MRFF funding success for more accessible care for sleep apnoea

The Hopkins Centre is proud to be part of the team investigating more accessible care for people with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) experiencing sleep apnoea. Our Queensland team will be one of the two statewide SCI services exploring this novel physiotherapy-led care model, working with CIA Dr Marnie Graco and team from University of Melbourne, to make it easier for people with spinal cord injury to be assessed and treated for sleep apnoea (FASST-SCI).

 

The QLD team is made up of Hopkins researcher CIs Dr Emily Bray and Dr Claire Ellender (Respiratory / Sleep Physician PAH/UQ), and AIs Hopkins Director Prof. Tim Geraghty (PAH MSH ), Prof. Elizabeth Kendall (Griffith University), Assoc Prof Craig Hukins (Respiratory / Sleep Physician PAH/UQ), Emilie Golan (Senior Physiotherapist, Spina Injuries Unit, QSCIS, PAH), Mrs Sharon Kwiatkowski (Home Ventilation Coordinator, PAH Sleep Unit), and Ross Duncan (Executive Manager, Member Services, Marketing and Fundraising Spinal Life Australia.

 

Most people living with spinal cord injury have undiagnosed sleep apnoea, but very few are treated for it. Untreated sleep apnoea can have significant impacts on health and quality of life. Accessing specialist services for the investigation and treatment of sleep apnoea is challenging for people with spinal cord injury. This study will investigate whether it is feasible for a physiotherapist to assess, diagnose and treat sleep apnoea in an outpatient setting. If feasible, we will test the effectiveness of this care model in a larger clinical trial.

 

FASST-SCI project is funded by MRFF – 2024 Early to Mid-Career Researchers Grant Opportunity