Publications by authors named "A Searles"

Background: Translating research, achieving impact, and assessing impact are important aspirations for all research collaboratives but can prove challenging. The Hunter Cancer Research Alliance (HCRA) was funded from 2014 to 2021 to enhance capacity and productivity in cancer research in a regional centre in Australia. This study aimed to assess the impact and benefit of the HCRA to help inform future research investments of this type.

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Research Impact Assessment (RIA) represents one of a suite of policies intended to improve the impact generated from investment in health and medical research (HMR). Positivist indicator-based approaches to RIA are widely implemented but increasingly criticised as theoretically problematic, unfair, and burdensome. This commentary proposes there are useful outcomes that emerge from the process of applying an indicator-based RIA framework, separate from those encapsulated in the metrics themselves.

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The VALID BP project was initiated to increase the availability of validated blood pressure measuring devices (BPMDs). The goal is to eliminate non validated BPMDs and minimise over- and underdiagnosis of hypertension caused by inaccurate readings. This study was undertaken to assess the potential return on investment in the VALID BP project.

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Article Synopsis
  • People with dementia often face medication-related risks due to cognitive impairments and multiple prescriptions, making medication safety interventions crucial.
  • A study conducted in New South Wales, Australia, assessed the impact of a pharmacist-led medication reconciliation intervention on reducing polypharmacy, potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), and anticholinergic burden among patients with dementia during hospital admissions.
  • Results showed high rates of polypharmacy and PIMs at admission, but a significant decrease in PIMs and anticholinergic scores at discharge; however, no significant differences were found between the intervention and control sites, suggesting the need for larger studies to enhance medication safety for this vulnerable population.
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Background: Sixty percent of people have non-functional arms 6 months after stroke. More effective treatments are needed. Cochrane Reviews show low-quality evidence that task-specific training improves upper limb function.

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