AUT - Person Centred Research Centre: research activites

Person Centred Research Centre

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This page highlights some of the current and past research activities of the Person Centered Research Centre:

Active Research Projects

Projects Currently Recruiting Participants

Supporting our children through early assessment
Applicants: Paula Kersten (Principal Investigator) Kathryn McPherson, Hinemoa Elder, Dr Shoba Nayar, Alain Vandal, Melody Oliver, Margaret Dudley,
Funding: Ministry of Health
Research Assistant: Heather Robertson
This is a validation study of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire used as part of the Before School Check in New Zealand (B4SC). As part of the study we will be running group discussions with New Zealand European, Māori, Asian and Pacific parents/whānau as well as individual interviews with these groups and with new immigrants to New Zealand. We will also run group discussions with teachers/kaiako. The purpose of the discussions is to explore how family think about their children's emotional and behavioural well-being and how this matches with the way in which our children/tamariki are screened in the Before School Check (B4SC). At the same time we will also be training nurses to assess the emotional and behavioural well-being of Māori children in the home setting. We will compare the nurses findings with those from a screening tool that is being used as part of the B4SC.
Contact: Paula Kersten

Living Well with Cancer
Applicants: Julie Reeve, Nicola Kayes, Kath McPherson, Dr Rod MacLeod, Greta Smith, Jill Bennett, Sarah Bonham Lloyd
Funding: NZPA   Research Assistant: Christine Cummins
There is evidence to show that physical activity and exercise is beneficial for people following a diagnosis of cancer. However, people report a reduction in physical activity following diagnosis and treatment as well as difficulty taking up activities again thereafter. 
We would like to understand from the perspectives of people living with cancer what helps or hinders their participation so that we can better support their involvement in physical activity and exercise following their diagnosis.  We are interviewing people who have been diagnosed with cancer in the last 5 years (who are receiving, have had, or have recently completed curative treatment) in the Greater Auckland, Northland or Waikato regions. RECRUITING…....
Contact: Christine Cummins

Exploring engagement in rehabilitation in people with stroke
Applicants: Nicola Kayes, Felicity Bright, Kath McPherson, Linda Worrel
Funding: AUT Contestable
Research Assistant: Christine Cummins
Engagement in rehabilitation appears to be important for maximising outcomes. However, little is currently understood about what it means to be engaged (actively involved and participating) in rehabilitation from the perspective of people with stroke or rehabilitation providers. This study seeks to explore the meaning and process of engagement in detail, along with what helps or hinders it, by interviewing 18-24 people with stroke, their family/whānau and rehabilitation providers in interviews and focus groups. We hope that this study will help rehabilitation providers improve patient participation and involvement in services.
Contact: Christine Cummins

Reducing fatigue after a brain injury: a pilot study
Applicants: Alice Theadom, Suzanne Barker-Collo, Kathryn McPherson, Nicola Kayes,  Suzie Mudge, Valery Feigin
Funding: AUT Contestable Grant
Research Assistant: Rohit Bhattacharjee
Fatigue is a common problem following a brain injury. This study aims to explore two different types of interventions designed to improve persistent fatigue for people who have experienced a mild or moderate brain injury. One intervention will focus on an educational approach and the other will focus on increasing physical activity. The outcomes of these groups  will be compared to a group receiving usual care. The study is being run in collaboration with ABI Rehabilitation and Integrated Partners in Health Services in the Auckland region. Thirty people  will be recruited into the study to test the acceptability of the group based interventions and to identify any modifications needed. 
Contact: Alice Theadom

Experiences of recovery and adaptation after disabling traumatic brain injury
Kathryn McPherson, Alice Theadom, William Levack, Joanna Fadyl, Matire Harwood,Nicola Kayes, Nicopla Starkey, Grant Christey, Valery Feigin
Funding: Health Research Council (HRC)
Project Manager: Laura Wilkinson Myers
This study aims to increase understanding of how Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) impacts on New Zealanders, in order to inform the development of more responsive, and therefore more effective health care services. This study will interview 50 individuals who have experienced a TBI and their whanau/family about the issues of most concern to them and the changing consequences of TBI over time. In addition, strategies that they and their whanau/family use to promote recovery and adaptation after TBI will be identified. Participants will be recruited from a large population study on TBI in Hamilton (the BIONIC Study). Findings will increase knowledge about the impact of TBI on New Zealanders and those close to them; maximise the value of the questionnaire data in the parent study and; extend the evidence base for improved interventions and support for people with TBI and their whanau/family.
Contact: Alexis Channon

