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Biostatistics

Introduction

Image of Damien Jolley

Who we are...

  • Damien Jolley

Where we are...

  • The MIHSR Biostatistics office is at the rear of the MIHSR building in Kanooka Grove, Clayton, behind Monash Medical Centre. Click here  for a map

What we do...

  • We provide quantitative research and evaluation services to staff within MIHSR, clinical colleagues at Monash Medical Centre and other areas of Southern Health, and to colleagues work in health services research and public health in Victoria and elsewhere

Consulting

Examples of recent consulting projects include:

Southern Health

  • Fetal Diagnostic Unit:
    Evaluating the introduction of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of fetal abnormalities and the counselling of mothers
    Collaborators: Dr Stacy Goergen, Dr Nicole Woodrow
  • Emergency Department, Dandenong Hospital
    Evaluating patient liaison officers in a busy emergency department, measuring patients' impressions and satisfaction. Collaborator: Dr Bob Meek
  • Renal Failure Patients in Cardio-thoracic Surgery:
    Comparison of cardio-thoracic surgery outcomes for patients with renal failure, relative to all other patients undergoing similar procedures at Monash Medical Centre. Collaborators: Dr Adam Zimmet, Prof Julian Smith

External Clients

  • Cochrane Consumers' and Communication Group
    Statistics Editor
  • Victorian Trauma Foundation
    Member of Evaluation Committee for applications for VTF funding
  • Pressure Ulcer Point Prevalence Survey, 2004
    Analysis and reporting of State-wide hospital pressure ulcer point prevalence survey
  • Department of Human Services
    Palliative care demand modelling consultation

Research

  • NHMRC Funded Research
  1. 2006-08        Day, Hill, Flicker, Jolley, Segal
    Tai Chi for independent living: RCT of efficacy of Tai Chi in delaying disability among older people.
    Total: $869,450        Source: NHMRC Project Grant
  2. 2006-08        Dietze, Room, Chikritzhs, Ackland, Vaughan, Jolley
    Drinking patterns, gender and social roles in alcohol problems in Victoria, in an international comparative context
    Total: $398,500        Source: NHMRC Project Grant
  • VicLanes: A Study of Environmental Influences on Nutrition and Physical Activity
    Victorian Health Promotion Foundation

A probability sample of 8000 households across metropolitan Melbourne, stratified by socio-economic status. We measured food purchasing and physical activity levels, and related these to the local environment facilities and shops. See the VicLanes Home Page.

  • MSBase: An international database for multiple sclerosis
    MSBase Foundation

Collaboration of neurologists working with people suffering from multiple sclerosis. A longitudinal database of histories and treatments for MS will be able, in the long run, to compare treatments and hopefully slow the deterioration at present inevitable. See MSBase Home Page for further details.

  • Risk of Leukaemia and Lymphatic Cancer and Exposure to Benzene
     Australian Petroleum Industry, Canberra

Analysis of an industry-based case-control study of the association between leukaemia and exposure to benzene in Australian petroleum workers. My contribution was to oversee the management of a database which contained details of subjects’ exposure to benzene and petroleum products, and their cancer incidence histories. I also used multivariate logistic regression to estimate the odds ratios of leukaemia and lymphatic cancer incidence for workers with different levels of exposure. The results of this study are currently being reviewed by the Australian Petroleum Institute (the client) and may be published in due course.

  • Efficacy of Australian Medical Sheepskin in prevention of Pressure Ulcers
     CSIRO, Clayton

With CSIRO Leather Research, and funded by National Health & Medical Research Council, we investigated the efficacy of the Australian Medical Sheepskin (a natural wool product, but capable of high temperature cleaning) in the reduction of the incidence of pressure ulcers (bed sores) in long-stay hospital patients in a large Melbourne public hospital. Patients were randomised to receive either the sheepskin or usual care. This study was awarded the 2005 MJS/Wyeth Award for Best Clinical Research appearing in the Medical Journal of Australia in 2004.

  • Evaluation of Mass-media Chronic Backpain Advertising Campaign
     Victorian Workcover Authority, Melbourne

Colleagues from Monash University and Deakin University conducted an evaluation of the Victorian Workcover Authority’s state-wide media campaign aimed at reducing time off work for backpain among Victorian workers. We designed a two-state multiple-time CATI population survey study, in which we measured the public’s attitudes to the treatment of chronic backpain. The telephone surveys were conducted in Victoria and NSW using standard market research methodology. My tasks were to help to design the study, including the numbers of subjects needed, and to analyse the data using analysis of variance and graphical methods. The results have been presented to VWA (the client) as a technical report, and will be published in the occupation health and health promotion literature in due course.

  • International Vaccine Efficacy & Delivery
     Australian International Health Institute and the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health
    • Hepatitis B & Malaria in Vietnam

Epidemiological and statistical consulting to an development program in Hanoi to improve delivery of hepatitis B vaccine to infants in rural provinces. I worked on the design and data collection for a number of observational studies and vaccine efficacy trials, and helped to analyse the data from these.

  •  Hib meningitis & pneumonia in Thailand

Program to assess the feasibility and potential effectiveness of Hib vaccine among newborns in two rural Thai provinces. I helped to construct a database for collection of study data, and for central collection & analysis.

  •  Prevalence of Diabetes among adult Australians
    International Diabetes Institute, Melbourne

I provided statistical and epidemiological advice to the AusDiab study, a national house-to-house survey to estimate the hidden prevalence of Type II diabetes among adult non-Aboriginal Australians. Using the CData96 package from Australian Bureau of Statistics, I generated a statistically valid random sample of survey areas covering the whole of Australia.

Publications

Click here to pop-up a list of peer-reviewed publications.

Teaching

MBBS Theme II Content

  • Year 1

Contribute into the course Population Health, led by colleagues Prof Michael Abramson and Dr Rory Wolfe.

  • Year 3

Contribute to the tutorials and teaching of Evidence-Based Clinical Practice

  • Year 4

Contribute to the teaching of Evidence-Based Clinical Practice, conducted fully online to Year 4 students across Victoria.