Prof Clare Heal ~ Professor, General Practice and Rural Medicine
College of Medicine & Dentistry
- About
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- Teaching
- Research Disciplines
- Socio-Economic Objectives
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.
- Honours
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- Awards
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- 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
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- 2015 to 2018 - Member of Oxford primary care research leadership cohort
- Publications
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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
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- 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
- 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
- Liaw J, Walker B, Hall L, Gorton S, White A and Heal C (2021) Rheumatic heart disease in pregnancy and neonatal outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 16 (6).
- More
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ResearchOnline@JCU stores 95+ research outputs authored by Prof Clare Heal from 2005 onwards.
- Current Funding
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Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.
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, The 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
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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
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- Fibrin Glue in Skin Grafts for Skin Cancer (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
- Is There a Role for L-Arginine Supplementation in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers in a North Queensland Community Diabetics Clinic? (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
- Collaboration
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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.- 5+ collaborations
- 4 collaborations
- 3 collaborations
- 2 collaborations
- 1 collaboration
- Indicates the Tropics (Torrid Zone)
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