Current Research

PHCRED supported research projects

  • Falls among elderly Aboriginal people: a qualitative study exploring experiences, risks and outcomes
    Judy Coates

    Judy is a Registered Physiotherapist working for Hunter New England Area Health Transitional Aged Care Program (TACP), Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and outpatient physiotherapy for Manilla Health Service. She has a strong interest in developing and implementing preventative strategies for health issues aimed at “wellness”. Judy’s role has a strong focus on falls prevention in the elderly and she is a member of the local HNEAHS working party for falls prevention in the community. During her time working in TACP Judy became aware that while the program has provided services to more than 200 clients none have been of Aboriginal background. Judy was prompted to search for more information that may provide insight into the falls risk for Indigenous elderly populations; to determine whether there is a problem with falls risk in this population group; what is associated with the risk and, when that falls risk may occur. The long-term goal from this and possible on-going research is to develop a suitable falls prevention service specific to the elderly Indigenous population group.

  • Tamworth GP Workforce study
    Jenny May

    This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Managed Practice model instituted by the North West Slopes Division of General Practice (NWSDGP) in the New England region of New South Wales. Following on from this evaluation the project has continued to measure workforce participation of GPs in the Tamworth postcode and track changes in the number of full time Equivalent GPs in the area. This is continuing .Interim results have been presented at the AGM of the North West slopes Division of General Practice in November 2007. Two further rounds of data collection are planned in May 2008 and 2009.

UDRH Research Projects

  • Chronic desease self management
    Tony Smith, Gary Misan (SGRHS), Janice Chesters (MUDRIH)

    The aims of this project are to:

    • implement a web-based teaching and learning resource as a means of encouraging and supporting inter-professional teamwork and patient collaboration in the management of a range of chronic diseases
    • investigate the effectiveness of this resource in influencing project participants’ knowledge, opinions, values, attitudes and behaviour in relation to inter-professional practice in CDSM and lifestyle and risk modification in the community.


  • Investigating the Link between Constipation and Cows Milk Protein Allergy
    Elesa Crowley, Lauren Williams, Michelle Paul, Elizabeth Ellis, Hugh Dunstan, Tim Roberts, Rajendra Kumar, Peter Jones, Patricia Davidson

    Research project which aims to test the hypothesis that a causal relationship exists between the dietary intake of cow's milk A1 protein and constipation in children.

  • Linking Major Life Event Stress to Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Aboriginal Women in the Hunter New England Area
    Dr Kym Rae, Professor Roger Smith, Dr Keith Hollebone, Dr Kenneth Apen, Amy Creighton, Maria Bowman, Julia Smith, Fiona Little, Joanne Blake

    Exposure to stress in pregnancy is a major risk factor for premature delivery and low birthweight infants. There are great disparities in pregnancy and fetal outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations. This pilot study will obtain evidence to test the hypothesis that Aboriginal women are exposed to a higher proportion of disruptive life events that contribute to the untimely activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis resulting in an increased vulnerability to premature delivery and low birthweight babies. More

  • Linking Cigarette Smoking to Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Aboriginal Women in the Hunter New England Area
    Dr Kym Rae, Professor Roger Smith, Dr Keith Hollebone, Dr Kenneth Apen, Amy Creighton, Maria Bowman, Sharron Hall, Julia Smith, Fiona Little, Joanne Blake

    Exposure to stress in pregnancy is a major risk factor for premature delivery and low birthweight infants. There are great disparities in pregnancy and fetal outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations. This pilot study will obtain evidence to test the hypothesis that cigarette smoking in Aboriginal women contributes to the untimely activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-placental axis resulting in an increased vulnerability to premature delivery and low birthweight babies. More

  • Improving the Wellbeing of Childrren in Aboriginal communities of the Hunter New England Region; an ArtsHealth Education program
    Dr Kym Rae, Professor Roger Smith, Professor Sid Bourke, Dr Edouard Tursan d’Espaignet, Professor Peter Jones, Amy Creighton, Professor Patrick Fuery, Dr Rachel Burgess, Dr Julie McLeod

    Aboriginal teenage pregnancy resulting in adverse fetal outcomes and subsequent long term health problems is a disturbing trend within Aboriginal communities. Studies have identified that Aboriginal women generally have their babies at younger ages than non-Aboriginal women and that Aboriginal teenage pregnancies are exposed to greater health risks resulting in a variety of adverse maternal, fetal and neonatal outcomes. More

  • Stress During Pregnancy and the Developmental Origins of Renal Disease in Aboriginal Australians
    Dr Kym Rae, Professor Roger Smith, Professor Eugenie Lumbers, Professor Caroline Blackwell, Dr Edouard Tursan d’Espaignet, Professor Pathik Wadhwa, Dr Andrew Bisits, Sharron Hall, Dr Keith Hollebone, Dr Ken Apen, Julia Smith

    An epidemic of endstage renal disease (ESRD) has appeared over the last 20 years among Aboriginal people in Australia. ESRD is permanent and near total loss of renal function (about 95%). Without treatment by dialysis or transplantation it is terminal. The average current incidence of treated end-stage renal disease in Aboriginal Australians is more than 10 times that of non-Aboriginal Australians. More

  • NSW Rural Allied Health Workforce Study
    Sheila Keane (Northern Rivers UDRH), Tony Smith (UDRH Northern NSW), Scott Wagner (NSW Institute for Clinical Services and Teaching), Michelle Lincoln (University of Sydney).

    This study aims to provide a detailed profile of the rural and regional allied health workforce in the four rural Area Health Services in NSW. These data will form the basis of further research on recruitment and retention of allied health professionals in rural areas, as well as potential applications in public health policy development.

  • Determining the barriers and drivers to the introduction of best practice dietetic services in rural areas.
    Leanne Brown, Professor Sandra Capra and Dr Lauren Williams

    To identify the elements of a dietetics staffing model that constitutes best practice in rural areas. To determine the factors that support or inhibit the development of a best practice dietetic service in rural areas.


Our Partners:

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