Department of Health Sciences - Studenten üben mit einer Gehhilfe

Research – Department of Health Sciences

The Health Sciences Department at IMC Krems carries out research into therapeutic and nursing care. There is also an emphasis on testing and developing treatment measures for patients.

Interdisciplinary collaboration generates new findings

Research in the Department of Health Sciences may look at interventions systematically developed by the department itself, or alternatively the focus is on systematic testing of existing interventions. Measuring the outcomes is an important part of the implementation and evaluation process.

The department carries out interdisciplinary research projects, with an emphasis on possible practical applications. The projects concentrate on topics such as health promotion, prevention and rehabilitation, as well as the entire human life cycle – from birth right through to professional care in old age. Chronic conditions are another focus area.

Our research centres on the distinct perspectives and needs of all those affected – be it clients and their relatives or the various health experts involved. Another priority is finding ways to involve patients and doctors in evaluations.

The aim is to bring practice and research closer together.
 

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Gesundheits- und Krankenpflege Studenten üben am Patientenbett

Research focus areas: Department of Health Sciences

In the Department of Health Sciences we concentrate our research activities on the following main research focuses

The team at IMC Krems deals with the concretisation of the concept of personalisation in health science contexts with the aim of adapting interventions and nursing to individual patient needs. This involves clarifying the question of which non-pharmacological interventions (therapeutic and nursing actions) patients are receptive to, when, how often and for how long.

The focus is also on researching and characterising dialogue structures that are indicative of progress and change in the course of therapy or the nursing process. Another goal is the development of valid measurement methods and targeted training for empathy in the field of health care professions.

Contact person: Gerhard Tucek

The development of new health technologies and the testing of the applicability of existing technologies and their effect on human health are an essential basis for the future. This research field not only aims at creating evidence-based digital solutions, but also deals intensively with the analysis of opportunities, risks and ethical issues.

Contact person: Markus Golla

The research field of developing, testing and evaluating new therapeutic and nursing interventions with the aim of improving clinical practice (outcome research) serves to further develop research findings. The investigation of supporting and hindering factors in the development, testing and evaluation of new interventions aims to facilitate the sustainable integration of the results into clinical practice (implementation research).

Contact person: Gerhard Tucek

The research of therapy and nursing science interventions for the constructive design of phenomena of demographic change, such as changed lifestyles, increase in alternative lifestyles, late motherhood as well as age-related diseases of the musculoskeletal system, dementia, etc., are the basis of therapeutic and nursing activities in today’s society. The needs of the different generations are in constant change, to which therapy and nursing science are adapting in an evidence-based manner.

Contact person: Markus Golla

The research focus “health promotion and prevention” deals with the development and impact of preventive and health-promoting measures at all levels of health, whereby particular importance is attached to building health literacy, children and adolescents growing up healthy and the promotion of psychosocial health, and application-oriented research takes place in different settings.

This includes:

  • Development and evaluation of preventive and health-promoting interventions for children and adolescents in the school setting
  • Development and evaluation of preventive and health-promoting interventions for women in the reproductive phase and families, with special attention to diverse gender and family constellations
  • Development of violence prevention tools for the therapeutic context
  • Research on measures to promote personal health competence and create health-competent organisations and social settings
  • Research of the therapeutic effect of healing and spa forests and the development of interventions in nature-based settings 

Contact person: Gerhard Tucek

Research projects

  • Department of Health Sciences
    health-sciences

    Development and evaluation of two digital/hybrid learning tools about interpersonal violence in the professional practice of midwives and music, occupational and physical therapists

    1637

    Midwives, music, occupational and physical therapists in Austria encounter clients who experience domestic violence, and they experience client violence in professional practice. Our study will develop and evaluate two effective digital/hybrid...

    Midwives, music, occupational and physical therapists in Austria encounter clients who experience domestic violence, and they experience client violence in professional practice. Our study will develop and evaluate two effective digital/hybrid learning tools for continuing education of Lower Austrian midwives and therapists to support these health professionals in experiences with domestic and client violence in their professional practice.

