Welcome to the website for the 'SEARCH' Study.

SEARCH is a study of stroke over 2 years being conducted in urban and rural South Australia from July 2009. The aim of the study is to collect as much information as possible about stroke, stroke types, treatment and outcomes. We hope that this information can be used to improve the care for stroke survivors in Australia.

The SEARCH study is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council. The SEARCH team is composed of a wide cross section of academic and medical professionals, led by epidemiologist Professor Konrad Jamrozik through the University of Adelaide.

The search study is attempting to collect data on the incidence of stroke and relate that informtion back to census data. Our research area is based on postcode. The urban study area incorporates the North Western suburbs of Adelaide. The urban postcodes are those from 5007 through to 5025.

Nine other regional areas are involved including, Victor Harbour, Mt Gambier, The Barossa Valley, Clare, The Copper Triangle, Port Augusta, Whyalla and Port Lincoln.

The researchers will endeavour to contact any members of the public who have a stroke in these areas and invite them to participate. The study is entirely voluntary and no information is collected if patients do not choose to participate.

Chief Investigators
Professor Konrad Jamrozik (Epidemiologist and Public Health Physician)
Professor Johnathan Newbury (Rural Health General Practitioner)
Professor Maria Crotty (Rehabilitation Specialist)
Associate Professor Dee Whitford (Physiotherapy)

Associate Investigators
Jennene Greenhill(Acting Director Flinders Rural Clinical Program)
Dr Jim Jannes (Director Stroke Unit QEH)
Dr Andrew Lee (Stroke Neurologist)

Participating Clinicians
Dr Tim Kleinig (Neurology Physician RAH)
Dr Dirk Hofmann (General Physician Whyalla)

Study Registrars:
Dr James Leyden (Neurology registrar)
Dr Zoe Allen (Rehabiliation Registrar)

Field Investigators
Meredith Feist (Victor Harbour)
RN Miriam Bayes (Mt Gambier)
RN Jenni Matena (Victor Harbour)

Currently the search group is seeking to employ a research assistant willing to be trained in the assessment of stroke patients in North West Adelaide, for part time employment.

 

There are a number of vacation scholarships in regional South Australia available this coming summer. Accomodation and transport is provided. The postions ideally suit training health care professionals. The scholarship involves training in the assessment of stroke patients and using the SEARCH database, working with the supervision of the project registrar.

 

In addition we would like to hear from any health care professionals who would like to participate in the project.

Publications generated from the SEARCH project are listed here:

1) Leyden J and Jamrozik K 'Designing a population based study of stroke: challenges and solutions' Australasian Epidemiologist Apr 2009 v16:1

 

Please call 1800 203 124 should you wish to contact the study orgnaisers at any time. Alternatively please contact Dr James Leyden on: 0400399950 or email: james.leyden@hotmail.com