Professor Trisha Dunning, Barwon Health and Deakin University’s Chair of Nursing, has been awarded the inaugural Ella Lowe Grant for her research into providing the best possible treatment for patients with diabetes receiving palliative care.
According to Prof. Dunning, diabetes management during palliative care is complicated and the $50,000 grant will be used to develop clinical guidelines.
“Caring for a patient with diabetes in the last months of their life is complex. There are no detailed guidelines that advise doctors and nurses how to manage diabetes in these patients in order to maintain quality of life and ensure they are comfortable,” said Prof. Dunning.
“Our research will help to develop guidelines based on a literature review, advice from an expert panel, and information from patients and their families. We will test the guidelines with patients with diabetes receiving palliative care, to ensure they improve professional practice and help doctors and nurses provide the best possible care,” she said.
Prof. Dunning said that diabetes is an increasingly common condition and there is increasing evidence of the association among diabetes, obesity and some forms of cancer.
“The long term complication of diabetes, such as end stage renal disease, requires palliative care therefore, our project is relevant to a growing population. Providing evidence based, tested guidelines specifically for managing diabetes in patients at the end of life will improve the quality of life for these patients, health professional satisfaction, and assist patients to have a peaceful death.”
Prof. Dunning is a highly experienced clinician and researcher with extensive knowledge in the clinical care of people with diabetes and in diabetes education. Dr Peter Martin, Regional Director of Palliative Medicine, and research fellow, Dr Sally Savage, will assist with the research.
About the Ella Low Grant
The Nurses Board of Victoria (NBV) established a $50,000 annual grant for nursing education, research and management. The Grant is names in honour of the NBV’s late president, Ella Lowe, who made significant and lasting contributions to all areas of the nursing profession.
The grant is available to Division 1 nurses to conduct research, education or program evaluation to improve nurse-led healthcare in any clinical setting.
www.nbv.org.au/research-grants
5/8/2008 |