annual report - School of Medicine

Transcription

2007 CONROD ANNUAL REPORT
TITLE
HERE
ANNUAL REPORT
1
TABLE OF
FROM THE
CONTENTS
From the Director
\\ 3
From the Chair
\\ 5
Mission Objectives
\\ 6
Overview
\\ 6
Committee Structures
\\ 7
Staff Profiles
\\ 8
Achievements and Highlights
\\ 16
Grants
Grants awarded in 2007 for
commencement in 2008
\\ 17
On-going Grants
\\ 18
Collaborations \\ 25
Programme Reports
Acute Trauma Care Programme
\\ 27
Rehabilitation (Medical and
Allied Health) Programme
\\ 30
Health Economics and
Health Systems Programme
\\ 31
\\ 32
Social and Behavioural Science
Programme
Vocational and Community
Rehabilitation Programme
\\ 33
Musculoskeletal Programme
\\ 37
Committees and Professional
Society Memberships
\\ 39
Fellowship Reports
Royal College of Surgeons
Royal Australian College
of General Practitioners
\\ 42
\\ 42
Royal Australasian College
of Physicians
\\ 43
The National Trauma Registry Consortium
(Australia & New Zealand)
\\ 40
Research Reports
\\ 46
PhD Scholarship
\\ 49
Publications/Presentations
\\ 50
DIRECTOR
CONROD operates as a research intensive centre within
the School of Medicine, on the Herston Campus of
the University of Queensland. Centre staff come from
diverse health research backgrounds, and collectively
provide a rich intellectual environment and the critical
mass necessary for the successful functioning of
CONROD.
The Acute Trauma Care Program (including the
Queensland Trauma Registry) is directed by Professor
Nicholas Bellamy, who also remains closely associated
with the Rehabilitation (Medical & Allied Health)
program. The QTR has remained functional at all
hospitals with the exception of Mt Isa. Site visits were
recently made by Ms Jacelle Lang and Professor Bellamy
to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, PA, Royal
Children’s, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Nambour, Redcliffe/
Caboolture, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville, Mt
Isa and Cairns Base Hospitals. There is a continuing
enthusiasm and high level of commitment by the
hospitals to the Queensland Trauma Registry. Mt Isa has
indicated its commitment to resuming full participation
in the Registry once long term funding is confirmed
for their involvement. Documentation of the influence
of QTR activities on policy and practice has been
prioritised. Data requests continue to be met on a
timely basis. Recent meetings with Queensland Health
and MAIC have consolidated a funding agreement for
the period ending 30 June 2008 for the Queensland
Trauma Registry. A formal review of the Queensland
Trauma Registry by KPMG is pending, and together
with other considerations, will inform QTR funding
decisions for the period 1 July 2008-30 June 2011.
The recruitment of Dr Fumiko Irie to the position of
Senior Research Fellow has been very positive. Dr Irie
has initiated new research projects based on QTR data
and is working with Queensland Health to supplement
current QTR data with QHealth data on co-morbidities.
CONROD staff are involved in the Steering Committee
and project team for the Queensland Trauma Data
Scoping Project. CONROD is collaborating in the
International Benchmarking in Trauma Outcomes
Study. Professor Bellamy has been appointed to the
QEMS Quality Committee and remains a member of
the State-wide Trauma Clinical Network involved in
implementation of the Queensland Trauma Plan.
The Rehabilitation (Medical
& Allied Health) program has
made major progress under
the leadership of Associate
Professor Michele Sterling. One of the year’s major
achievements has been the success of Dr Michele
Sterling, Professor Justin Kenardy and Professor Luke
Connelly and six of their colleagues in receiving an
NHMRC Centre for Clinical Research Excellence (CCRE):
Spinal Pain, Injury and Health award, dedicated to
improving the quality of life of people with back and
neck pain. The Rehabilitation (Medical & Allied Health)
program’s publication record is noteworthy with seven
publications and fourteen presentations. Negotiations
remain underway for an evaluation laboratory on the
Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital site. There is a
very active higher degree program at CONROD, several
students being supervised or co-supervised by Associate
Professor Michele Sterling. CONROD has also been
successful in progressing the further development of
the International Journal of Disability Management
Research, for which Professor Bellamy is a co-editor.
The Vocational and Community Rehabilitation program
located on the Griffith University Campus at Logan
continues to perform at a high level of productivity
under the leadership of Associate Professor Elizabeth
Kendall. Five research projects aligned with MAIC
objectives are in progress. Seven PhD students are
currently under supervision. Nineteen research awards
and consultancies have been secured and eighteen
papers submitted for publication together with
seven industry reports. This program is well integrated
with the disability sector and local community’s goals
and objectives.
The Social and Behavioural Sciences program under
the directorship of Professor Justin Kenardy is currently
conducting four major programs in the areas of
whiplash, traumatic brain injury and PTSD in children.
Thirteen grants are currently funded including three
new grants from a total of five submitted in 2007.
The total funding to the Social Behavioural Sciences
Program in 2007 is $4,014,000 not including MAIC
funding for CONROD. Eleven publications in
peer-reviewed journals were achieved in 2007.
Seven new submissions have been made to peer
review journals. >>
3
FROM THE DIRECTOR
CONTINUED
Nine presentations were made at National and
International Forums. Six PhD students and one
MPhil student are under supervision. The Social and
Behavioural program, Health Economics and Health
Systems program and the Rehabilitation (Medical &
Allied Health) programs are involved in the CCRE and
very active collaborations both internal and external to
CONROD.
The Health Economics and Health Systems program
under the directorship of Associate Luke Connelly
who is also associated with the Australian Centre
for Economic Research on Health (ACERH) has made
excellent progress. As noted, Associate Professor
Connelly is involved in large collaborations both
internally and externally both with respect to CONROD
and with respect to ACERH, that involve prestigious
awards including those from ARC, NHMRC and
the CCRE. Five PhD students are currently under
supervision. One book and two peer reviewed articles
appeared in 2007 and a further two peer-review papers
were accepted for publications during the year; six
presentations were also made in the last six months.
Associate Professor Connelly is an active member of
several economics and health economics associations
and is involved in teaching post graduates in Health
Economics and Policy at The University of Queensland.
Overall the last twelve months have continued to be
extremely productive for CONROD with significant
progress and further development of all five programs.
The research work and related activities are well aligned
with MAIC objectives and directed at informing policy
and practice.
Nicholas Bellamy
FROM THE
CHAIR
The year to 31 December 2007 proved to be another
very successful year expanding CONROD’s already
significant contribution to the wellness of Australian
society. As this Annual Report comprehensively
addresses the wide ranging activities of CONROD, I will
restrict my comments to several major items.
Firstly, Dr Michele Sterling, Professor Justin Kenardy
and Professor Luke Connelly were three of nine Chief
Investigators on a NHMRC Centre for Clinical Research
Excellence (CCRE): Spinal Pain, Injury and Health. The
CCRE was awarded $2M over 5 years and is dedicated
to improving the quality of life of people with back
and neck pain. The major objectives are to: undertake
innovative, multi-disciplinary research into all aspects
of back and neck pain; provide excellent education
and training opportunities for researchers, and; ensure
effective translation of spinal research outcomes into
clinical practice.
Additionally, Professor Jim Butler (ACERH ANU) and
Professor Connelly (CONROD) made a successful
ARC-Linkage application for a project entitled Motor
Vehicle Injuries: Economic Analysis of a New Treatment
Modality with industry partner the NRMA Road Safety
Trust. This grant funding of $280,039 over 3 years
will be used to evaluate a randomised controlled trial
in the ACT for musculoskeletal injuries due to road
traffic crashes. Another successful NHMRC grant (led
by Prof Vicenzino) of $358,700 over three years will
enable UQ researchers to examine the effectiveness
and cost-effectiveness of two different approaches
to the treatment of epicondylalgia. CONROD’s Health
Economics and Health Systems program also produced
a number of important publications, one of which
formed the basis for the government’s decision to
introduce a national, school-based vaccination program
for girls. The economic case for introducing the HPV
vaccination program, which is designed to prevent
cervical cancer, was published in 2007 in the CSIRO
journal Sexual Health.
Further, I congratulate the
CONROD team of researchers
and analysts whose efforts,
outputs and results continue to
promote and expand the achievement of excellence
in the area of injury management, acute care, medical
and allied health rehabilitation, community and
vocational rehabilitation, disability management, social
and behavioural science, health economics and health
systems and services.
In the specific Queensland environment the Queensland
Trauma Registry which is reported on at length in
the Annual Report continues to make a relevant and
valuable contribution to the delivery of medical and
surgical services at Queensland Public Hospitals.
Internationally, CONROD continues to be at the
forefront of initiatives improving the quality of disability
management strategies through its involvement in
the series of biennial International Forum on Disability
Management. CONROD was instrumental in creating
the Forums and hosted the 2006 Forum in Brisbane
and is a member of the planning committee for the
4th International Forum on Disability Management
scheduled to be held in Berlin in September 2008.
Finally a special acknowledgement and sincere thanks
for the support and effort of Chesne McGrath, Robyn
Clapshaw and Deb Sunners who keep the operation
running smoothly and to Professor Nick Bellamy for his
leadership and drive.
Dr Graham Hughes AM
Chair CONROD
5
MISSION & OBJECTIVES /
COMMITTEE
OVERVIEW
STRUCTURES
Mission
OVERVIEW
To conduct research and educational activities at state,
national and international levels into all aspects of the
prevention, acute treatment, rehabilitation, social and
vocational management of disabling conditions with
particular emphasis on those of traumatic origin, and
especially those due to road traffic crashes.
The Centre of National Research on Disability and
Rehabilitation Medicine was established in 1997
through a partnership between the Motor Accident
Insurance Commission (MAIC), the Queensland
Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) and the University
of Queensland. Today, under the current five year
agreement that took effect on 1 November 2005,
the University of Queensland and the Motor Accident
Insurance Commission jointly support the Centre and
its five core programmes.
Objectives
\\To conduct research and educational activities that
inform policy and practice, and thereby improve the
health, social, vocational and economic outcomes
of individuals with a disability, particularly those
who have sustained a traumatic injury, with special
emphasis on injury and disability associated with
road traffic crashes.
\\To provide a source of education and information
concerning prevention, acute treatment,
rehabilitation, social and vocational management
of disabling conditions for health care professionals
(including those in training, and in rural and remote
locations) and the community more generally.
\\Through a combination of research and educational
programmes to facilitate the delivery of seamless
evidence-based health care.
\\To promote CONROD as a national Centre for
basic and applied research into all aspects of the
prevention, acute treatment, rehabilitation, social
and vocational management of disabling conditions
(with special emphasis on those of traumatic origin).
The core work undertaken in CONROD complements
the MAIC’s objective of generating positive research
outcomes in the acute treatment and rehabilitation
of people injured in road traffic crashes and other
analogous events.
International Advisory Group
National Institute of Disability Management
and Research
Victoria, BC, CANADA
Mr W Zimmermann (Chair)
Executive Director
Institute of Rehabilitation and Research, Texas Medical
Centre Houston, USA
Professor L Frieden
Senior Vice President
John Hopkins Medical School
Baltimore, USA
Professor E Mackenzie
Director, Centre for Injury Research & Policy
Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs,
Berlin, GERMANY
Dr H Haines
Ministerial Director of Disability
Ministry of Skills, Labour and Training Vancouver,
CANADA
Mr B Williams
Director, Compensation Advisory Services
Berufsgenossenschaft der Bauwirtschaft
Berlin, GERMANY
Professor M Bandmann
Executive Director
In the broader context, CONROD’s research philosophy
is also congruent with Smart State principles to:
CONROD Advisory Board
\\ Improve the standard of health services
The following people were invited to be a member of the CONROD Advisory Board, and all have accepted the
invitation:
\\Support an increased quality of life through disease
prevention
The University of Queensland
Adjunct Professor Graham Hughes,
Chair CONROD
\\Develop and implement strategies to support
Queensland families
Prof Peter Brooks,
Executive Dean Faculty of Health Sciences
\\Improve the lives of people with a disability, their
families and carers
Griffith University
A/Prof Nick Buys,
Dean, Learning & Teaching (Health)
Motor Accident Insurance Commission
Ms Kim Birch
General Manager, CTP
Queensland University of Technology
Prof Michael Schuetz
Professor of Traumatology School of
Engineering Systems
Prof Bruce Murdoch
Head of School
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
Mr Cliff Pollard,
FRACS Chair, Trauma Systems Performance
Improvement & Registries Sub-Committee
Prof Cindy Gallois
Director, Centre for Social Research in Communication
and Professor of Psychology
Queensland Health
Ms Faileen James Queensland Health
Prof Nick Bellamy
Director and Chair of Rehabilitation Medicine,
CONROD
\\Work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
communities to improve economic and social
wellbeing
\\Improve workforce skills for current and future
needs by focusing on lifelong learning
\\Encourage world-class research that builds on
Queensland’s unique resources
\\Minimise the risk and impact of accidents,
emergencies and disasters
Since 1997 CONROD has been based within the School
of Medicine at The University of Queensland and is
located within the Mayne Medical School at Herston. In
addition to the Governance structures of UQ, CONROD
receives advice from key stakeholders in injury,
rehabilitation and policy development.
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STAFF
STAFF PROFILES
CONTINUED
PROFILES
Seonaid Abbotts is a
qualified Health Information
Manager who has been employed
by the Queensland Trauma
Registry since 2006. She was
first based at the Royal Brisbane
and Women’s hospital where she
worked closely with the Trauma
Nurse Coordinator and Emergency Consultants. Her
responsibilities now lie in the training and education of
the Trauma Nurse Coordinators in injury classification
systems and ensuring data quality. Seonaid’s previous
experience includes working at Suncorp as an Injury
Coder, in the Information Support Unit for Queensland
Ambulance Service and as a Health Information
Manager within the hospital setting.
Gunela Astbrink is
working on the REHADAT
“Disability Lifestyles” information
service and website. She has
coordinated extensive user
requirements studies and is now
coordinating the development
of content and the design of the
website for the information service. Gunela has 20
years’ experience in disability, IT and information. She
is principal of GSA Information Consultants, Policy
Advisor with TEDICORE (Telecommunications and
Disability Consumer Representation), Adjunct Senior
Research Fellow at Griffith University working with the
Smart Internet Technology CRC and a Director of the
Internet Society of Australia.
Nicholas Bellamy was
Robyn Clapshaw was
Melissa Dale is the
appointed Director of CONROD
in 1999, and assumed the
Directorship of the Queensland
Trauma Registry in 2002. He was
previously Professor of Medicine,
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
at the University of Western
Ontario and Professor of Clinical
Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster University in
Canada, and a clinical rheumatologist at London Health
Sciences Centre. His principal research contribution
has been in the area of health status assessment in the
rheumatic diseases. Nicholas Bellamy is a Fellow of the
Royal College of Physicians of Australia, Canada, Glasgow
and Edinburgh, and a Fellow of the American College
of Physicians. He holds Doctorates in Medicine and
Science, and Masters Degrees in Science and Business
Administration.
appointed to CONROD as Secretary
to the Deputy Director in 1999
after moving from Mackay where
she lived for 10 years. Currently,
Robyn’s role also encompasses
reception and a myriad of other
duties and responsibilities that
keep the office running smoothly.
Trauma Nurse Coordinator in the
Emergency Department of the
Royal Brisbane Hospital. With
16 years Emergency Nursing
experience she also holds a
Bachelor of Nursing and a Graduate
Diploma in Education. Melissa has
worked for the QTR since its commencement in 1998,
and has been heavily involved in the evolution of the
data collection systems. Currently she works closely
with the Health Information Manager of the QTR.
Melissa acts as a resource, assisting in the provision
of educational activities and policy and procedures
development for trauma management.
Judith Brennan is a
Level 3 Trauma Registry Nurse
Co-ordinator for The Townsville
Hospital. Townsville is situated
on the North East Coast of
Queensland, adjacent to the
Great Barrier Reef, 1,359kms
north of Brisbane and combined
with the city of Thuringowa, has a growing population
of over 140,000. Judith has a Bachelor of Nursing
Science Degree, Midwifery Certificate, Critical Care
Certificate and a Masters degree in Public Health and
Tropical Medicine and has an extensive background in
Emergency Nursing. Judith commenced her current role
in November 2000.
Trevor Burke has been
involved in Web Development
since 1995. He has studied
Instructional and Educational
Design for Software, CD-ROMS
and Websites graduating with a
Bachelor of Multimedia in 1998.
Since then he has worked for
several large organisations and now heads The University
of Queensland’s peak Web Development unit based in the
Office of Marketing and Communications. This position
sees him involved in implementing the University’s Disability
Action Plan relating to website access as well as taking an
active interest in equitable online access. Trevor is currently
working on the CONROD ‘Disability Lifestyles’ website.
Luke Connelly was
appointed Associate Professor of
Health Economics and Associate
Director of the Centre for National
Research on Disability and
Rehabilitation Medicine (CONROD)
in May 2003. His main research
interest is in health economics and
includes interests in insurance, provider and consumer
behaviour in health care markets, and the impact of
health policies. The focus of his current research is
injury, disability, rehabilitation and the systems that
have been put in place to improve health and economic
outcomes following injury. Luke’s previous experience
includes full-time academic posts positions in the
Brisbane Graduate School of Business as well as the
Schools of Public Health and Economics and Finance at
QUT. He has more than 10 years’ experience teaching
economics and health economics at graduate and
undergraduate levels and was one of the architects of
The University of Queensland new Master of Health
Economics programme.
Janet Conroy commenced
employment at the Qld Trauma
Registry in November 2007 as a
Health Information Manager and
is based at the Princess Alexandra
Hospital. Janet holds a degree
in Bachelor of Health Science
majoring in Health Information
Management. Janet has a diverse background in Health
Information Management and Project Management
roles in both the private and public health sectors. In
her role at the PAH she works in conjunction with the
Trauma Registry Nurse Coordinator, Dale Mason, in
compiling and managing an extensive data collection
that is a valuable resource to Clinicians and associated
areas, in particular the Emergency Department.
