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The development of an online comprehensive education and management resource for patients who take warfarin.
Hobart
This project addresses a recognised high-risk drug for adverse events, warfarin. Adverse events from warfarin use in Australia have been estimated to cost over $100 million per annum in direct hospital costs alone. Warfarin use has been increasing in use by about 10% per year and it is estimated that approximately 200,000 people take warfarin in Australia.
Warfarin is a drug that requires close laboratory monitoring (weekly-monthly) to prevent bleeds and may also require regular changes in dose. The levels are easily affected by other medications, diet, alcohol and other medical conditions. This project aims to deliver an online education package for patients taking warfarin. The online resource will be particularly tailored to patients who self-monitor blood test results (called an INR) using portable monitors at home (analogous to blood sugar monitors for diabetics). It is envisaged that patients will be able to enter their blood test results onto the website and can compare their warfarin control to other patients registered with the program. This project could also develop connectivity protocols for the monitor to transfer results directly to the website.
The program will be evaluated by using a validated warfarin knowledge questionnaire and quality of life scales, which already exist. This education program could also be made available to health professionals including pharmacists, nurses and doctors.
The strategic vision of the Unit for Medication Outcomes Research and Education (UMORE), School of Pharmacy, is to be a premier source of information, education and collaborative research in the assessment and improvement of medication outcomes. The Unit has achieved almost $5M in research funding over the past 4 years. The Unit has strong collaborative research links with numerous government, professional and commercial organisations. UMORE’s research has a strong focus on the development, application and evaluation of information and communications technology (ICT) solutions to improve the safety and efficacy of health care delivery, including the use of medications. Luke Bereznicki from UMORE last year won the State and National Pearcey Foundation Award for innovative and pioneering achievement and contribution to research and development in information technology.
The client for this project wishes to retain the intellectual property rights for this project. This means that all students in the team will have to sign the intellectual property agreement in the project manual. If you are not willing to sign the agreement do not choose this project as one of your preferences.
You will also have to sign a confidentiality agreement.
Professor Gregory Peterson
6226 2197 or 0428582940
UMORE, Cnr Alexander and Churchill St (above the staff club)
G.Peterson@utas.edu.au
http://www.comp.utas.edu.au/users/dcolbeck/Index.htm
The estimated software difficulty rating is 3-3.5