Funders:

• National Health and Medical Research Council

Collaborators:

• Northern Territory Department of Health (Alice Springs Hospital; Primary and Public Health Care, Central Australia)
• Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Aboriginal Corporation Researcherenye Wappayalawangka-Central
• Australia Academic Health Science Network
• Northern Territory Primary Health Network
   

SPLASH Project 1:

Improving the hospital discharge experience for Aboriginal patients through implementing an Aboriginal Health Practitioner–led discharge model
Aim: To continuously improve an AHP-led discharge model in two wards within ASH.
Objectives: 

1. Implement and evaluate an AHP-led discharge model in the Surgical and Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation wards at ASH, considering timeliness and completeness of discharge, patient compliance with planned follow-up, and patient experience; and 
2. Iteratively improve the model through adaptive monitoring to allow real-time adjustments. 

SPLASH Project 2:

Saving precious kidneys through increasing understanding of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) feasibility in remote Aboriginal contexts
Aim: to increase understanding of the feasibility of self-managing glucose levels using CGM post kidney transplant for Aboriginal peoples with T2DM living in Central Australia. 
Objectives: 

1. Document lived experiences of remote-living Aboriginal clients post kidney transplant regarding use of CGM devices to inform their appropriate use; and 
2. Investigate acceptability and feasibility of CGM for clients and their families/carers. 

SPLASH Project 3:

Improving culturally safe care for critically ill Aboriginal patients and their families through Patient Reported Outcome and Experience Measures (PROEMS)
Aim: to improve culturally safe care in the ASH ICU by enhancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patient and family engagement in PROEMS data collection.
Objectives:

1. Co-design and implement a culturally and linguistically appropriate survey invitation with an educational animation to be incorporated into the existing automated PROEMS survey; and
2. Document any changes in PROEMS response rates following implementation.

SPLASH Project 4:

Improving cultural safety of emergency triage for Aboriginal patients
Aim: to improve the cultural safety of emergency triage at the ASH ED for Aboriginal patients and their families.
Objective: 

1. Document experiences of Aboriginal patients accessing ED triage, including communication and process elements that enable or hinder provision of culturally safe and effective care. 

SPLASH Project 5:

Understanding dental extractions and associated bleeding complications of patients in Central Australia
Aim: To enhance understanding of dental extractions and associated bleeding complications in Central Australia.
Objectives: 

1. Quantify the number of dental extractions provided at FDDC over the preceding five years; 
2. Identify the rates of presentations for bleeding following dental extractions at NT Health sites in Central Australia over the five years; and 
3. Identify risk factors for bleeding following dental extractions to inform subsequent development of protocols for proactively managing higher risk patients. 

Strengthening PLace-based health services research collaboration and capacity in Mparntwe (Alice Springs): an important strategy to close the gap in Health Outcomes (SPLASH)!

Overall Aim:

To increase health services’ research capacity and capability in Central Australia and strengthen partnerships in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) between researchers, system administrators, clinicians, remote community leaders, consumers and key organisations through partnering on five small-scale research projects:

1. Improving discharge experiences for Aboriginal patients by implementing Aboriginal Health Practitioner–led discharge in Alice Springs Hospital (ASH);
2. Saving precious kidneys through understanding barriers and enablers of continuous glucose monitoring by patients with type 2 diabetes following kidney transplant;
3. Improving culturally safe care for critically ill Aboriginal patients and their families through improved collection of Patient Reported Outcome and Experience Measures (PROEMS);
4. Improving cultural safety of emergency triage for Aboriginal patients attending the ASH Emergency Department; and
5. Identifying the extent and nature of bleeding complications after dental extraction
    

Summary:

SPLASH will increase research capability in Central Australia and produce health systems research tailored to the needs and experiences of local Aboriginal peoples which is essential for health and wellbeing. SPLASH tackles five key issues: improving hospital discharge, emergency department triage, and ICU patient experiences and outcomes and better understanding barriers to continuous glucose monitoring following kidney transplant and bleeding complications after tooth extraction. 

Implications for policy and practice:

Enhancing local-level health service provider capacity to advocate for, lead and engage in impactful research and evaluation to inform practice and policy change is essential to generate local solutions. SPLASH provides a platform to strengthen and sustain research partnership between NT Health staff, NTPHN, Congress, and experienced remote health systems researchers based in Mparntwe to address health priorities of local communities in Central Australia. In doing so, SPLASH directly addresses NT Health’s strategic priorities, including to “Connect service delivery and support systems for a sustainable future” and “Support and develop our workforce”. Close collaboration with CAAHSN, strong Aboriginal leadership (five CIs/AIs plus an experienced Aboriginal researcher) and co-leadership of each project by an experienced clinician, an Aboriginal person and a researcher, will strengthen outcomes and enable translation/uptake to health systems and clinical practice.

Chief Investigator: 

A/Prof Deborah Russell

Project Manager:

Rachel Walpole

Contact information:

A/Prof Deborah Russell and Rachel Walpole

Project Dates:

01/05/2025 to 30/04/2027