Natalie Dallow works
with the Queensland Trauma
Registry at CONROD serving
dual roles. As co-ordinator of
the Paediatric component of the
Registry, she facilitates the data
collection process and organises
quarterly meetings of the Paediatric
Trauma Review Committee. As a research assistant,
she conducts statistical analysis of data and prepares
annual reports, along with various other tasks. Natalie
returned to CONROD in January 2005 after spending
two years at the Australian Bureau of Statistics in
Canberra, where she worked in the areas of Population
Survey Development, Census Development and Census
Field Communications.
Tamzyn Davey was
initially employed in March 2001
to coordinate the paediatric
component of the Queensland
Trauma Registry (QTR), and help
to establish the Paediatric Trauma
Review Committee. Tamzyn also
played a primary role in studies
looking at the long-term outcomes of both paediatric
and adult injury. In March of 2005 Tamzyn took up a
position with the National Trauma Registry Consortium
(Australia and New Zealand) as the Project Officer. The
primary purpose of her ongoing role is to help to work
toward the establishment of a national trauma registry
in the Australasian region.
9
STAFF PROFILES
CONTINUED
STAFF PROFILES
CONTINUED
Alex De Young worked with
Jennifer Hanby is the
Joan Hendrikz was
Justin Kenardy’s research team,
from 2004 to 2006, on research
projects looking at the impact that
accidental injury, such as burns
or traumatic brain injury, has
on children’s psychological and
cognitive functioning. She has
now commenced a Clinical Psychology PhD and is been
supervised by Justin. Her research is investigating the
psychosocial impact that burn injuries have on young
children and their families. Cairns Base Hospital Trauma
Registry Nurse coordinator. Cairns
Base is the only major hospital
within a 400km radius. Many
trauma patients arriving here
have experienced long transfer
times, often without the benefit
of medical assessment prior to transfer. This presents
unique challenges for the management of trauma. The
clinical staff at CBH has welcomed the Trauma registry
and actively supports the Trauma Review Committee.
Despite being established for only 12 months, the
committee has achieved some positive outcomes and
is working with the hospital executive on a number of
issues identified through the audit process.
appointed to CONROD in October
2004 as a research assistant. Her
role is to provide statistical support
in all matters to all CONROD
staff and PhD scholars. She has
an extensive and diversified
background in statistical advisory
work including 11 years as the Statistics Advisor for
the Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences at
The University of Queensland, where she co-authored
several articles. She is an Accredited Statistician with
the Statistical Society of Australia Inc. Her main research
interests are the area of applied statistics within the
context of human and life sciences and teaching
statistical concepts. (0216 - 2005 a copy)
Robert Harding joined the
Queensland Trauma registry as
Data manager in September 2006.
He has very broad experience in IT
including time as the IT Manager
for the Endeavour Foundation and
the QMLA and as a consultant in
matters related to data loss and
potential recovery outcomes. Robert started working
with the Queensland Trauma Registry just prior to it
beginning its transition from ICD-10-AM 4th Edition to
ICD-10-AM 5th Edition as the basis of classifying injury
and injury cause in Queensland. This has provided
the chance to further enhance the database with the
opportunities presented by changes in technology,
for example, allowing wireless access to secure
systems. Robert continues to seek and develop new
opportunities for the Trauma Registry based on the
solid framework provided by his predecessor
Igor Razzhigaev.
Daniel Hobbs has a strong
Rian Dob has an
undergraduate degree in clinical
psychology from the University of
Groningen, the Netherlands. She is
currently completing a combined
clinical PhD in neuropsychology,
and works in the area of child and
youth mental health. Her research
focuses on the relationship between post traumatic
stress symptoms and cognitive sequelae in children
aged 6 – 14 who sustained a traumatic brain injury. This research is part of the NHMRC funded study run by
Prof Justin Kenardy (Deputy Director of CONROD).
Susan Gargett commenced
work at CONROD in the Health
Economics and Health Systems
stream in April 2007, after
finishing full-time PhD studies.
Sue’s first career was as a clinical
physiotherapist, and she worked
mostly in the areas of aged care
and rehabilitation. She commenced part-time study in
economics in the early 1990s and developed an interest
in health economics. This led to her undertaking a
PhD, which was an economic analysis of the Australian
nursing home industry. Currently, her work at CONROD
is concerned with estimating the cost of injuries and
with analyzing the impact of road safety initiatives. background in public relations
and media management. He
joined the CONROD team as our
Marketing and Communications
Officer in October, 2007.
Currently undertaking a Masters
degree in Journalism through
the Queensland University of Technology, Daniel
spent several years engaged in media management,
campaigning and policy research for numerous state
and federal parliamentarians in both opposition and
government. He has a particular interest in new media
and the opportunities it creates for communicating
research outcomes to the wider community and the
influence this can have over government policy and
decision making.
Graham Hughes is a
former Insurance Commissioner
of Queensland. He holds a
degree in Business Administration
from the Queensland University
of Technology, and Honorary
Doctorates from the University of
Technology and The University of Queensland. Graham
is an Adjunct Professor at The University of Queensland,
and Chairman of the Board of Management of
CONROD. Graham is a member of the Disability Council
for Queensland, member of the International Advisory
Council of the Canadian National Institute of Disability
Management and Research, and member of the
Coordinating Committee for the International Forum on
Disability Management – a biennial series.
Fumiko Irie commenced
work as a principal research fellow
for the Acute Trauma Care group
at CONROD in June 2007. She
holds PhD in Epidemiology and
Neuroscience, and Master of
Public Health in addition to her
10 years clinical experience as a
neurosurgeon. She has been doing epidemiological
research at the Laboratory of Epidemiology,
Demography, and Biometry (NIH) and Pacific Health
Research Institute in USA before she joined CONROD.
Her research interest includes efficient acute trauma
systems, management of severe traumatic brain injury
(TBI), neuroendocrinological alterations in TBI patients,
physical/cognitive functional outcomes in elderly injured
patients, and neurodegenerative disease in the elderly.
Greg Iselin joined CONROD
in 2005 as Research Officer in the
Health Outcomes team, assisting
Dr Cheryl Swanson. Greg was
awarded a B.A. at the University
of Sydney in 1998 with majors
in psychology and comparative
religion, and a B.Psych. (Hons.) at
Griffith University. Since then he has been working in
research settings in both bio-medical and health services
research. He is currently fulfilling his requirements for
registration with the Psychologist’s Registration Board
of Queensland. Greg is part of the Behavioural Sciences
team investigating post-traumatic stress reactions in
children following traumatic brain injury.
Christel Jennekens
is the Trauma Registry Nurses
Co-Coordinator at The Gold
Coast Hospital. Christel originally
graduated in Nursing in the
Netherlands and has been at the
Gold Coast Hospital since 1979.
She has specialised in CCU, ICU
and A & E with certificates in TNCC, ALS, NIXR and
Emergency Nursing. Currently Christel works as a
senior nurse in the Emergency Department in the Gold
Coast Hospital. Christel also specialised in sports injury
management at NSW University. In this capacity she
works for Rugby Union and has been involved with
Sporting Clubs for the past ten years in her spare time.
11
STAFF PROFILES
CONTINUED
Justin Kenardy is Deputy
Director of CONROD, he has a
discipline background of clinical
health psychologist with main
interests in the psychological
and behavioural consequences
of injury. His work has primarily
been in posttraumatic stress, its
relationship to outcome following whiplash, its role
in children’s adjustment to traumatic injury, and early
intervention. He is currently examining the role of
psychological distress on recovery following traumatic
brain injury in children.
STAFF PROFILES
CONTINUED
Jacelle Lang has been
employed at CONROD as a research
assistant for the Queensland
Trauma Registry since January
2003. Her main role within QTR
is to conduct statistical analysis
of data entered into the Registry
database and to prepare regular
and annual reports for each of the 15 hospital sites
now included on the Registry. She has also been
involved in the Queensland Trauma Plan Project, in
preparing general reports for public distribution and
in preparing a submission for funding document to
Queensland Health.
Dale Mason has worked as a
Hong Son Nghiem
Registered Nurse for 11 years, and
prior to that was an Enrolled Nurse
for 19 years. Dale currently works
in the Emergency Department of
the Princess Alexandra Hospital,
as a Clinical Nurse on the floor
4 days per fortnight, for the other
5 days of the fortnight I work for the Queensland
Trauma Registry. Jenni Ward and I job share the position,
but currently we are both working this position full time,
while there is no HIM person at this site.
specialises in applied econometrics.
He is interest in the research on
impacts of health policies, and
performance measurement of
health services. He has published
in Journal of Development
Studies; International Journal
of Environmental, Cultural, Economics and Social
Sustainability, and advisory experiences in various
agencies, including the World Bank, the European Union,
the Asian Development Bank and Queensland Health. He
is a member of International Association of Agricultural
Economists, International Health Economics Association,
Australian Health Economics Society, and the Australian
Agricultural and Resources Economics Society.
Chesne McGrath has been
Elizabeth Kendall
completed her PhD on adjustment
following traumatic brain
injury and received the Dean’s
Commendation for Outstanding
PhD Thesis (University of
Queensland). She was the
foundation Research Director of
the Centre for Human Services (Rehabilitation) where
she managed the development of an international
research agenda. In 1995, she accepted a Motor
Accident Insurance Commission Research Fellowship
during which she attracted large nationally competitive
research grants and consultancies. She was awarded
a medal for Excellence in Research Supervision
in 1999 and another for her contribution to the
Logan Community in 2001. In the last year, she has
been invited to publish in four highly competitive
international journals in disability and rehabilitation
and has been an invited keynote speaker at four
international conferences. In 2001, she was appointed
as Associate Professor of Social and Behavioural
Sciences. In this role, she manages the research agenda
of one of the core research streams of CONROD.
Helen Lapsley is a
senior health economist whose
publications include economic
analysis and evaluation relating to
health services, hospital and health
care costs, quality in health care,
the medical workforce and costs
and outcomes of interventions
and treatments for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid
arthritis. She has undertaken extensive research on the
economics of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. She
is a member of the N.S.W. Medical Board, a National
Councillor of the Australian Healthcare Association, a
member of the National Expert Advisory Committee on
Tobacco, and the National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal
Conditions Advisory Group. Consultancies have
included economic analysis and policy review for the
Australian commonwealth and state governments, the
World Bank, the World Health Organisation and the
International Red Cross.
Robyne Le Brocque is an
NHMRC Research Fellow and is
currently managing the multi-site
study “Cognitive Impairments and
Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms
in Children with Traumatic Brain
Injury” in Brisbane and Melbourne.
Robyne’s main research interest
is in child and adolescent psychopathology. She has
worked extensively on longitudinal research studies and
specialises in quantitative research methodologies. She
is a member of the International Society for the Study
of Behavioral Development and the Society for Life
History research on Psychopathology.
with CONROD since 1999 as
Personal Assistant to the Director,
and has watched the Centre grow
into an exciting and stimulating
state-of-the-art Research Centre.
Prior to joining CONROD Chesne
spent over 13 years working in the
Middle East and enjoyed the multicultural nature of the
working environment.
Belinda Murray
commenced work as a research
assistant at CONROD in May 2005.
She provides assistance to the
Deputy Director/Professor Justin
Kenardy and is currently involved
in research investigating cognitive
and psychological functioning
(particularly post-traumatic stress symptoms) in children
following a traumatic brain injury. After completing
a BA (Psych) at the University of Queensland, Belinda
worked in a number of roles within Children’s Services
in London, UK. Belinda then returned to UQ and
completed Honours in Psychology in 2004, and plans
to begin a combined PhD in Clinical Psychology and
Clinical Neuropsychology in 2007.
Delia O’Brien has worked
for QTR for the past 2 years. She
also works in the Emergency
Department at Redcliffe Hospital.
Delia has many years emergency
nursing experience in various roles
both nationally and internationally.
Delia also spent 5 years as CNC
Research at the RBH. Her interests include triage,
trauma management and the elderly patient in the
ED. Delia is an active member of the College of
Emergency Nursing Australia (CENA) with a position
on the Queensland Management committee and a role
as coordinator for the Trauma Nursing Program (TNP)
education system. Her current research interest is the
criteria for trauma team notification.
Katherine Olsson
commenced work as a research
assistant at CONROD in June 2006.
She provides assistance to Professor
Justin Kenardy on the NH&MRC
project “Cognitive Impairments and
Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms
in Children with Traumatic Brain
Injuries (TBI)”. She conducted her honours thesis on
the first stage of data from the TBI study and hopes to
publish her thesis in 2007.
13
STAFF PROFILES
CONTINUED
STAFF PROFILES
CONTINUED
Nick Penney has been at
Cherry Sedgman is
Carolyn Starrett has
CONROD as a part time PhD
student since 2002, combining his
research with private practice as
an Osteopath. Nick previously was
a member of the multidisciplinary
committee responsible for the
production of the New Zealand
guidelines for the management of acute low back
pain and recently as a steering committee member of
the Australian Acute Musculoskeletal Pain Guidelines
Group. His research is in the biopsychosocial model of
low back pain, scheduled for completion in 2008.
the Trauma Registry Nurse
Coordinator at Rockhampton
in Central Queensland. The
Rockhampton Hospital services a
local population of 65,000 and a
regional population of 200,000.
The Emergency Department (ED)
treats approximately 34,000 patients annually. Cherry
has accomplished a number of achievements including
a certificate in Emergency Nursing, Advanced Life
Support, Nurse Initiated X-rays, Introduction to Critical
Care and has acted as Nurse Practice Coordinator in
the Emergency Department. During her time in ED,
Cherry has also contributed greatly by researching and
formulating many of the current ED clinical policies.
Having worked in the Emergency Department in
Rockhampton for fourteen years, she has acquired a
vast amount of knowledge in this area. Since November
2001 she has continued to work as a Clinical Nurse
in ED as well as doing the two days per week as the
Trauma Registry Nurse Coordinator.
worked with the Queensland
Trauma Registry for three years as
a research assistant. Her main role
is to collect data and code injuries
for the paediatric component of
the Queensland Trauma Registry.
She continues to work part-time
as a community nurse and do the AID coding for two
insurance companies in Brisbane. Carolyn’s nursing
background in intensive care, neurosurgery and
coronary care enhances her ability to code complex
injury cases.
Lisa Rasmussen has
17 years emergency nursing
experience, including 10 years of
helicopter primary and secondary
response work with the Nambour
Hospital Retrieval Team. As well as
working for QTR, Lisa continues
to maintain her clinical skills
working as a Clinical Nurse in the Nambour Hospital
Emergency Department. She has a achieved a number
of accreditations including TNCC; ENPC, PHTLS, ALS,
PALS, and continues her professional development
through conference attendance and other courses.
Although interested in all areas of trauma care, she
has a special interest in geriatric trauma, mass casualty
management, and quality improvement processes/
techniques.
Shelley Shepherd was
appointed as Trauma Registry
Nurse Coordinator at Ipswich
Hospital in August 2001. Shelley
continues as a Clinical Nurse within
the Emergency Department at
Ipswich Hospital through a dual
appointment. Shelley completed
a Graduate Diploma of Emergency Nursing through
the University of Adelaide and the Royal Adelaide
Hospital in 1996. Shelley has clinical experience in
a variety of settings, from rural Primary Health Care
Centres through to Emergency Departments in tertiary
referral hospitals. Establishment of the Trauma Review
Committee combined with the ongoing review process
of the QTR is supporting and maintaining trauma
management standards within Ipswich Hospital and it
collaborative partners.
Deb Sunners joined
CONROD as Business Manager in
July 2001. The role has offered
exciting challenges due to the
steady growth in CONROD
operations, particularly during
2003. In 2000 she completed a
Bachelor of Social Science (HRD)
part-time. Previously Deb was the administrative
officer within the School of Medicine at Herston,
having moved to that position from the School of
Nursing at QUT where she managed the student and
clinical administration.
Cheryl Swanson
Following a previous research
life with the UQ Department
of Surgery (Division of
Orthopaedics) at the Royal
Brisbane Hospital campus, Dr
Cheryl Swanson joined CONROD
in 2003 and is Programme
Leader for the Health Outcomes Programme. In this
time she has been establishing research links with
teaching hospitals (RBWH, PAH) and community-based
organizations (PQAQ, ILC). Her research interests
include outcomes following serious injury in adults,
particularly in terms of mapping the process from
acute care to community living and identifying barriers
to such, and the application of the International
Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health to
health outcomes research.
Jenni Ward has been a
Registered Nurse since 1977,
and Endorsed Midwife since 1979.
She has worked in a variety of
remote and rural settings, the
Royal Flying Doctor Service and
large metropolitan hospitals.
Jenni joined the Australian Army
Reserve as a nursing officer in 1987 and has attained
the rank of Major. She has a number of civilian
qualifications including Diploma of Applied Science
(Nursing); Bachelor of Applied Science (Nursing);
Master of Health Science (Nursing), Certificate IV
Workplace Training and Assessment. She has recently
undertaken the Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC);
Course in Advanced Trauma Nursing (CATN) and
Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) course. Jenni
is a Justice of the Peace; Fellow of the Royal College
of Nursing, Australia; and a member of the College
of Emergency Nursing Australia; and the College of
Nursing. Jenni was a Clinical Nurse/Facilitator in the
Emergency Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital
before joining the Queensland Trauma Registry as
Clinical Nurse Consultant in December 2005 in a job
sharing capacity with Dale Mason.
