The Impact Of Declining Tooth Loss On Oral Health Status And Dental Care Utilisation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$144,375.00
Summary
Improved oral health has been well documented in Australia. Over recent decades the average number of decayed teeth among children has decreased. Among adults, the percentage with no natural teeth has also exhibited a decrease over time. While increased retention of natural teeth is an indicator of improved oral health status within the population, there may be some unexpected consequences of this success. Improved oral health has been associated with increased rather then decreased use of servi ....Improved oral health has been well documented in Australia. Over recent decades the average number of decayed teeth among children has decreased. Among adults, the percentage with no natural teeth has also exhibited a decrease over time. While increased retention of natural teeth is an indicator of improved oral health status within the population, there may be some unexpected consequences of this success. Improved oral health has been associated with increased rather then decreased use of services. Improvements in oral health manifested in the form of greater tooth retention, coupled with demographic trends towards growth in the population, may lead to an increased risk of oral disease with flow on effects on need and demand for care. Findings from one cross-sectional study in the USA have shown that people who retained higher numbers of teeth had more periodontal disease and dental caries experience, and reported a past pattern of visiting the dentist more frequently. The specific aims of this project are to examine the association of the number of natural teeth among middle-aged Australians with their oral health status, treatment needs and subsequent use of dental services. The outcome of this project will provide answers to two research questions. Firstly, it will see whether the retention of more teeth among adults is associated with higher levels of oral disease. Secondly, by following people over time it will be able to detect whether those who are retaining more teeth into adult age ranges have higher levels of use of dental services than their counterparts with fewer teeth. The answers to both of these research questions has significance for policy and planning in the area of dental public health by providing evidence as to the size and direction of expected future demand for and use of dental services in Australia.Read moreRead less
Quantifying And Reducing The Burden Of New And Emerging Psychoactive Substances In Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$645,205.00
Summary
The public health threat posed by emerging drugs of concern (e.g., new psychoactive substances (NPS) and crystalline methamphetamine) requires timely and effective public health interventions. This research program will strengthen estimates of the global NPS health burden, enhance the surveillance of unwitting drug consumption, and develop and evaluate novel harm reduction responses. Findings will inform policy and health service delivery, both globally and within Australia.
Reducing Relapse For Smoking Cessation Using Augmented Callback Telephone Counselling
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$251,870.00
Summary
Tobacco use remains the largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in Australia. While there is an enormous literature on the health consequences of smoking and much literature on the effectiveness of a range of cessation interventions, understanding of the factors influencing successful cessation remain understudied and poorly understood. There is a growing body of work on the addictive nature of tobacco use (largely due to the nicotine) and, while this clearly plays a central rol ....Tobacco use remains the largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in Australia. While there is an enormous literature on the health consequences of smoking and much literature on the effectiveness of a range of cessation interventions, understanding of the factors influencing successful cessation remain understudied and poorly understood. There is a growing body of work on the addictive nature of tobacco use (largely due to the nicotine) and, while this clearly plays a central role, the contribution of cognitive and behavioural factors remains important - tobacco use needs to be conceptualized as a bio-psycho-social phenomenon. Perhaps the greatest challenge in changing addictive behaviours is the problem of relapse. This research will test some promising theories about factors that influence relapse beyond the first week or so of abstinence through testing an intervention based on changing these factors. We will test whether the addition of extra lifestyle change strategies onto Quit Victoria's effective Callback counselling service reduces relapse from attempts to quit smoking. If the intervention is successful, it will result in demonstrably superior quit smoking protocols for use in telephone counselling and potentially other forms of intervention, and result in more people giving up smoking permanently, thus saving many lives. If the new intervention fails to improve cessation over the standard callback program, it will have advanced our understanding of the complexities of relapse prevention and thus make future development of successful interventions more likely.Read moreRead less
Monitoring And Improving Hepatitis C Health Outcomes Among People With Hepatitis C
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,652.00
Summary
In Australia, hepatitis C is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality, costing $9.2 billion to the health care system. In the next year, side-effect prone hepatitis C therapies will be replaced with simple, tolerable, interferon-free therapies (cure >90%) that can reverse liver disease progression. My goal is to further develop my established research program in population-health related to HCV epidemiology, and therapeutic strategies, with a specific focus on PWID.
The Effectiveness Of A Clinical Practice Change Intervention Increasing Community Mental Health Clinician Adherence To Preventive Care Guidelines
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,946.00
Summary
I am a Health Psychologist focused on the physical health needs of those with a mental illness. Four health risk behaviours - tobacco smoking, risky alcohol use, physical inactivity and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, constitute the primary behavioural risks for the most common cause of mortality for those with a mental illness – cardiovascular disease. This project seeks to improve assessment and treatment of these factors through the implementation of strategies to improve clinical ....I am a Health Psychologist focused on the physical health needs of those with a mental illness. Four health risk behaviours - tobacco smoking, risky alcohol use, physical inactivity and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, constitute the primary behavioural risks for the most common cause of mortality for those with a mental illness – cardiovascular disease. This project seeks to improve assessment and treatment of these factors through the implementation of strategies to improve clinical practice in community mental health services.Read moreRead less
Working With Indigenous Services And Communities To Reduce The Harms From Alcohol
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$474,513.00
Summary
Indigenous Australians face up to eight times the rate of hospitalisation for alcohol-related conditions. Reducing this burden will be key to closing the health gap. Professor Kate Conigrave will build on longstanding partnerships with Indigenous communities, services and health professionals to conduct a 5-year program of work aimed at improving treatment and prevention of alcohol problems. This will span settings including Indigenous primary health services, prisons and whole communities.
I lead an internationally recognised research program that examines how governments can best respond to alcohol and illegal drugs – a significant health and social problem in Australia. My research generates new evidence to inform drug policy and I study how to translate research into meaningful information that governments can use. My aim is to improve how Australia responds; reducing the community harms and improving the health of those affected by alcohol and drugs.
Randomised Controlled Trial Of Hepatitis B Vaccine Completion In Injecting Drug Users
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$463,355.00
Summary
This randomised trial will examine strategies to increase hepatitis B vaccination in drug users by comparing 1) usual clinical care; 2) enhanced outreach; and 3) financial incentive payments and assessing the proportion in each group who a) complete all 3 doses and b) develop immunity. Results will provide policy-makers and clinicians with important data on effectiveness, including cost effectiveness, and will help scientists and affected communities prepare for clinical trials of new vaccines.