06 July 2009

Royal nurse receives fellowship for gynaecological cancers

Improving health outcomes for women suffering gynaecological cancers through better assessment of nutrition and physical conditioning is the goal of a fellowship awarded to a Royal Hospital for Women Clinical Nurse Consultant.

Dr Mary Ryan has been awarded the fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to make assessments of diet and physical condition routine for women with gynaecological cancers at diagnosis and throughout treatment.

It is already proven that better health outcomes can result from proactively managing these aspects of one’s general health. These improvements can be measured in a decrease in the length of hospital stay following surgery and a reduction in wound infection.

However, Dr Ryan is using this opportunity to create and trial an assessment tool at the Randwick hospital, which will in-turn become a standard component of patient care.

“Ideally, an early assessment of nutrition and physical condition will highlight issues soon enough so that they can be addressed rather than needing to delay treatment or prolong recovery,” Dr Ryan said.

This National Institute of Clinical Studies Cancer Australia National Centre for Gynaecological Cancers Fellowship from the NHMRC awarded to Dr Ryan is a two-year funded program supporting evidence-based projects within the workplace.

Royal Hospital for Women Executive Clinical Director Professor William Walters said it was exciting Dr Ryan’s work had been selected for such a prestigious fellowship.

“The hospital is very supportive of such important research being conducted in house as it provides us with the opportunity to improve patient care and outcomes, as well as improve our delivery of care,” Prof Walters said.

Media enquiries: Melissa Chain, 9382 8226, 0421 618 793