Cecilia Wilson is a
physiotherapist working in
research. She has spent many
years in clinical practice both in
the public and private sectors
and has extensive health service
management experience both
at home and overseas, having
worked in the health care sector in six different
countries. Currently she works in CONROD as a
research manager within the musculoskeletal research
program. Her research interests are in the fields of
osteoarthritis, physical activity, health outcomes,
outcome measurement and ageing.
15
GRANTS
ACHIEVEMENTS AND
HIGHLIGHTS
\\Progression of the International Benchmarking
in Trauma Outcomes Study, with the inclusion of
trauma registry data from Australia, New Zealand,
United States, Canada and Germany.
\\Participation on the Queensland Trauma Data
Scoping Project.
\\Hosting the 29th Australian Conference of Health
Economists; and presentation of a novel paper (with
Butler) entitled “Overinsurance” at the International
Health Economics Association (iHEA) meeting in
Copenhagen, Denmark.
\\Professor Kenardy was elected Fellow of the
Australian Psychological Society.
\\Participation in the Statewide Trauma Clinical
Network, and implementation of the Queensland
Trauma Plan
\\Child Trauma Screening Questionnaire is now
available on CONROD website.
\\Dr Jim Elliott was awarded a joint CCRE/UQ
postdoctoral research fellowship to commence
in January 2008, to investigate muscle and
inflammatory changes following whiplash injury.
\\Successful ARC Linkage grant with multiple
partners worth $1.3 million to investigate
partnerships as a basis to service delivery planning
in the community.
\\Dr Sterling was a keynote speaker at American
Association of Orthopedic Physical Therapists
conference St, Louis, October 2007.
\\Publications in highest impact journals in our
field (American Journal of Public Health; Impact
Factor 3.7 and Social Science and Medicine;
Impact Factor 2.7).
\\Dr Sterling was an invited speaker at
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia Biennial
conference, Cairns, October 2007.
\\MAA (NSW) Guidelines for Management of Acute
Whiplash released in October 2007. Dr Sterling was
a member of the Technical Advisory Group.
\\Award of an NHMRC project grant (with Vicenzino
et al.) of $358,700.
\\Award of an ARC-Linkage grant (with Butler) of
$280,039 with industry partner, the ACT-NRMA
Road Safety Trust.
\\Memorandum of Agreement signed with
Queensland Health and General Practice
Queensland to engage in planning for improved
service delivery and translation of knowledge
into practice.
\\Griffith University commitment to fund additional
Research Fellow and Project Officer from
2008 onwards to contribute to the MAIC/CONROD
research agenda in Vocational and Community
Rehabilitation.
Grants awarded in 2007 for commencement in 2008
Grant:
RCH Foundation Near Miss Grant
Title:
Medical traumatic stress in children and their parents following paediatric intensive care unit
(PICU) admission
Investigators:
Dr Robyne Le Brocque
Professor Justin Kenardy
Year:
2008
Amount:
$50,000
Grant:
RCH Foundation top-up PhD Scholarship
Title:
The role of memory in children’s distress following admission to PICU
Investigators:
Belinda Murray
Year:
2008
Amount:
$5,000 over 3 years
Grant:
GURG and RCCPI
Title:
Developing a local response so multicultural health
Investigators:
S Henderson and Prof Elizabeth Kendall
Year:
2008-2010
Amount:
$18,000 + $5,000
Grant:
PA Foundation Grant
Title:
Health status and economic outcomes of critically ill trauma patients
Investigators:
Dr Leanne Aitken, Dr Wendy Chaboyer, Prof Elizabeth Kendall, C Joyce
Year:
2008-2009
Amount:
$50,000
Grant:
Connecting Healthcare in Communities Service Innovation Grants
Title:
A test of the multi-cultural natural helper model
Investigators:
Prof Elizabeth Kendall and S Henderson
Year:
2008-2010
Amount:
$247,561
Grant:
NHMRC Career Development Award
Title:
Whiplash injury: classification, prediction and directives for improved management strategies.
Investigators:
Dr Michele Sterling
Year:
2008-2011
Amount:
$370,000
17
GRANTS
CONTINUED
GRANTS
CONTINUED
Grant:
University of Sydney Near Miss Funding
Grant:
Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute
Title:
A new treatment for chronic whiplash
Title:
Investigators:
Prof Chris Maher, Dr Michele Sterling, Prof Gwen Jull, Dr Jane Latimer, Prof Luke Connelly.
Implementation, sustainability and generalisation of Exemplary models of Primary Health Care
service delivery in rural and remote Australia: a case study analysis.
Year:
2008
Investigators:
Prof John Wakeman, Mr Robert Wells and Dr Pim Kuipers
Amount:
$50,000
Year:
2006-2007
Amount:
$286,000
Grant:
NHMRC Equipment Grant
Title:
State-of-the-art wireless electromyography (EMG) system for clinical research
Grant:
NHMRC Centre for Clinical Research Excellence
Investigators:
Prof Paul Hodges, Prof Gwen Jull, Dr Julia Treleaven, Dr Michele Coppieters, Dr Kylie Tucker,
Dr Shaun O’Leary, Dr Venerina Johnston, Dr Michele Sterling, Prof Justin Kenardy,
Dr Andy Creswell
Title:
Spinal Pain, Injury and Health
Investigators:
Prof Paul Hodges, Prof Gwendolyn Jull, Prof Wayne Gibbon, Prof Dr Michelle Sterling, Prof Justin
Kenardy, Prof Bill Vincenzino, Prof Peter Brooks, Dr Amanda Cresswell, A/Prof Luke Connelly.
Year:
2008
Year:
2007-2011
Amount:
$120,000
Amount:
$2,000,000
Grant:
ARC Discovery Grant
Title:
The development of chronicity following whiplash injury- the fear avoidance model versus a
neurobiological stress model
On-going grants 2007
Grant:
Investigators:
Dr Michelle Sterling, Prof Justin Kenardy, Dr Chris Maher, Dr Ross Darnell
Title:
The Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine
Year:
2007-2009
Investigators:
Prof Nicholas Bellamy, Prof Luke Connelly, Prof Graham Hughes, Prof Justin Kenardy,
Prof Elizabeth Kendall, Dr Michele Sterling
Amount:
$412,632
Year:
2005-2010
Grant:
ARC Linkage Project
Amount:
$9,217,667
Title:
Motor vehicle injuries: economic evaluation of a new treatment modality
Investigators:
Prof JR Butler and Prof Luke Connelly
ARC Linkage Grant
Year:
2007-2010
Title:
An empirical evaluation of an innovative occupational stress intervention to improve the health
and retention of high-risk employees
Amount:
$87,236.00
Investigators:
A/Prof Paula Brough, Prof Elizabeth Kendall, Prof Mike O’Driscoll, Prof B Myors, Mr CS Cehrke
Grant:
Genzyme Biosurgery Inc
Year:
2005-2008
Title:
Normative Data Study (Australia)
Amount:
$190,327
Investigators:
Prof Nicholas Bellamy
Year:
2007
Amount:
$54,000
Grant:
Grant:
Merck Sharp & Dohme
Title:
REFLECT Study
Investigators:
Grant:
Year:
2005-2009
Title:
Osteoarthritis Measurement in routine Rheumatology Outpatient Practice (OMIRROP (Australia)
Amount:
$62,000
Investigators:
Year:
2007
Amount:
$12,000
19
GRANTS
CONTINUED
GRANTS
CONTINUED
Grant:
Grant:
NHMRC Project Grant
Title:
Validation of electronic data capture (EDC) using the WOMAC Index in total joint
replacement patients
Title:
Measuring adverse events: development of a Patient-Centred Adverse Event Reporting Tool
(PAET)
Investigators:
Investigators:
Year:
2007
A/Prof Marissa Lassere, Prof Nicholas Bellamy, Prof Richard Day,
Dr Rick Iedema, Dr Kent Johnson, Prof Peter Tugwell
Amount:
$70,000
Year:
2006-2008
Amount:
$447,250
Grant:
NHMRC Project Grant
Title:
Internet based cognitive behaviour therapy for the treatment of anxiety disorders among
adolescents
Grant:
Title:
Quasi-experimental evaluation of the introduction of quantitative measurement (QM) into
routine clinical care (Australia)
Investigators:
Year:
2007
Investigators:
A/Prof Justin Kenardy, Prof Sue Spence
Amount:
$60,000
Year:
2005-2007
Amount:
$527,688
Grant:
APHCRI
Title:
Does ongoing education and training enhance workplace attractiveness and thereby improve
retention of primary health workers practising in small rural and remote communities?
Grant:
NHMRC Health Services Research Grant
Title:
Establishment of Australian Centre for Economic Research on Health (ACERH)
Investigators:
Prof John Humphries, Prof John Wakerman, Dr Pim Kuipers, Mr Robert Wells
Investigators:
Year:
2007
Dr James Butler, A/Prof Luke Connelly, Prof D’Arcy Holman, Prof Warwick McKibbin,
Dr Alexandra Sidorenko
Amount:
$195,000
Year:
2005-2009
Amount:
$4,500,000
Grant:
NHMRC
Title:
Testing a home based rehabilitation programme for survivors of a critical illness: a randomised
controlled trial
Investigators:
Prof Doug Elliott, Prof Sharon McKinley, Prof Jennifer Alison, Dr Leanne Aitken,
Dr King Madeleine.
Year:
2005-2007
Amount:
$338,875
Grant:
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Critical Care and Neuroscience Grant
Title:
Neural Substrates of Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Children with Traumatic Brain Injury:
Piloting of Activation Paradigms in Normal Children and Adults
Investigators:
Ms Miriam Beauchamp, Ms Senem Eren, Dr Amanda Wood, Prof Justin Kenardy,
Dr Catherine Catroppa, Prof Vicki Anderson
Year:
2007
Amount:
$20,000
Grant:
The University of Queensland Major Equipment & Infrastructure Grant.
Title:
State-of-the-art three dimensional movement analysis system
Grant:
NHMRC Project Grants
Investigators:
Prof Paul Hodges, Prof Gwendolyn Jull, Dr Michelle Sterling, Prof Justin Kenardy,
Prof Bill Vincenzino, Prof Peter Brooks, A/Prof Andrew Cresswell, A/Prof Luke Connelly.
Title:
Effective management of acute whiplash injuries requires a pragmatic approach: An RCT with
stratified treatments
Year:
2007
Investigators:
Amount:
$155,000
Prof Gwendolyn Jull, Dr Michele Sterling, A/Professor Justin Kenardy, A/Prof M Cohen,
A/Prof Luke Connelly, Ms Elaine Beller.
Year:
2005-2007
Amount:
$378,450
Grant:
ARC Linkage Grant
Title:
Coalitions for community health: A community-based response to chronic disease
Investigators:
Prof Elizabeth Kendall, S Baum, Dr Heidi Muenchberger, Dr Tan Yigitcanlar and Ms Debbie Cowan
Year:
2007-2011
Amount:
$448,101
21
GRANTS
CONTINUED
GRANTS
CONTINUED
Grant:
NHMRC Project Grant
Grant:
Disability Services Queensland
Title:
Evaluation of internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy for the treatment of anxiety disorders
in adolescents
Title:
Spinal Injuries Research Project
Investigator/s:
Investigators:
Prof Sue Spence, A/Prof Justin Kenardy
Dr Pat Dorsett, Prof Lesley Chenoweth, Prof Elizabeth Kendall, Dr Heidi Muenchberger,
A/Prof Jayne Clapton
Year:
2005-2008
Year:
2007
Amount:
$512,300
Amount:
$75,000
Grant:
ARC Linkage Grants
Grant:
Griffith University Community Partnership
Title:
Prediction of outcome following whiplash injury: a Multicentre international prospective study
Title:
A Healthy Partnership in Logan
Investigators:
Dr Michele Sterling, Prof Gwendolyn Jull, A/Prof Justin Kenardy, A/Prof Luke Connelly
Investigator/s:
Prof Elizabeth Kendall, Prof Marianne Wallis, A/Prof Scott Baum, A/Prof Peter Howard
Year:
2005-2007
Year:
2007
Amount:
$1,210,770
Amount:
$17,000
Grant:
Wesley Mission
Grant:
CONROD/MAIC
Title:
YoungCare Evaluation
Title:
Vocational and Community Rehabilitation Research Agenda
Investigator/s:
Dr Heidi Muenchberger, Prof Elizabeth Kendall, A/Prof Judy Wollin, Dr J Batkin
Investigator/s:
Prof Elizabeth Kendall, Dr Heidi Muenchberger, Dr Tara Catalano, Prof Nick Buys
Year:
2007-2008
Year:
2007-2011
Amount:
$50,000
Amount:
$1,300,000
Grant:
ARC Linkage Grant
Grant:
Queensland Health
Title:
Psychological stress at work
Title:
Place-based Initiative Research Fellowships
Investigator/s:
A/Prof Paula Brough, Prof Elizabeth Kendall, Prof Mike O’Driscoll, Mr Craig Gehrke
Investigator/s:
Prof Elizabeth Kendall, Dr Heidi Muenchberger, A/Prof Scott Baum
Year:
2005-2007
Year:
2007-2010
Amount:
$245,000
Amount:
$997,086
Grant:
Wesley Mission
Grant:
Title:
Youngcare: An age appropriate home for people with disabilities
Title:
BRAKE Research Project
Investigator/s:
Dr Heidi Muenchberger, Prof Elizabeth Kendall, A/Prof Judy Wollin, and Dr Pat Dorsett
Investigator/s:
Prof Elizabeth Kendall
Year:
2007
Year:
2007-2008
Amount:
$45,000
Amount:
$90,245
Grant:
ABOIS
Grant:
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences/ MAIC
Title:
Steps: Negotiating the community following brain injury
Title:
Development of clinical measures for the assessment of whiplash injury
Investigator/s:
Dr Heidi Muenchberger and Prof Elizabeth Kendall
Investigator/s:
Dr Michele Sterling, Prof Bill Vicenzino
Year:
2007
Year:
2007-2008
Amount:
$40,000
Amount:
$26,000
23
TITLE
HERE
Grant:
Physiotherapy Research Foundation
Title:
Characterization of whiplash injury
Investigator/s:
Mr Andy Chien, Dr Michele Sterling
Year:
2007-2008
Amount:
$10,000
Grant:
MAIC Grants
Title:
Development of a preventative intervention for traumatic stress in children following injury
Investigator/s:
Prof Justin Kenardy
Year:
2007
Amount:
$10,000
COLLABORATIONS IN
2007
Within Faculty
\\Department of Corrective Services
\\Professor Peter Brooks, Executive Dean, Faculty of
Health Sciences, The University of Queensland
\\Department of Families Youth and Community Care
\\Emeritus Professor Barry Nurcombe, Dept of
Psychiatry, The University of Queensland
\\Disability Services Queensland
\\Department of Industrial Relations
\\Dr Jennifer Fleming, Division of Occupational
Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation
Sciences
\\Dr Alex Klestov, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Brisbane
\\Professor Gwendolyn Jull, Department of
Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation
Sciences
\\Dr Gerry FitzGerald, Queensland Health
\\Dr Michele Sterling, Department of Physiotherapy,
\\Dr Tamara Ownsworth, Division of Occupational
therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation
Sciences
Across Faculty
\\A/Professor Justin Kenardy, School of Psychology,
\\Dr Cliff Pollard, Queensland Trauma Committee,
Royal Australasian College of Surgeons
\\Dr Jennifer Alison, School of Physiotherapy,
University of Sydney
\\Dr Kirsten McKenzie, National Centre for Classification
in Health, Queensland University of Technology
\\Dr Madeleine King, Centre for Health Economics,
Research and Evaluation, University of Technology,
Sydney
\\Dr Michele Foster (Research Centre for Clinical
Practice Innovation, Griffith University)
\\Dr Natasha Posner (UNSW)
\\Professor Sue Spence, School of Psychology, The
University of Queensland
\\Dr Phillip Vecchio, Princess Alexandra Hospital,
Brisbane
\\A/Professor Graham Galloway, Centre for Magnetic
Resonance, The University of Queensland
\\Dr Rachel Moorin, Australian Centre for Economic
Research on Health (ACERH, UWA)
National
\\Education Queensland
\\A/Professor Elizabeth Kendall, Centre for Human
Services, Griffith University
\\General Practice Queensland
\\A/Professor Lyn March, University of Sydney
\\Insurance Australia Group (IAG)
\\A/Professor Nicholas Buys, School of Human
Services, Griffith University
\\Jacana Brain Injury services
\\Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service
\\Arthritis Queensland
\\Associate Professor Elizabeth Kendall (Centre for
Work, Leisure and Community, Griffith University)
\\Associate Professor Robyn Tate (Rehabilitation
Studies Unit, University of Sydney)
\\Brisbane Southside Central Division of General
Practice
\\Inergise Rehabilitation
\\Job Futures
\\Logan Area Division of General Practice
\\Logan-Beaudesert Health Coalition
\\Loganlea State High School
\\Mater Children’s Hospital
\\Mr Owen Allen (Services for Australian Rural and
Remote Allied Health)
\\Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service
\\Mr Paul Dickson (Centre for Work, Leisure and
Community, Griffith University)
\\CRS Australia
\\Mr Raymond Quinn (ABIOS, PAH)
\\Department of Communities
\\Ms Catherine Sykes (Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare)
25
COLLABORATIONS IN 2007
CONTINUED
\\Ms Cathy Pilecki, Motor Accident Insurance
Commission
\\Ms Delena Amsters (SPOT, PAH)
\\Ms Glenda Price (PAH Spinal Unit)
\\Ms Kiley Pershouse (SPOT, PAH)
\\Ms Lynette Guy, Centre for Human Services, Griffith
University
\\Ms Melissa Kendall (Transitional Rehabilitation
Programme, PAH)
\\Ms Patricia Murphy, Centre for Human Services,
Griffith University
\\Queensland Police Service
Progress towards achieving each of the objectives is
summarised below.
