Projects 2009

Selected latest FaCH research projects 

The perinatal journey: the process and impact of psychosocial assessment

Researchers: A/Prof V Schmied, Dr LA Kemp; Dr T Covic, Prof BE Barnett, Mr RJ Mills, Mrs DA Nemeth and Mrs MM Hughes
Partner/Funding Body: ARC Linkage project
Period: 2009

This study of the process and impact of psychosocial assessment and depression screening during pregnancy and after birth will have immediate national application and benefit as Australian governments prepare policy to implement universal psychosocial assessment. Findings will provide evidence-based approaches to assessment and service delivery impacting positively on large numbers of Australian women who use maternity and early childhood nursing services. Most importantly, skillful early identification of women in distress or 'at risk' is the first step in providing appropriate services and support to ensure better child outcomes. The research will be at the cutting edge internationally and directly addresses National Research Priorities.

A study of contemporary family, social and cultural influences on first-time mothers

Researchers: A/Prof VA Schmied, Dr JH Fenwick, Dr K Gribble, Mrs D McGrath, Dr A Sheehan and Prof FC Dykes
Partner/Funding Body: National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Period: 2009

Children who are never breastfed are more likely to experience respiratory infections, gastroenteritis, diabetes and as adults, high blood pressure, obesity and type-2 diabetes. This study of infant feeding decision-making in first-time mothers will inform strategies, grounded in the daily lives of women and families to assist mothers to breastfeed for longer particularly in communities where breastfeeding is not the norm. Increased support for breastfeeding women from family, community and health professionals is likely to reduce the distress reported by many new mothers. Strategic application of findings will lead to health gains from increased breastfeeding and translate into significant cost savings for the Australian health system.

Motherhood choices: a decision aid for women with rheumatoid arthritis

Researchers: Dr T Covic; Dr A Sharpe; A/Prof J Pallant; A/Prof N Manolios; Mrs D Aspinall
Partner/Funding Body: ARC Linkage project with SWAHS
Period: 2009

Decisions about pregnancy in the context of debilitating rheumatoid arthritis impact directly on both the mother and the child as well as their family and wider social unit. Providing evidence-based information to support women in making informed decisions about motherhood is critical in maximizing the well-being of the mother and ensuring a healthy start to life for a baby. This project will contribute to the national research priority area of promoting and maintaining good health, addressing the goal of supporting a healthy start to life.

A model of integrated care for dependant older people living in the community

Researchers: Dr E Halcomb; Prof R Griffiths; and Dr S Sloggett
Partner/Funding Body: Carrington Centennial Care, Schwartz Family Practice and Tunstall Australisia Pty Ltd

Period: 2009

This project aims to develop an innovative model of care to support and maintain ageing individuals within the community setting.

Many existing programs aimed at supporting older people living in the community fail to bridge the gap between community and primary care. In fact, existing programs do not focus on early interventions in response to changes in the health status of elderly members of the community at all. The use of community carers to support self-management is a novel approach to address current limitations in health service provision and assist elderly people to remain in their homes for as long as possible. The project is embedded within National Research Priority areas: promoting & maintaining good health & ageing well, and ageing productively.

This research offers significant economic and social benefits through case management and telemedicine to identify strategies to support self management in chronic disease; early intervention to benefit morbidity and mortality; enhanced service delivery through an integrated model that includes general practitioners, practice nurses and community carers, leading to improved management of chronic and complex disease, reducing costs to the health system through emergency department presentations, hospital and residential care admissions; and developing a role for practice nurses to triage patients and provide a range of clinical care within agreed guidelines. Once developed, this model will reflect the policy of the Federal Government to establish practice nurses as effective providers of primary care.

Violence in the hospital setting: Testing the predictive validity of a violence assessment tool for nurses

Researchers: Prof D Jackson; Dr L Luck, Prof L Wilkes and Mrs M Clarke
Partner/Funding Body: Sydney West Area Health Service
Period: 2009

Violence against nurses has significant negative consequences experienced by the individual and organisations in the national and international healthcare context.  However, there are no valid violence assessment tools that can be used by nurses to predict early indicators of potential violence. Outcomes from the project will for the first time provide a validated violence assessment tool for use by nurses in the emergency department and general ward area that will be transferable to other workplace health settings.

Tap water versus normal saline for cleansing wounds

Researchers: Prof R Griffiths, Dr J Rowland, A/Prof ML McLaws, Dr R Fernandez, Mr G Sussman
Partner/Funding Body: National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Period: 2009

The aim of this double blind randomised controlled trial is to investigate effectiveness of tap water compared to normal saline on clinical outcomes healing and infection rates, patient satisfaction acute and chronic wounds. Wound cleansing is fundamental to wound management; however there is little research to support the use of various solutions and no standard protocols to guide clinicians. Sterile normal saline (0.9%) is recommended increasingly by experts and the use of tap water has also been reported. Tap water has the advantages of being easily accessible, inexpensive, and can be used in large volumes to ensure a thorough irrigation which is an important factor in wound cleansing. This project will be undertaken in an area health service that includes metropolitan, urban and rural sites. Patients will be randomised to have their wounds cleansed with either unchlorinated tap water or normal saline. The outcome of most interest is the infection rate of wounds. Other outcomes assessed will include healing rates, quality of life, and cost effectiveness using validated tools. This study is unique as it will provide a Level 2 evidence for the effectiveness of tap water for cleansing various types of wounds. Given the extensive national and international interest in the topic, this trial is highly significant, with findings informing the development of evidence based guidelines for wound cleansing.

Quit in General Practice: a cluster randomised trial of enhanced in-practice support for smoking cessation.

Researchers: Prof N Zwar, Prof R Richmond, Dr E Halcomb, Dr J Furler, Dr J Smith, Prof R Borland, Mr P Hull
Partner/Funding Body: National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Period: 2009

Tobacco smoking remains the most common preventable cause of death and illness in Australia today. Smoking cessation programs are some of the most effective and cost effective strategies that can be undertaken in health care settings, including general practice. This project will test a new approach to supporting smoking cessation in general practice. This involves the practice nurse, GP and Quitline working in partnership to provide a flexible program of support to meet the needs of smokers.

The proposed project is a cluster randomised controlled trial testing two interventions to support smoking cessation in general practice against a control group who receive usual care.