Linking to policy

The MBF Foundation Policy in Action Roundtable

 

 

 

The 45 and Up Study offers a particularly powerful vehicle for policy-relevant research because, unique among large-scale cohorts internationally, it incorporates linkage with a wide range of data about health service use. The 45 and Up Study MBF Policy in Action Roundtable has been established to ensure that the Study is put to early use for research that will directly inform the provision of health services and programs for older people. The Roundtable will:

  • foster high-quality research using the 45 and Up Study that is relevant to policy and practice, and to the community
  • develop ideas for policy-relevant research projects using the 45 and Up Study that will:
    - inform a three year program of work (the MBF Foundation Policy in Action Program) that  has been funded by the MBF Foundation; or
    - be progressed through other mechanisms, including commissioned research and competitive grant funding applications
  • Facilitate the translation of research findings from the 45 and Up Study into policy actions
  • Enhance mutual learning and collaboration among policymakers and researchers

The Roundtable will consider ideas for research projects across all topics that are relevant to policy and practice, and that offer potential benefits to the community, including the four theme areas of the MBF Foundation Policy in Action Program:

  • The impacts of behavioural risk factors, including overweight and obesity, physical activity, dietary factors, smoking and alcohol use, on the use and costs of health services.
  • Patterns of health service use and costs among people with chronic diseases (including diabetes mellitus, cardiac disease, asthma, mental health problems, and combinations of these).
  • Risk and protective factors associated with common avoidable causes of hospital admission (falls and other injuries, diabetes mellitus, asthma).
  • Factors that influence patterns of health service use and costs, including personal circumstances, geographic and socioeconomic factors.