\\Queensland Self-Management Alliance
Report by Dr Fumiko Irie and Ms Jacelle Lang
The Queensland Trauma Registry has been fully
operational in 14 sites across Queensland during 2007.
These sites include Cairns, Mackay and Townsville in
the Northern Zone, Nambour, Redcliffe, Caboolture,
Rockhampton and Royal Brisbane and Women’s in
the Central Zone and Gold Coast, Ipswich, Princess
Alexandra and Toowoomba in the Southern Zone. In
addition, two paediatric sites of Mater Children’s and
Royal Children’s are operational. The operation of the
Registry at Mt Isa has been problematic during 2007 due
to the chronic staff shortage being experienced by the
hospital, which has resulted in no nurse being allocated
to the Trauma Registry Nurse Coordinator role.
\\Rehabilitation of Brain Injured Children and
Neuromuscular Disorders (ROBIN)
\\Riding for the Disabled Association
\\Several small businesses in Logan
\\Stroke Support Group
\\Wesley Hospital Multi-disciplinary Pain Programme
\\Wesley Mission
\\Work Directions Australia
\\Ms Sue Walker, National Centre for Classification in
Health, Queensland University of Technology
\\WorkCover Queensland
\\Ms Veronica O’Neill, Centre for Human Services,
Griffith University
\\Ms Vivienne Tippett, Australian Centre for
Prehospital Research, Queensland Ambulance Service
\\Multicultural Health Network
\\National Stroke Foundation
\\North Brisbane Division of General Practice
\\PriceWaterhouse Coopers
\\Princess Alexandra Hospital – Rehabilitation Unit
\\Professor D’Arcy Holman, Australian Centre for
Economic Research on Health (ACERH, UWA)
\\Professor David Collins, Macquarie University
\\Professor Doug Elliott, Faculty of Nursing, University
of Sydney
\\Professor Gaven Andrews, University of New South
Wales
\\Professor Jim Butler, Australian Centre for Economic
Research on Health (ACERH, ANU)
\\Professor Sharon McKinley, Faculty of Nursing,
Midwifery & Health, University of Technology, Sydney
\\Professor Wendy Chaboyer, Research Centre for
Clinical Practice Innovation, Griffith University
\\Q-COMP
\\Queensland Council of Carers (QCC)
REPORTS
Programme 1 – ACUTE TRAUMA CARE
PROGRAMME
\\Queensland Health
\\MS Society
\\Ms Tara Catalano (Centre for Work, Leisure and
Community, Griffith University)
PROGRAMME
\\Youngcare
International
\\Alaska Native Science Commission
\\Dr George Wells, University of Ottawa, Canada
\\Dr Marie-Pierre Hellio le Graverand, Pfizer, USA
\\Dr Mostafa Analoui, Pfizer, USA
\\Dr Robert Bourne, University of Western Ontario,
Canada
\\Dr Sally Hartley (CICH, University of London)
\\Dr Sathapon Mongkolsrisawat, S. (Khon Kaen
University, Thailand)
\\Dr Shelton Brown, University of Texas
\\Dr. Bodil Landstad, Karolinska Instituet and MidSweden University
\\Indian Health Service
\\Mel & Enid Zuckerman Arizona College of Public
Health, Washington State University, USA
\\Ms Jane Campbell, University of Western Ontario,
Canada
\\Prof Peter Tugwell, University of Ottawa
\\Professor Anne Rogers at University of Manchester
\\Professor Catherine Marshall, University of Arizona
and Northern Arizona University
\\University of Hawaii (USA)
The Acute Trauma Care Programme focuses on all
aspects of injury management from the time of injury
through to discharge from acute care health services.
This programme was developed to incorporate and
expand upon the role of the Queensland Trauma
Registry by being multi-disciplinary and multi-speciality
in nature, crossing boundaries between pre-hospital
and in-hospital arenas.
The goal of the Acute Trauma Care Programme is to
enable improved trauma care by facilitating quality
improvement and practice change and informing policy
and legislation. Specifically, the programme aims to:
\\Provide a state-wide evidence base of serious
trauma,
\\Optimise the standard of trauma care provided
throughout Queensland,
\\Identify innovative, cost-effective and integrated
trauma care services,
\\Identify the factors that impact on recovery and
resumption of usual lifestyle of injured individuals,
and
\\Benchmark trauma care nationally and
internationally through the National Trauma
Registry Consortium (Australia and New Zealand).
More specifically, the objectives of the Queensland
Trauma Registry are a focus for the Acute Trauma Care
Programme and include:
\\Determining the incidence, cause, location,
explanatory variables, treatment and outcomes of
serious injury in Queensland,
\\Establishing benchmarks and identifying variations
in accepted standards of care for people who
experience serious injury in Queensland,
\\Facilitating clinical review and making
recommendations for changes in trauma
management throughout Queensland, and
\\Conducting scientific research to reduce future
incidence and burden of injury and improving
trauma management and outcomes.
The University of Queensland previously received
prescribed entity status under the Health Services
Regulation 2001, legally permitting Queensland
Health staff to release confidential ‘patient-identifying’
information to the QTR for the purposes of evaluating,
managing, monitoring and planning health services for
trauma patients. These data support trauma audit and
quality assurance activities at participating hospitals.
Data collected by the Queensland Trauma Registry is
also utilised within each of the hospitals in which QTR
operates and by other interested parties, including
government and university staff. The QTR provides
data for activities such as research, education and
auditing. Release of data follows strict guidelines and
a data request form is required to be completed before
data are released. During 2007 the QTR successfully
responded to 65 data requests from hospital clinicians
and external researchers, for application in activities
directed at informing policy and practice.
Finalisation of QTR data collection for 2006 cases
remained in progress during 2007. Annual site reports
and state-wide reports for 2005 were released in 2007.
These reports provide a summary of demographic,
injury, treatment and outcome data and facilitate
review of current trauma care as well as planning for
future trauma care.
Policies and procedures for data collection have been
reviewed on an ongoing basis, including improvements
to the Data Collection Manual and implementation of
the new edition of ICD-10-AM (5th Edition) for external
cause coding for all admissions from the 1st of January
2007. Upgrades to the QTR database also continue.
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PROGRAMME REPORTS
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Adherence to coding classification systems (including
ICD-10-AM and AIS) is reviewed on an annual basis
through the procedure of data cleaning. Predefined
queries that identify common data entry errors are
also included as part of the data cleaning process..
These checks, along with ad hoc data quality checks
are performed on a regular basis, Results of these
quality assurance processes, as well as results of the
coding exercises, inform the training programme which
is provided on a continuous basis within the Registry.
The training programme is multi-dimensional and
includes monthly staff meetings, biannual workshops, a
quarterly QTR newsletter and an email/telephone help
desk for coding assistance.
EDIS has now been implemented in each hospital across
QLD, and all QTR staff are able to identify relevant
patients through standard reporting. The process of
matching QTR cases to discharge diagnoses reports
provided by the Health Information services of all QTR
hospitals, continues to identify approximately 5 - 10%
of cases who bypass ED or who are not identified
through routine screening mechanisms.
Dr Fumiko Irie was appointed to the position of Senior
Research Fellow for the Acute Trauma Care Program.
CONROD continued to contribute, together with other
stakeholders, to the implementation of the Queensland
Trauma Plan, which received in principle support from the
Queensland State Cabinet. Prof Bellamy also contributed
to the Data Scoping Project, the Trauma Quality Council
and the State-wide Trauma Clinical Network.
CONROD continued to provide principle financial support
for the National Trauma Registry Consortium (Australia
and New Zealand) to sustain the running of the project,
and hosted the secretariat. The Centre continues to seek
external support for this important initiative.
There were a number of publications and presentations
from both the Queensland Trauma Registry and the
National Trauma Registry Consortium (Australia and
New Zealand) and the detail of these can be found in
the “Publications” section of the Annual Report. In
brief, presentations included those by Seonaid Abbotts
(Falls Injury Prevention Collaborative - Data forum/
workshop, June 2007), and Delia O’Brien (Procedural
sedation - 6th International Emergency Nursing
PROGRAMME REPORTS
CONTINUED
conference, Melbourne, October 2007). Dr Jo Deverill
and Prof Leanne Aitken published a paper entitled
‘Treatment of extradural haemorrhage in Queensland:
Interhospital transfer, preoperative delay and clinical
outcome’ in Emergency Medicine Australasia.
Four abstracts were accepted and will be presented
by Fumiko Irie, Jacelle Lang, and Natalie Dallow at
the Population Health Congress 2008, Brisbane, July
2008, (Characteristics and outcomes of injury patients
in an Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander (ATSI)
population; The presence of complications is associated
with increased mortality in middle-aged and elderly
trauma patients; Road Traffic Crash (RTC)-related
injury: Mortality and burden on hospital resources in
Queensland; The characteristics of Road Traffic Crashrelated injury across different geographical areas in
Queensland).
Newsletters continue to be distributed to all Trauma
Registry Nurse Coordinators (TRNC) for the purposes
of ensuring TRNC are aware of activities happening
throughout QTR, as well as to provide education
regarding the coding process. In addition a number
of QTR hospital sites publish a local newsletter which
is distributed throughout the hospital and associated
health care areas and reviews aspects of care related to
trauma patients.
Trauma Review Activities
The trauma review and practice development activities
of the QTR are coordinated by the Trauma Review
Committees (TRC) operating in most sites. The TRCs
meet on a regular (between monthly and quarterly)
basis to review cases that have tripped a performance
indicator or have been identified as being worthy
of review for an additional reason. Regular reports
of summary data regarding performance indicators
for each hospital are provided to these forums as
requested. Recommendations are made, and policies
changed, that influence trauma care throughout the
region. Examples of recommendations and policy
changes brought about by the TRC process include:
\\Development/revision of trauma forms to improve
documentation
\\Improvement of communication between tertiary
and regional hospitals via improved referral
information
\\Development of protocols for spinal clearance
procedures
Staff Development
\\QTR staff have attended relevant conferences,
workshops and seminars and have themselves
delivered educational and information sessions
on site. The biannual workshops in particular
concentrate on developing knowledge of
coding practices, as well as skills and strategies
to effectively implement practice development
programs within each of the QTR hospitals and
surrounding health service districts.
Publications and Grant Submissions
Research manuscripts have been prepared and are
being submitted to peer review journals. These include
the following:
1. Characteristics and outcomes of injury patients
in an Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander (ATSI)
population- Queensland Trauma Registry, Australia
2. The presence of Complications is associated with
increased fatal outcomes in middle-aged and elderly
trauma patients- Queensland Trauma Registry,
Australia
3. The association between Pre-hospital/Emergency
Department Management and Developing
Complications among Trauma Patients- Queensland
Trauma Registry, Australia
Three grant applications are being prepared for
submission early next year to the Trauma Research
Grant (Queensland Health)
1. “Neuroendocrinological screening in head trauma
patients
2. “Obesity and Severe injuries”
3. “Endotracheal Intubation and GCS<9”
RESEARCH
Acute Trauma Care Programme staff participated in a
number of research projects during 2007.
Characteristics and outcomes following
serious traumatic injury in the elderly
This study was designed to describe, characterize and
compare the differences in injury characteristics and
outcomes in the elderly population (aged 65 years
and older). This study also aims to identify risk factors
for death and discharge placement following hospital
discharge. Data from the QTR (January 2003 – December
2006) will be analysed to examine these aims. During
2007, ethics applications were prepared and approval
was gained from the Princess Alexandra Hospital
Human Research Ethics Committee and the University of
Queensland Medical Research Ethics Committee.
Characteristics and outcomes following injury
in the ATSI population
Disadvantage and inequality of health in indigenous
populations, such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait
islanders (ATSI), compared to non-indigenous
populations is known to exist, however injury-related
health problems in indigenous people are rarely
noted and investigated. This study aims to compare
the characteristics and outcomes of injury in an ATSI
population to the non-ATSI population who are living
in Queensland, Australia. The manuscript is now in
progress of being written and will be submitted to an
appropriate peer-reviewed journal.
Impact of complications in trauma patients
The development of complications can lead to
increased risk of suboptimal outcomes in trauma
patients. Complications can also negatively impact on
the length of hospital stay and lead to excess medical
costs. The aims of this study are 1) to examine the
impact of pre-hospital and emergency department
management processes on developing complications
in trauma patients and 2) to examine the association
between the development of multiple complications
and risk of death in different age categories. Statistical
analysis has been completed and writing of the
manuscript is now in progress.
Predicting the probability of survival
following injury for the Queensland
population
The TRISS (TRauma and Injury Severity Score) method
has been the standard way of predicting outcome in
trauma patients for many years, however there are
alternative methods which may produce more accurate
predictions in the Queensland population. The aim
of this project is to tailor the TRISS methodology to
a Queensland setting thus enabling more accurate
predictions based on the data collected by the QTR.
Trauma Tracking Study
This collaborative project with the NCCH was designed
to determine the outcome of injured patients who
survived to hospital discharge three years post injury.
The second phase of the Trauma Tracking Study
examines 2003 data from all QTR sites. This study will
enable investigation of concordance of data coding
practices across the entire state and will also facilitate
investigation of trends in death across time and across
different geographical areas.
29
PROGRAMME REPORTS
CONTINUED
Traumatic Injury Recovery Study: The
management and prediction of early
recovery.
This study, conducted in collaboration with the Centre
for Work, Leisure and Community Research at Griffith
University, has been funded under the CONROD
collaborative grants scheme. It will (1) describe the
natural progress of early recovery from severe traumatic
injury in a population-based sample of adults (18 years
of age or older); (2) document the characteristics of
care and rehabilitation received by this sample and; (3)
identify the determinants of outcome in terms of injury
factors, psychosocial variables and early treatment
experiences of patients with severe injury.
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Programme 2 - REHABILITATION
(MEDICAL AND ALLIED HEALTH)
PROGRAMME
Report by Dr Michele Sterling, CONROD
Dr Michele Sterling joined CONROD as Director of the
Rehabilitation (Medical and Allied Health) program
in early 2007. The program produced several notable
achievements in 2007. The Centre for Clinical Research
Excellence (CCRE) in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health at
The University of Queensland in collaboration with
Hodges, Jull, Galloway, Kenardy, Cresswell, Connelly,
Vicenzino commenced. The multidisciplinary CCRE
creates new opportunities for research on effective and
cost-effective clinical interventions and education in this
area. The CCRE comprises a $2m grant, over five years,
from the National Health and Medical Research Council
(NHMRC). Dr Sterling was awarded a NHMRC Career
Development Fellowship of $360,000 commencing
in 2008. The program also played a role in the
development and implementation of Clinical Guidelines
for Whiplash Management produced by the Motor
Accident Authority of NSW and the Clinical Pathway
for Whiplash Management produced by TracSA, South
Australia. Dr Sterling was a member of the technical
advisory groups of both projects and was involved in
the education of primary care providers in NSW.
PROGRAMME REPORTS
CONTINUED
Members of Rehabilitation (Medical and Allied Health)
program presented invited papers at numerous
scientific meetings including: Australian Pain
Society Annual Meeting; Faculty of Pain Medicine
conference; Bone and Joint Decade Consumer Forum,;
Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia conference;
American Association of Orthopaedic Manual Therapy
(AAOMPT) conference in St Louis, USA.
The prediction of outcome following
whiplash injury
Recent data indicate that up to 60% of people will
develop persistent pain and disability following
whiplash injury and these people incur the vast majority
of costs. These studies funded by the Australian
Research Council (Linkage and Discovery grants) aim
to identify both physical and psychological factors
predictive of poor functional recovery following
whiplash injury. This will assist in the provision of early
intervention strategies as well as curtail claim costs.
The studies are multi-centre in design and include
collaborations with universities in Iceland, Canada,
USA, Melbourne and Sydney. The ARC Linkage project
has completed final recruitment of over 300 whiplash
injured people and follow-up assessments will be
finalized in 2008. Findings from this area of research
are now included in current Australian Guidelines for
Whiplash Management (Motor Accident Authority
-MAA, NSW). A number of publications have arisen
from this work including a recent systematic review
published in Pain. Postdoctoral fellow Dr Ben Chadwick
worked on these projects in 2007.
Physical (biological) processes underlying
painful musculoskeletal conditions
These studies aim to further develop understanding in the
pain processing mechanisms underlying musculoskeletal
pain including whiplash, neck pain and low back pain.
Methodologies such as Quantitative Sensory Testing,
measurement of nociceptor withdrawal reflexes, Magnetic
Resonance Imaging and measurement of inflammatory
biomarkers are utilised. These projects involve
collaborations with Professor Eli Eliav (University Medical
and Dental School, New Jersey, USA); Professor Michele
Curatolo (The University of Bern, Switzerland), Professor
Graham Galloway (Centre for Magnetic Resonance (UQ),
Associate Professor Ross Cunnington (Qld Brain Institute)
and Dr Peter Cabot (School of Pharmacy (UQ). Outcomes
include publications in Pain, Clinical Journal of Pain,
Manual Therapy. From these studies we have been able to
demonstrate that different pain processing mechanisms
underlie various spinal pain conditions. PhD scholars
Andy Chien and Cynan Lewis continued work in this area
investigating physiological processes underlying ongoing
pain following whiplash injury as well as low back pain.
Ashley Smith commenced his PhD in this area as a
remote candidate from Calgary, Canada. Cliffton Chan a
physiotherapy Honours student from the School of Health
and Rehabilitation Sciences also worked on these projects
in 2007. Dr James Elliott from Regis University in Denver,
USA was awarded a University of Qld postdoctoral
fellowship and commences work using MRI technology
in 2008.
