Injury prevention

Most injuries requiring hospitalisation in Australia happen as a result of falls, car crashes, sporting and recreational activities, interpersonal violence and in work settings. Our injury prevention program is committed to preventing injury and promoting optimal rehabilitation.

We're researching and developing strategies to:

• modify human behaviour
• define policy that encourages appropriate responses within industry and the community.

Our injury prevention researchers work in a variety of fields including:

• psychology
• public health
• human movement studies
• exercise science
• neuroscience
• optometry
• epidemiology
• road safety
• medical physics
• information technology
• biomedical and civil engineering.

Sub-program committee

Earlier this year the injury prevention sub-program committee was established, and is led by Professor Graham Kerr. The sub-program committee works to create links with areas of similar research within our program, our institute, our university and with external groups to expand our research capacity, improve access to funding and ensure that research is translated into practice.

Sub-program leaders

Each sub-program leader provides valuable knowledge and expertise from their field of research. They have a keen interest in furthering research and collaborations in their respective areas and organise development meetings of interested people throughout the year. This group represents the diversity of interests in injury prevention at QUT, and also forms the executive committee of the injury prevention program.

The committee is involved in:

• decision making
• developing the program
• identifying major priorities
• promoting our research within IHBI and through extensive partnerships with professional and broader communities.

The sub-programs and leaders are:

Ageing

Adjunct Associate Professor Simon Smith

Child and adolescent injury

Associate Professor Kirsten Vallmuur

Community

Dr Kerry Armstrong

Sports and recreation

Dr Anthony Shield

Technology, simulation and automation

Professor Andry Rakotonirainy

Workplace and occupational safety

Professor Jeremy Davey

Infrastructure

The injury prevention program has successfully evolved into a number of groups and centres. The Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety - Queensland (CARRS-Q), established as a joint initiative between the Motor Accident Insurance Commission and QUT, operates within the program and has become fully self-sustaining.

The program will continue to build groups, such as the sleep and neuroscience group, to strengthen our capabilities as a leading program at IHBI and to facilitate the transfer of knowledge between researchers.

Category 1 projects

Improving postural stability and reducing falls risk in people with Parkinson's disease using textured insoles: a randomised controlled trial

Investigators

Professor Graham Kerr, Professor Keith Davids, Dr Sandra Brauer, Dr Anna Hatton, Professor Ewald Henning

Scheme

NHMRC Project Grant, $997,781.45

Summary

In this project we propose to undertake a randomised controlled trial to determine the efficacy of textured insoles to improve postural stability during standing and walking in people with Parkinson’s disease over an extended period of time.

Improving gait by way of plantar tactile stimulation: a randomised controlled trial of the effects of prolonged wear of textured shoe insoles in people with multiple sclerosis

Investigators

Dr Anna Hatton, Professor Sandra Brauer, Professor Graham Kerr, Professor Keith Rome, Dr John Dixon, Mrs Katrina Williams

Scheme

Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia Project Grant, $120,000

Summary

The benefit for people affected by MS is that this study could lead to the development of a new treatment technique, specifically an inexpensive, easy-to-administer shoe insole, which could help towards improving mobility and independent living.

Integrating technological and organisational approaches to enhance the safety of roadworkers

Investigators

Professor Narelle Haworth, Professor Herbert Biggs, Professor Andry Rakotonirainy, Dr Mark King, Mr Martin Peelgrane, Mr James Ulyate, Mr Bob Overall, Ms Susie Bridle

Scheme

ARC Linkage Project, $583,926

Summary

This multidisciplinary project will enhance the safety of roadworkers by providing practical and theoretical contributions to inform and provide direction at industry and academic levels for developing effective interventions/strategies to improve safety in road construction.

CoopEcoSafe: a new cooperative, green and safe driving system

Investigators

Professor Andry Rakotonirainy, Professor Hesham Rakha, Dr Patricia Delhomme, Professor Narelle Haworth

Scheme

ARC Discovery Project, $443,758

Summary

Road transport plays a vital role in our economy but generates huge costs in road trauma and greenhouse gases. Eco-driving has been trialed as a cost-effective approach to reducing fuel consumption, but little research has examined its effects on safety. This research brings together disciplines of road safety, psychology and engineering to address the fundamental question: How can mobility be greener while being safer?

