JCU > Research Portfolio > Prof Clare Heal

About

Dr Clare Heal is Professor (Promotional Chair) in the department of General Practice and Rural Medicine at James Cook University School of Medicine and Dentistry Rural Clinical School in Mackay, Queensland.

Over the past ten years she has been principle investigator, or supervising co-investigator of seven successful practice based randomised controlled trials investigating the management of skin cancer surgery. The results of these trials have been published in high impact medical journals, such as the British Medical Journal. In 2016 her study comparing sterile to clean boxed gloves was named one of the top 20 top international studies for Primary Care Physicians.She was awarded the AAAGP award for best research in Primary Care in 2006 and 2015, and the RACGP Peter Mudge Medal for best research in General Practice in 2012 and 2016. She is principle author of a Cochrane review on topical antibiotic prophylaxis was published in November 2016.

She continues to be active in clinical and academic general practice. She is a member and former chair of the RACGP National Research Committee.

She currently supervises four honours students and two PhD students and has had 30 successful honours completions, and one PhD completion. She has published more than 90 peer reviewed journal articles.

In addition to her research activities, she is chair of the Year five assessment and co-ordinator of general practice for James Cook University. She is a member of an expert exam item-writing panel for the Australian Medical Council and is co-chair of ACCLAIM, a national exam writing collaboration.

Teaching

MD1010: Introduction to Integrated Medical Studies Part 1 of 2 (Level 1; TSV)
MD5010: Integrated Clinical Practice Part 1 of 3 (Level 5; TSV)
MD5020: Integrated Clinical Practice Part 2 of 3 (Level 5; TSV)
MD5030: Integrated Clinical Practice Part 3 of 3 (Level 5; TSV)

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2015 - AAAPC Distinguished paper chosen for international presentation at NAPCRG
2014 - Best paper and audience choice awards RACGP Queensland annual meeting
2012 - Peter Mudge Medal, Best Research in General Practice presentation, RACGP annual scientific meeting
2011 - Senior author, annual best paper, Australian Family Physician

Other

2015 to 2018 - Member of Oxford primary care research leadership cohort

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Gunnarsson R, Orda U, Elliott B, Heal C and Del Mar C (2022) What is the optimal strategy for managing primary care patients with an uncomplicated acute sore throat? Comparing the consequences of nine different strategies using a compilation of previous studies. BMJ Open, 12.
Hall L, Gorges H, van Driel M, Magin P, Francis N and Heal C (2022) International comparison of guidelines for management of impetigo: a systematic review. Family Practice, 39 (1). pp. 150-158
Heal C, D'Souza K, Hall L, Smith J, Jones K and ACCLAiM collaboration (2022) Changes to objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE) at Australian medical schools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Medical Teacher, 44 (4). pp. 418-424
Skoss R, Brett T, Bulsara C, Radford J, Heal C, Gill G, Hespe C, Vargas-Garcia C, Li I, Sullivan D, Vickery A, Pang J, Arnold-Reed D and Watts G (2022) Participant experiences of intervention to detect and manage familial hypercholesterolaemia in Australian general practice: A qualitative descriptive study. Australian Journal of General Practice, 51 (9). pp. 687-694
Bougher H, Buttner P, Smith J, Banks J, Na H, Forrestal D and Heal C (2021) Interobserver and intraobserver agreement of three-dimensionally printed models for the classification of proximal humeral fractures. JSES International, 5 (2). pp. 198-204
Brett T, Chan D, Radford J, Heal C, Gill G, Hespe C, Vargas-Garcia C, Condon C, Sheil B, Li I, Sullivan D, Vickery A, Pang J, Arnold-Reed D and Watts G (2021) Improving detection and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia in Australian general practice. Heart, 107 (15). pp. 1213-1219
Brett T, Radford J, Heal C, Hespe C, Garton-Smith J, Kirke A, Chan D, Pang J and Watts G (2021) Implications of new clinical practice guidance on familial hypercholesterolaemia for Australian general practitioners. Australian Journal of General Practice, 50 (9). pp. 616-621
Bulsara C, Brett T, Radford J, Heal C, Gill G, Hespe C, Vargus-Garcia C, Li I, Sullivan D, Vickery A, Pang J, Arnold-Reed D, Chan D and Watts G (2021) Awareness of familial hypercholesterolaemia in Australian primary care: a qualitative descriptive study. Australian Journal of General Practice, 50 (9). pp. 634-640
Delpachitra M, Heal C, Banks J, Charles D, Sriharan S and Buttner P (2021) Risk factors for surgical site infection after minor dermatological surgery. An analysis of individual participant data from four randomised controlled trial. Advances in Skin and Wound Care, 34 (1). pp. 43-48
Ediriweera Y, Banks J, Hall L and Heal C (2021) A randomised controlled trial of ice to reduce the pain of immunisation-the ICE Trial. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 6 (3).
Gorges H, Hall L and Heal C (2021) Feasibility study for a randomised controlled trial for the topical treatment of impetigo in Australian General Practice. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 6 (4).
Gunnarsson R, Orda U, Elliott B, Heal C, Gorges H, Glasziou P and Del Mar C (2021) Improving antibiotics targeting using PCR point-of-care testing for group A streptococci in patients with uncomplicated acute sore throat. Australian Journal of General Practice, 50 (1-2). pp. 76-83

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 97+ research outputs authored by Prof Clare Heal from 2005 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Commonwealth Department of Health - Medical Research Future Fund - Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care

METformin for treating peripheral artery disease Related walking Impairment Trial (MERIT)