Relationships between the physical
(biological) and psychological manifestations
of whiplash and neck pain
It is clear that whiplash and neck pain involve both
physical (biological) and psychological processes. This
Australian Research Council funded project utilizes
unique methodology to measure daily life function and
processes involved in recovery or the development of
persistent pain following whiplash injury. It explores
inter-relationships between physical (muscle and
sensory) function, psychological factors and the daily
life experiences of whiplash injured people from
soon after injury. This project is being conducted in
collaboration with the University of Sydney (Professor
Christopher Maher, PhD scholar Steve Kamper). Initial
findings have been published in Pain and The Clinical
Journal of Pain.
Classification of whiplash injury: translating
findings to clinical practice
The program has previously identified important
physical and psychological factors associated with
delayed recovery following whiplash injury. These
factors were identified using laboratory equipment.
These studies aim to develop and validate an
inexpensive clinical test kit and clinical prediction rule
for use in primary care practice. This will facilitate
improved diagnosis and classification of the whiplash
condition that will allow the targeting of appropriate
interventions and enhance recovery. Activity in this
area includes a completed study demonstrating
good agreement between laboratory measures and
the clinical tool in individuals with chronic whiplash
submitted to Manual Therapy. In addition a provisional
patent has recently been filed on a portable device to
measure cold pain threshold (one prognostic indicator
identified by our group) (Dr Sterling and Matthew
Greaves (Hydrexia engineering) in conjunction with
Uniquest). Plans to license the device are underway.
Development of innovative rehabilitation
interventions for whiplash associated disorder.
An NHMRC funded randomised controlled trial (RCT)
led by Prof Gwendolen Jull, Division of Physiotherapy,
The University of Queensland. The trial has attained full
recruitment with the study follow-up period expected
to be completed in late 2008. This study investigates an
early pragmatic multidisciplinary management approach
to whiplash injury. This is in contrast to current
management where multidisciplinary approaches are
only applied once the condition is chronic.
Staffing
Dr Ben Chadwick commenced as a postdoctoral
fellow in 2007 and brings expertise in the area of
psychological processes involved in pain. Lynette
Kaergaard commenced as a Research Assistant and was
involved in most of the studies, particularly with respect
to participant recruitment.
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Programme 3 - HEALTH ECONOMICS
AND HEALTH SYSTEMS PROGRAMME
Report by Associate Professor Luke Connelly and
Associate Professor Helen Lapsley
The Health Economics and Health Systems (HEHS)
Program recruited two full-time staff members, Dr Hong
Son Nghiem and Ms Susan Gargett, in 2007. Dr Nghiem
is an expert in applied econometrics and Ms Gargett’s PhD
dissertation in health economics was submitted and under
examination in late 2007. The recruitment of these staff
is a very important development for the program and for
CONROD more generally, as it substantially expands the
Centre’s capacity in these key fields of economics.
The HEHS program had substantial success in 2007.
The program produced a number of publications in
peer-reviewed journals and participated in the conduct
of a number of competitively-funded (NHMRC and
ARC) projects, including the establishment of the
NHMRC-funded Centre for Clinical Research Excellence
in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health (CCRE Spine), and its
ongoing central role in NHMRC-funded Australian
Centre for Economic Research on Health (ACERH).
In 2007, the HEHS program was engaged in projects
with national competitive funding totalling more than
eight million dollars.
31
PROGRAMME REPORTS
CONTINUED
The HEHS program made significant contributions to
service in the international and national arenas via
conference presentations and committee work, and to
education via its participation in the delivery of the UQ
Master of Health Economics (and related programs) and
the recruitment and supervision of doctoral students.
For example, the program was also involved in the
primary supervision of five doctoral students at The
University of Queensland and the associate supervision
of one doctoral candidate at ANU.
The highlights for the HEHS program include two new
grant awards. Butler (ACERH ANU) and Connelly made
a successful ARC-Linkage application for a project
entitled Motor Vehicle Injuries: Economic Analysis of
a New Treatment Modality with industry partner the
NRMA Road Safety Trust. The grant funding of $280,039
over 3 years will be used to evaluate a randomised
controlled trial in the ACT for musculoskeletal injuries
due to road traffic crashes. Vicenzino, Brooks, Connelly
et al. made a successful application to the National
Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) for a
project entitled Optimising Corticosteroid Injection for
Lateral Epicondylalgia with Physiotherapy: a Randomised
Placebo-Control Trial. Grant funds of $358,700 over
three years were awarded. Both projects will commence
in 2008.
A number of papers were published, accepted for
publication, or presented at national and international
conferences. Of particular note were two papers that
were accepted in the international journals Spinal Cord
and the Journal of Trauma and a joint paper in the
journal Injury with colleagues from across the CONROD
research streams. A highlight of the year, in terms of
influence in policy and practice as well as scientific
impact, was the publication of a paper by Kulasingham,
Connelly, Conway et al. on the cost-effectiveness
of a national HPV vaccination program in Australia
in the CSIRO journal Sexual Health. This economic
evaluation of the “cervical cancer vaccine” formed
the basis of a submission to government in late 2006,
which resulted in the rapid adoption of a vaccination
program for Australian schoolgirls. The program
presented at a range of conferences including the 6th
International Health Economics Association meeting
in Copenhagen and the Australian Health Economics
Society conference in Brisbane. The latter was hosted
by the health economics teams at CONROD and ACERH
UQ in 2007.
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PROGRAMME REPORTS
CONTINUED
Programme 4 – SOCIAL AND
BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE PROGRAMME
Report by Professor Justin Kenardy
Traumatic Injury and Post Traumatic Stress
Symptoms in Children
The traumatic injury project is designed to explore the
psychological adjustment in children following traumatic
injury and hospital admission, to develop assessment
tools in order to predict at-risk status following traumatic
injury, and to develop and evaluate both preventative
interventions for at-risk children and treatment options
for children who develop symptoms of post traumatic
stress. Data analysis has been ongoing for the research
exploring the psychological adjustment of children
following traumatic injury. In total nine papers have
been published and several more are currently under
review from this data. In addition, we continue to
present results at national and international meetings.
Professor Anne Kazak from University of Pennsylvania,
a world leader in child medical trauma, visited our
program and consulted with staff and students about
our mutual research endeavours. Professor Kazak also
presented a public lecture on medical traumatic stress.
Formal collaboration was established with Professor
Nancy Kassam-Adams from The Children’s Hospital of
Philadelphia resulting in a joint grant proposal being
submitted. Professor John Briere from University of
Southern California, a world leader in the assessment of
child traumatic stress, visited our program and consulted
with staff and students about our assessment measures.
A grant was awarded by the Royal Children’s Hospital
Foundation to Professor Justin Kenardy and Dr Robyne
Le Brocque to examine the psychological impact of
admission to paediatric intensive care. Belinda Murray
commenced her PhD on this topic. She received support
from an Australian Postgraduate Award, and Royal
Children’s Hospital Foundation. Alexandra De Young’s
PhD in psychological impact of paediatric burns in under
6 year olds continues.
Traumatic brain injury and post traumatic
stress symptoms in children
This project is aimed at developing a better
understanding of the interaction between cognitive
impairment and post traumatic stress symptoms in
children with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Recruitment
for our longitudinal study on posttraumatic stress and
traumatic brain injury in children finished with numbers
recruited in excess of 200, making this the largest study
of its kind.
Most data have been coded and entered for data
analysis. Data cleaning is in progress. A new NHMRC
grant proposal has been submitted to explore the
outcomes of TBI after 18 months post injury. One paper
has been published in an international journal based
on the data. Several presentations have been made at
national and international meetings.
Whiplash and post traumatic stress disorder
In collaboration with the School of Physiotherapy,
the whiplash project is aimed at exploring both the
physical and psychological factors relating to whiplash
rehabilitation. The project focuses on three major
areas including prediction of outcome following
whiplash, the development of a screening tool, and
the development of new treatment pathways. Along
with Michele Sterling, Justin Kenardy was awarded
an Australian Research Council Discovery grant to
explore possible mechanisms for chronicity of whiplash
injury. ARC-Linkage funded research exploring the
development of a screening tool is progressing.
Recruitment for the research into the development
of new treatment pathways is also ongoing. Rachel
Dunn, is successfully progressing with recruitment for
a series of studies exploring the relationship between
pain sensitivity and post traumatic stress symptoms.
In addition to her Australian Postgraduate Award, she
received a top-up scholarship from the NHMRC CCRESpinal Health to support her studies. A website for the
dissemination of consumer-oriented health information
on whiplash was completed.
Staffing
Greg Iselen has been appointed as Research Officer for
the Social and Behavioural Sciences Program. Mr Iselen
is a an experienced researcher who brings significant
expertise in a variety of research areas to the program.
year and the stream hosted three visiting fellows for
six months, Drs. Landstad (Mid-Sweden University,
Sweden), Dr. Alricsson (Lund University, Sweden)
and Dr. Hedlund (Trondheim University, Norway),
who completed a collaborative project funded by
the Swedish government on vocational rehabilitation
strategies. In addition, three visiting professors worked
with the team for three months (Prof. Rogers –
University of Manchester UK, Prof. Smeltzer – Villanova
University and Prof. Pilgrim – University of Lancashire).
During the year, the team produced six publications
and submitted another thirteen manuscripts. Nine
industry reports were finalised. There have been
nineteen successful research grants and consultancies,
and a further ten awaiting an outcome. Only four
grant submissions have been unsuccessful. Between
them, the team supervised two Honours students, two
Masters students and seven PhD students.
Several projects resulted in significant outcomes for
practice and policy this year. The team’s audit of
community rehabilitation competencies (Kendall,
Muenchberger, Catalano, 2006) was uploaded to
the Queensland Health website and has influenced
training across the state. They also contributed to the
development of a Graduate Certificate in Community
Rehabilitation, at Griffith University.
In addition, the team’s self-management research
was incorporated into the Flinders University selfmanagement curriculum and the Queensland Health
framework on self-management. The findings have
been disseminated to industry bodies and peak
organisations.
Report by A/Professor Elizabeth Kendall
The brain injury STEPS results were presented at the
Disability Services Queensland Shared Visions forum
(16 August, 22 September and 11 October) and
the Minister for Disability Services Regional Council
(Southside division) on 13th November, 2007. Griffith’s
research group has provided expertise and advice
for health services and rehabilitation providers in the
community on brain injury rehabilitation, younger
people with complex care needs following traumatic
injury/illness, and self-management following traumatic
injury/illness.
In 2007 the team at Griffith University consisted of a
full-time Associate Professor, two full-time Research
Fellows and six part-time support staff. Eight key
projects were commenced or progressed during the
Research findings in the area of vocational
rehabilitation are being used in the training delivered
by the Accident Compensation Corporation in New
Zealand.
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Programme 5 – VOCATIONAL AND
COMMUNITY REHABILITATION
PROGRAMME
33
PROGRAMME REPORTS
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Active research partnerships with key stakeholder
organisations and health services have been developed
to enable research to contribute to planning and policy
decisions, and to bring about the inclusion of MAIC in
these partnerships (e.g., Queensland Health, General
Practice Queensland, Wesley Mission, international
disability service providers).
The Projects:
Evaluation of the ABIOS STEPS intervention:
A statewide intervention.
This is a two year statewide prospective intervention
trial, being undertaken by A/Prof. Elizabeth Kendall,
Dr Heidi Muenchberger, and ABIOS collaborators – Ray
Quinn, Areti Kennedy and Sue Wright. The aim is to
increase an individual’s capacity to co-manage their
brain injury and enhance their psychosocial support
networks. Specifically, the STEPS program is a capacity
building 6 week intervention, which aims to facilitate
the self-management behaviours of individuals with
acquired brain injury and enhance support structures in
order for the individual and their family to cope better.
During the course, participants will learn about their
health and well being, how to manage difficulties with
their health and well being, while working towards a
common group goal.
Although the self-management approach seems to
have considerable promise for individuals with brain
injury, there is no evaluation research in this area
available to confirm its utility and promote it as a viable
rehabilitation intervention. This project represents the
first formal evaluation of the self-management initiative
for the brain injury population in Queensland.
The current pilot study aims to evaluate individual change
in health and well-being over time following participation
in the STEPS intervention. Specifically, the evaluation will
identify the indicators of success for the intervention and
the factors that facilitate positive outcomes.
Participant and carer data collection is nearing
completion for 12 sites, and Health practitioner leader
pilot interviews have been completed with peer leader
interviews scheduled for January/February 2008.
Results from the community engagement component
will be incorporated into the October ABIOS progress
report. Further community engagement analysis
will be undertaken by way of focus groups with
key stakeholder groups (community health service
managers and ABIOS personnel).
PROGRAMME REPORTS
CONTINUED
Traumatic Injury: Management of Recovery
and the prediction of well-being
This study involved a prospective cohort design, using
both quantitative and qualitative methods with data
collection at hospital discharge, three and six months
post-discharge. Ethical clearance was granted through
Griffith University, University of Queensland, Princess
Alexandra, Gold Coast and Royal Brisbane and Women’s
Hospitals Human Research Ethics Committees. The
investigators are A/Prof Elizabeth Kendall, Prof Wendy
Chaboyer, Dr Leanne Aitkin, and Prof. Nicholas Bellamy.
Data collection commenced in May 2006 at the Gold
Coast and Princess Alexandra Hospitals. Quantitative
surveys measuring demographics, injury and
treatment data, general health, self efficacy, illness
perceptions, autonomy, self advocacy, knowledge
and support, decision making styles and continuity of
care were administered.
To date, across both Gold Coast and Princess Alexandra
Hospitals, 67 discharge surveys have been completed
by participants. A further 15 three month postdischarge surveys have been completed and returned,
with further surveys being sent by mail to participants
at appropriate time intervals. No participants have
reached the six month post-discharge follow up
date. Data collection at the Royal Brisbane and
Women’s Hospital has been postponed due to staffing
issues outside of the research team’s control. Data
collection at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
commenced in November 2006. A sub-sample of 20
participants was interviewed at three and six month
intervals to examine participant treatment experiences
in more detail. The quantitative study will identify
the factors that should form the focus of any future
interventions while the qualitative study will inform the
nature and process of those interventions.
An Exploratory Pilot Study to Understand the
Support Needs of Volunteer Leaders of the
Self-Management Program.
Self-management has become a key component of
systems that respond to the needs of people with
chronic conditions and disabilities. The self-management
course maintains that participants gain skills and
knowledge to manage life with a chronic condition more
effectively. This course involves a small group education
process (10-15 participants), conducted for two hours
each week for six weeks. Programs are delivered in
community settings and facilitated by two trained
leaders, one of whom is often a layperson.
Although the CDSM course has been widely evaluated,
relatively little research has examined the experiences
of leaders. The relative dearth of research focused on
the recruitment, training, maintenance and support of
a network of quality leaders is surprising given that the
success and sustainability of courses within the Australian
system hinges on the availability and quality of leaders.
This project is the first of its kind, and is being undertaken
by A/Prof. Elizabeth Kendall and Ms Tara Catalano
in collaboration with Queensland Self-management
Alliance - Ms Beth Hunter. The research focuses directly
on understanding the experiences and support needs of
leaders of the course. The project aims to:
\\To explore the experiences, motivators, support and
ongoing training needs of Queensland leaders (both
health professionals and laypersons) trained to
deliver Self-Management courses;
\\To elucidate gaps or limitations in leaders’ skills,
knowledge, and confidence to deliver courses;
\\To develop recommendations for improving the
support and training offered to in order to target
and strengthen these areas.
To date the data analyses and final report have been
completed. An Undergraduate Honours Thesis and
a qualitative paper based on these findings have
been submitted, as has a qualitative paper based
on the interview data. A series of brochures are
being developed, based on the key findings and
recommendations.
Collective approaches to well-being:
Culturally respectful research.
This is a new project underpinned by the Indigenous
self-management project. The investigators A/
Prof. Elizabeth Kendall, Ms Leda Barnett, Dr Glenda
Nalder, Ms Vanessa Lee, will establish a partnership
of Indigenous communities in 2008, although
preliminary partnership meetings have been held.
The research focuses on collective approaches to
wellbeing and culturally respectful research. A number
of important principles in this research agenda are
being operationalised, and ways are being established
in which respectful research can occur in future. The
proposed principles are:
\\Formal negotiated research relationships with
traditional owners;
\\Respect for Indigenous ways of knowing and
Indigenous knowledge;
\\Promotion of participatory community-based
methods and localised responses to the needs of
Indigenous people;
\\Appropriate collaboration between Indigenous and
non-Indigenous researchers;
\\Commitment to growth and development of
Indigenous researchers.
A plan has been developed for implementing a network
of researchers (indigenous and non-indigenous) who
can contribute to this project. The project will be
running by 2008.
Intersections Symposium on therapeutic and
creative motivations for art making.
Art-making is used in disability and rehabilitation
contexts for both therapeutic and research
purposes. Therapeutic art programs aid with physical
rehabilitation as well as socio-emotional expression,
communication, identity and self esteem. In addition to
the therapeutic benefits of art making, researchers have
found that art works of various kinds can function as
a high quality qualitative data that describes the lived
realities and experiences of people with disability. In
some cases, art forms such as photography, painting,
or computer graphics actually replace other forms
of communication for people with disabilities who
have communication difficulties. The forthcoming
Intersections Symposium will bring community arts
practitioners together with health and community
workers and people with disability to enhance links
between creative and therapeutic motivations for art
making in community contexts. The Symposium will
be held at Griffith University South Bank 17-18 March
2008. The Symposium is being co-hosted by the Griffith
Abilities Research Program and CONROD-Griffith in
association with Access Arts Queensland.
\\A partnership between Access Arts Queensland and
Griffith University has been established to co-host
the Symposium;
\\A reference group comprised of academic
researchers and arts practitioners has been
assembled to advise on the content of the
Symposium and promoting the event;
\\A working group has been assembled to manage
the event. The working group is currently preparing
a sponsorship proposal and a proposal to publish
an edited volume with an international publisher
arising from the event.
