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UMORE - Unit for Medication Outcomes Research and Education

Research Areas:

Research since 2002

 

Project Title

 

Summary

 

Funding Source

 

Date Funded

Status

Pharmacy Diabetes Care Program

 

A collaborative approach to explore the role of community pharmacies in the detection of diabetes. A trial to evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of two screening methods for undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in Australian Community Pharmacy.

 

Australian Department of Health and Ageing via the Third Guild/Government Community Pharmacy Agreement

 

2002

Completed

               

Drug Use Evaluations in Tasmania

 

Undertaking Drug Use Evaluations Studies in Tasmanian Teaching Hospitals

 

National Prescribing Service

 

2002

Completed

               

Improving the outcomes of anticoagulation: an evaluation of home follow-up of warfarin therapy

 

This RCT involved newly initiated warfarin patients being visited at home on days 2,4,6 and 8 post-discharge by a pharmacist. During these visits the pharmacist used a POC INR monitor to measure the INR via a finger-prick blood sample.

 

National Institute of Clinical Studies Grant

 

2002

Completed

               

Improving the outcomes of anticoagulation: an evaluation of home follow-up of warfarin therapy

 

This RCT involved newly initiated warfarin patients being visited at home on days 2,4,6 and 8 post-discharge by a pharmacist. During these visits the pharmacist used a POC INR monitor to measure the INR via a finger-prick blood sample.

 

Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation Grant

 

2002

Completed

               

Improving the outcomes of anticoagulation in rural Australia : an evaluation of pharmacist-assisted monitoring of warfarin therapy

 

This trial was conducted in rural community pharmacies across Tasmania , South Australia and Queensland . Pharmacists performed INR measurements using a POC INR monitor and reported the details to the patient's GP for management.

 

Department of Health and Ageing/Pharmacy Guild of Australia Rural and Remote Pharmacy Infrastructure Grant Scheme

 

2002

Completed

               

Tasmania : A Selenium-deficient State ? A Population-based Assessment of Selenium Status

 

Selenium deficiency has been linked with cardiovascular disease, cancer, thyroid dysfunction and viral infections. This was a cross-sectional study to identify the selenium status of a randomly identified group of Tasmanians using magnetic sector ICP-MS for plasma analysis.

 

Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation

 

2002

Completed

               

Ensuring the appropriateness of topical over-the-counter antifungal agents for clients with self-diagnosed vaginal thrush.

 

To demonstrate a) that the use of a structured questionnaire can assist pharmacists to identify patients for whom OTC vaginal antifungal therapy is appropriate based on their symptoms, and b) the cost-benefits of allowing pharmacists to sell such products.

 

Australian Department of Health and Ageing via the Third Guild/Government Community Pharmacy Agreement

 

2002

Completed

               

Development and evaluation of a computerised system for the provision and documentation of community pharmacists' cognitive services.

 

Develop and evaluate a convenient mechanism for the recording of community pharmacists' cognitive services.

 

Australian Department of Health and Ageing via the Third Guild/Government Community Pharmacy Agreement

 

2002

Completed, formed the basis for the PROMISe projects

               

Facilitating QUM between hospital and Community
(Med eSupport)

 

To investigate and evaluate the role of community pharmacy to contribute to the quality use of medicines ( QUM ) by consumers as they move from one health setting to another, in particular, between the hospital and the home.

 

Australian Department of Health and Ageing via the Third Guild/Government Community Pharmacy Agreement

 

2003

Completed

               

Pharmacy Recording of Medication Incidents and Services (PROMISe)

 

The development of an electronic system to; seamlessly interact with two dispensing computer systems, record clinical interventions performed by a community pharmacist, and transmit these in a secure de-identified fashion to a central repository.

 

Australian Department of Health and Ageing via the Third Guild/Government Community Pharmacy Agreement

 

2003

Completed

               

Pharmacy-based program to tackle coronary heart disease in the Australian community.

 

To assess the suitability of community pharmacies as coronary heart disease (CHD) risk profile screening centres.

 

Australian Department of Health and Ageing via the Third Guild/Government Community Pharmacy Agreement

 

2003

Completed

               

Innovative Marketing of Rural and Remote Pharmacy Practice via the Digital Medium

 

To produce and distribute a DVD explaining the attractions of working as a pharmacist in rural and remote areas.

 

Rural and Remote Infrastructure Grants Scheme

 

2003

Completed

               

Thrombosis Prophylaxis in Atrial Fibrillation: Closing the Gap Between Clinical Trials and Australian Practice

 

Thrombosis Prophylaxis in Atrial Fibrillation: Closing the Gap Between Clinical Trials and Australian Practice

 

Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, Quality Use of Medicines Evaluation Program

 

2003

Completed, Doctoral thesis accepted (S.Jackson)

               

Improving the Safety and Efficacy of Anticoagulant Drug Therapy in Clinical Practice

 

Implementation of systems to improve the management of anticoagulants in the community and hospital care settings. This involved the use of quality improvement methodology and innovative patient focussed IT strategies.

