Clinical Epidemiology Unit - Cabrini

Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine

Current research within the department focuses on the management of soft tissue disorders – particularly the shoulder, elbow, knee and heel, and the department is involved in clinical trials of innovative new therapies in each of these areas. Other areas of interest include functional health literacy of patients and improving the quality of written patient information; further evaluation of the VWA back pain public health media campaign; the efficacy and safety of vertebroplasty for osteoporotic spinal fractures and outcome measurement. This work has been supported by various local, national and international bodies.

Director:  Professor Rachelle Buchbinder

Phone: +61 3 9508 1652
Fax: +61 3 9508 1653

Publications

Staff

Dr Renae Johnston, Coordinator, Australian Satellite to Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group     (renea.johnston@med.monash.edu.au)

Dr Peter Kent, NHMRC Training Fellow (peter.kent@med.monash.edu.au) 

Ms Bridget Murphy

Dr Margaret Staples, Biostatistian (mstaples@cabrini.com.au)

PhD Student

Ms Jennifer Coghlan : The value of surgery for shoulder disorders

Research

Current Research Projects:

• A 4-year NH&MRC-funded randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial investigating the efficacy and safety of vertebroplasty for acute painful osteoporotic spinal compression fractures.
• Australian Rheumatology Association Database (ARAD)
• Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group, Australian Satellite
• Understanding health information in the community 
• Predictive modelling of low back pain in primary care
• Quality of life, disability and prioritisation of people waiting for joint replacement surgery.
• An open-label study of anti-TNF chimeric monoclonal antibody, infliximab (Remicade) in the treatment of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis despite methotrexate treatment
• Cochrane reviews of interventions for shoulder pain and tennis elbow.
• Malignancy and rheumatoid arthritis.

Recent Research Projects:

• A 3-year NH&MRC-funded randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial investigating the efficacy of physiotherapy after hydrodilatation for the stiff painful shoulder.
• The efficacy of extra-corporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow): a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
• Supplementary written information for patients receiving drug therapy: evaluation of readability and efficacy.
• Ultrasound-guided extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for plantar fasciitis (painful heel): a randomised controlled trial.
• Effects of a media campaign on back pain beliefs and its potential influence on management of low back pain in general practice.
• A randomised placebo-controlled trial of oral prednisolone in the treatment of adhesive capsulitis.
• The responsiveness of disability and pain measures in shoulder disorders.
• How reliably do rheumatologists measure shoulder movement?
• Malignancy and polymyositis.