35
PROGRAMME REPORTS
CONTINUED
The project will focus on educating the significant
number of professional arts and health workers
involved in disability and rehabilitation on the potential
of art-making as a therapeutic intervention. It will also
inform researchers and practitioners of the ethical
issues associated with using art as data. The Griffith
University partnership with Access Arts includes a plan
to submit a major ARC Linkage Projects grants on
pathways for employment for artists with disabilities in
2008. The investigators for this project are Dr Naomi
Sunderland, Dr. Heidi Muenchberger and Ms. Tara
Catalano, with collaborators - Emma Bennison and
Access Arts Queensland.
The development of Bi-lingual Natural
Helpers to address the lack of access to
services by culturally and linguistically
diverse (CALD) Australians in the community.
The team for this project includes: Associate Professor
Elizabeth Kendall & Dr Saras Henderson, with the
Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (Ms Hong
Do), MSIT TAFE (Ms Andrea Harris), Multilink Services
Inc (Mr. Peter Forday), AccesServices Inc (Ms. Gail Kerr),
the Multicultural Chronic Disease Partnership (Mr Fazil
Rostam, QLD Health Convenor, Southside District).
CALD communities experience significant
lack of access to services, resulting in the
need for the development of a culturally safe
model of service delivery for CALD people in
the community. This project focuses on the
use of natural helpers to work with CALD
communities to promote health and well
being. Researchers have shown how current
models of service delivery are inappropriate.
This new model incorporates the use of
formally trained Bi-Lingual natural helpers
drawn from the local community. By virtue
of their background and position in the
community, these natural helpers will draw
on their existing community linkages in a
culturally appropriate way to act as a bridge
between the communities and the service
system. They will advocate for improved
access, ensure that local communities are
consulted appropriately and support them in
their interpretation and use of services. It is
also important to ensure that local input is
equitable and that sustainability issues are
examined.
PROGRAMME REPORTS
CONTINUED
\\The commencement of a systematic review of the
literature on service delivery models currently being
used with CALD and mainstream communities
\\Regular meetings of partners between Griffith
University, ECCQ, SQIT TAFE, and Queensland
Health to articulate the scope of the project and
write the research proposal
\\Initial consultation with CALD community leaders
has commenced for engagement
\\Reviewing funding sources to progress the project
\\A framework to progress the project has been
developed
A review of the Spinal Cord Injuries Response
(SCIR)
The project will examine and report on the outcomes
of the Spinal Cord Injuries Response, benefits to
key stakeholders and the cost effectiveness of the
program. The team includes Dr Pat Dorsett, A/Prof
Elizabeth Kendall, Dr Heidi Muenchberger, Prof Lesley
Chenoweth, Dr Jayne Clapton, with Disability Services
Queensland, Queensland Health, Princess Alexandra
Hospital. Findings of the research will be used to inform
the strategic planning and policy formation of spinal
cord injury service delivery, and improve the service
planning for people with spinal cord injury.
To date the research methodology has been finalised,
with ethical clearance obtained from Griffith University
and The Princess Alexandra Hospital Human Research
Ethics Committees. Under Phase 1, a literature review
has been completed and reported on. During Phase 2
the Organisational Impact Evaluation commenced. This
involved consultation with key stakeholder organisations.
Interviews with key stakeholders (n=4) have been
conducted and the data analysis is underway. Three
focus groups have been conducted including participants
representing each of the SCIR partner organisations
and data analysis for this is also underway. Phase 3, the
Client Impact Evaluation, has commenced, as has the
recruitment of SCIR and non-SCIR clients. To date eight
interviews have been conducted.
Evaluation of Youngcare: An accommodation
option for people with high health and high
support needs
This study is an empirical evaluation of an independent
living option for younger people with continual care
needs. The investigators are Dr Heidi Muenchberger,
A/Prof Elizabeth Kendall, A/Prof Judy Wollin, with the
Wesley Mission Brisbane, Youngcare, School of Nursing
Griffith University.
Within a Logic model framework, the evaluation will
consider the contextual elements required to deliver
such a model of care, resources available, activities that
have/will occur, intermediate outcomes and overall
impact and sustainability of the initiative.
The methodology will be informed by a participatory
action framework and a theoretical model of personcentred practice. A longitudinal cohort study will
be undertaken using a mixed-methods design. Key
outcome indicators include individual quality of life
and community partnership experiences. Youngcare
residents, their family and staff working in the
Youngcare apartments will be invited to participate
in the evaluation. In addition, the perceptions of
key stakeholders involved in the implementation of
Youngcare will be sought.
To date, the evaluation plan has been approved by
Wesley Mission following full ethical clearance. Initial
interviews have commenced with carers, residents and
partnership members. Second round interviews are
anticipated for January 2008, once the residents have
made the transition from current care arrangements to
Youngcare. The research will contribute to a qualitative
documentation of the experience of people living
and working within the Youngcare accommodation
units. It will identify the factors that contribute to
the adjustment process for people with complex care
needs. It will also identify the nature and impact of the
implementation partnership surrounding the Youngcare
implementation.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
Programme 6 – MUSCULOSKELETAL
PROGRAMME
Report by Professor Nicholas Bellamy and Ms
Cecilia Wilson
The Musculoskeletal Medicine Program conducts a suite
of research projects directed at improving health status
evaluation procedures for established and experimental
interventions.
Australian Normative Data Study
The Normative Data Study is a nationwide communitybased study whose goal is to define populationbased normative values for hip, knee and hand
symptoms. The intended application of this research
is in benchmarking responses to treatment against
age and gender-specific normative values. In 2007,
60,000 members of the Australian general public were
targeted by two postal surveys and data received on
13,074 Australians. Data from the first survey were
presented at scientific conferences in Sydney and
Barcelona in mid 2007. Data from the second survey
have been submitted for presentation at scientific
conferences in Paris and Adelaide in 2008. Preparation
of papers for publication is underway.
REFLECT Study
The REFLECT study is an international collaboration
attempting to specify definitions of Minimum Clinically
Important Improvement (MCII) and Patient Acceptable
Symptom Severity (PASS) in Rheumatoid Arthritis,
Hand Osteoarthritis, Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis,
Ankylosing Spondylitis and Low Back Pain. The intended
application of this research is in benchmarking responses
to treatment. The study employs a multi-centre,
prospective, observational cohort design. Data from
this study were presented at a scientific conference
in Sydney in 2007. The study has been extended to
develop MCII and PASS estimates for hand, hip and knee
OA for Australia, and has been termed the National
Osteoarthritis Response and State-attainment Evaluation
(NORSE) study. Data collection is ongoing.
Osteoarthritis Measurement in Rheumatology
Routine Outpatient Practice (OMIRROP)
Survey 2007
Three previous OMIRROP surveys by our group, in
Australia and Canada, have concluded that outcome
measurement practices essential in the evaluation
of new treatments in clinical research applications
are hardly ever used in routine clinical practice.
Developments in the medical literature emphasising
the value of outcome measurement and establishing
core sets, and response and state-attainment criteria
have prompted the conduct of a cross sectional postal
survey to assess the extent to which quantitative clinical
measurement is performed by rheumatologists in the
longitudinal follow-up of patients with osteoarthritis
(OA) . This study is part of a group of studies being
developed and executed, in preparation for a
proposal to evaluate the clinical benefit of introducing
quantitative measurement into routine clinical practice
in OA. Abstracts have been submitted for presentation
at scientific conferences in Europe and Australia.
Preparation of papers for publication is underway.
37
39
PROGRAMME REPORTS
CONTINUED
Evaluation of Digital Photographic Techniques
and Aesthetic Impact in Hand Osteoarthritis
This study has been prompted by recent Osteoarthritis
Research Society International (OARSI) Task Force
Guidelines for Hand OA, indicating a need for research
to evaluate the value of digital photographic imaging
techniques in tracking the topographical progression
of hand OA, and the development of a methodology
for evaluating the aesthetic impact of deformity due to
hand OA. A pilot study to develop the necessary design
elements for both components has been completed.
The main study is underway, and data collection is
expected to be completed by April 2008.
A Comparison of Three Different Mobile
Phones for Capturing Health Status
Information in Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis
(OA) Patients.
Paper-based questionnaires are the traditional method
of collecting health status information. Electronic media
such as desktop and laptop computers, personal digital
assistants and web-based applications provide unique
opportunities for electronic data capture (EDC). It is
estimated that more of the world’s population use
mobile phones than either computers or land line based
telephones. We are investigating the opportunity to
capture health status information using mobile phones.
A pilot study involving twelve subjects with hip/knee
OA has been completed. The main validation study,
to be conducted in patients undergoing total joint
arthroplasty, is due to commence in 2008.
BLISS Index – A Novel Method for Analysing
OA Clinical Trials Data
The Bellamy et al Low Intensity Symptom Stateattainment (BLISS) Index is a novel methodology for
analysing the attainment of near symptom-free states
by patients with OA undergoing active treatment.
Three communications and one peer review publication
have illustrated the feasibility and importance of the
BLISS Index in detecting near pain-free states in both
hip/knee OA and hand OA patients exposed to different
classes of interventions. The generalisability of the
BLISS principle to analyses of joint stiffness, disability
and aggregate score data is currently being explored.
COMMITTEES AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
MEMBERSHIPS
\\Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service
\\Editorial Advisory Board (Sterling), Manual Therapy
\\Ad hoc expert reviewer (Kenardy) for: ARC, Australian
Sports Commission, NSW Institute of Psychiatry,
National Heart Foundation, Diabetes Australia
Research Trust, Murdoch Children’s Research
Foundation, Emergency Management Australia.
\\Editorial Board (Kenardy), Australasian Journal of
Disaster and Trauma Studies.
\\Ad hoc reviewer (Kenardy) for Journal of Abnormal
Psychology, Journal of Psychosomatic Research,
Nervous and Mental Disease, Journal of Traumatic
Stress, Evidence-based Mental Health, Evidencebased Medicine, Diabetic Medicine, British Journal
of Health Psychology, International Journal of
Behavioural Medicine, British Medical Journal,
CNS Spectrum, Journal of Consulting and Clinical
Psychology, Journal of Pediatrics.
\\Ad hoc reviewer (Sterling) for Journal of the
American Medical Association, Pain, Clinical Journal
of Pain, European Journal of Pain, Manual Therapy,
Rheumatology, BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders,
BMC Neurology, Spine, Biological Research
for Nursing, Journal of Orthopedic and Sports
Physical Therapy, European Journal of Neurology,
Physiotherapy Research International.
\\Editorial Board (Kenardy), Cognitive and Behavioural
Psychotherapy
\\Editorial Board (Kenardy), Evidence-Based Mental
Health.
\\Editorial Board (Kenardy), Journal of Anxiety
Disorders
\\Editorial Board (Sterling), Australian Journal of
Physiotherapy
\\Editorial Board (Sterling), Open Journal of
Anesthesiology
\\(Kenardy) Examiner(Kenardy), Board of Censors,
Australian Psychological Society College of Clinical
Psychology
\\Expert Advisor (Kenardy), Queensland Police Service
\\Expert Advisor (Davey) Queensland Trauma Data
Scoping Project Working Group.
\\Associate Member (Bellamy), Australian
Rheumatism Association
\\Expert Reviewer (Sterling) for Australian Research
Council, NHMRC, Physiotherapy Research
Foundation, Alberta Health Research Fund, Canada.
\\Board Member (Bellamy), Arthritis Foundation of
Queensland
\\Expert reviewer (Swanson), Australian Orthopaedic
Association Research Committee
\\Chair (Kenardy) Disability Subcommittee, Senate
Standing Committee for Equity, Diversity and the
Status of Women. University of Queensland.
\\Expert reviewer (Swanson), Canadian Medical
Journal
\\Committee Member (Kenardy), Allied Health
Education Standing Committee, Queensland Health
\\Convene (Kenardy) Clinical Psychology and
Psychiatry Group, Research Quality Framework
Group, University of Queensland.
\\Expert reviewer (Swanson), Medical Journal of
Australia
\\Expert reviewer (Swanson), National Heart
Foundation
\\External (international) examiner (Kenardy) for PhD
and Masters theses.
\\Course Accreditor (Kenardy), Australian
Psychological Society College of Clinical Psychology
\\External (national and international) examiner
(Sterling) for PhD and Masters theses.
\\Dean’s (Faculty of Health Sciences) Representative
(Connelly), Business Economics and Law Faculty
Academic Board (UQ).
\\Fellow (Bellamy), American College of Physicians
\\Deputy Chair (Kenardy) Faculty Academic
Continuing Appointments and Promotions
Committee.
\\Editor (Kenardy), Clinical Psychologist.
\\Editorial Advisory Board (Kenardy), Cognitive and
Behavioural Psychotherapy
\\Fellow (Bellamy), Australasian Faculty of
Rehabilitation Medicine
\\Fellow (Bellamy), Royal College of Physicians of
Edinburgh
Glasgow
_
MEMBERSHIPS CONTINUED
MEMBERSHIPS CONTINUED
\\ Fellow (Bellamy), Royal Society of Medicine
\\Member (Dale) the RBWH Trauma Research Group.
\\Fellow (Kenardy) Australian Psychological Society.
(replaces Member, Australian Psychological Society)
\\Member (Dale) the RBWH Trauma Service Practice
Development Steering Committee
Canada
\\Member (Hanby) the Safe Communities Committee
run by the Cairns City Council (a WHO initiative).
\\Flinders University Self-Management.
\\Member (Irie) Japan Medical Society \\Guest Editor (Sterling), Journal of Orthopedic and
Sports Physical Therapy
\\Member (Irie) Japan Neurosurgical Society
\\Member (Swanson), Clinical Trials Monitoring
Committee, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney
\\Member (Irie) The Japanese Congress of
Neurological Surgeons
\\Member (Swanson), International Biometric Society
\\Member (Bellamy), American Rheumatism
Association
\\Member (Bellamy), British Society for Rheumatology
\\Member (Kenardy) National Mental Health Disaster
Response Committee.
\\Member (Bellamy), Canadian Rheumatism
Association
\\Member (Kenardy) Academic Board, University of
Queensland.
\\Member (Bellamy), Canadian Society of Internal
Medicine
\\Member (Kenardy) Senate Standing Committee
for Equity, Diversity and the Status of Women.
University of Queensland.
\\Member (Bellamy), International Epidemiology
Association
\\Member (Kenardy) Royal Children’s Hospital
Foundation Research Committee
\\Member (Bellamy) the QEMS Quality Council
\\Member (Bellamy) the Queensland Trauma Data
Scoping Project Steering Committee
\\Member (Bellamy) the Statewide Trauma Clinical
Network.
\\Member (Bellamy), International Society for
Chronobiology
\\Member (Bellamy), Ontario College of Physicians
\\Member (Bellamy), Royal College of Physicians of
the United Kingdom
\\Member (Connelly) International Health Economics
Association (iHEA) Scientific Committee.
\\Member (Connelly), American Risk and Insurance
Association (ARIA).
\\Member (Connelly), American Society of Health
Economists (ASHE).
\\Member (Connelly), Australian Health Economics
Society (AHES).
\\Member (Connelly), International Health Economics
Association (iHEA).
\\Member (Connelly), The American Economic
Association (AEA).
\\Member (Kenardy), Australian Psychological Society
Directorate of Science Advisory Group
\\Member (Kenardy), National Executive, Australian
Psychological Society College of Clinical
Psychologists
\\Member (Lapsley), N.S.W. Medical Board.
\\Member (Lapsley), National Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal Conditions Advisory Group.
\\Member (Lapsley), NHMRC Health Services Research
Committee.
\\Member (Le Brocque) National Research Policy
Committee, National Tertiary Education Union
\\Member (Sterling), Association of Clinical research
Professionals
\\Member (Sterling), Australian Pain Society
\\Member (Sterling), Australian Physiotherapy
Association
\\Member (Sterling), Grants Review Committee,
Physiotherapy Research Foundation
\\Member (Sterling), International Association for the
Study of Pain (IASP)
\\Member (Sterling), School of Health and
Rehabilitation Sciences Research Committee
\\Member (Sterling), Scientific Advisory Group, Motor
Accident Authority (NSW), Clinical Guidelines for
Whiplash Management.
\\Member (Sterling), Technical Advisory Group,
TracSa, Clinical Pathway for Whiplash Development.
\\Member (Swanson), Advisory Committee on
Function and Disability Data, Australian Institute for
Health and Welfare
\\Member (Swanson), Australian Statistical Society
\\Member, (Lapsley), International Hospital Federation
Governing Council.
\\Members (Bellamy) of the National Trauma
Consortium Steering Committee
\\Members (Davey and Brennan) on the Working
Party for the Development of a Bi-national
Minimum Dataset & Data Dictionary.
\\Members (Davey) of the National Trauma
Consortium Steering Committee.
\\Members (Davey, Pollard, Bellamy) of the
International Collaboration of Trauma Registry
Research.
\\National Councillor (Lapsley) of the Australian
Healthcare Association.
\\Professors Connelly and Lapsley are also members
of and reviewers for a range of granting bodies and
journals.
\\Professors Connelly and Lapsley were also engaged
in national and international review activities for a
variety of granting bodies and journals.
\\Queensland Health
\\Queensland Self-Management Alliance
\\Regular expert review (Kenardy) for: NHMRC,
NSW Cancer Council, Commonwealth Department
of Health and Family Services Research and
Development Grants Council.
\\Stakeholders (Dale, Mason and Brennan) on the
Queensland Trauma Data Scoping Project Working
Group.
\\Titled Member (Sterling), Musculoskeletal
Physiotherapy Australia
\\Vice-President (Lapsley), International Health Policy
& Management Institute.
41
FELLOWSHIP REPORTS
FELLOWSHIP REPORTS 2007
CONTINUED
2007
CONROD/Royal College Of Surgeons
Trauma Fellowship
CONROD/Royal Australian College
Of General Practitioners Research
Fellowship
Recipient: Professor Michael Schuetz
Title: Benchmarking trauma care performance
in a tertiary hospital in Queensland to
European Trauma Centre: Using the European
Trauma Registry as a model.
