Ambulance demand is increasing internationally and has been associated with poorer patient outcomes. Although little is known about the drivers of demand, ambulance services are implementing revised telephone triage models to divert critical resources away from patients with non-urgent complaints. This research aims to evaluate ambulance demand, as well as the safety and effectiveness of revising telephone triage and ambulance dispatch models.
Increasing The Efficacy Of Web-based Physical Activity Interventions: Improving Website Promotion And Participant Engagement
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$62,073.00
Summary
This project aims to test innovative ways to improve web-based physical activity interventions able to reach large numbers of Australians at low-cost. In particular the effectiveness of internet promotion, personally tailored advice in video format and a brief Skype counseling session will be tested. Findings will inform the next generation of interventions that have the ability to improve physical activity levels in a large number of Australians and reduce the prevalence of disease.
Models Of Care For Hepatitis C In The Era Of Directly Acting Antivirals
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$124,608.00
Summary
This project aims to evaluate how service delivery can enhance the impact of directly acting antivirals (DAA) on hepatitis C treatment uptake in three parts: i) To assess the impact of ten integrated hepatology nurses on treatment uptake in Victoria ii) To assess the feasibility of patient driven contact tracing to treat hepatitis C with DAA in a study of people who inject drugs iii) To assess the impact of offering DAA therapy in primary health care compared with a hospital.
Online Support And Training For Families Of Children With A New Speech Generating Device (SGD)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$116,563.00
Summary
Children with a physical disability who cannot use speech can benefit from using a Speech Generating Device (SGD). Families are often expected to maintain, program, and teach the use of these devices at home with limited support from service providers. This project aims at developing an on-line, family centred training package for parents of children with a new SGD. The program will be trialed with three families and changes in parent confidence, competence and satisfaction will be reported.
Treating Adult Obesity: Can A Tailored, Low Cost Dietetic Service Turn Around The Obesity Epidemic?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$90,567.00
Summary
Dietitians are trained to treat obesity, yet Australia is in an obesity crisis. In this study we investigate the clinical service dietitians offer to treat obesity in adults from the dietitian and the client perspective. From this information, we will model a computer-based system with the ability to report financial, and health progress. This work will result in a model of care that is better, faster, more accessible, and improves the health of Australians.
Evaluating A Program For Developing Specialist Cancer Nurse Competencies For Effective And Sustainable Self-management Of Dyspnoea In Lung Cancer Patients.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$123,143.00
Summary
Breathlessness is a common, distressing symptom of lung cancer and adds substantially to the disease burden. This study aims to develop and evaluate a specialist cancer nurse competencies program to support patients in breathlessness self-management strategies. This study will assume a key role in instituting person-centred models of integrated cancer service delivery in adding to the limited knowledge about what skills and abilities are required of nurses to support patient self-management.???
This project will examine if providing additional therapy services on a Saturday reduces health care costs, and improves the health of hospital inpatients receiving rehabilitation compared to the usual Monday to Friday service. Preliminary information suggests additional Saturday rehabilitation services could reduce length of stay by 3 days without compromising discharge outcomes. If successful this trial will have substantial health and economic benefits for the patients and for organizations.
Feasibility Of Using Pre-hospital Point-of-care Troponin And Paramedic Risk Assessment In Patients With Chest Pain Without ST-elevation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$132,743.00
Summary
Non-traumatic chest pain is the leading cause of ambulance services use in Victoria. Currently, there is no protocol for paramedics to determine which patients are high risk and suffering a minor heart attack, which results in delays in treatment. The aim of this project is to assess the feasibility of a risk assessment tool, including the use of point-of-care blood testing to detect heart attacks, to accurately risk stratify chest pain patients in the pre-hospital setting.
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is fatal without immediate resuscitation. Paramedic competency in resuscitation has been shown to influence cardiac arrest survival. Through my doctoral research I aim to investigate: how paramedic exposure to cardiac arrest can influence patient survival; the practices emergency medical services currently use to develop and maintain paramedic competency in resuscitation; and the confidence and perceived competency of paramedics responding to cardiac arrests.
Investigating Stakeholder Experiences In Implementing And Adopting Genome Sequencing In Paediatric Clinical Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$91,538.00
Summary
Medicare funding became available for genome sequencing in 2020. Paediatricians can now order this test to help diagnose childhood syndromes. Expanding testing beyond genetics services is vital for patients to benefit broadly, but paediatricians and other medical specialists are known to feel ill-prepared to assume a greater role. My PhD project will investigate what we can learn from paediatric stakeholder experiences in delivering genome sequencing to aid future adoption in other settings.