Research Projects
MUDRIH staff are involved in the following projects in 2011;
Developing a framework for family resilience in families where a parent has a mental illness
A/Prof Amaryll Perlesz, Ms Melinda Goodyear, Assoc Professor Darryl Maybery, Dr Jennifer Power, Dr Andrea Reupert, Mr Brendan O'Hanlon, Ms Rose Cuff.
This project will address a current gap in research into the effectiveness of interventions for improving outcomes for families where a parent has a mental illness by developing a reliable and valid measure that is based on a clearer understanding of the concept of family resilience. The outcomes of this project will be threefold. Firstly, we will make a significant contribution to the literature on both mental illness and family resilience by developing a clear conceptual framework around family resilience and how the concept applied to families affected by parental mental illness. Secondly, we will develop a validated measure of family resilience which will have wide application for researchers, family-focused clinicians, therapists and mental health service providers. Thirdly, we will establish the groundwork for conducting a longitudinal study for families affected by parental mental illness based on the use of this measure (for which we plan to apply for an ARC linkage grant to undertake).
The aims of this project are:
- To identify factors that support resilience in families where a parent has a mental illness
- To develop a measure of family resilience that incorporates factors and issues unique to families where a parent has a mental illness
Accommodation Need in Gippsland
Dr Rebecca Jones, Assoc Professor Darryl Maybery, Mr Keith Sutton, Dr Andrea Reupert
The aim of this project is to ascertain from people who have mental health and/or drug and alcohol issues and are either homeless or have accommodation needs in the local government areas of Latrobe, Bass Coast and South Gippsland, their needs and barriers to obtaining and retaining accommodation.
As participants are from mobile and vulnerable groups, face-to-face interviews are the most appropriate and ethical way to consult with these clients. Face-to-face interviews (rather than written questionnaires or telephone interviews) will enable clients to participate in a meaningful way and will be the most reliable way to obtain an accurate reflection of the needs and barriers they experience.
When the views of those requiring services are accurately and genuinely heard, service decisions are better informed and more likely to be utilized. In addition, the process of listening and engaging with clients who might be considered vulnerable, to ascertain their views about what works and does not work, can enhance their self esteem and sense of self-efficacy.
"Let's Talk about children": Building an evidence base for family sensitive practice in adult mental health services
Assoc Professor Darryl Maybery & Dr Andrea Reupert
This study will investigate the piloting of an Australia-first intervention in mental health services. It will examine the innovative Finnish model "Let's talk about children" for its impact on client-parents attending for their mental health treatment. One-in-five children live with a parent with a mental illness. While genetics are important, parenting and family dysfunction significantly contribute to the cycle-of-mental-illness in children. Although research shows it to be important for families, clinicians rarely engage with their clients about parenting, children's needs or family functioning. Pilot data from study will provide evidence to support a large ARC funded clinical trial.
Perceived impacts of long term water insecurity on health and well being of residents in small towns in rural Victoria
Dr Margaret Stebbing, Dr Marion Carey, Dr Martha Sinclair, Prof Malcolm Sim
This research project utilises a case study approach to address an important gap in the knowledge of climate adaptation how households in small rural towns in Victoria adapt to the perceived health effects of long term water insecurity, and how local authorities respond. Policy for climate change adaptation will be informed by identifying the range of perceived health impacts in towns affected by differing water security challenges, risk factors for vulnerability and local measures and practices that will reduce the impacts on health and well-being. This project also establishes a new research collaboration across three departments within Monash University.
Common Mental Disorders in Koori men: Facilitating case finding and continuity of care
Dr Anton Isaacs, Assoc Professor Darryl Maybery, Dr Angelo D'Amore, Mr Hilton Gruis, Mr Berwyn Lampitt
The aim of the study are three fold, firstly it will test the concept of a Koori Men's Health day (KMHD) as a way to enhance case finding for Koori men with Common Mental Disorders (CMD) such as depression and anxiety and the usefulness of encouraging them into treatment. Secondly it will identify and address factors that affect the continuity of care for Koori men who have been started on treatment for CMD. Thirdly it will test if treating CMD results in a perceived improvement in general health and wellbeing as identified by participants.