Project Report:
All data has been collected, we are presently working
on the analysis of the data. The definitive analysis will
take some time but the interim analysis already showed
a lot of useful results.
The results show us there is a lot of room for
progress, especially pre-hospital and in the emergency
department. The relatively low number of in-hospital
deaths was presumably due to a substantial number of
pre-hospital deaths, although we are unable to quantify
this at present. Major progress has been made.
The results will allow us to pose questions about care
and facilitate change. The research benefits are to
monitor pre-hospital triage, injury trend analysis, and
clinical activity analysis. As well as improve clinical care,
quality assurance, performance monitoring, and trauma
research, advising educational strategies.
An article is to be submitted for publication at the end
of the year.
Publications and Presentations:
\\Presented at the Swan XV Trauma Conference,
Sydney, July 2007.
\\Presented showcase of Orthopaedic & Trauma
Research, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital,
May 2007.
\\Presented at the 47th Annual Princess Alexandra
week August 2007.
\\Presented at Australasian College for Emergency
Medicine 2007 Annual Scientific Meeting, Gold
Coast, November 2007.
Recipient: Dr Md Moniruzzaman, Hamstead
Rehabilitation Centre, Northfield, South
Australia.
Project Title: Identifying the gaps in global
health care of traumatic spinal cord injury
patients with disability.
Project Report
Dr Moniruzzaman has recently obtained ethics approval
for this project from the Royal Adelaide Hospital
Research Ethics Committee and has commenced
preparation for the recruitment phase of this
project. This preparation has included constructing
a questionnaire for distribution to participants and
investigating a variety of disability assessment tools
which will be utilized in the study.
Project completion is expected before 11 December
2008.
CONROD/Royal Australasian College
of Physicians Research Fellowship
Recipient: Dr Tracy Cheffins, Rural Health
Research Unit, James Cook University
Project Title: Behavioural factors in road
crashes in North Queensland
Project Report
Aims of Study/Research:
To analyse data collected in a large rural road crash
study in North Queensland in order to explore
behavioural factors relating to crashes involving young
drivers and off-road drivers.
The project was undertaken in conjunction with the
North Queensland Rural and Remote Road Safety
Study (RRRSS) under ethical approval granted by the
Queensland University of Technology, James Cook
University, and Queensland Health. Dr. Cheffins worked
with a half-time research assistant, Mr. Ross Blackman.
Preliminary analysis of data collected for the RRRSS
revealed two areas which warranted further indepth exploration – young driver crashes and crashes
occurring on private property. It was considered that
these areas are challenging in terms of prevention
strategies. Young driver legislation has recently been
introduced in Queensland, adding to the level of
interest in this group.
Literature reviews were undertaken in two
key areas:
1. The evidence base for young driver interventions
including legislation and education.
2. The known causes and impact of off-road and
private property crashes, and preventive strategies
available for this significant group identified by the
RRRSS.
Once the evidence review was completed, a sub-group
analysis was done of the RRRSS database, focussing
on drivers aged 16-24 years and risk factors relating
to the new driver legislation including: gender, type of
vehicle; time of crash, official cause of crash, number
of passengers, experience of driver.
A paper based on the literature review and statistics
from the above analysis was submitted to the
Australian Journal of Rural Health in December 2007.
A second paper is currently being written based on a
detailed sub-group analysis of crashes occurring on
private property, comparing their risk factors with those
of crashes occurring on public roads. This paper will
include a qualitative component based on narratives
collected in the interview component of the RRRSS.
43
THE NATIONAL TRAUMA REGISTRY
(AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND)
Report by Ms Tamzyn Davey
This has been a productive year for the NTRC.
In February, a workshop was held to receive the
manager of the Trauma Register of the German
Society of Trauma Surgery. Over 50 delegates from
across Australasia attended the workshop, and ten
presentations were delivered:
\\Rolf Lefering, “The Trauma Registry of the German
Society for Trauma Surgery”;
\\Doug Neilson, “The New Zealand National Trauma
Database”;
\\Katherine Brown and Erica Caldwell, “Toward a
Bi-NTR: the perspective from a regional trauma
registry”;
\\David Martens. “NSW ITIM perspective”;
\\Paul Tridgell and Christine Jorm, “Improving Safety
and Quality: Health Quality Registries”;
\\Rod McClure, “Do we need a bi-NTR?”;
\\Rangi Dansey, “NZ trauma registries”;
\\Cameron Palmer, “Progress towards a bi national
minimum data set”;
\\Peter Cameron, “Beyond in-hospital death”;
\\Frank Plani, “Traumabank: a model for a
prospective trauma and critical care database”.
In May, Dr Cliff Pollard delivered a presentation at
the Royal Australian College of Surgeons’ meeting in
Auckland, and in October he presented “Toward a biNTR” at Trauma 2007 in Melbourne. A national trauma
registry meeting was held in Sydney during April to
receive the Chair of the American College of Surgeon’s
Trauma Committee. John Fildes, a visitor to the event,
presented on the USA perspective and Cliff Pollard
spoke on “Steps toward a bi-NTR”. A discussion on the
merits of the Collector database program for use in the
regional registries and the national registry followed.
Tamzyn Davey was invited by the American College
of Surgeon’s National Trauma Databank to present
at a trauma registry meeting organised as part of
International Surgical Week, Montreal, in August.
The Canadian and USA national registries were both
represented and Tamzyn presented, “Australia and
New Zealand: a bi-NTR”. She also attended meetings in
Toronto with the Canadian National Trauma Registry.
Bi-national minimum data set and data
dictionary
In December 2005 a working party for the
establishment of a bi-national minimum data set
(bi-NMDS) and data dictionary was established. This
working party currently has representation from all
the state-based and individual hospital-based trauma
registries in Australasia as well as the Northern
Territory and the ACT, which do not presently operate
trauma registries. Several drafts of the bi-NMDS (with
progressive updates) have been distributed since the
beginning of the year and comments from the relevant
stakeholders have been taken into account. The current
draft of the bi-national minimum data set is awaiting
consensus on the list of operative procedures,
co-morbidities, and complications. The Northern
Territory, which is due to start data collection for its
trauma registry, has agreed to pilot the bi-NMDS in
its current form. It is anticipated that results from this
trial will help to inform the most appropriate lists of
operative procedures, co-morbidities, and complications
to be included in a bi-NMDS. A data dictionary, to
ensure uniformity in the collection and interpretation
of data points, will also be informed by and developed
simultaneously with the trial of the bi-NMDS in the
Northern Territory.
The Benchmarking Study
The Benchmarking study is using trauma registry data
from New Zealand, Germany, the USA, and some
Australian States to calculate contemporary international
coefficients for TRISS (measure used for probability
of death in trauma patients) as there are no recent
data available to allow routine benchmarking of the
performance of trauma systems (current benchmarks
for probability of death of a defined injury are based
on estimations developed 20 years ago in the United
States). To date all data have been collected in New
Zealand and are currently being analysed. The USA and
Germany have formally approved the release of their
data for the study, and data will be transferred in the
first half of 2008. South Australia has given in-principle
support for the study and is currently awaiting ethics
approval. Western Australia has approved participation,
and data collection will commence in the second half
of 2008. New South Wales and Queensland have both
indicated their in-principal support for the study;
THE NATIONAL TRAUMA REGISTRY
(AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND) CONTINUED
Bi-NTR governance structure
In anticipation of accessing long-term funding for a
bi-NTR, a detailed governance structure was developed
this year. This will involve a strong board representing
the major stakeholders, to manage the bi-NTR.
Stakeholders will include representatives from:
\\The existing registries;
\\The relevant professional bodies/colleges;
\\The National Injury Surveillance Unit;
\\The Australian Defence Force;
\\The appropriate Indigenous group;
\\An appropriate Consumer organisation; and the
\\Financing body/institution.
Access to long-term funding and primary
level data for a bi-national trauma registry
A relationship between the NTRC and the Australian
Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare,
based on possible avenues for legal access to primarylevel data as well as long-term funding for a bi-NTR,
has been fostered since 2006. The Commission has
declared their ongoing interest in a bi-NTR, especially as
it relates to their Health Quality Registries project.
The board will have an executive which will consist
of a Chair, a deputy, an administration officer, and
a treasurer. The Chair will be an experienced and
practising clinician – with the position rotating every
two years between representatives of the relevant
clinical colleges/professional groups. The Board will
oversee and govern the activities of various subgroups/committees. The most suitable place for
the bi-NTR “data bank” to be located would be
a university department/research centre with the
appropriate expertise in terms of methodology and
analysis of trauma data sets (for e.g., an Epidemiology
Department). The “data bank” ought to be awarded
by tender process under a 3-5 year performancebased contract and will undertake the collection,
management, and analysis of the data. This group will
also assume reporting and other data dissemination
tasks. The group may also initiate research activities
using the data set. A technical advisory group will
oversee the implementation of the bi-national
minimum data set (and data dictionary) and guide
its ongoing use ensuring the highest levels of data
quality. The research advisory group will oversee ethics
approval and access to the databank by researchers and
other relevant users. A wider consulting group and an
international consulting group will be called upon to
provide expertise to the board where appropriate.
The Qld Trauma Data Scoping Project
Tamzyn Davey was funded from mid 2007 by the Qld
Trauma Data Scoping Project to work for one day per
week on the project as an “expert consultant” (in her
capacity as Project Officer for the NTRC). The project
came out of recommendations from the Queensland
Trauma Plan (which was endorsed by Queensland
Cabinet during the year). The project is due for
completion in mid 2008.
Aggregate annual report (2005 data)
Data collection commenced at the end of 2007, and the
final report is due for release in the first half of 2008.
Maintenance of an NTRC website
In July 2006 a website for the NTRC was developed and
can be viewed at www.uq.edu.au/ntrc
45
RESEARCH
RESEARCH REPORTS
CONTINUED
REPORTS
COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH GRANTS
COMPETITION REPORTS
Project Title: An intervention programme
for children with traumatic stress reactions
following accidents.
Chief Investigators: Dr Vanessa Cobham,
Professor Justin Kenardy and Dr Peta Lilley
Over six months, two major participant recruitment
processes were trialled. Initially this involved attendance
by the team’s Research Assistant at the target medical
ward (7 South) of the Mater Children’s Hospital
daily for a 2-week block in an attempt to determine
whether their presence on the ward would assist with
recruitment. This was not overly successful. Staff in the
Emergency Department (ED) of the Mater Children’s
Hospital were then consulted, as their records clearly
indicate that a significant number of children who
would meet the required inclusion criteria are being
admitted through ED. A collaborative working
relationship was formed with key ED staff at the Mater
and a new recruitment process was proposed to,
and approved by, the Mater Human Research Ethics
Committee. This process involved the following: ED
staff set up a data base so that potential participants
for the project would be flagged to the nurses at triage
with a pop-up that would appear when they entered a
new patient into their database. The nurse would then
check if the child was the right age and give parents
an information sheet and a ‘consent to be contacted’
form. If parents wanted to find out more about the
project, they needed to complete this form and return
it, with their other paperwork, to the reception desk.
The Research Assistant would then collect these forms,
check that the child was suitable (e.g., that they were
local, and that they met the length of stay criteria), and
follow them up either on the ward or via telephone.
This process has been in place for approximately 7
weeks now, and has not proved to be particularly
successful. Only 7 children have been recruited into the
project (with none meeting criteria that would allow
them to pass through to the Stage 2 Assessment).
The manuals for this project have now been developed
and completed (a child workbook; a therapist manual
for the child workbook; a parent workbook; and a
therapist manual for the parent workbook). These
books formed the basis for the “Cyclone Larry and
Me” book developed by the first CI and A/Prof. Brett
McDermott (Director, Mater Child & Youth Mental
Health Service) as part of an indicated intervention
project requested by Dr. Aaron Groves (Director of
Mental Health Services, QLD Health) for children
suffering from PTSD following Cyclone Larry.
Prof. Justin Kenardy (2nd CI) and Dr Cobham have
met with Prof. Nick Bellamy (Director of CONROD) to
discuss the difficulties encountered in conducting the
proposed pilot evaluation of the intervention that has
been developed. At this meeting, the deliverables for
the project were discussed and a set of re-negotiated
deliverables proposed.
Award: $77,038.72
Project Title: Pharyngeal electromyography
and electromagnetic articulography in the
diagnosis of swallowing dysfunction in adults
post-traumatic brain injury.
Chief Investigators: Professor Bruce Murdoch,
Dr Justine Goozée, Dr Deborah Falla, Julie
Cichero, Professor Nicholas Bellamy
Organisation: Motor Speech Research Centre,
The principle aim of this project was to use in
combination two state-of-the-art physiological
techniques to investigate the timing, coordination
and activity of the muscles involved in the oral and
pharyngeal stages of swallowing in adults following
traumatic brain injury. Specifically, the project
utilised recently developed techniques in the form of
pharyngeal electromyography in combination with
electromagnetic articulography to examine in real time
the functioning of the oral and pharyngeal musculature
during swallowing. It is expected that the project
will lead to the development of better diagnostic
procedures for determining the effect of traumatic
brain injury on the swallowing process and thereby
contribute to the development of more appropriate
intervention strategies.
During the course of the project, 30 individuals
post-severe traumatic brain injury were tested and
that group subdivided into those with swallowing
impairments as determined by a clinical bedside
assessment and their results compared with a group of
TBI subjects without swallowing difficulties.
Data collection and analysis have been completed and
the project is currently at the stage of writing up of
results for presentation at relevant research conferences
and for publication in international refereed journals.
Award: $77,038.72
Project Title: Traumatic Injury: The
management and prediction of early
recovery.
Investigators: A/Professor Elizabeth Kendall,
Professor Wendy Chaboyer, Dr Leanne Aitken,
Professor Nicholas Bellamy
This study involved a prospective cohort design,
using both quantitative and qualitative methods with
data collection at hospital discharge, three and six
months post-discharge. Ethical clearance was granted
through Griffith University, University of Queensland,
Princess Alexandra, Gold Coast and Royal Brisbane
and Women’s Hospitals Human Research Ethics
Committees. Data collection commenced in May 2006
at the Gold Coast and Princess Alexandra Hospitals.
Quantitative surveys measuring demographics, injury
and treatment data, general health, self efficacy, illness
perceptions, autonomy, self advocacy, knowledge and
support, decision making styles and continuity of care
were administered.
To date, across both Gold Coast and Princess Alexandra
Hospitals, 67 discharge surveys have been completed
by participants. A further 15 three month postdischarge surveys have been completed and returned,
with further surveys being sent by mail to participants
at appropriate time intervals. No participants have
reached the six month post-discharge follow up date.
Preliminary data analysis will commence in November
2006. Data collection at the Royal Brisbane and
Women’s Hospital has been postponed due to staffing
issues outside of the research team’s control. Data
collection at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital
will commence in November 2006. A purposively
chosen sub-sample of 20 participants will partake in
an interview at three and six month intervals. This will
examine participant treatment experiences in more
detail. The quantitative study will identify the factors
that should form the focus of any future interventions
while the qualitative study will inform the nature
and process of those interventions. At this stage no
interviews have been completed.
This project aligns with MAIC’s objectives to facilitate
research, education, and dissemination in the field
of injury, rehabilitation and disability for individuals
who sustain traumatic injury and are experiencing the
transition between hospital and home.
Award: $96,298.40
47
RESEARCH REPORTS
CONTINUED
Project Title: Brain activation in children with
post-traumatic stress symptoms following
traumatic brain injury: An fMRI study
Chief Investigators: Professor Vicki Anderson,
Professor Justin Kenardy and Dr Peta Lilley
The study is ongoing, with programming the two
separate fMRI paradigms being completed since
previous submission of previous progress report.
Piloting using these innovative paradigms has also
been conducted in a small group of normal adults,
and preliminary data analysis has been successful.
Further brain imaging will be conducted over the next
6 months using these newly developed techniques
with children who have suffered a traumatic brain
injury. Recruitment for this sample of children is now
underway.
The current study is investigating the neural correlates
of PTSD in children who have experienced a TBI. A
large portion of the children who present to the Royal
Children’s Hospital, where the participants will be
recruited, sustain a TBI as a result of motor vehicle
accidents and analogues events. The current study is
hence aligned strongly with MAIC’s objectives as a
research study in the field of injury.
Award: $89,076.00
PHD
SCHOLARSHIP
Project Title: Outcomes in long duration
spinal cord injury: Documentation of multiple
integrated trajectories of wellbeing and
comparative analysis of outcome measures
Thesis Title: Prognostication in Low Back Pain:
A Biopsychosocial Index
Mr J Nicholas Penney, The University of
Queensland
Report by Ms Delena Amsters
The fourth year of data collection for this five year
longitudinal study is now complete. The final year of
data collection will commence in February 2008. The
latest publication generated from this project is –
This study aligns with MAIC’s objective to support
research which will enhance rehabilitation outcomes
for individuals who sustain spinal cord injury in motor
vehicle accidents and analogous events.
Award: $60,000
This PhD thesis was submitted for examination in
February 2007, and the examiners report returned in
June 2007. One examiner requested that the thesis be
re-submitted for their consideration with a number of
amendments to the original text. The amended text
and detailed response to the examiners report have
been completed, with re-submission anticipated in
March 2008.
49
PUBLICATIONS
PUBLICATIONS
CONTINUED
BOOK - MONOGRAPH
O’Kearney R, Speyer J and Kenardy J. Children’s Narrative
Memory for accidents and their post-traumatic distress.
Applied Cognit Psychol 2007;21(7):821-838.
Collins D, Lapsley H and Marks M. The Three Billion $
Question for Australian Business. A publication of the
Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation. March 2007.
