Self-management research Group

This group has objectives directed towards the following areas of focus:

• Self-management strategies to improve quality of life of people with chronic conditions and/or disabilities
• Develope, implement and test self-management strategies that will improve the QOL of individuals with chronic illness and/or disabilities and their families
• Influence health and social policy in the implementation of programs
• Alter health care utilization through use of appropriate programs

Research Group Convenor:

Other researchers in the group:

Ms Robyn Doney	Robyn.Doney@student.curtin.edu.au
Ms Sonya Girdler	Sonya.Girdler@student.curtin.edu.au
Ms Zanne Kawalsky	Zanne.Kawalsky@student.curtin.edu.au
Mr Supalak Khemthong	Supalak.Khemthong@student.curtin.edu.au
Ms Siew Yim Loh	Siewyim.Loh@student.curtin.edu.au
Ms Heather Mearns	H.Mearns@curtin.edu.au
A/Prof Anne Passmore	A.Passmore@curtin.edu.au

Current Research Projects

AussieNet - Self-management via e-delivery
Professor Tanya Packer
Associated agencies: Cerebral Palsy Association of WA, MS Society Western Australia, Parkinsons Foundation, Association for the Blind WA Inc.

This project has as its goal to develop and test the effectiveness of electronic delivery of self-management programmes within WA. A number of organizations currently have protocols and expertise, thus, a collective effort has the potential to reach a large number of individuals with disability and chronic illness. A research team from the Volda University College in Norway have, using educational and instructive processes, examined the Stanford self-management programme, then developed and tested an electronic platform. It is proposed that this platform be used to develop programmes for Western Australia.

The project aims to gather the expertise of a consortium of six organisations in a way that people with disabilities or chronic illnesses will benefit from the collective effort. These organisations are the Cerebral Palsy Association of WA, the Centre for Research into Disability and Society (Curtin University), Volda University College (Norway), Parkinson's Foundation, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Association for the Blind of WA. The long-term goal of the project is to examine the effectiveness of e-delivery self-management programmes for people with disability and/or chronic illness. It is anticipated that the programmes will differ based on the needs of different client groups, however, use of a generic format and protocol will allow transfer of knowledge across groups. It is possible that a number of interchangeable modules could be developed, thus allowing different groups not initially involved in the project to come on board and to tailor the programmes to their needs.

Physical Activity Study of Children and Adolescents with a Disability - PASCAD
Professor Tanya Packer, Dr Tom Briffa
Associated agency: Therapy FocusInc., Association for the Blind of Western Australia, Autism Association of Western Australia and Rocky Bay.

In August 2004, Therapy Focus in partnership with Association for the Blind of Western Australia, Autism Association of Western Australia , and Rocky Bay (known as Partners) submitted a Social Research Grant application to the Lotteries Commission of Western Australia (Lotterywest) to conduct a study investigating the physical activity levels of children with disabilities. At the end of 2004, Therapy Focus' application was short-listed and a revised application was submitted with amendments to the methodology and budget.

In June 2005, Therapy Focus and Partners were granted $144,261 exclusive of GST by Lotterywest to undertake a Social Research Project entitled 'Physical Activity Study of Children and Adolescents with a Disability (PASCAD)'. Therapy Focus and Partners have selected the Center for Research into Disability and Society, Curtin University of Technology as the research collaborator in this endeavor.

The outcome of this research will:

•  provide a baseline measure of the physical activity levels of children with disabilities in WA, allowing a benchmark against which to measure future interventions;

•  allow comparisons to other studies (CAPANS 2003, CLASS) of typical developing peers as well as the Australian guidelines on physical activity for children; and

•  provide the participating community agencies information regarding the beliefs and barriers to physical activity for those children and families they service.

Self-management of Multiple Sclerosis fatigue
Professor Tanya Packer, A/Prof Anne Passmore, Ms Sandy Wallace (MS Society)
Associated agency: Multiple Sclerosis Society of Western Australia

The long-term goals of this research team are to evaluate the effectiveness of non-pharmacological fatigue management (FM) interventions for people with serious, disabling fatigue. A randomized control trial is currently underway at the MS Society examining the effectiveness of a structured 6-week self-management program to decrease the impact of fatigue on daily activity. An examination of the role of self-efficacy in intervention effectiveness is imbedded in the study.

Fatigue management for men with prostate cancer
Professor Tanya Packer, Dr Nigel Spry (Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital), A/Prof Anne Passmore, Professor Linda Kristjanson (Edith Cowan University)
Funding agency: Cancer Foundation of Western Australia

Fatigue is known to be one of the most troubling symptoms for individuals with cancer. The causes of fatigue remain unclear, and strategies to manage fatigue are limited. Studies into the effects of fatigue for men with prostate cancer are even more limited than for other forms of cancer. This study will test whether a structured education program reduces fatigue during and after radiation therapy, resulting in a quicker recovery for men with prostate cancer. The effect that mood and individual coping strategies have on the level of fatigue and recovery will also be examined.

Validation of an Australian version of the Activity Card Sort
Professor Tanya Packer, Ms Desleigh de Jonge, University of Queensland, Dr Kobie Boshoff, University of South Australia
Associated agencies: University of Queensland, University of South Australia

The Activity Card Sort measures activity participation of older adults. It is sensitive to changes in activity level following injury or disability. Using a Q-sort methodology, the measure is very dependent on inclusion of culturally relevant activities depicted in picture form. Currently there are American, Hong Kong and Israeli versions available, but no Australian version. This 3-University team is developing and validating the Australian version.

Remaining in the workforce with early onset Parkinson’s disease
Professor Tanya Packer, Ms Suzanne Rennie
Funding agency: Parkinson’s Association of Western Australia

Many people who are diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s disease (PD) leave the workforce soon after they are diagnosed. Research conducted with rheumatoid arthritis, spinal cord injury, ankylosing spondylitis, and multiple sclerosis indicate that the impact of the symptoms of the disease influence whether or not the individual remains in the workforce. Social and environmental factors also have an influence. The aims of this study are: to explore the factors influencing whether or not people diagnosed with early onset PD remain in the workforce; to identify the impact of the symptoms of PD on participants' ability to remain in the workforce; and to identify the impact of social and environmental factors on the ability of people with early onset PD to remain in the workforce.

Current Research Student Projects

The relationship between frequency and satisfaction of leisure participation and health-related quality of life in women with fatigue secondary to chronic illness
Student: Mr Supalak Khemthong (PhD Candidate)
Supervisor: Professor Tanya Packer
Co-supervisor: Associate Professor Anne Passmore
Scholarship: Thai Government

Self-management intervention for Malaysian women with breast cancer: Enabling quality of life and participation
Student: Ms Siew Yim Loh (PhD Candidate)
Supervisor: Professor Tanya Packer
Co-supervisor: Associate Professor Anne Passmore
Scholarship: IPRIS

Management of cancer fatigue
Student: Ms Zanne Kawalsky (Honours Candidate)
Supervisor: Professor Tanya Packer
Associated agency: Cancer Foundation, Edith Cowan University, Sir Charles Gairdner
Hospital

Reliability and validity testing: Activity Card Sort - Australia
Student: Ms Robyn Doney (Honours Candidate)
Supervisor: Professor Tanya Packer

Recent Publications

Yau, M.K. & Packer, T.L. (2002) Health and well-being through T’ai Chi: Perceptions of Older Adults in Hong Kong. Leisure Studies. 21:163-178.