     

    The three-year project will start in March 2024 and consists of three phases:

    1) Scoping review of existing digital and hybrid learning resources regarding domestic and client violence in the professional practice of midwives, music, occupational and physical therapists,

    2) Action research to develop two digital or hybrid learning tools regarding domestic and client violence in professional practice for Lower Austrian midwives, music, occupational and physical therapists, with the aim to increase consciousness and knowledge about domestic and client violence in the professional practice and equip practitioners with the necessary competencies,

    3) Evaluation of the designed tools, including preliminary effectiveness and safety, via questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.

     

    The project is financed under the call „FTI-Projekte: Angewandte Forschung“ by the Gesellschaft für Forschungsförderung Niederösterreich (GFF NÖ).

  • Department of Health Sciences
    health-sciences

    Identifying hip muscles with realtime ultrasound

    1699

    Identifying muscles and to know how muscles are working is important for physiotherapists. Superficial muscles are relatively easy to palpate. Muscles deeper in the body are very difficult zu palpate. Partially it is impossible to palpate them at...

    Identifying muscles and to know how muscles are working is important for physiotherapists. Superficial muscles are relatively easy to palpate. Muscles deeper in the body are very difficult zu palpate. Partially it is impossible to palpate them at all. Realtime ultrasound can be helpful in identifying muscles, which are situated in a deeper layer. In the hip region, for example, we have the muscle obutratorius internus, which is important for MSK (musculoskeletal) and WH (womens health).

     

    Aim: : In this study we would like to explore if these muscles can be identified with realtime ultrasound.

     

    Research question: Which muscles, relevant for physiotherapists, are identifyable with realtime ultrasound by physiotherapists in the hip region.

  • Department of Health Sciences
    health-sciences

    Collaborative Research on Occupational Balance (CROB): Exploration and enhancement of occupational balance in informal caregivers of persons after stroke

    1589

    Stroke is one of the most common causes of permanent disability. A stroke not only changes the everyday life of the person affected, but also influences the entire family system, which is usually heavily involved in care and support after a stroke....

    Stroke is one of the most common causes of permanent disability. A stroke not only changes the everyday life of the person affected, but also influences the entire family system, which is usually heavily involved in care and support after a stroke. In many European countries, informal caregivers form the backbone of care systems. One challenge for them is to balance their roles and tasks related to care and support activities and other meaningful everyday activities such as self-care, leisure, or employment. This can possibly impact their own occupational balance, the balance of satisfaction between the number and variation of activities in all areas of life.

     

    To date, research in the field of informal care has primarily focused on mental and physical stress. Possible effects of an occupational imbalance on health and well-being of informal caregivers are under-explored.

    CROB is a research collaboration with partners from Karolinska Institute in Sweden and Duervation in Lower Austria, which aims to better understand the changing impact of informal care on the occupational balance of informal caregivers of stroke survivors. Hindering and supporting factors are identified at individual, social and political levels. The research project aims to contribute to a better understanding of the relationship between occupational balance and health-related quality of life, as well as the social determinants of health. Furthermore, this research collaboration aims to provide an overview of existing interventions to improve occupational balance and to develop recommendations for targeted interventions on a structural and individual level to promote occupational balance in family caregivers. Two applications for research funding at national and EU level are planned.

  • Department of Health Sciences
    health-sciences

    Red flags: Improving knowledge of serious pathologies

    1293

    In our aging society, conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system will become more prevalent and will increase overall health care costs. These costs can be reduced when multi-disciplinary primary care settings are present where physicians and...

    In our aging society, conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system will become more prevalent and will increase overall health care costs. These costs can be reduced when multi-disciplinary primary care settings are present where physicians and other health professionals, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and nurses work closely together. An aging society will also bring increased serious pathologies affecting the musculoskeletal system (such as

    spinal metastatic cancer or osteoporotic fractures) which need to be spotted by these health professionals. The

    recognition of serious pathologies affecting the musculoskeletal system, especially in the early stage of a disease, is a challenging task but is essential as this significantly improves prognosis and outcome. Red flags can help health care professionals as these as are signs and symptoms of serious pathologies that can become apparent during the patient’s interview, physical examination or over the course of treatment. Advanced knowledge about these red flags can improve the chances of a patient being referred (back) to the physician and potentially saving a patient’s life.