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Aitken LM, Davey TM, Ambrose J, Connelly LB, Swanson
C and Bellamy N. Health outcomes of adults 3 months
after injury. Injury, Int J Care Injured 2007;38:19-26.
Barker, R. N., Amsters, D. I., Kendall, M. D., Pershouse,
K. J., & Haines, T. P. Reliability of the clinical outcome
variables scale when administered via telephone to assess
mobility in people with spinal cord injury. 2007 Archives
of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 88(5), 632-637.
Bellamy N, Bell MJ, Pericak D, Goldsmith CH, Torrance
GW, Raynauld J-P, Walker V, Tugwell P and Polisson R.
Measures of low intensity symptom severity state using
the WOMAC Pain Subscale Score in patients treated with
hylan G-F 20 for knee osteoarthritis: Proposal for a BLISS
Index. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 2007;60:124-132.
Wilson C, Willis C, Hendrikz JK, Bellamy N. Speed
enforcement detection devices for preventing road traffic
injuries. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006,
Issue 2.Art.No.:CD004607. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.
CD004607.pub2.
Dow MT, Kenardy JA, Johnston JW, Newman MG, Taylor
CB and Thomson A. Prognostic indices with brief and
standard CBT for panic disorder: I. Predictors of outcome.
Psychological Medicine 2007;37:1493-1502.
Dow MT, Kenardy JA, Johnston JW, Newman MG,
Taylor CB and Thomson A. Prognostic indices with brief
and standard CBT for panic disorder: II. Moderators of
outcome. Psychological Medicine 2007;37:1503-1509.
Grootendorst P, Marshall D, Pericak D, Bellamy N and
Torrance GW. A model to estimate Health Utilities Index
Mark 3 Utility Scores from WOMAC Index Scores in
patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. J Rheumatol
2007;34:534;542.
Kenardy J, Smith A, Spence SH, Lilley PR, Newcombe
P, Dob R, Robinson S.. Dissociation in children’s trauma
narratives: An exploratory investigation.
J Anxiety Disord. 2007;21(3):456-466.
Kendall, E., Catalano, T., Kuipers, P., Posner, N., Buys, N.,
& Charker, J. (2007) Recovery following stroke: The role of
self-management education. Social Science & Medicine,
64, 735-746.
Kendall, E., Catalano, T., Kuipers, P., Posner, N., Buys, N.,
& Charker, J. (2007) Recovery following stroke: The role of
self-management education. Social Science & Medicine,
64, 735-746.
Campbell J, Bellamy N and Gee T. Differences between
systematic reviews on hyaluronan/hyaluronic acid/hylan.
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2007;15(12):1424-1436.
Kendall, E. & Rogers, A. (2007). Extinguishing the social?:
State sponsored self-care policy and the Chronic Disease
Management Programme. Disability & Society, 22(2),
129-143.
Centeno CJ, Whitney E, Freeman M, Elliott J, Sterling
M and Katz E. Total cervical translation as a function
of Impact Vector as measured by Flexion-Extension
Radiography. Pain Physician 2007;10:667-672.
Kendall, E., Muenchberger, H., & Clapton, J. (2007).
Trends in Rehabilitation: Reviving the humanitarian core
of rehabilitation. Disability and Rehabilitation, 29(10),
817-823.
Deverill J and Aitken LM. Treatment of extradural
haemorrhage in Queensland: Interhospital transfer,
preoperative delay and clinical outcome. Emergency
Medicine Australasia 2007;19:325-332.
Kulasingam S, Connelly L, Conway E, et al. A costeffectiveness analysis of adding a human papillomavirus
vaccine to the Australian National Cervical Cancer
Screening Program. Sexual Health 2007;4:165-175.
DeYoung AC, Kenardy JA, Spence SH. Elevated heart
rate as a predictor of PTSD six months following
accidental paediatric injury. Journal of Traumatic Stress
2007;20(5):751-756.
Murray, BL, Kenardy, JA Spence SH. Brief Report:
Children’s Responses to Trauma- and Nontrauma-related
Hospital Admission: A Comparison Study. Journal of
Pediatric Psychology Advance Access published September
10, 2007. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2007; doi:
10.1093/jpepsy/jsm078.
Pakenham, K., Chiu, J., Bursnell, S., Cannon, T. (2007)
Relations between social support, appraisal and coping
and both positive and negative outcomes in young carers.
Journal of Health Psychology 12(1): 89-102.
Patterson, E., Muenchberger, H., & Kendall, E. (2007). The
role of practice nurses in coordinated care of people with
chronic and complex conditions Australian Health Review,
31(2): 231-8.
Peel NM, McClure RJ, Hendrikz JK. Psychosocial factors
associated with fall-related hip fractures. Age and Ageing
2007; 36: 145-151.
Stein RI, Kenardy J, Wiseman CV, Dounchis JZ, Arnow
BA, Wilfley. What’s driving the binge in binge eating
disorders?: A prospective examination of precursors and
consequences. International Journal of Eating Disorders
2007;40(3):195-203.
Sterling M. Whiplash Injury Pain: Basic Science and
Current/Future Therapeutics. Reviews in Analgesia
2007;9:105-116.
Whelan B-M, Murdoch BE and Bellamy N. Delineating
communication impairments associated with mild
traumatic brain injury: A Case Report. J Head Trauma
Rehabil 2007;22(3):192-197.
2007 QUEENSLAND TRAUMA REGISTRY
REPORTS
Lang J, Hanby J, Bellamy N. Queensland Trauma Registry:
A summary of injuries treated at Cairns Base Hospital
2005. Herston: Centre of National Research on Disability
and Rehabilitation Medicine, 2007.
Dallow N, Jennekens C, Lang J, Bellamy N. Queensland
Trauma Registry: A summary of injuries treated at
Gold Coast Hospital 2005. Herston: Centre of National
Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine, 2007.
Dallow N, Shepherd S, Lang J, Bellamy N. Queensland
Trauma Registry: A summary of injuries treated at Ipswich
Hospital 2005. Herston: Centre of National Research on
Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine, 2007.
Dallow N, Muscat T, Lang J, Bellamy N. Queensland
Trauma Registry: A summary of injuries treated at Mackay
Base Hospital 2005. Herston: Centre of National Research
on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine, 2007.
Dallow N, Rasmussen L, James G, Lang J, Bellamy
N. Queensland Trauma Registry: A summary of
injuries treated at Nambour General Hospital 2005.
Herston: Centre of National Research on Disability and
Rehabilitation Medicine, 2007.
Dallow N, Mason D, Ward, J, Kefu L, Lang J, Bellamy
N. Queensland Trauma Registry: A summary of injuries
treated at the Princess Alexandra Hospital 2005.
Lang J, O’Brien D, Bellamy N. Queensland Trauma
Registry: A summary of injuries treated at the Redcliffe &
Caboolture Hospitals 2005. Herston: Centre of National
Lang J, Sedgman C, Bellamy N. Queensland Trauma
Registry: A summary of injuries treated at the
Rockhampton Hospital 2005. Herston: Centre of National
Dallow N, Dale M, Allison B, Perkins N, Lang J, Bellamy
N. Queensland Trauma Registry: A summary of injuries
treated at the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital 2005.
Dallow N, Brennan J, Lang J, Bellamy N. Queensland
Trauma Registry: A summary of injuries treated at The
Townsville Hospital 2005. Herston: Centre of National
Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine,
2007.
Dallow N, Lang J, Bellamy N. Queensland Trauma
Registry: A summary of injuries treated at Toowoomba
Hospital 2005. Herston: Centre of National Research on
Dallow N, Lang J, Bellamy N. Serious Injury due to Road
Traffic Crashes in Queensland 2005. Herston: Centre
of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation
Medicine, 2007.
51
PUBLICATIONS
CONTINUED
PUBLICATIONS
CONTINUED
Dallow N, Lang J, Bellamy N. Queensland Trauma
Registry: A summary of paediatric injuries treated
in Queensland 2005. Herston: Centre of National
Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine,
2007.
Sunderland, N. (Sept 2006). Consultation and
discussion document prepared for the Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Unit, School of Human Services,
Griffith University.
Eren S, Anderson V, Catroppa C, Wood A and Kenardy
J. Neural substrates of posttraumatic stress symptoms in
children with traumatic brain injury: What do we know
from fMRI studies? Brain Impairment 2007;8(1):74. 30th
Brain Impairment Conference, May 2007, Brisbane.
Lang JH & Bellamy N. Queensland Trauma Registry:
Description of serious injury throughout Queensland
2005. Herston: Centre of National Research on
ABSTRACTS
Kvien TK, YZ Zhang, Nicols M, Dougados M, Podrebarac
TA, Bellamy N. Response and State-Attainment criteria
in hand OA: analyses from a placebo-controlled clinical
trial of CRX-102, a novel synergistic combination
therapy. Ann Rheum Dis 2007;66(Suppl II):501.
INDUSTRY REPORTS
Kendall, E. & Muenchberger, H. (August 2007).
Partnerships for Community Health: Collaborative
Capacity in Logan/Beaudesert to support a Place-Based
approach to chronic conditions. Interim report to the
Logan Health Coalition.
Kendall, E., Woolcock, G, Rickson, K & Muenchberger,
H. (Sept, 2007) A Framework for Collaborative
Capacity. Final report to CHIC initiative.
Muenchberger, H., Kendall, E., Longbottom, P. (Nov
2007). Skills to enable people and Communities (STEPS)
Program: Participant and Community Outcomes.
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Unit, Griffith
University & Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service.
Catalano, T., Kendall, E., & Vandenberg, A. (Sept
2007). An exploratory pilot study to understand the
experiences and support needs of volunteer Leaders
of self- management programmes in Queensland.
Disability and Rehabilitation ResearchUnit, Griffith
University. Final report to Arthritis Queensland
Muenchberger, H., Rixon, K., Kendall, E., Domalewski,
D., Catalano, T., Cooper, J. (July 2007). Skills to enable
people and Communities (STEPS) Program: Leader
Training Experiences. Disability and Rehabilitation
Research Unit, Griffith University & Acquired Brain
Injury Outreach Service.
Catalano, T., Kendall, E., & Vandenberg, A. (May
2007). An exploratory pilot study to understand the
experiences and support needs of volunteer Leaders of
self-management programmes in Queensland. Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Unit, Griffith University,
and Arthritis Queensland.
Bellamy N. Development and application of responder
criteria, state-attainment criteria and normative
values in osteoarthritis. OARSI World Congress 2007,
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 2007;15(Suppl A):C10.
Bellamy N and Wilson C. International estimation of
Minimally Clinically Important Improvement (MCII75)
The Reflect Study. Int Med Journal 2007;37(Suppl
2):A36.
Bellamy N and Wilson C. International estimation of
Patient Acceptable Symptom Severity (PASS75) the Reflect
Study. Internal Medicine Journal 2007;37(Suppl 2):A36.
Bellamy N, and Wilson C for the REFLECT Study
Group. International estimation of Minimum Clinically
Important Improvement (MCII75): The Reflect Study.
Internal Medicine Journal 2007;37(Suppl 2):A36.
Murray B, Kenardy J, Le Brocque R, Anderson V and
McKinlay L. Assessment of posttraumatic stress in
children with traumatic brain injury. Brain Impairment
2007;8(1):74. 30th Brain Impairment Conference, May
2007, Brisbane.
Olsson K and Kenardy J. Behavioural differences before
traumatic brain injury: Is there a differential injury risk?
Brain Impairment 2007;8(1):74. 30th Brain Impairment
Conference, May 2007, Brisbane.
PRESENTATIONS
Bellamy N, Wilson C and Hendrikz J. Community-based
normative values for disability derived from WOMAC
and AUSCAN NRS 3.1 Indices. Internal Medicine Journal
2007;37(Suppl 2):A36.
Bellamy N, Wilson C AND Hendrikz J. Communitybased normative values for disability derived from
WOMAC and AUSCAN NRS 3.1 Indices. Australian
Rheumatology Association 49th Annual Scientific
Meeting, 26-30 May, 2007, Sydney. (Oral abstract).
Bellamy N, Wilson C, Hendrikz JK. Community-based
normative values for disability derived from WOMAC
and AUSCAN NRS 3.1 Indices. Ann Rheum Dis
2007;66(Suppl II):491.
Bellamy N. Consumer Involvement in the process of Data
Collection and Delivery. Bone & Joint Decade World
Network Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, 11-14
October, 2007. (Invited Speaker).
Bellamy N. Road traffic crashes, musculoskeletal injury
and risk factors for osteoarthritis. Ann Rheum Dis
2007;66(Suppl II):617.
Bellamy N. Examining “Unexpected Deaths” using
TRISS in the Queensland Trauma Registry: 2002 – 2005.
Trauma Quality Council, Queensland Ambulance Service,
Brisbane March 2007. (Invited Speaker).
Botha-Scheepers S, Riyazi N, Watt I, Rosendaal FR,
Slagboom E, Bellamy N, Breedveld FC, Kloppenburg
M. Progression of hand osteoarthritis over two years:
a clinical and radiological follow-up study. EULAR
Congress 2007, Barcelona, Spain, 13-16 June, 2007.
Ann Rheum Dis 2007;66(Suppl II):59.
Benjamin, C., Dwyer, D., Kenardy, J., Anderson, V., Le
Brocque, R., & Dob, R. Childhood Head Injury: Impact
on Cognitive and Behavioural Measures of Executive
Function. International Neuropsychological Society,
2007, July Bilbao, Spain.
Dob, R, Kenardy J, Anderson V and McKinlay V.
Attention deficits in TBI and PTSD. Brain Impairment
2007;8(1):75. 30th Brain Impairment Conference, May
2007, Brisbane.
Davey T. Australia and New Zealand: a bi-NTR. Trauma
Registry Meeting, American College of Surgeon’s
National Trauma Databank, International Surgical
Week, Montreal, August 2007.
Eren, S., Anderson, V., Catroppa, C., Wood., & Kenardy,
J. Prevalence of PTSS in children with TBI: Examining
the neural substrates of symptoms. Australasian Human
Development Association, 2007, July. Sydney, Australia.
Iselin, G., Schmeetz, S., Le Brocque, R. Kenardy, J.,
Anderson, V., & McKinlay, L. Assessment of post
traumatic stress in children with traumatic brain
injury. Australian Society for the Study of Brain Injury
Conference May, 2007 Brisbane.
Kenardy J and Sterling M. Understanding neck pain.
Bone and Joint Decade’s Public Forum on Neck Pain,
Gold Coast 2007.
Kenardy, J., Thompson, K., LeBrocque, R., Olsson, K.
Information-based intervention for the prevention of
PTSD in children following traumatic injury: An RCT.
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies,
Baltimore, November, 2007.
Le Brocque, R., Kenardy, J., Anderson, V., McKinlay,
L., & Olsson, K. . Psychological and cognitive response
to traumatic brain injury in children and the impact of
parental mental health on adjustment to injury. Child
Health Conference, 2007, October Noosa, Australia.
Le Brocque, R., Olsson, K., Kenardy, J., Anderson,
V., McKinlay, L. . Traumatic brain injury in children:
The impact of parental mental health on adjustment
to injury. Society for Life History Research in
Psychopathology, 2007, April Atlanta, Georgia.
Le Brocque, R., Hendrikz, J., & Kenardy, J. The Course
of Post Traumatic Stress in Children: An Examination
of Recovery Trajectories Following Traumatic Injury.
Australian Society of Psychiatric Research. World
Psychiatric Association International Congress 2007
Melbourne.
Lee D, Smith D, Raymer M, Swanson C. Impact of
Introducing Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Screening
Clinics in Queensland Health. RBWH Healthcare
Symposium, 8-12 October, 2007. (Poster). A winner of
the Innovative Research Award.
Muenchberger H. Ministers’ Shared Visions Forum,
Brisbane (Aug, Sept, Oct) 2007. Keynote Speaker
Muenchberger H. Acquired Brain Injury Outreach
Service Leader Conference, Brisbane, 2007. Invited
Speaker
53
PUBLICATIONS
CONTINUED
Olsson, K, Le Brocque, R., & Kenardy, J. Behavioural
differences before traumatic brain injury: Is there a
differential injury risk?. Australian Society for the Study
of Brain Injury Conference. 2007 Brisbane
Sterling M, Chien A. Neuropathic features of acute
whiplash pain. International Congress on Neuropathic
Pain, Berlin, June 2007.
Sterling M. American Association of Orthopedic
Physical Therapists conference St, Louis, October 2007.
Keynote Speaker.
Sterling M. A Pragmatic approach to the Assessment
and Management of Whiplash Musculoskeletal
Physiotherapy Australia Biennial conference, Cairns,
October 2007. Invited Speaker.
Sterling M. Characterisation of musculoskeletal pain
conditions: Directives for prognosis and interdisciplinary
management. Work on the classification of whiplash
injury presented at the Australian Pain Society Annual
conference, Adelaide, 2007.
Sterling M. MAA (NSW) Guidelines for Management of
Acute Whiplash released October 2007. Dr Sterling was
a member of the Technical Advisory Group.
Title 1: Diagnosis and classification of whiplash: is the
prevention of chronicity possible?
Title 2: Inter-relationships between physical and
psychological aspects of whiplash: implications for
physical therapy management.
Wilson C. Chronic diseases – Maximising participation
for older people. Australian Physiotherapy Association
Conference Cairns, October 2007. Invited Speaker.
Wilson C. International Estimation of Patient
Acceptable Symptom Severity (PASS75) and Minimally
Clinically Important Improvement (MCII75)” The Reflect
Study. 49th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian
Rheumatology Association Sydney May 2007. Poster
presentation.
Wilson C. Relationships between physical activity, skin
cancer and sun protection. World Confederation of
Physical Therapists WCPT 15th International Congress
Vancouver Canada, June 2007. Invited Speaker.
55

annual report - School of Medicine

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