Centre for Allied Health Research and Education

Cabrini Research Annual Report 2020-21 Centre for Allied Health Research and Education

DR ANNEMARIE LEE

GRANT FUNDING HELD $1.1m

PUBLICATIONS 10 PRESENTATIONS 6 CLINICAL TRIALS 4

Our vision is to be the leader in allied health research in Australian private healthcare. We strive to improve the health of Cabrini patients and the local community through development and implementation of clinically focused, high-quality and robust research, which translates into best clinical practice.

Cabrini Research Annual Report 2020-21 Centre for Allied Health Research and Education

Centre for Allied Health Research and Education (CAHRE) research activities supported in 2020-21 aligned with these areas: • Rehabilitation and management of chronic conditions and comorbidities • Exercise rehabilitation and wellness interventions for oncology patients and their caregivers • Clinical education and simulation

Investment in our allied health staff to increase research capability is essential for delivering high-quality clinical services and retaining the best clinicians. We continue to be characterised by our commitment to allied health education that focuses on enhancing patient care and developing future health service leaders. We strive to creatively deliver student education, and are constantly and actively seeking collaboration within our network and university partners. We are open to embracing and discussing new research opportunities, including incorporating more interprofessional learning for staff and students.

The opening of the Exercise Laboratory in the Cabrini Cancer Institute provides an exceptional opportunity to explore research opportunities centered on the Cabrini themes, and to work alongside skilled exercise physiologists whose research interest and skills focus on the role of exercise as medicine for the management of cancer. Additional research will focus on the wellbeing and supportive care needs of cancer survivors, by developing, conducting and evaluating intervention studies.

Milly Bell (physiotherapist and PhD candidate) is leading a pilot study of the clinical efficacy of SUpported Motivational InTerviewing (SUMIT) which targets physical activity following completion of a Good Life with osteoarthritis Denmark (GLA:D®) Australia program for people with knee osteoarthritis. Supported by a Cabrini Foundation grant, this study will compare the effects of motivational interviewing with usual care on pain, joint-related quality of life and health-related quality of life.

Dr Jason Wallis (physiotherapist and Research Fellow) has led two qualitative studies related to osteoarthritis management. In the first he explored the views of orthopaedic surgeons, rheumatologists and general practitioners regarding osteoarthritis management. Medical professionals recognised the role and relevance of nonsurgical management with a focus on exercise therapy. In the second study he established barriers and enablers for uptake of the GLA:D® Australia program for people with hip and knee osteoarthritis from the perspective of patients and medical professionals. Key findings highlighted the barriers of access, misinformation about osteoarthritis while enablers included opportunities to avoid joint replacement surgery and efficient referral processes. This knowledge highlights the importance of improved reimbursement models and better promotion and educational resources related to the GLA:D® Australia program for those with osteoarthritis.

Dani Feil (physiotherapist) was awarded a Cabrini Foundation Quality Improvement grant of $15,000 for her project “Living well with secondary breast cancer – the clinical outcomes and patient perceptions of a combined exercise and educational support group”. This project aims to address the unmet needs of women with advanced breast cancer by introducing a dedicated eight-week rehabilitation program incorporating exercise, education and peer support to Cabrini patients. Knowledge of patient perceptions of this program and its clinical effects on functional exercise capacity, symptom and quality of life will inform future iterations of this intervention in other tumour groups to ensure that it meets the needs of the Cabrini community.

Following the success of the pilot study conducted at Cabrini Health, our department is part of an NHMRC partnership grant funded trial for My Therapy. Led by Dr Natasha Brusco, and in collaboration with Eastern Health, Alfred Health, Healthscope, Monash University and La Trobe University, a step wedged cluster randomised controlled trial will examine the effects of a self-managed program of occupational therapy and physiotherapy exercises and tasks for patients undergoing rehabilitation. My Therapy is designed to increase the dosage of therapy participation during rehabilitation. The effects will be determined by a range of clinical outcomes together with cost effectiveness. The impact of My Therapy on self-management and empowerment and the fidelity and quality of implementation will also be examined.

STAFF

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Dr Annemarie Lee

Sophie Jennings, Research Assistant Louise Tilley, Research Assistant Fiona Dulfer, Site Coordinator My Therapy Project A/Prof Helena Frawley, Honorary Research Fellow Dr Tash Brusco, Honorary Research Fellow Dr Kuan-Yin Lin, Honorary Research Fellow Mr John Pierce, Honorary Research Fellow Ms Sara Whittaker, Honorary Research Fellow Dr Christina Ekegren, Honorary Research Fellow

STUDENTS

Sonya Imbesi (Physiotherapy) – Master of Cancer Science at University of Melbourne Helen Kugler (Physiotherapy) – PhD candidate enrolled at La Trobe University John Pierce (Speech Pathology) - PhD candidate enrolled at La Trobe University Lewis Cattley-Stone – Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Monash University) Pardis Sorti – Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Monash University) Jack Mason – Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Monash University) Sarah Castricum – Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Monash University) Irene Terzopoulos – Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Monash University) Cindy Wong – Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Monash University) Chanh Tran – Bachelor of Physiotherapy (Monash University)

Right: Dr Annemarie Lee (left) and Louise Tilley.