    Our previous work, on the one hand, has shown that final year physiotherapists students’ red flags knowledge in Europe (including Austria) is low. On the other hand, Austrian general practitioners and orthopaedic surgeons realise the importance that physiotherapists recognise red flags. These results highlighted the need for additional training to improve clinical decision making and to recognise more accurately the presence of red flags.

    Our overall aim of this proposal is to develop and test educational clinical vignettes for the physiotherapy profession in Austria in order to increase their knowledge about red flags.

    In our first part, we aim to investigate the current knowledge level of red flags in Austrian qualified physiotherapists based on validated clinical vignettes using an online survey. In this survey we also ask how physiotherapists would prefer to learn about red flags.

    In the second part medical doctors and physiotherapists will work together to develop new interactive clinical vignettes. These clinical vignettes will then be sent to another group of medical doctors and health professionals, using the HAS consensus

    method.

    In the third and last part the newly developed clinical vignettes will be used in an educational red flags

    intervention for physiotherapists to ensure that the project will have a direct effect on the current physiotherapy profession.

  • Department of Health Sciences
    health-sciences

    Interpersonal violence in professional practice of midwives and therapists in Lower Austria: A feasibility survey into the development of a digital learning intervention

    1575

    Midwives and therapists in Austria encounter clients who experience domestic violence, and they experience client violence in professional practice. There is evidence that they are suboptimally prepared to handle such situations.

    Study aim: To...

    Midwives and therapists in Austria encounter clients who experience domestic violence, and they experience client violence in professional practice. There is evidence that they are suboptimally prepared to handle such situations.

    Study aim: To assess the feasibility of a research project on a digital learning intervention for interpersonal violence in these professionals’ practice in Lower Austria.

    Design: Descriptive feasibility survey.

    Sample: Midwives, physiotherapists, music and occupational therapists in Lower Austria.

    Methods: A survey via the online tool UNIPARK with a structured questionnaire collected the participants’ experiences with interpersonal violence in professional practice as well as their perception of respective knowledge and their training needs and wishes.

    Conclusion: Participating Lower Austrian therapists and midwives state substantial training needs with regard to interpersonal violence in professional practice. They would accept a digital learning option for this purpose.

  • Department of Health Sciences
    health-sciences

    Acceptability of a study design in people with Parkinson’s disease - a feasibility study

    1579

    Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the elderly population (Gao, 2020). Freezing of Gait (FoG) is a disabling symptom of PD and is defined as a “brief, episodic absence or marked reduction of forward...

    Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the elderly population (Gao, 2020). Freezing of Gait (FoG) is a disabling symptom of PD and is defined as a “brief, episodic absence or marked reduction of forward progression of the feet despite the intention to walk” (Giladi, 2008). Compensation strategies such as cueing can reduce FoG severity and improve gait parameters (Ginis, 2018). FoG reduces the patient’s mobility and their independence and has a significantly impact to their quality of life (Walton, 2015). Cues are targets or references that support the execution of a movement (Nieuwboer, 2007). The cueing device that was used in this study, was a wearable non-invasive sternal vibrotactile stimulation device (SVSD). The sensor sole used in this study was a wireless, instrumented (pressure and IMU sensors) insole which recorded the symmetry of the gait pattern and important gait parameters such as step length, cadence or step duration.

     

    The aim of this study was to investigate, if a randomised cross-over study design using a SVSD and the sensor insoles together, while performing the FoG-Score and the 10m walk test, was acceptable for participants. The objective was to gather information and the participants feedback to use in further and larger studies.

     

    With the results of this study, it was shown that this study design is feasible for people with PD. The data from this study can be used to calculate the sample size to conduct a randomized clinical trial.

  • Department of Health Sciences
    health-sciences

    Understanding Employee Voice Behavior Through the Use of Digital Voice Channel in Long-Term Care: An Embedded Multiple-Case Study

    1535

    Changing a hierachical organizational culture within the health care sector toward a culture of shared governance can be understood as a necessary strategy to address challenges, such as shortages of nursing staff and high turnover of nursing staff....