Indicative Funding: $1,215,182 over 3 years
Summary: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a very common chronic cardiovascular disease of ageing affecting approximately 1 million older Australians and causing substantial leg pain on walking (intermittent claudication), marked functional impairment, reduced quality of life (QOL) and very high risk of major adverse cardiovascular and limb events. Vulnerable populations (e.g. regional or remote, lower income and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations) have much greater PAD-related burden. Our past consultations with patients indicate that improvements in walking is their number one priority. The only widely available PAD treatment in Australia is revascularisation but this does not improve walking distance and has substantial safety concerns. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that metformin safely improves leg blood supply. MERIT is a placebo-controlled randomised trial performed across 7 sites. The importance of the trial has been endorsed by patients, Heart Foundation, Queensland Health and Australian and New Zealand Society for Vascular Surgery and Alliance for Cardiovascular Trials. If positive, MERIT will identify a cheap, safe and widely available drug to improve the function and QOL of millions of older adults worldwide who have PAD.
Investigators: Jon Golledge, Clare Arnott, Edward Strivens, Belinda Parmenter, Clare Heal, Christopher Reid, Aaron Drovandi, Joseph Moxon, Jenna Pinchbeck, Richard Norman, Dylan Morris, Christopher Askew, Sarah Larkins, Rachel Quigley and Yvonne Cadet-James (College of Medicine & Dentistry, The George Institute for Global Health, The University of New South Wales, Curtin University of Technology, Townsville Hospital and Health Services, University of the Sunshine Coast and Indigenous Education & Research Centre)
Keywords: Prevention; Complications; Peripheral artery disease; Risk Factors

University of Notre Dame Australia - Research Funding

Electronic medical record quaity impact (eMEDI-QI) Study

Indicative Funding: $15,000 over 1 year
Summary: This study involves application of a daa extraction tool to detect patients at risk for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH). People with FH are at inceased risk of premature death from coronary artery diseases. The dominent genetic natgure means at least one parent of the patient will have FH, and 50% and 25% chance of their siblings and children having FH respectively. It's estimated only 10% of patients are currently identified. The aim is to identify patients with FH and target the 50% of first-degree relatives in families with FH. Identifying patients with FH benefits with patient, siblings, parents and future generations.
Investigators: Tom Brett and Clare Heal in collaboration with Leanne Hall, Cristian Vargas-Garcia and Dick Chan (University of Notre Dame Australia and College of Medicine & Dentistry)
Keywords: Familial Hypercholesterolaemia

National Health & Medical Research Council - Partnership Projects

An intervention to improve detection and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in primary care

Indicative Funding: $34,465 over 3 years (administered by University of Notre Dame Australia)
Summary: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is an inherited condition (prevalence 1:500 - 1:200) leading to excessively high cholesterol in the bloodstream from birth, increasing the risk of heart attacks and angina by age 40 or earlier if left untreated. Until recently FH has been managed mainly through hospital clinics. This national study trials an innovative primary care based approach using clinical diagnostic criteria rather than expensive genetic testing. The research aims to improve detection of cases, reduce cholesterol in treated cases, increase the number of family cases detected and contracted. It also explored the cost implications of method of care and aims to establish a registry of FH patients. Early diagnosis and treatment have important health outcomes for FH patients.
Investigators: Tom Brett, Diane Arnold-Reed, Gerald Watts, David Sulliivan, Alistair Vickery, Ian Li, Lakkhina Troeung, Clare Heal, Charlotte HESPE and Jan Radford in collaboration with John Amerea, Damon Bell, Caroline Bulsara, Max Bulsara, Jacqueline Garton-Smith, Gerard GILL, Mark Nelson, Jing Pang, Ranjit Raslam and Jackie Ryan (University of Notre Dame, The University of Western Australia, University of Sydney, College of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Tasmania, St John of God Geelong Hospital, University of Notre Dame Australia, Western Australia Department of Health, Deakin University and University of Wollongong)
Keywords: Familial hypercholesterolaemia; primary care

Sanofi Pasteur - Research Grant

An intervention to improve detection and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in primary care

Indicative Funding: $55,448 over 2 years (administered by University of Notre Dame Australia)
Summary: Familial hypercholesterolaemia is an inherited condition (prevalence 1:500 - 1:200) leading to excessively high cholesterol in the bloodstream from birth, increasing the risk of heart attacks and angina by age 40 or earlier if left untreated. Until recently FH has been managed mainly through hospital clinics. This national study trials an innovative primary care based approach using clinical diagnostic criteria rather than expensive genetic testing. The research aims to improve detection of cases, reduce cholesterol in treated cases, increase the number of family cases detected and contacted. It also explored the cost implications of method of care and aims to establish a registry of FH patients. Early diagnosis and treatment have important health outcomes for FH patients.
Investigators: Tom Brett and Clare Heal in collaboration with Jennifer Banks (University of Notre Dame Australia and College of Medicine & Dentistry)
Keywords: Familial hypercholesterolaemia; Primary Care

Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation - Research Grant

Carrier Rates of Group A Streptococci (GAS) in Australian Wet Tropics

Indicative Funding: $5,000 over 1 year
Summary: It is now possible to do a cheap rapid PCR analysis directly in the GP clinic for presence of Group A Streptococci in a throat swab and obtain a result in 8 minutes. This study intends to clarify the carrier rate of Group A Streptococci in Australian Wet Tropics. This knowledge is crucial to be able to correctly interpret test outcomes in patients with a sore throat.
Investigators: Clare Heal in collaboration with Ronny Gunnarsson and Bradley Elliot (College of Medicine & Dentistry and Hinchinbrook Health Care)
Keywords: Streptococci; Carrier; Streptococcus Pyogenes

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

Fibrin Glue in Skin Grafts for Skin Cancer (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.