Research Theme

Primary Health Care

The Menzies Research Institute aspires to have a significant impact on human health and wellbeing through translation of research outcomes into clinical benefits. By translating research from bench to bedside, Menzies is working to improve the health of the community.

Click here for information on the strategic health care research underway through PHCRED.

Some examples of research projects within the Primary Health research theme at the Menzies Research Institute:

Aspirin reducing events in the elderly (ASPREE)

The ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) study is a randomised double-blind placebo controlled trial involving up to 20,500 participants around Australia. It is designed to detect a 15% difference in major adverse cardiovascular events between placebo and active treatment in participants aged 70 years and above.

A feasibility study has been completed and final data analysis is underway with a manuscript in preparation. The main ASPREE study began in Tasmania in September 2006 and recruitment in other Australian states depends on the availability of further funding.

Spirometry and asthma management in children and adults in General Practice

This study, run in conjunction with the University of Adelaide, aims to critically examine the impact of the measurement of airflow obstruction, using spirometry, on the management of asthma in adults and children.  The study will provide evidence for the costs and benefits of spirometry use in the monitoring of asthma.

We hypothesize that the consistent and informed use of standardised spirometry measurement will improve the health outcomes, quality of life and care for both adults and children with asthma. Evidence to support our hypotheses will be important to all key respiratory policy making groups throughout Australia, regarding the appropriate funding and fostering of widespread spirometry use.

Secondary prevention in acute coronary syndromes: Identifying the smoking cessation strategies and smoking related beliefs of people who successfully stop smoking after an acute coronary event.

Quitting smoking is one of the most effective actions a person can take after having a heart attack or angina in order to prevent having a second and more serious event.  However, while most smokers are highly motivated to quit after an acute coronary event (ACE) the majority will resume smoking within twelve months. This project addresses the question ‘Why do some smokers successfully quite after an ACE while others continue to smoke?’

People who have successfully stopped smoking after they were hospitalised with a heart attack or angina are interviewed and their results compared with people who have continued to smoke after being hospitalised with a heart attack or angina. This will allow comparison of the behaviours, beliefs and strategies of successful quitters with people who do not successfully stop smoking after an ACE. The role of the GP and other health professionals in smoking cessation is also being investigated.

The results from this study will contribute to the development of specialized quitting programs for smokers with coronary artery disease, add to the body of scientific knowledge in the area and generally inform smoking cessation guidelines and the management of patients after an ACE. Corollary to this study is an additional qualitative study of why individuals quit smoking after an acute coronary event.

International Day for the Evaluation of Abdominal obesity (IDEA)

The IDEA study gathered worldwide prevalence data on abdominal obesity and assessed its correlation with other cardiovascular risk factors, collecting information on the current status, characteristics and management of subjects aged between 18 and 80 consulting their general practitioner.

IDEA has resulted in a number of publications including a paper on the rationale and design of a primary care study on the prevalence of abdominal obesity and associated factors in 63 countries. Other papers in preparation include an article on the association of overweight, obesity and other patient characteristics in Australian general practice, and a paper describing Australian results from IDEA survey.

REduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health (REACH)

REACH is an international registry of individuals with established cardiovascular disease (CVD) or high risk of developing CVD. A paper is in preparation on behalf of the Australian REACH registry investigators on management of cardiovascular risk factors in the Australian REACH registry.

A Cluster Randomised controlled trial of an Automated versus manual device for Blood pressure management (CRAB)

Hypertension is the commonest problem managed in general practice. In this setting as in others control remains less than ideal. As there is a linear relationship between blood pressure level and risk of death any change in standard management that leads to improved blood pressure control is likely to be beneficial. CRAB will compare the measurement and management of sequential adults attending a general practice over a week.  It will use the endpoints of digital preference, the number of individuals who have a blood pressure measurement, the number of measurements an individual has, mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and drug management where hypertension is treated. It is a trial of clinical effectiveness in general practice where the majority of hypertension is managed.

This study will provide evidence for the potential changes in blood pressure recording and hypertension management of the introduction of new devices not containing mercury which are inevitable due to occupational health and safety concerns of this toxic material.  The OMRON HEM-907 device is a validated blood pressure measurement device.  We hypothesize that the use of automated measurement devices will increase the number of people who have a blood pressure measurement, the number of recordings per individual and will improve the management of individuals with hypertension.

For more information, contact:

Professor Mark Nelson

Senior Member

Telephone: (03) 6226 4734