    Changing a hierachical organizational culture within the health care sector toward a culture of shared governance can be understood as a necessary strategy to address challenges, such as shortages of nursing staff and high turnover of nursing staff. Data from business organizations show that the use of digital voice channels provides employee voice. This approach provides the opportunity for employees to speak up by getting involved through virtual voice channel and making comments in an anonymous forum, which subsequently will positively influence staff turnover and sick leave.

     

    The purpose of the study ADVICE—understanding employee voice behavior: experiences of long-term care with a digital voice channel—is to analyze and understand how the use of a digital voice channel can impact organizational culture in a long-term care setting. The aim of ADVICE is to understand how a digital voice channel can support staff in making their voices heard and to learn, what managers need to be able to use a tool such as digital voice channel to change their work environment. Therefore, an embedded multiple-case study will be used to explore the experiences of two health care providers who have already implemented a digital voice channel. Therefore, focus group interviews with employees, discursive-dialogical interviews with managers, meeting protocols, and data from the digital voice channel will be analyzed.

     

    The results may help to better understand the use of a digital voice channel in the health care sector and its transformative potential for leadership. At the organizational level, research can help to improve the attractiveness of the workplace by understanding how to give employees a voice.

  • Department of Health Sciences
    health-sciences

    EUPRAC – a strategic partnership to strengthen the vocational training of occupational therapists in Europe

    1258

    In the bachelor's degree program for occupational therapists not just the high quality of theoretical training plays a major role, also a high level in practical imparting of professional skills. Being able to gain practical experience across borders...

    In the bachelor's degree program for occupational therapists not just the high quality of theoretical training plays a major role, also a high level in practical imparting of professional skills. Being able to gain practical experience across borders promotes personal development and the international knowledge exchange.

    A European project partnership therefore focuses primarily on that part of the practical training of occupational therapists for which there are no standardized regulations for cross-country comparison, but which is a crucial part of the training. Educational institutions from four European countries cooperate for this purpose: IBKM gemeinnützige Schulträger GmbH (DE), University of Ruse (BG), Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego we Wroclawiu (PL), ICM Fachhochschule Krems GmbH (AT). The project is funded by the ERASMUS + program (October, 2018 - March, 2021).

    Based on a comparative study that dealt with the framework conditions of training, practices of recognition and the position of occupational therapists in the social security system in the participating countries, a common training basis for the practical training of occupational therapists was developed.

    With the EUPRAC curriculum that has been created, the project team combines the claim to be able to provide guidelines for the barrier-free completion of internships in order to open up new perspectives on the European labor market for young people in a way that is practical and exemplary for other agents.

  • Department of Health Sciences
    health-sciences

    Research competencies for the economy, Qualification seminar: "The Implementation of evidence-based midwifery practice".

    1141

    In many countries, midwives are experts in caring for healthy pregnant women. Studies have demonstrated that continuous midwifery-led and evidence-based care models are safer and more effective than traditional obstetric care models. However, to...

    In many countries, midwives are experts in caring for healthy pregnant women. Studies have demonstrated that continuous midwifery-led and evidence-based care models are safer and more effective than traditional obstetric care models. However, to achieve this, it is essential that midwives know, interpret, and put into practice the latest research findings. This ensures safe, transparent, effective and efficient healthcare and that the standards of midwifery care meet the expectations of pregnant women, their families and society.

     

    The implementation of evidence-based midwifery practice in Austria continues to be a professional challenge. It has been suggested that many health professionals find it difficult to implement evidence into their daily work, as they have to come to terms with competing priorities. Numerous organisational and individual barriers influence the implementation and acceptance of evidence-based practice. Studies indicate that barriers include a lack of resources and skills as the most common obstacles to the implementation and use of evidence in midwifery practice.

