Research at Sydney Nursing School

Our research into sleep and sleep disorders aims to measure the impact of these disorders, as well as the effectiveness of treatments and health system activity related to sleep.

Initiatives

• Insomnia phenotypes: what are the differences between individuals with insomnia and those without.
• Sleep and sleep disorder research, including sleep apnoea.

Researchers

• Dr Christopher Gordon
• Associate Professor Nathaniel Marshall

Nurses play a vital role in evaluating and treating acutely ill or severely injured people, as well as managing the social and emotional costs associated with their care. 

Our research focuses on identifying common causes of major injuries, the appropriate care of acutely ill people and people with long-term disabilities, and any associated costs.

Working collaboratively with clinicians, clients and their families, we aim to conduct meaningful research that can be translated into health policy and practice.

Initiatives

• Assessing the cost-effectiveness of reducing the cost and harm associated with rib fractures in older people.
• Factors impacting risk of heart attack.
• Translational research into child presentations in regional NSW emergency departments.

Researchers

• Professor Kate Curtis
• Associate Professor Jennifer Fraser
• Associate Professor Thomas Buckley

Nutrition and dietetics includes the study of the food that people eat and its effects on wellbeing and on prevention and management of disease.

Dietary intake assessment

We have extensive experience in assessing and monitoring food and nutrient consumption of the population, including core foods groups (meat, fruit, vegetables, dairy products, grains, water), discretionary foods (fast foods, sugary beverages), portion sizes consumed, energy density of diets, diet quality and nutritional adequacy.

Nutritional epidemiology across the lifecycle

We have special interests in the diets of young adults and the elderly and is conducting two cohort studies.

Young adults gain the most weight of any age group that will lead to obesity and chronic disease. The elderly are the growing demographic and good nutrition may be the key to longevity.

Use of new technologies in nutrition

We are actively involved in collaborative research designing Smartphone applications and on-line tools for monitoring dietary intakes.

The efficacy and cost efficacy of phone coaching, text messaging, apps and social media to deliver individualised nutrition and lifestyle interventions for young adults, prevention of diabetes and for people with type 2 diabetes are active areas of research.

We lead research in cancer and supportive care, and working with cancer and palliative care nurses across NSW to develop their research capacity and skills.

Partly funded by the Cancer Institute NSW, we are a a consortium of the Sydney Nursing School and the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, bringing together the school's strength in cancer and palliative care research with Chris O'Brien Lifehouse's reputation as a centre of excellence in clinical cancer care.

Our research is conducted under four themes:

• supportive care
• psychosocial and quality of life
• models of health care delivery
• improving research capacity and skills for cancer and palliative care nurses.

Key staff

• Professor Kate White, NSW Academic Chair in Cancer Nursing

I-HARP is a unique model of care, funded by the Australian government, that aims to help older people with dementia remain healthy and independent in their own homes.

The program combines a range of proven health care strategies into a comprehensive intervention delivered at home. I-HARP clinicians work closely with the person with dementia and their carer to provide client-directed and client-centred care and support. 

Learn more about I-HARP. 

StepUp for Dementia Research is a research participation and engagement service, a “one-stop shop” that connects individuals – both with and without dementia – with researchers conducting studies into dementia prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care and cure. We make it easier for the brightest minds in research to connect with people willing to donate their time. StepUp for Dementia Research is the flagship initiative of a program called Connect Dementia Research Australia (CDR-A). 

StepUp for Dementia Research is now live. Sign up at our website.

For more information, contact stepup.research@sydney.edu.au

Key staff

• Professor Yun-Hee Jeon, Program Director

Collaborators

• University College of London (Professor Martin Rossor and Adam Smith, Programs Manager)
• University of Exeter (Associate Professor Piers Kotting)

Early implementation of StepUp for Dementia Research is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health.

Sydney Nursing School is proud to partner with the following organisations and governments, ensuring that our research is sustained at a global standard.

• Agency for Clinical Innovation
• Australian Cardiovascular Health & Rehabilitation Association (ACRA)
• Australian Medical Association (AMA)
• Boden Institute
• Brain and Mind Centre
• Cardiac Society of Australia & New Zealand
• Charles Perkins Centre
• Chris O'Brien Lifehouse
• Government of the Kingdom of Tonga
• Kolling Institute
• Menzies Centre for Health Policy
• Motor Neurone Disease Association of Victoria
• National Taiwan University
• NSW Cancer Institute
• South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
• St. Vincent's Hospital
• Sydney Health Partners
• University of Copenhagen
• University of Oxford
• Woolcock Institute

Associate Professor Tom Buckley, Academic Lead Research Education