Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre
Professor Jennie Ponsford is the Director of the Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre (formerly known as the Bethesda Rehabilitation Research Centre) which was created in 2000. Its aim is to conduct research in trauma rehabilitation, with a view to reducing long-term disability. Five other psychologists work part-time in the centre to form a dynamic research team. They are: Meagan Carty, Lisa Johnston, Mary Karamitsios, Monique Roper and Rochelle Whelan.
The Research Centre is self-funded by research grants. The TAC is the largest financial supporter of the Centre, providing substantial funding for the longitudinal head injury outcome study and associated projects. The NHMRC, Monash University, the Jack Brockhoff Foundation, William Buckland Foundation, Australian Research Council and the Department of Human Services have also supported specific projects. The Research Centre has strong links with the Department of Psychology at Monash University and numerous doctoral students conduct research within the Centre.
The NHMRC
The NHMRC allocated a project grant in 2005 for the following project: Fatigue, attention and sleep following traumatic brain injury. More than sixty percent of patients with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) report experiencing fatigue which interferes with their rehabilitation and daily lifestyle. Sleep disturbance is also often reported following TBI. This study aims to investigate the nature, causes and progression of fatigue and sleep disturbance following TBI and their possible interrelationships. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is being used to investigate possible neuropathological factors associated with these disorders.
Partnership with the Transport Accident Commission
Since 1998, the Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre has received substantial funding support from the Transport Accident Commission. This funding has been directed towards numerous research projects examining outcome following traumatic brain injury. Findings from this research are fed back to the TAC on a regular basis and have resulted in policy changes in their systems of care. Regular workshops are held with TAC staff to ensure they are kept up-to-date with current findings and fully understand the long-term needs of their clients.
Partnership with Monash University
Monash University currently provides a Monash Strategic Grant for the following project: Psychiatric Disorders following traumatic brain injury. The overall aim of this project is to investigate the nature, incidence and causes of psychiatric disorders following traumatic brain injury, with the ultimate goal of improving management of these problems. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is being used to investigate the association between lesion location and psychiatric disorder.
Mild Head Injury Booklets - Partnership with Department of Human Services
Following the publication of findings from studies evaluating the impact of the provision of an information booklet to adults and children who have sustained mild traumatic brain injury, these booklets have been produced in large numbers, originally with the aid of a grant from the Jack Brockhoff Foundation. A revised booklet has been written specifically for children. The Department of Human Services has supported the introduction of the booklets into the Emergency Departments of all Victorian Hospitals. The Department provided funding for information sessions to be conducted in each of these Emergency Departments They also provided funds for the reprinting of the booklets and for an evaluation of their usefulness from the perspective of the patients receiving them. The evaluation study was conducted at several metropolitan and country hospitals including: Ballarat Base Hospital, Geelong Hospital, Northern Hospital, Sandringham and District Hospital and Epworth Hospital. Patients who agreed to participate were contacted by telephone. Fifty such interviews were conducted and the response from patients was found to be very positive.
The publication of the study evaluating the use of the children's booklet in the international journal, "Paediatrics", and more recently the publication of results of the evaluation of the adult booklet in the "Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry", has generated a large number of requests for copies of the booklet from all over the world. Both the child and adult head injury booklets can be downloaded from this website as Word files (see below). The booklets are copyright and can not be reproduced without the permission of the authors. The booklets are currently being translated into other languages.
Mild Head Injury - Children
Mild Head Injury - Adults
CURRENT PROJECTS
Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre
Current Research Studies:
- Longitudinal head injury outcome study
- Sexuality following traumatic brain injury
- Investigation of substance use following traumatic brain injury
- Evaluation of a community-based approach to rehabilitation following head injury
- Fatigue, attention and sleep disorders following traumatic brain injury
- Psychiatric disorders following traumatic brain injury
- The influence of genetic factors on outcome following head injury, specifically the Apolipoprotein gene
- Cultural issues in rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury
- Evaluation of Mild head injury information booklets
- Orthopaedic outcome study
- Multicentre randomised trial for decompressive craniectomy in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (The DECRA trial)
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