Goals and self regulation skills in brain injury rehabilitation: an RCT
Kath McPherson, Will Taylor, Philip Schluter, Nicola Kayes, Will Levack, Suzanne Barker-Collo, Matire Harwood, Harry McNaughton, Valery Feigin, Mark Ylvisaker, Richard Siegert,
Funding: Health Research Council (HRC)
Research Coordinator: Nicola Kayes
Our objective is to determine effective strategies to improve goal related activity for people with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Goal setting is a key rehabilitation strategy for promoting recovery and adaption. However clinical practice is variable, outcomes uncertain, and both patients and professionals find the process frustrating. We have closed recruitment to this study and are actively following up participants - who we would like to thank for staying in touch!
Contact: Nicola Kayes

Auckland Regional Community Stroke Study (ARCOS IV)
Funding: Health Research Council
The Auckland Regional Community Stroke (ARCOS) IV; Measuring and Reducing the stroke burden in New Zealand, is a five year programme (2010-15) with five inter-linked objectives and three distinct study designs, providing a multi-perspective evidence-base to assess and reduce stroke burden in New Zealand. The study has been awarded funding by the Health Research Council, and is led by Professor Valery Feigin as the Principle Investigator, and Professor Kathryn McPherson and Dr Suzanne Barker-Collo as Co-Principle Investigators. 
Stroke is the second most common cause of death worldwide and a frequent cause of adult disability in developed countries. The aim of the ARCOS study is to measure and reduce stroke burden in New Zealand. This unique population-based approach will allow examination of trends in stroke incidence, prevalence and outcomes for a fourth decade (flowing on from previous ARCOS I, II and III studies); examination of effectiveness of primary and secondary prevention strategies adopted over the last 30 years; and to evaluate a novel, potentially widely applicable behavioural intervention to reduce stroke recurrence.
In addition, a third, qualitative component of the study lead by Professor Kathryn McPherson, will examine the long-term impact of stroke.
Contacts:Dr Rita Krishnamurthi   or Sandy Rutherford

Recently Completed Projects

2012 Summer Studentships (see June news letter for details):-

The Living Well as a disabled person project
Kathryn McPherson, Nicola Kayes,Suzie Mudge, Deborah Payne, Sarah Travalgia (PhysioACTION Limited), Richard Hoskin (PhysioACTION Limited), Julianne McEldowney (Disability Resource Centre), Brigit Frances Mirfin-Veitch (Donald Beasley Institute)
Funding: Health Research Council RFP
Despite numerous public health initiatives aimed at preventing obesity and related chronic diseases, many may be inappropriate or inaccessible for disabled people. This research aims to work in partnership with disabled people to identify key strategies for reducing the incidence and risk of obesity and associated chronic diseases for disabled people. Using focus groups and interviews, key barriers and facilitators to engaging in existing public health initiatives will be explored. Modifications to existing strategies will be suggested following the input and refinement from participants. The revised approaches should be more relevant, targeted and acceptable to disabled people and thus more effective for preventing obesity and other related chronic diseases.
Contact: Nicola Kayes / Suzie Mudge

Bridging the intention-action gap in rehabilitation; a pilot study of an implementation intention intervention
Paula Kersten, Nicola Kayes,Alice Theadom,Kathryn McPherson
Funding: AUT Contestable Grant
Many people with disabilities struggle to work towards their rehabilitation goals. As a result we often observe a gap between the person’s intention and what they actually do. This study will explore whether a strategy called ‘if-then’ plans can help people with multiple sclerosis or stroke overcome this ‘intention-action’ gap and thereby improve their rehabilitation outcomes and well-being. We will compare people who develop ‘if-then’ goals with those setting standard goals, to see if this strategy is acceptable and potentially beneficial for patients. We will assess outcomes with a timed walk and a number of questionnaires. People will also be invited to take part in a focus group or an interview.
Contact: Paula Kersten

Portable airway support in stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - The Breath Easy Study
Kathryn McPherson, Marion Gray (James Cook UNiversity, AUS)), David Nicholls, Ahmed Al-Jumaily, Olaf Diegel,
Anthony Leicht (James Cook University, AUS), Justin Travers (MRINZ)
Funding: Health Research Council
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Bronchodilators alleviate some symptoms of airway obstruction, but reduced exercise tolerance and difficulty with activities of daily living are common.  Devices to support respiratory effort are available but are expensive and not easily portable. Drawing on a case study of a patient with COPD, we found that mobility, exercise tolerance and oxygen saturation improved on independent assessment when using a (self initiated) domestic air compressor to assist.  We have developed two small, affordable devices using Continuous Positive Airways Pressure and applied Positive End-Expiratory Pressure and in this study are evaluating the acceptability/utility of these devices in healthy volunteers and people with COPD.  A cheap and portable device has the potential to give patients, currently housebound by exercise intolerance and cumbersome equipment, freedom to undertake community activity.  If these devices prove effective, significant improvements in health and participation for people with COPD would result.
Contact: Greta Smith