Creative House: Developing and piloting a model of care and evaluation
Assoc Professor Darryl Maybery,
Over the years Creative House has been an integral part of LCHS, providing PDRSS services to the region. In 2009 the incoming manager and staff of Creative House with support from LCHS and Department of Health committed to developing a best practice PDRSS model of care. Creative house and LCHS have asked MUDRIH to:
- document the model of care
- to then further develop the model in conjunction with key stakeholders
- to rigorously examine and quantify changes associated with this model
MUDRIH staff were involved in the following projects in 2010;
Care Mobile wound care Research project
Dr Hanan Khalil
The Care Point mobile wound care research project is a multisite regional research project to measure and analyse wound care management in Gippsland. All effort and expenses charged to this project will be for services specific to the above project, and not for the general support of the academic activities of the department. This major research project will involve the accumulation and analysis of large quantities of data from different sites across the Gippsland region.
Australian infant, child, adolescent and family mental health association limited - research and Evaluation
Assoc Professor Darryl Maybery & Dr Andrea Reupert
Develop content for and provide design review feedback on a webpage specifically for people involved in the evaluation of programs and services for children of parents with a mental illness and their families. The site will feature information about goals or aims that a ‘copmi’ program may have and provide advice on possible measures that could be used successfully by evaluators in the field; a description and information about the scoring procedure, use, target population, and any limitations.
MUDRIH staff were involved in the following projects in 2009;
Health & Social Care Interprofessional Network (HSIN) 2009: Building Local IPL capacity in Rural Victoria
Ms Mollie Burley
The aim of this project is to continue to build on the work commenced in 2008 by the Health and Social care Interprofessional Network that focused on raising awareness of Interprofessional Learning across the five rural regions of Victoria (Barwon South-West, Gippsland, Grampians, Hume and Loddon-Mallee).
The Development of Web-Based Resources for Rural and Remote Health Professionals to Support Chronic Disease Self-Management
Assoc Professor Janice Chesters, Assoc Professor Gary Misan, Assoc Professor Tony Smith
Funding is sought for a pilot project within the network of the University Departments of Rural Health (UDRH's). The project aims to demonstrate the use of web-based educational resources in developing interprofessional teamwork and patient collaboration in the management of diabetes, cardio-vascular disease and generic psychological outcomes in chronic disease self-management (CDSM). The research componenet of the project will investigate the participants knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviour in relation to CDSM before and after their involvement in a web-based educational program.
On Track Community Programs - Children and parents affected by mental illness and substance misuse
Dr Andrea Reupert, Dr Darryl Maybery, Dr Janice Chesters, Ms Melinda Goodyear
This project is an action research project aimed at identifying ‘good practice’ interventions for children living with parents affected by mental illness and substance misuse and addiction in the community. The On Track approach is based upon our recent work and publications involving family care planning. The family focused, strength based model involves family care plans, home visits and case management.
Enhancing Chronic Disease Self Management Skills via Interprofessional Learning and Practice
Assoc Prof Janice Chesters, Ms Mollie Burley, Ms Clare McHugh
Funding is sought to build the capacity of health professionals to facilitate effective patient self management of chronic disease across Gippsland, Victoria. The MUDRIH team will collaborate with South Coast Health Services Consortium Primary Care Partnership and Ramahyuck Improving Mainstream Diabetes Care for Urban Australians Improving Mainstream Diabetes Care for Urban Australians Aboriginal Corporation in this task. Participants will become more patient-centred and collaborative in supporting chronic disease patient self management programs. Improvements in the capabilities of practitioners are expected to lead to improved outcomes for patients.
Patient Centered Care for Older People
Ms Mollie Burley, Ms Marie Charleston
A collaborative research project with Ms Mollie Burley and Marie Charleston of Latrobe Regional Hospital, formally commenced with the conduct of six focus groups, four for clients or carers and two for staff from LRH and Latrobe Community Health Services.
Dietary iodine insufficiency among pregnant women in the Gippsland Region
Dr Gayle Savige, Assoc Prof Janice Chesters, Dr Nick Deacon, Dr Barbara Panther
Despite a history of iodine deficiency Gippsland was not included in the National Iodine Nutrition Study (NINS). NINS confirmed Australia as mildly iodine deficient and promoted a mandatory iodine bread fortification scheme due for implementation in 2008. Our research on the Gippsland geological and historical iodine record suggests that a more serious problem in Gippsland may be masked by the national data. To test our hypothesis we propose a study of the iodine status of 200 pregnant women across Gippsland. This urine data study and dietary questionnaire will aid in quantifying dietary iodine insufficiency in Gippsland, enhance the evidence for advocacy and provide important baseline data to monitor supplementation.
