Skip to content
The Kids Research Institute Australia logo
Donate

Discover . Prevent . Cure .

Search

Research

A pilot evaluation of school-based LEGO robotics therapy for autistic students

There is emerging evidence that LEGO® therapy is an effective way of supporting younger autistic children develop their communication and social skills. LEGO® robotics therapy - which uses the principles of LEGO® therapy applied to LEGO® robotics - may be an age-appropriate intervention to reduce anxiety and increase social skills in autistic adolescents.

Research

Impact of integrating traditional care with the modern healthcare system in reducing tuberculosis diagnosis delays in Ethiopia: a clustered randomized controlled study

Diagnosis and treatment initiation delays for tuberculosis (TB) are significant challenges in resource-limited settings. These delays can result in poor treatment outcomes, disease transmission, and increased costs. This study aimed to assess the effect of integrating traditional care with modern healthcare systems on reducing TB diagnosis delay. 

Research

Effects of dog ownership on children’s social-emotional development: findings from the PLAYCE cohort study

Dog ownership is common in families with children and could play a role in children's social-emotional development. This study used longitudinal data on dog ownership and changing dog ownership to investigate their effects on young children's social-emotional development.

Research

Real time monitoring of respiratory viral infections in cohort studies using a smartphone app

Cohort studies investigating respiratory disease pathogenesis aim to pair mechanistic investigations with longitudinal virus detection but are limited by the burden of methods tracking illness over time. In this study, we explored the utility of a purpose-built AERIAL TempTracker smartphone app to assess real-time data collection and adherence monitoring and overall burden to participants, while identifying symptomatic respiratory illnesses in two birth cohort studies.

Research

Mapping fertility rates at national, sub-national, and local levels in Ethiopia between 2000 and 2019

Fertility rates are key indicators of population health and demographic change, influencing economic development, healthcare planning, and social policies. Understanding subnational variation in fertility rate is important for effective geographical targeting and policy prioritization. This study aimed to identify geographic variation, trends, and determinants of fertility rates in Ethiopia over the past two decades.  

Research

Residential mobility amongst children and young people in Wales: A longitudinal study using linked administrative records

Child poverty remains a major global concern and a child's experience of deprivation is heavily shaped by where they live and the stability of their local neighbourhood. This study examines frequencies and patterns of residential mobility in children and young people at a population level using novel geospatial techniques to assess how often their physical environment changes and to identify geographical variations in social mobility.

Research

Italian Version of QI-Disability for QoL Evaluation in Children and Adolescents with Intellectual Disability: Translation and Cross-Cultural Adaptation Process

Children and adolescents with Intellectual Disability experience a worse Quality-of-Life (QoL) relative to typically developing peers. Thus, QoL evaluation is important for identifying support needs and improving rehabilitation effectiveness. Nevertheless, currently in Italy there are not tools with this scope. This study aims to translate and cross-culturally adapt the Quality-of-Life Inventory-Disability into Italian.

Research

Too far from care? A descriptive analysis of young Australian mental health aeromedical retrievals

Young Australians living in rural and remote locations have poorer mental health outcomes and higher rates of self-harm and suicide than their major city counterparts. Significant service gaps and barriers exist in accessing general and youth-specific mental health services. With a lack of access, comes delays in treatment and associated poorer outcomes. This paper describes the characteristics of young people requiring an aeromedical retrieval (AR) for acute inpatient psychiatric care.

Research

Dietary patterns during pregnancy and maternal and birth outcomes in women with type 1 diabetes: the Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) study

Dietary patterns characterised by high intakes of vegetables may lower the risk of pre-eclampsia and premature birth in the general population. The effect of dietary patterns in women with type 1 diabetes, who have an increased risk of complications in pregnancy, is not known. 

Research

Skin health of Aboriginal children living in urban communities

Skin concerns are frequent among urban-living Aboriginal children, yet specialist dermatology consultations are limited with studies highlighting the need for improved cultural security. Through newly established paediatric dermatology clinics at two urban Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), we aimed to describe clinic and patient data, including disease frequencies and associations, to inform dermatology service provision and advocacy.