Research Supervisor Connect
Opportunity for a PhD student to join a research project to develop and test in a randomised controlled trial the ELDERS BACK@HOME model of care for older people. This model of care will specifically cater for older people presenting to ED with back pain as a hybrid virtual and in-person model of care to facilitate early hospital discharge.
Camperdown - School of Public Health
Back pain is the fifth most common reason for ED visits in Australia, with one out of four patients being subsequently admitted to hospital. Older patients account for ~64% of hospital admissions for back pain. Facilitating early discharge from hospital is essential to improve health outcomes, especially for older patients who face an increased risk of hospital-acquired complications, such as infections and falls.
Our group has led the implementation of a new model of care, comprising virtual hospital support in the Sydney Local Health District (BACK@HOME). However, older patients (i.e. those aged over 70 yrs) are currently not eligible for the service due to a lack of evidence on its safety and effectiveness in this population. This study will evaluate the (cost-)effectiveness and safety of the ELDERS BACK@HOME model of care designed to cater to the needs of older people with back pain.
This research project will be conducted in two stages: (1) development of the new model of care to cater to the needs of older people with back pain; and (2) evaluation of the (cost-)effectiveness and safety of the ELDERS BACK@HOME in older people with back pain admitted to the hospital. Project 1 consists of a qualitative study with interviews and focus groups with older people with back pain, ED clinicians, geriatricians and physiotherapists providing virtual care to revise the BACK@HOME model of care for older patients. Project 2 will be a 2-arm, randomised trial in three hospitals from the Sydney Local Health District.
The research team at the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health consists of experts in back pain, including clinicians and researchers. A/Prof Gustavo Machado is an experienced back pain and health service researcher with an interest in emergency care for back pain, and extensive collaborations within Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Dr Crystian Oliveira is an early-career researcher and physiotherapist with interests in policies for musculoskeletal pain, healthcare quality, and diagnosis of low back pain. Prof Chris Maher is a global leader in back pain research and a trialist who provides leadership, mentorship and supervision.
The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is 3690