 

National Institute of Clinical Studies Scholarship

 

2004

Completed, Doctoral thesis submitted (L.Bereznicki)

               

Community Pharmacy Research Support Centre

 

Develop and support research expertise and capacity in community pharmacy through a Community Pharmacy Research Support Centre.

 

Australian Department of Health and Ageing via the Third Guild/Government Community Pharmacy Agreement

 

2004

Completed

               

Pharmacy Cardiovascular Health Care Model

 

Identify the most appropriate approach, role and professional services that community pharmacy can provide to people who are at higher risk of developing or have established cardiovascular disease.

 

Australian Department of Health and Ageing via the Third Guild/Government Community Pharmacy Agreement

 

2004

Completed

               

Improving Anticoagulant Management in the Hospital Setting: The Establishment and Evaluation of an Anticoagulant Pharmacist Position

 

Implementation of a separate warfarin therapy chart at RHH to improve the quality of use of warfarin in hospital setting. Also encompassed the education of hospital staff and new warfarin patients and improving post-discharge communication with GPs.

 

SHPA Abbott-Australasia Research Grant 2004

 

2004

Completed

               

Reducing the Risk of Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation. A Hospital-based Risk Stratification Assessment and Intervention Program

 

Identification of patients with AF at RHH and peer-to-peer recommendation to medical personnel of evidenced based guidelines regarding antithrombotic drug use.

 

National Institute of Clinical Studies Fellowship

 

2004

Completed

               

Integration of HMRs and the Asthma 3+ plan in a collaborative framework

 

Develop a model for the integration of Home Medicine Reviews (HMRs) into the Asthma 3+ plan.

 

Asthma Foundations of Australia

 

2004

Completed

               

NPS CAPTION project

 

 

Program to promote the appropriate use of antibiotics in the hospital management of community-acquired pneumonia utilising ICT

 

National Prescribing Service

 

2004

Completed

               

PROMISe II

 

Collection and economic and health benefit analysis of the clinical interventions conducted by community pharmacists utilising ICT

 

Australian Department of Health and Ageing via the Third Guild/Government Community Pharmacy Agreement

 

2005

Completed

               

Community Pharmacy Research Support Centre

 

Research and report on community pharmacy's role in health promotion

 

Australian Department of Health and Ageing via the Third Guild/Government Community Pharmacy Agreement

 

2005

Completed

               

Development of an online assessment and accreditation tool

 

To develop a web-based examination procedure to assess the competence of pharmacists seeking AACP accreditation.

 

Australian Association of Consultant Pharmacy

 

2005

Completed – to be extended

               

Prevention of VTE in hospitalised medical patients in Tasmania

 

To investigate the prevention of venous thromboembolism in hospitalised medical patients at the Royal Hobart Hospital

 

Royal Hobart Hospital Research and Development Fund Starting Grant

 

2005

Completed

               

Development of a training package to enable patient self-management of warfarin therapy.

 

Based on internationally validated materials a training package was developed and piloted with health care professional and warfarin patients in a collaborative process

 

Safety & Quality Council – Royal Hobart Hospital Training Program

 

2005

Completed

               

Warfarin Home-Monitoring Pilot Study incorporating electronic communication with GPs.

 

Development of an operational prototype of a broadband home-based healthcare platform -Homecare. The platform provided patients with online access to care routines and medication requirements and facilitated condition monitoring by doctors.

 

BDF Telstra Project

 

2005

Completed

               

DVT Prophylaxis Study

 

To improve the use of prophylactic measures against deep vein thrombosis in “at-risk” hospital patients.

 

Sanofi Educational Grant

 

2006

Completed

               

NPS Drug Use Evaluation Program

 

This program will examine hospital drug use in a number of conditions. The program will run for 4 years, with the aim to implement a quality improvement initiative each year. The area of interest for 2006/7 is acute post-operative pain management.

 

National Prescribing Service

 

2006

In progress

               

Point-of-Care INR monitoring in Nursing Homes

 

To trial the feasibility of POC INR monitoring in Tasmanian nursing homes, incorporating an ICT solution for communication of results to GPs

 

HealthConnect

 

2006

In progress

               

Data mining of community pharmacy dispensing records as a means to identify and educate patients with suboptimal management of asthma.

 

This trial involved the creation and testing of a unique data-mining program to facilitate the identification of patients whose asthma may not be well controlled as evidence by excessive beta-agonist use. Asthma knowledge, control and quality of life were assessed at baseline and 6 months post-intervention. The intervention consisted of advice from the pharmacist and review of asthma by a GP.

 

Asthma Targeted Intervention Grant, funded by the Asthma Foundation of Australia

 

2006

In progress

 

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