     

    Our aim was to provide SMEs providing midwifery services with the skills and resources to overcome the reported barriers to implementing the principles of evidence-based practice. We developed a teaching and learning concept tailored for practicing midwives, which enabled them to acquire the necessary skills to develop practical, sustainable, and successful strategies for the implementation of research findings in their daily practice. After completing a 40-hour qualification seminar, all participating midwives reported that they felt more confident in interpreting and using research evidence. They also stated that this was a complex process and that they would need more practice to master the newly acquired skills. In addition, they commented that the newly acquired skills and knowledge will assist them in their decision-making process, when advsing women during pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period.

     

    The project is funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency.

  • Department of Health Sciences
    health-sciences

    Smart Aggregation and Visualisation of Health Data (SMARAGD)

    1139

    The project was led by Prof. (FH) Mona Dür, PhD, MSc, the IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems. The SMARAGD project was a collaboration between the IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems, SYNYO GmbH, University of Graz, Johannes Kepler...

    The project was led by Prof. (FH) Mona Dür, PhD, MSc, the IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems. The SMARAGD project was a collaboration between the IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems, SYNYO GmbH, University of Graz, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Medical University of Graz, Know-Center GmbH Research Center for Data-Driven Business & Big Data Analytics and University of Vienna. SMARAGD was funded by the Austrian Research Funding Agency (FFG).

     

    The rapid spread of intelligent machines and systems is leading to massive changes in the workplace. Their use can be accompanied by both positive and negative changes in working conditions, with increased user-friendliness, but also with additional burden. For example, hospital information systems are installed world wide to support health professionals in accessing, processing and interpreting their patients’ health data. This human-computer interaction is often experienced as an additional burden in daily work of health professionals and is also detrimental to the quality of treatment. So far, there has not been a professional group-specific aggregation and visualisation of health data for occupational therapists and physical therapists.

    The aims of the SMARAGD project were to develop exemplary technical components for the intelligent aggregation and visualisation of health data of patients relevant for occupational therapists and physical therapists and to test them in the sense of a feasibility study.

     

    Different designs and methods were applied. Qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed to determine which information is relevant for occupational therapists and physical therapists and whether this information is needed in original, aggregated or visualised form. Anonymised data sets were used to develop and test possibilities of aggregating or visualising health data. The feasibility study included investigations of technical feasibility, user-friendliness and the legal framework.

    The results include an overview of the specific information that is relevant for occupational therapists and physiotherapists and the required format of its presentation. Further results are drafts of components of an intelligent aggregation and visualisation of health data, the assessment of their technical feasibility and a report on the legal application requirements and limits for the intelligent aggregation and visualisation of health data in clinical practice. Detailed results will be published soon.

     

     

    Further information is available at www.smaragdprojekt.at .

  • Department of Health Sciences
    health-sciences

    Josef Ressel Centre for the Foundation of Personalised Music Therapy: Horizons of personalised music therapy in neurorehabilitation

    476

    The Josef Ressel Centre runs from September 2016 to August 2021.

     

    The JRZ is dedicated to creating the basis for research in "real-world settings" to assess the real and individual therapy process. The research centre develops new methodological...

    The Josef Ressel Centre runs from September 2016 to August 2021.

     

    The JRZ is dedicated to creating the basis for research in "real-world settings" to assess the real and individual therapy process. The research centre develops new methodological approaches for evidence-based and personalised music therapy in neurological rehabilitation in phase C. (See www.neuroreha.at/phasenmodell.html)

     

    The international research team of the JRC interprets "personalisation" from a humanistic-anthropological point of view and is methodologically oriented - among other things - to principles of social neuroscience, with the central question of how people interact.

     

    Clinical case reports often contain descriptions of interpersonal resonance experiences. The research team interprets these descriptions as expressions of the existential need to understand and be understood.

     

    One research goal is to find out under which conditions such resonance can be fostered in the therapeutic context and how therapists can train their compassion for it.

    Another special feature is to bring the laboratory to the bedside in "real world settings" and synchronise different data (videography, ECG, EEG, biomarkers, etc.).

     

    Three coordinated projects are being carried out

     

    Project 1: Right Period: Patients need recovery periods between therapies; how can this be recognised? How can they be planned?

    Aim: more precise individualised therapy planning based on chronobiological rhythms and questionnaires developed within the framework of the JRZ for self-assessment and assessment by others.