Protecting young people from harm and injury: investigating the utility of a risk and protective framework

Investigators

Emeritus Professor Mary Sheehan, Adjunct Professor Victor Siskind, Dr Lisa Buckley

Scheme

ARC Discovery Project, $348,243

Summary

Injury is the main cause of young people's deaths and reducing it is a national priority. This research systematically evaluates an injury risk-taking school intervention which achieved significant reductions in injuries in its pilot trial.

Reducing aggression on our roads: testing a comprehensive model of aggressive driving

Investigators

Adjunct Professor Barry Watson, Dr Alexia Lennon, Professor Narelle Haworth, Professo Ray Bingham

Scheme

ARC Discovery Project, $301,263

Summary

High risk behaviours play a major role in road crashes that kill between 1400-1600 Australians annually and which cost Australia $17 billion each year. Aggressive driving increases crash risk and many Australian drivers report being a victim or perpetrator of driver aggression. This project will test a comprehensive model of driver aggression to allow better evidence-based decision-making and more informed design of interventions to reduce it.

Using self-report data to predict crash risk: how accurate is it and how can it best be used?

Investigators

Associate Professor James Edwin Freeman, Adjunct Professor Barry Watson, Dr Anders af Wahlberg

Scheme

ARC Discovery Project, $262,183

Summary

This comprehensive study will critically examine the accuracy and usefulness of self-report data to describe and understand driving behaviours as well as predict crashes. The project is the first national or international study of its kind, and the results will inform road safety interventions designed to reduce crashes and improve road safety.

Treating insomnia co-morbid with obstructive sleep apnoea: a randomised controlled clinical effectiveness trial

Investigators

Adjunct Associate Professor Simon Smith, Professor R Douglas Mcevoy, Professor Leon Lack, Dr James Douglas, Associate Professor Nick Antic, Associate Professor Peter Catcheside, Dr Ching Li Chai-Coetzer, Professor Julie Ratcliffe, Dr Stephen Quinn

Scheme

NHMRC Project Grant, $261,152.72

Summary

The NHMRC-funded COMISA trial is a multi-site randomised control trial to determine the benefit of CBT for insomnia in patients with sleep disorders.

Enhancing knowledge about the role of human factors enforcement practices and legislation in Australia and China to inform development of culturally-specific speed managment strategies reduce road trauma

Investigators

Dr Judy Fleiter, Adjunct Professor Barry Watson

Scheme

NHMRC Australia-China Exchange, $383,454.16

Fellowships

Evaluating and developing the evidence-base and data mining approaches to strengthen the consumer product safety system in Australia

Investigators

Associate Professor Kirsten Vallmuur, Dr Kirsten McKenzie

Scheme

ARC Future Fellowship, $771,480

Summary

Recent work commissioned by the Government to investigate the consumer product safety system has identified problems in the efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness of the system, the lack of national uniformity and lack of available data to support an early warning system. This study will evaluate the evidence-base and develop new data mining methods to support early identification and surveillance of product-related injuries, which will facilitate a stronger evidence base to inform policy and prevention initiatives to avert and reduce the incidence and severity of product-related injuries.

Mothers' sleep in the postpartum period: effects on safety-sensitive tasks

Investigators

Dr Kerry Armstrong, Ms Janelle Mackenzie

Scheme

NHMRC Public Health Postgraduate Research Scholarship, $64,227.67

Summary

In the months following the birth of an infant, mothers often report feelings of sleepiness due to their caregiving responsibilities. Sleepiness is associated with reduced neurobehavioural performance, and in turn, driving while sleepy is associated with elevated crash risk. Thus, the concern is that mothers may be at increased crash risk when driving during the postpartum period. This program of research involved assessment of mothers’ sleep, sleepiness, and driving during the postpartum period.

Risky gadgets to the rescue: designing personal ubicomp devices to foster safer driving behaviours in young males

Investigators

Dr Ronald Schroeter

Scheme

ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, $405,614

Summary

This study will pioneer research to explore the following hypothesis, which has not been explored to date: Providing safe, driving-related and pleasurable stimuli through digital technologies in the car can replace the urge for risky driving behaviours in young male drivers.