New Zealand validation of the international QOLIBRI (Quality of Life after Traumatic Brain Injury) measure for assessing the quality of life after brain injury
Applicants: Kath McPherson, Graeme Hawthorne, Robb Kydd, Christine Cummins
Funding: Philip Wrightson Centre of Excellence
Working in conjunction with Melbourne University, this study aims to contribute Australasian data towards testing a traumatic brain injury specific quality of life instrument; the QOLIBRI (Quality of Life after Traumatic Brain Injury). Specifically it aims to explore the validity, reliability and responsiveness of the QOLIBRI in a New Zealand population. The study also aims to compare the QOLIBRI with other commonly used instruments in TBI outcomes research, to track how quality of life changes over the first 18 months rehabilitation post-TBI, to investigate predictors of good quality of life outcomes, and to report on costs associated with recovery from TBI.
Contact: Christine Cummins

Testing a new measure of work-ability.
Kath McPherson, Joanna Fadyl, Lynne Turner-Stokes
Funding: ACC
Researcher: Joanna Fadyl
This proposed measure is designed to be an assessment tool and assist rehabilitation planning. Development and pilot testing phases have been completed. We are now beginning the third phase of the research which involves testing the inter-rater reliability of the measure.
Contact: Joanna Fadyl

Stroke Survivor’s perspective of the barriers and facilitators to returning to work: A qualitative study
Christine Cummins, Heleen Reid, Kath McPherson
Funding: AUT University
Returning to work after illness is important for personal and financial reasons. Many people of working age experience stroke however return to work rates for this group are low. This study aimed to identify what stroke survivors perceive as the barriers or facilitators impacting on their return to work choices. Data collection is complete and the findings are being prepared for presentation and publication.
Contact: Christine Cummins

Factors influencing the decision to seek employment or return to work after spinal cord injury
Joanna Fadyl, Kath McPherson, Nicola Kayes, Sridhar Atresh, Julian Verkaaik, Arron Perriam
Funding: AUT University
Researcher: Joanna Fadyl
This study explored the factors influencing people’s decisions to seek paid employment after spinal cord injury. Findings from this research were presented at the Australasian Spinal Cord Society conference in Christchurch in November 2008, and a community meeting at the Auckland Spinal Unit in December 2008.
Contact: Joanna Fadyl

Research Studentships

Work and vocation after neurological injury: A discourse analysis
Joanna Fadyl, PhD (HRC Scholarship)
Supervisors: Kath McPherson and David Nicholls

Community participation for New Zealand children who have had a traumatic brain injury
Margaret Jones, PhD (HRC scholarship)
Supervisors: Kath McPherson, Clare Hocking

PCRC contributions to other current/recently completed projects

BiONiC (Brain Injury Outcomes New Zealand In the Community) Traumatic brain injury burden in New Zealand: a population-based incidence and outcomes study 
Principal Investigator: Valery Feigin (AUT)
Funding: Health Research Council

Enzogenol supplementation for improving cognitive function in post-TBI subjects: a pilot study
Principal Invertigator: Valery Feigin (AUT)

Exploring the effect of Mindfulness on sleep quality in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome
Principal investigator: Alice Theadom  (AUT)

Exploring a personalised therapeutic exercise programme for women diagnosed with breast cancer
Principle investigator: Denise Taylor, HRRI (AUT)
Funding: AUT Contestable

A Personal Digital Assistant to Augment Goal Management Training
Principle investigator: Dr Judith Symmonds, School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences (AUT)
Funding: Health Research Council

Does Tai Chi improve strength and balance in people with Multiple Sclerosis
Principal investigator: Liz Binns, HRRI, (AUT)
Funding: AUT

Tai Chi and Falls Prevention
Principal investigator: Denise Taylor (lead at AUT), HRRI (AUT)
Funding: ACC

Improving stroke rehabilitation for Maori & Pacific people.
Principal investigator: Matire Harwood lead, MRINZ
Funding: Health Research Council

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