Physiotherapists teaching medical students: a pilot study of a mobility assessment teaching module for Monash University 2nd year medical students
Dr Natalie de Morton, Assoc Prof Janice Chesters, Dr Gayle Savige, Assoc Prof Teresa Iacono, Prof Collette Browning
Multidisciplinary intervention is a key feature of healthcare delivery. The physical ability of older people is an important indicator of their health status. However, comprehensive mobility assessment is not currently taught in medical undergraduate curricula. Just as a test for measuring blood pressure is important for detecting risk of ill health and prescription of effective prophylaxis, a mobility assessment is needed to identify early signs of declining health and prompt timely and appropriate intervention. This project seeks to develop and implement an education module to provide medical students with the skills to assess the physical ability of their older patients.
Implementing supportive care screening and referral in a rural area: Training Health professionals in the use of the Supportive Care Resource Kit
Dr Eli Ristevski, Ms Melanie Regan, Ms Rebecca Jones, Assoc Prof Janice Chesters
This study will investigate the implementation of supportive care screening and referral across eight treatment facilities (acute care and in the community) in Gippsland. This study is collaboration between Monash University Department of Rural and Indigenous Health (MUDRIH) and Gippsland Regional Integrated Cancer Services (GRICS). The Supportive Care Resource Kit (SCRK), developed between these two organisations, will be used to train 80 health professionals from cancer specialist and generalist backgrounds. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews will be conducted pre-training, and one and six months post training, to examine clinicians’ knowledge, attitudes and skills in implementing screening and undertaking evidence based referrals and actions.
If we can't access a doctor, what do we do? Rural access to conventional health care and its impact on the use of complementary and alternative medicine by older adults
Dr Anske Robinson
This project will explore the impact of difficulties in accessing conventional health care on the use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) by older adults in rural communities in Victoria, Australia. Access to conventional health care in rural areas is often limited, and people in rural areas are high users of CAM.
Building Clinical Placement Capacity Through IPE
Brett Williams, Assoc Prof Janice Chesters, Dr Louise McCall ,Prof Tony Barnett
To increase the capacity of community health organisations; rural and metropolitan hospitals to accommodate medical, nursing and allied health students for clinical placements by facilitating clinical learning through Interprofessional Education (IPE).
MUDRIH staff were involved in the following projects during 2008;
Mollie Burley and Phillipa Greene
The TrUCs model developed initially following research into the Urgent Care needs of small rural communities. On completion of the research the team identified the need for a whole of community involvement when decisions surrounding urgent care were to be made. The TrUCs process is a five-stage community development approach to identify urgent health care needs for rural populations. The Victorian Department of Human Services provided funding for two pilot projects. The first project completed was in Mallacoota during 2003/2004 and the Community Ambulance Officer role was specifically developed to meet the identified needs.
Does Interpersonal Psychotherapy improve clinical care for adolescents with depression attending a rural child and adolescent mental health service? A feasibility study.
Dr C Bearsley Smith, Mark Oakley Browne, Janice Chesters, E. Villanueva, K. Selleck, K. Francis, P. Reddy.
The interpersonal and societal costs of depression are substantial. Up to one in five people will have suffered the effects of major depression before the age of 18 years. Despite being understudied, rural adolescents are commonly considered at increased risk for depression, with rural adolescent males in Australia having amongst the highest suicide rate in the world.
Recruitment, Retention and the Psychiatrists Training Initiative - an evaluation of a Workforce Program
Mrs Catherine Wilks, Mr Brian Jenner, Prof Mark Oakley Browne.
To identify what aspects of the recruitment and retention of consultant psychiatrists is undertaken well by LRH MHS, what was helpful and what could have been done better - or was missed out altogether. To review the support provided to consultant psychiatrists during their employment with LRH MHS and how beneficial this was to them.
Te Rau Hinengaro: the New Zealand Mental Health Survey
J Elisabeth Wells, Mark Oakley Browne, J. Baxter, A. L. Beautrais, K. M. Scott, R. Tapsell, M. Durie, D. Schaaf
This is the first national data set on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in New Zealand. This will be new knowledge that health planners, Maori and Pacific health service providers and clinicians will use to develop, target and refine different types of mental health services so that they are more relevant and meet more needs.
Part of the WHO and Harvard University sponsored World Mental health Survey Initiative.
http://www.hcp.med.harvard.edu/wmh/
Primary preventions for Problem Gambling
Mark Oakley Browne, Katherine Gray, Radha Prabhu
A systematic review and meta-analysis of primary preventions for problem gambling
Interventions for Pathological Gambling
Mark Oakley Browne, Katherine Gray, Adeline Lee
A systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions for pathological gambling.
