summary
Music therapy interventions are increasingly used in aged care facilities across Australia, however Australian-based research that tests its effectiveness is scarce. In this study, we track the impact of group music therapy and group singing on levels of depression, cognitive function, quality of life, and other symptoms of dementia. By providing music therapy programs across sites in Victoria, NSW and Queensland, we will also evaluate the cost effectiveness of the intervention.
Optimising Medication Use To Maintain Or Improve Quality Of Life In Aged Care Facility Residents With And Without Dementia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,627.00
Summary
This research aims to explore and understand how medications impact on the quality of life of aged care facility residents with and without dementia. The outcomes of this research will guide health professionals as they improve how medications are used in this population, with the aim of maintaining or improving quality of life. This research will also explore how these outcomes can be successfully included in regular practice and widely used nationally and internationally.
Stepping Up To Insulin: A Cluster Randomised Trial Of Team-based Transition To Insulin In Primary Care For Patients With Poorly Controlled Type 2 Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$796,751.00
Summary
Helping people control their diabetes through the best possible medical care is important. Most people with diabetes eventually need insulin yet this is a step in treatment that is often resisted by patients and GPs. This study will help GPs and Practice Nurses work with patients who have reached this stage make the change to insulin treatment in a safe, effective, convenient and timely way. This will have enormous benefits through reduced diabetes complications and improved quality of life.
Palliative Care Outcomes Among Indigenous Australians: Analysis Of A Nationwide Dataset
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$43,309.00
Summary
Little is known about the quality of palliative care services provided to Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Australians. This study will use a high quality dataset collected from palliative care services nationwide to compare the quality of end-of-life care provided to Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The measures of care being compared will include the time taken to enter care, time taken to have clinical condition stabilised, and satisfactory control of symptoms.
Towards An Improved Understanding Of The Effect Of A Speaking Valve On Lung Volumes And Communication In The Critically Ill Tracheostomised Patient
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$45,795.00
Summary
Patients that require life support in intensive care often have breathing tubes in their neck. This means they are generally left without a voice for days, weeks, even months. Speaking valves meant for talking are not used much due to fears of harm to the lungs. Our study is looking at how much air is in the lungs when using this valve. Data so far suggest that the valve is in fact helping the lungs. The outcomes of this study may lead to most of these critically ill patients having a voice.