Research Portfolio

Comparison of the quality and completeness of the medical record and the proportion of appropriate referrals for suspected abusive injury of young children.

This study examines the data gathered and documented in patient charts with respect to the possibility of abusive injury in presentations by injured children under 3 years of age, as well as conclusions made by the treating doctor with respect to the possibility of abusive injury, and whether or not a consultation with an emergency or child protection specialist was made in reference to this issue. These data are compared: 1/ Between two sample periods at the Mater Children’s Hospital before and after the introduction of an electronically generated proforma to prompt such data collection 2/ Between these samples and…

Principal Investigator: Dr Ronald Clark
Amount Awarded: $24,898
Institution: The Royal Children's Hospital

The “Skills Training Options for Resuscitation in Kids” (STORK) Program

A cardiac arrest in a child has a devastating effect on the child, their family and their healthcare workers. Fortunately, paediatric cardiac arrest is uncommon but if not treated promptly and adequately it results in death or severe brain damage. Providing quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is one of the most important factors in improving outcome after cardiac arrest in children. High quality CPR improves the amount of blood flowing to the brain and heart during cardiac arrest. There is a direct link between increased blood flow and increased survival after cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, current methods for assessing the quality of…

Principal Investigator: Dr Jason Acworth
Amount Awarded: $220,320
Institution: Royal Children's Hospital

Australia, Asia and New Zealand Dyspnoea in Emergency Departments Study

Shortness of breath (dyspnoea) is a terrifying symptom experienced by patients and is a common reason for presentation to Emergency Departments. There are a wide range of causes including flair up due to chronic conditions such as asthma, heart failure, chronic lung disease or liver or kidney failure. Acute conditions such as a collapsed lung, chest infection (including pneumonia), trauma (including fractured ribs), airway blockage or an allergic reaction can also be the cause. There is significant knowledge about patients who are admitted to hospital with common causes, however there is little conclusive information about Dyspnoea as a symptom, the…

Principal Investigator: Prof Gerben Keijzers
Amount Awarded: $96,000.00
Institution: Gold Coast University Hospital

Describing health care use in a cohort of children 0-5 years in South East Queensland

Emergency Department (ED) presentations are disproportionately greater in young children than all other age-groups. Young children are a vulnerable population and are at risk for injury and serious medical illness. In Australia, 13 per cent of all ED presentations were from children less than 5 years of age. Factors that lead to greater ED presentation rates in young children are incompletely understood and need further investigation. This project has access to unique data from another existing study, the Environments for Healthy Living study (EFHL), run by the School of Medicine, Griffith University. EFHL recruited pregnant mothers in the Logan, Tweed…

Principal Investigator: A/Prof Gerben Keijzers
Amount Awarded: $50,000.00
Institution: Gold Coast University Hospital

Identifying risk factors for MRSA

Skin infections are a common reason for people to seek medical attention from an emergency department (ED). When (ED) physicians are deciding which antibiotic to use to treat a skin infection, several factors must be considered. The most important factor is the bacteria causing the infection. As it often takes several days for pathology results, ED physicians typically prescribe flucloxacillin: an antibiotic that covers the bacteria seen in approximately 80% of skin infections. In some cases, bacteria known as Community Acquired Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is responsible for infection. If a patient has CA-MRSA, flucloxacillin is not effective and…

Principal Investigator: Dr Julian Williams
Amount Awarded: $94,100
Institution: Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital