2012 Scientific Report - Queensland Children's Medical Research ...

Summary of Research Activities and Achievements
‣ Telepaediatrics – establishment, coordination and evaluation of telemedicine services
delivered through Children’s Health Services, Queensland Health. (Smith, AC) – T2 and
T3
The Queensland Telepaediatric Service provides the foundation for the centre's research
into service delivery models of health care delivery for children and their families in rural
and regional areas of Queensland. During 2012, the service reached an important
milestone, delivering over 15,000 consultations from the COH at the Royal Children’s
Hospital. The COH have been contracted to develop a similar model of telehealth service
development at the Princess Alexandra Hospital (PA Telehealth Centre).
‣ Evaluation of a novel health screening service for children in a remote Indigenous
community. (Smith AC, Armfield NR, Scuffham P) – T3
The aim of this project is to examine the feasibility of a novel health screening service and to
obtain scientific evidence to demonstrate feasibility, clinical usefulness and costeffectiveness.
The screening program formally commenced in 2009. A longitudinal study is
underway to examine clinical utilization, health service benefits and factors which influence
organisational uptake. A review of the service was published in 2012. Lesson learnt through
this experience in Cherbourg are being observed by other Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander health service providers in Australia.
‣ A randomized controlled trial to evaluate paediatric critical care telemedicine in
Queensland (Smith AC, Coulthard M, Slater A, Armfield NR) – T1 and T2
This three year study involves a randomised controlled trial to investigate the efficacy and
economics of paediatric critical care telemedicine with selected regional Queensland
hospitals. Four sites are currently being established. All equipment has been built and
tested ready for deployment. Ethics has been approved by the appropriate committees.
‣ Using conversational computer technology to improve diabetes management: A
randomised controlled trial. (Oldenburg B, Courtney M, Friedman R, Wootton R, Ash S,
Smith AC) – T2 and T3.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a telehealth service for
patients with diabetes. Telephone linked Care (TLC) is a system used to share information
between patients and clinicians. A study which evaluated the feasibility of this system in
regional Queensland was completed in 2012. Two papers have been published and one
publication is in press.
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