    Perspective: more efficient therapies - better outcomes - cost savings.

     

    Project 2: Right Moment: in every therapy there are special moments that are crucial for therapy progress.

    Aim: To recognise and induce therapeutically special moments as a basis for therapy progress.

    Perspective: Insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of successful therapeutic interaction. Achieve the status of one of the leading research teams in the field of music therapy and social neuroscience.

     

    Project 3: Empathy: Therapists need special sensitivity & training for such moments of encounter.

    Aim: Development of valid measurement methods, as well as targeted training of empathy in MT.

    Perspective: valid training & maintenance of empathy in all GESWISS professional groups.

     

     

    The project is funded by Josef Ressel Centre Programme of the Christian Doppler Research Association, by NÖGUS, ProMente Reha and by s-team solutions GmbH.

  • Department of Health Sciences
    health-sciences

    The right moment - Pilot study on the representation of circadian and ultradian rhythms of patients in phase C neurorehabilitation by means of heart rate variability

    481

    Over the last decade personalised medicine has become increasingly important in the fields of pharmacogenetics, pharmacogenomics, clinical diagnostics, and in particular chronopharmacology, which is concerned with the optimal point in time for drug...

    Over the last decade personalised medicine has become increasingly important in the fields of pharmacogenetics, pharmacogenomics, clinical diagnostics, and in particular chronopharmacology, which is concerned with the optimal point in time for drug delivery. However, with respect to therapeutic interventions (in a clinical context), there has been virtually no inquiry into the most beneficial time to give therapy in relation to a patient’s chronobiological rhythms. This project focused on the question of the ideal time to administer therapy in relation to individual biological rhythms, measured using heart rate variability (HRV).

     

    The primary aim was to establish how individual circadian and ultradian rhythms could be represented most effectively by means of HRV analysis.

     

    The project was financed by the Science and Research Department (K 3) of the Province of Lower Austria.

  • Department of Health Sciences
    health-sciences

    Pilot Study: Measurement of empathy using the combination of psychometric and biometric procedures

    479

    Ability for empathy applies in therapeutic work as essential factor of the relationship between patient and therapist and as crucial component during recovery. It is seen as a key factor in (musica-)therapeutic work to establish a confident,...

    Ability for empathy applies in therapeutic work as essential factor of the relationship between patient and therapist and as crucial component during recovery. It is seen as a key factor in (musica-)therapeutic work to establish a confident, therapeutic relationship between patient and therapist. Within this framework the therapist’s empathic care leads to a reduction of the opponent’s anxiety or rather stress reaction and enables a transformation into relaxation. In order to understand these processes it is necessary to explore empathy phenomenon. The focus of this project was the change of oxytocin-level in organisms in consequence of a empathic reaction caused by video sequences from clinic-therapeutic context.

     

    The Project was co-funded by the NÖGUS.

  • Department of Health Sciences
    health-sciences

    Positron Emission tomography (PET) and music therapy pilot study

    480

    Brain injuries bring about a variety of physical and psychological complaints. The site and severity of the brain lesion is always a decisive factor for the patient’s outlook in terms of disability.

     

    Additionally, damage to the pathways between the...

    Brain injuries bring about a variety of physical and psychological complaints. The site and severity of the brain lesion is always a decisive factor for the patient’s outlook in terms of disability.

     

    Additionally, damage to the pathways between the brain centres can cause dysfunction in communication between them, and therefore secondary functional loss and processing problems. This results in neurological disorders such as poor concentration, attention and alertness.

     

    Music therapy can establish new communication paths in the brain and is therefore a promising form of therapy for rebuilding communication structures between brain centres. This process is of central importance in every course of neuro- rehabilitation therapy.

     

    The primary aim of the research was to determine the changes in brain activity (frontal lobe, hippocampus and cerebellum) and behaviour that can be brought about in vegetative state patients by means of music therapy. The project also examined if there are any links between changes in brain activity and behaviour.

     

    The project was co-financed by Niederösterreichischer Gesundheits- und Sozialfonds (NÖGUS).