Research Team: L Lago (CHRISP), T Carrigan (ISLHD), V Westley-Wise (CHRISP-ISLHD), J Mullan (CHRISP), K Lambert (CHRISP-UOW), F Facci (ISLHD), R Zingel (ISLHD), K Eagar (AHSRI)
Aim: Describe trends in ED attendances among frequent attenders at ISLHD EDs over the last 15 years, and determine whether the patient profile of frequent ED attenders has changed over the last 15 years, e.g. which discrete patient cohorts are increasing.
Trends and patterns in unplanned readmissions to Illawarra Shoalhaven hospitals
Research Team: V Westley-Wise (CHRISP-ISLHD), J Potter (ISLHD), W Yeo (ISLHD), L Lago (CHRISP), R Zingel (ISLHD), F Facci (ISLHD), J Mullan (CHRISP), K Eagar (AHSRI)
Aim: This project involved analysis of 15 years of ISLHD data to describe trends and patterns in readmissions, with a focus on potentially avoidable hospitalisations.
Assessing end-of-life patterns and quality of care
Research Team: K Eagar (AHSRI), V Westley-Wise (CHRISP-ISLHD), G Barclay (ISLHD), Z Nangati (ISLHD), K Cope (ISLHD), J Davis (ISLHD), S Moules (CHRISP), E Davis (CHRISP)
Aim: This project leverages information from multiple routinely collected datasets to assess the need for, access to/ utilisation and quality of palliative and end-of-life care among Illawarra Shoalhaven residents, to inform the planning and delivery of related ISLHD services/ interventions.
Assessment of the uptake of maternal and child health services following comprehensive primary care assessment (SAFE START model): a pilot study
Research Team: J Claridge (ISLHD), V Westley-Wise (CHRISP-ISLHD), B Suesse (CHRISP), C Frohmuller (ISLHD), B Atkins (ISLHD), A King (ISLHD), J Budd (ISLHD)
Aim: The aim is to evaluate the implementation of the NSW Maternal & Child Health Primary Health Care Policy and SAFE START model, in terms of referral and uptake rates of women giving birth in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven who have identified risk factors/ vulnerabilities, and identification of related service gaps.
Health Care Use among Patients with Mental Disorders in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
Research Team: N Pai (ISLHD), V Westley-Wise (CHRISP-ISLHD), B Suesse (CHRISP), J Cuenca (ISLHD), L Lago (CHRISP)
Aim: The aim of this study is to identify factors (e.g. sociodemographic, service, diagnostic) associated with increased, and persistently increased, health care use among patients with mental disorders.
Antimicrobial resistance stewardship in residential aged care
Research Team: A van Oijen (UOW), S Miyakis (ISLHD), M Byrne (UOW), J Fish (ISLHD), J Mullan (CHRISP), B McAlister (ISLHD-CHRISP), P Newton (ISLHD), S Crawford (ISLHD), S Miellet (UOW)
Aim: To better understand what influences the inappropriate use of antibiotics across the community sectors, as well as the barriers to responsible use of antibiotics by a range of members including consumers, aged care providers and agricultural farmers.
The Health Impacts Research Cluster – Chronic Kidney Disease Study (HIRC-CKD)
Research Team: H Hassan (ISLHD), K Lambert (CHRISP-UOW), J Mullan (CHRISP), T Suesse (UOW), K Murali (ISLHD), A Lee (ISLHD)
Aim: The aim of this project is to explore factors that may be associated with development, progression and hospitalisation of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in ISLHD residents.
Evaluation of a Suicide Prevention Aftercare Service
Research Team: V Bliokas (UOW), R Sng (Grand Pacific Health), A Hains (ISLHD), T Heffernan (UOW), L Lago (CHRISP), B Grenyer (UOW), J Carter (ISLHD), F Deane (UOW), S Moules (CHRISP), B McAlister (ISLHD-CHRISP), S Liddle (Grand Pacific Health)
Aim: This project will evaluate the outcomes of the new community-based suicide prevention service.
A joint initiative of ISLHD, COORDINARE, UOW, Beyond Blue and Grand Pacific Health
The development of an alcohol management pathway utilising the existing Electronic Medical Records (eMR) to effectively manage patients with alcohol problems and improve the referral to specialist Drug and Alcohol Service
Research Team: P Yu (UOW), W Yeo (ISLHD), D Reid (ISLHD), X Feng (UOW), B Sinclair (ISLHD), S Bresnahan (ISLHD), P Lynch (ISLHD), M Irani (ISLHD), S Qian (UOW)
Aim: 1) What is the current journey of the patients with alcohol-related morbidity in ISLHD?
2) Will the inclusion of this evidence-based alcohol pathway into the eMR system effectively improve the referral of patients from ED and inpatient wards to the specialist D&A Service and reduce patient readmission to the ED and wards?
Increasing the capacity of a Local Health District to respond to methamphetamine-related harm: Developing an integrated model of care informed by linked data, and consumer and clinician views
Research Team: B Larance (UOW), S Adams (ISLHD), D Reid (ISLHD), P Kelly (UOW), L Lago (CHRISP), J Lappin (UNSW), L Robinson (UOW), S Moules (CHRISP), S Qian (ISLHD)
Aim: The over-arching study aims are: 1) To understand the prevalence and pattern of help-seeking for methamphetamine-related problems in ISLHD hospital and ED settings; 2) To detail the proportion of individuals presenting to ISLHD hospital and ED settings with methamphetamine-related harms who a) are referred to AOD services, and b) who attend AOD services following a referral from ED or inpatient hospital settings; 3) To understand the individual and clinical barriers to help-seeking and delivery of care for methamphetamine-related harms; 4) To develop a clinical framework for the future management of methamphetamine use in individuals who present to (non-AOD) ISLHD services.
Understanding regional variation in post-diagnostic outpatient and community health service use among people with dementia to inform health services planning
Research Team: L Lago (CHRISP), L Phillipson (UOW), J Potter (ISLHD), K Cappetta (UOW), L Yates (ISLHD), L Smith (UOW), K Eagar (UOW), E Davidson (ISLHD), S Moules (CHRISP)
Aim: to provide high quality, translatable evidence on the use of public outpatient and community health services by people living with dementia within the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD).
Exploratory study: Prevalence and responses to self-harm and suicidal ideation in primary school aged children
Research Team: M Townsend (UOW), P Kelly (UOW), C Miller (UOW/ISLHD), G Sanzone (ISLHD)
Aim: To 1) Estimate the prevalence of young people aged 5-17 in contact with ISLHD health services for self-harm or suicidal ideation, and 2) Understand care pathways and management of young people with health service contacts for self-harm or suicidal ideation
Hospital utilisation among patients with end-stage kidney disease on non-dialysis pathway before and after the commencement of renal supportive care services in ISLHD
Research Team: J Chen (ISLHD), H Mitchell (ISLHD), N Illic (ISLHD)
Aim: To determine whether renal supportive care service reduce hospital utilisation rates in patients with CKD and ESKD on a non-dialysis, conservative pathway. Project 1 examines hospital utilisation of CKD and ESKD patients known to renal supportive care service before and after referral to the service. Project 2 compares hospital utilisation of patients with ESKD on non-dialysis, conservative pathway known to renal supportive care service and matched control group not known to renal.