Prevention and Management of Long Term Conditions
Description and Aims
This stream is a response to the challenge of long-term conditions to health and health care services. These conditions include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease, cancer and mental illness. They commonly occur as multi-morbidities. The aim is conduct research in the community which informs improvement in health care and programs which aim to prevent and manage these conditions.
Key Current Research Areas
Prevention
The program focuses on improving interventions to address the behavioural risk factors (especially Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol and Physical activity) as well as physiological risk factors such as obesity and cardiovascular risk in primary health care. This uses the 5As framework (ask/assess, advise, agree and assist, arrange), approaches tailored to health literacy levels and use of wearable technology and social media.
Management
This program focuses on a patient centred approach based on the Chronic Care model and includes teamwork, information and communication systems (including e-health), self-management support and community resources. This is the focus of work on diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, COPD, cancer, mental illness and multi-morbidity.
Key Partners
This research is conducted in partnership with primary health networks and local health districts along with other groups including Aboriginal Health organisations.
Stream lead
Mark Harris leads the stream.
Current
Projects
AMPACe – Accelerometers for Monitoring Physical Activity in Primary Care
AMPACe aims to assess the feasibility and any benefit of integrating accelerometer or activity tracker use in primary care as means of promoting physical activity. It follows on from a smaller 2016 pilot study.
Assessment and management of weight in young children
This project is undertaken in partnership with the Premiers Task Force on Child Obesity. It involves the development of face to face and online training and quality improvement activities for GPs and practice nurses in management of overweight and obesity in children in general practice.
COPD Self-management in Nepal
Globally, Primary Health Care (PHC) is recognised as central to improving health for all, yet COPD patients in Nepal are not receiving adequate PHC, due to inadequate human resources for proper diagnosis and treatment and a lack of infrastructure. Our study will be co-designing a model of care, which aims to find local solutions/innovations to the identified problems at the level of the patient, health professional and health system for improving self-management practices. We expect our program to greatly improve the quality of care and COPD patients’ quality of life in Nepal.
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Completed
Projects
A cluster randomised controlled trial of nurse and general practitioner partnership for care of COPD
Determination of the impact of nurse and GP partnership on the quality of care and health outcomes for patients with COPD at six months and twelve months follow-up
A pilot study in managing Anxiety and Stress in Cross-Cultural Encounters among Chinese-Australians (Beyondblue community grant in collaboration with Chinese Australian Services Society)
This project involved the delivery of ‘Assertive Communication Skills’ to help Chinese-Australians manage their stress and anxiety in cross-cultural encounters in everyday settings. This project also sought to bridge the cultural gap by equipping participants with culturally appropriate skills.
A project to assess the effectiveness and feasibility of case finding of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) by practice nurses in General Practice
This project investigated the prevalence of COPD diagnosis in an Australian general practice setting, and whether an intervention utilising practice nurses addresses under-diagnosis of COPD.
Absolute risk assessment in general practice – a pilot study to measure impact on prescribing and adherence to guidelines
Prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a priority for the Australian community and general practitioners (GPs) play a key role in this activity. This study aims to test the impact of ARA in general practice on prescribing of anti-hypertensive and lipid-lowering medications and adherence to guidelines.
Accelerometers for Monitoring Physical Activity in Primary Care Feasibility study
Physical inactivity is a growing health concern worldwide, and has been linked with multiple adverse health conditions including obesity and coronary heart disease. In Australia, more than half of the population do not meet the current recommendations for physical activity (PA). GP’s are in an excellent position to monitor PA in patients, which currently involves use of standardised questionnaires such as the GP Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPPAQ). These can be difficult to administer regularly owing to multiple factors such as lack of software integration. Our study aims to assess if accelerometers, or wrist based activity trackers, can be used in this setting as a potential new way for monitoring PA in patients at risk of physical inactivity.
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PhD
Projects
Advance Care Planning in Australian Primary Care
This study explores the key stakeholders, general practitioners and patients' views on how Advance Care Planning is currently conceptualised and implemented.
