
		Illawarra Community Health

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Research Activity 2004/05

Research project	Institution on whose behalf the research is being undertaken	Researcher	Description
Telehealth Wound Management Project.	Community health nursing.	Blanchfield D.	To implement a Telehealth service for wound management for Illawarra residents/clients at remote and isolated sites within the Illawarra and Shoalhaven region, with a view to extending its functionality to all service providers and clinicians within the Illawarra Community Health Service.
Cardiac rehabilitation: the psychological factors that predict functional status.	University of Wollongong; Northern Illawarra Cardiac Rehabilitation Service.	Saad C.	Using a questionnaire to identify psychological factors associated with functional status.
Frequency and characteristics of chest discomfort following angioplasty and stent implantation in cardiac rehabilitation attendees.	Cardiac Rehabilitation Services, Community Health Services and Rehabilitation, Aged and Extended Care.	Lynch F, James B, Kandl B, Love F, Lang S.	Questionnaire-based study involving cardiac rehabilitation program participants who have had a stent implanted, exploring the nature of their discomfort/pain at commencement of the cardiac rehabilitation program, and then six weeks later.
Needs of refugees and new arrivals in the Illawarra.	Multicultural Health Unit.	Sukara R.	This survey was undertaken to identify the needs of our newest residents, to ensure the appropriate provision of health services.
Issues for carers of residents who are culturally and linguistically diverse.	Multicultural Health Unit.	Sukara R.	A qualitative study using consultations to identify the needs of carers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Profile of the former Yugoslav community.	Multicultural Health Unit.	Trkulja Z, Sukara R.	Conducted focus groups, literature reviews and interviews with stakeholders, on the needs of people from the former Yugoslavia residing in the Illawarra area.
Sexual health education.	Illawarra Sexual Health Service.	Brown K.	Researched educational outcomes in sexual health to influence future service provision.
Australian HIV Observational Database National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research.	Illawarra Sexual Health Service.	Brown K, Marlton S, Jackson J.	Collection of data every six months to determine the trends in HIV progression and management.
Efficiency and safety of self-initiated short-course oral Famciclovir therapy in immunocompetent patients with active recurrent genital herpes.	Illawarra Sexual Health Service; Novartis.	Brown K, Marlton S, Gagnon H.	A multi-centre study to assess the efficacy and safety of self-initiated short-course oral Famciclovir therapy in immunocompetent patients with active recurrent genital herpes.
Kid’s Cottage: review of services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) preschool children within the Cottage's catchment area.	Families First, SESIAHS.	Petrovska K.	Identified access issues for ATSI families, including referral rates, attendance rates and barriers that influence utilisation of the service.
Speech pathology: pilot partnership with supported playgroups and Aboriginal pre-schools.	Families First, SESIAHS.	Merryfull J.	Investigating the need for changes or improvements to be made to the speech pathology service delivery model and /or health promotion methods for indigenous and vulnerable families attending supported playgroups and Aboriginal preschools in northern Illawarra.
Food, nutrition and physical activity at playgroup: a pilot project.	Families First, SESIAHS.	Morgan S.	Developing and piloting training and resource manuals for supported playgroup leaders, to assist them to communicate, encourage and resource families on healthy nutritional and physical activity requirements for children 0-5 years.
Best practice intervention for adult survivors of sexual assault.	Community Health Service; University of Wollongong.	Roe K.	Review of literature of group programs for adult survivors of childhood sexual assault, to influence future service provision.
Review of dietary management of ulcerative colitis.	Nutrition Department, Wollongong Hospital.	Haantjens A.	Reviewing current practices at Wollongong Hospital with the aim of ensuring that the approach taken is consistent across clinicians, and follows best practice guidelines.
Review of the dietary management of Chrons Disease.	Nutrition Department, Wollongong Hospital.	Haantjens A.	Reviewing current practices at Wollongong Hospital with the aim of ensuring that the approach taken is consistent across clinicians, and follows best practice guidelines.
Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) versus bioelectrical impedance assessment (BIA) Which one is the best tool to use in children when estimating body composition?	Nutrition Department, Wollongong Hospital.	Cleary J, Nowland A.	Comparing tools used to measure the body composition of children.
A review of best practice guideless in inflammatory bowel diseases.	Nutrition Department, Wollongong Hospital.	Lambert K.	This project reviews all the current literature in this area and also benchmarks our practice with other hospitals throughout Australia. The main aim is to ensure we are meeting the best practice guidelines in this area.
Do patients with communication difficulties having greater difficulty accessing choice on the menu?	Nutrition Department, Wollongong Hospital.	Milosavljevic M.	This projects specifically examines patients with communications difficulties ie non-English speaking, verbal difficulties, dementia and what issues they experience with their meals. It utilises speech therapy techniques for the non-verbal patients and uses interpreters when required. It is the first menu survey that includes this category of patients.
The effects of transfer from a palliative care unit to a nursing home on patients and their carers.	Illawarra Community Health.	Garrard J.	Identifying issues for patients and their families when moving from a palliative care unit to a nursing home.
Randomised, parallel-arm equivalence study comparing Hydromorphone Hydrochloride extended-release (HHER) capsules with Ms Contin tablets, at a dose ratio of 1:7.5, in cancer or non-cancer patients with a history of moderate to severe pain.	Mundipharma Pty Ltd.	Davis JM.	An equivalence clinical trial for people with moderate to severe pain (cancer or non-cancer) comparing treatment with HHER and MS Contin. Patients whose pain is stabilised for 48 hours are randomised to either drug for two weeks.