Translational Health

Research Leaders: Ms Philippa Middleton, Professor Caroline Crowther, Dr Carmel Collins

The Translational Health Division aims to promote evidence-based practice in women's and babies' health by the dissemination and implementation of clinical research findings into clinical practice.

ARCH is a member of the NHMRC Guideline Assessment Register which provides methodological support to groups developing national clinical practice guidelines. Extensive work with the Australian Cancer Network and the NZ Department of Health in helping them update bi-national melanoma guidelines culminated in NHMRC approval in late 2008. These guidelines are anticipated to significantly guide and influence clinical practice internationally.

Philippa Middleton, Rebecca Tooher and Caroline Crowther were awarded NHMRC grants for supporting the development of two guidelines:

• beyondblue: perinatal mental health guidelines - from mid 2008 ARCH has assisted the beyondblue organisation to produce national guidelines for perinatal mental health
• Venous thromboembolism guidelines - ARCH has been appointed by the National Institute of Clinical Studies (NICS) to help develop national guidelines for Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism.

The Division is also contributing to national ‘guidelines for guidelines' such as designing new national standards for determining levels of evidence and grading recommendations.

Magnesium Sulphate Clinical Practice Guidelines

Caroline Crowther, Philippa Middleton, Tanya Bubner and Helena Oakey formed part of the multidisciplinary panel whose aim was to provide practical evidence-based guidelines on the best practice for clinical care in the use of magnesium sulphate prior to birth for neuroprotection of the neonate. These guidelines will be relevant for health professionals who care for women at risk of preterm birth and their babies, for pregnant women and families, and for policy makers in maternity care.

An educational meeting aimed at finalising the draft guidelines was hosted by ARCH in December 2009. Following this meeting a draft version of the guidelines was released for public consultation on 19 December 2009. The draft guidelines were launched in March 2010 and are available on the ARCH website: www.adelaide.edu.au/arch