Selected Projects

The Optimise Study

This study is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council and tests a patient decision aid to help adults aged 50-70 years decide whether they should take daily aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease and bowel cancer. Data collection is complete and we are in the final stages of data analysis. For more information please contact Prof Lyndal Trevena: lyndal.trevena@sydney.edu.au or A/Prof Rowena Ivers: rowena.ivers@sydney.edu.au or ph 9351 8367 This link will provide a PDF with further information about this project.

Contraceptive choice decisional needs assessment of Chinese women living in Australia

Decisions about contraceptive methods are preference sensitive and ideal for shared decision-making (SDM). Migrant and refugee women are vulnerable in terms of accessing evidence-based and culturally and linguistically sensitive contraception information and services. In Australia, Chinese is one of the largest, youngest and fastest growing overseas-born groups. However, research into Chinese immigrants’ sexual and reproductive health, and their unmet needs in contraception decision-making, is scarce. The aim of this research project is to explore Chinese women’s information, communication and support needs in terms of contraception decision-making and provide evidence for future adaptation or development of decision support strategies that serve the decisional needs of Chinese women.

Question Builder

This project is part of the NHMRC funded Ask Share Know Centre for Research Excellence and a scholarship from Healthdirect Australia. When people ask their doctors more questions about their health and treatments there are positive benefits for the patient, the doctor and the health system. We are evaluating a tool called Question Builder part of the Healthdirect.org.au website which aims to help people to create a list of questions to take to medical appointments.

For more information please contact Dr Marguerite Tracy: marguerite.tracy@sydney.edu.au

Communication needs of refugees and asylum seekers in general practice

Navigating a new healthcare system is a challenge for any new migrant but the additional challenges posed to people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds can make this task even more intimidating. Communication is a key aspect of healthcare and interventions to help with the linguistic and cultural aspects are scarce. The overall aim of the research project is to explore the challenges faced by clinicians and patients in effectively communicating key information and overcoming communication barriers. Additionally, to evaluate whether current toolkits are useful in facilitating effective patient clinician interactions, how to optimise their interaction and increase active patient involvement.

For more information please contact Pinika Patel : pinika.patel@sydney.edu.au

Joint Decisions: A shared decision-making implementation project at three demonstration sites across NSW

The purpose of this project is to better understand how patients and health professionals can be supported to work together to make decisions about managing knee and hip osteoarthritis. This project aims to pilot test the feasibility, acceptability and impact of new and adapted shared decision-making strategies and to develop a greater understanding of the ‘real world’ barriers and facilitators of implementing shared decision making in the context of hip and knee osteoarthritis.This study is being conducted by researchers at The University of Sydney and Bond University and is being funded by NSW Health Agency for Clinical Innovation.

For more information please contact Olivia Mac : olivia.mac@sydney.edu.au Data analysis is underway and research findings will be available here mid to late 2020

The implementation of an inter-professional shared decision making intervention for older adults with polypharmacy in the context of Home Medicines Review: a pilot study

Researchers in the School of Public Health at Sydney University are studying polypharmacy in the older population with the aim to develop strategies to increase patient involvement in decision making about their medicines. They have developed the Medicine Conversation Guide to be used by a pharmacist in as part of their Home Medicines Review (HMR) with older people experiencing polypharmacy. The Guide is designed to facilitate a discussion around medications and what’s important to the patient in a structured format. For more information please contact Kristie Weir: kristie.weir@sydney.edu.au