The University of Western Australia

Professor Judith Finn

Professor
Emergency Medicine

Contact details

Address

Emergency Medicine
The University of Western Australia (M516)
35 Stirling Highway
CRAWLEY WA 6009
Australia

Phone

9346 4356

Fax

9346 1665

Email

judith.finn@uwa.edu.au

Qualifications

DipAppSc S.A.Coll.A.E., BSc GradDipPH MEdSt Adel., PhD W.Aust., RN RM, ICCert, FRCNA

Biography

Judith has recently returned to WA (due to family reasons) after a brief and enjoyable stint as Research Professor in the School of Nursing & Midwifery / Sansom Institute at UniSA. She will be undertaking research in pre-hospital/emergency care and resuscitation within the UWA Discipline of Emergency Medicine in the School of Primary, Aboriginal and Rural Health Care. Previously she was the inaugural Chair of Nursing Research at UWA, in conjunction with Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Director of Postgraduate Studies within the UWA School of Population Health. Judith is a critical care registered nurse and midwife who worked as a nurse academic in Adelaide (Uni SA and FU) and Townsville (JCU) prior to moving to Perth to live in 1994. Judith completed a PhD in epidemiology at UWA in 2002, using WA ambulance data linked to WA hospital and death records, and much of her research continues to draw on the unique research capacity of WA linked health data. In addition to the PhD (UWA) Judith also holds degrees in Science (BSc(Adel): majoring in Zoology and Psychology); Education (MEdStudies(Adel); Public Health (GradDipPH(Adel)); and Nursing (DipAppSc(Nsg); RN; RM and Intensive Care Nursing Certificate)

Key research

Clincial Epidemiology

Resuscitation outcomes,education & policy

Pre-hospital and emergency care

Cardiovascular epidemiology

Critical care outcomes research

Acute care nursing practice

Nursing-related patient outcomes

Publications

Refereed Journals since 2004
1.Twigg D, Duffield C, Bremner A, Rapley P, Finn J. Patient safety: Evaluation of the impact of nursing hours per patient day staffing method on nursing-sensitive outcomes in Western Australia International Journal of Nursing Studies Accepted 17 July 2010.

2.Williams TA, Leslie GD, Finn JC, Brearley L, Athifa M LK, Hay B, Leen T, O’Brien K, Stuart M, Watt M. . Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of a Critical Care Nursing Outreach Service for facilitated ICU discharge and ward-based care. Am J Crit Care Accepted 20/4/2010.

3.Williams TA, Ho KM, Dobb GJ, Finn J, Knuiman M, Webb SA. Changes in case-mix and outcomes of critically ill patients in an Australian tertiary ICU. Anaesthesia and Intensive Care 2010;38:703-09.

4.Teng TH, Finn J, Hobbs M, Hung J. Heart failure: incidence, case fatality, and hospitalization rates in Western Australia between 1990 and 2005. Circ Heart Fail. 2010;3(2):236-43.

5.Teng TH, Hung J, Finn J. The effect of evidence-based medication use on long-term survival in patients hospitalised for heart failure in Western Australia. Med J Aust. 2010;192(6):306-10.

6.Chew KK, Finn J, Stuckey B, Gibson N, Sanfilippo F, Bremner A, et al. Erectile dysfunction as a predictor for subsequent atherosclerotic cardiovascular events: findings from a linked-data study. J Sex Med. 2010;7(1 Pt 1):192-202.

7.Munasinghe SA, Oliff C, Finn J, Wray JA. Digestive Enzyme Supplementation for Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial. J Autism Dev Disord. Epub 6 march 2010.

8.Teng TH, Finn J, Hung J. Mild Anaemia is Associated with Increased All-cause Mortality in Heart Failure. Heart Lung and Circulation. 2010;19(1):31-7.

9.Bradshaw PJ, Alfonso HS, Finn J, Owen J, Thompson PL. The use of coronary revascularisation procedures in urban Australian Aboriginals and a matched general population coronary procedures in Aboriginals. Heart Lung Circ. 2010;19(4):247-50.

10.Williams TA, Ho KM, Dobb GJ, Finn JC, Knuiman M, Webb SA. Effect of length of stay in intensive care unit on hospital and long-term mortality of critically ill adult patients. Br J Anaesth. 2010;104(4):459-64.

11.Williams TA, Knuiman MW, Finn JC, Ho KM, Dobb GJ, Webb SA. Effect of an episode of critical illness on subsequent hospitalisation: a linked data study. Anaesthesia. 2010;65(2):172-7.

12.Bradshaw PJ, Alfonso HS, Finn JC, Owen J, Thompson PL. A comparison of coronary heart disease event rates among urban Australian Aboriginal people and a matched non-Aboriginal population. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health on 12 October 2009. Epub date 30/4/2010 Impact Factor = 3.186

13.Flindell JA, Finn JC, Gibson NP, Jacobs IG. Short-term risk of adverse outcome is significantly higher in patients returning an abnormal troponin result when tested in the emergency department. Emerg Med Australas 2009;21(6):465-71.

14. Rogal S, Finn J, Jacobs I. Cardiac arrest resuscitation policy and practice: a survey of Western Australian hospitals. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing 2009;27(1):14-20. Impact Factor = 0.60

15.Bradshaw PJ, Alfonso HS, Finn JC, Owen J, Thompson PL. Coronary heart disease events in Aboriginal Australians: incidence in an urban population. Med J Aust 2009;190(10):583-6, Impact Factor = 2.537.

16.Bradshaw PJ, Alfonso H, Finn J, Owen J, PL T. Measuring the gap: accuracy of the Western Australian hospital morbidity data in the identification of adult urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 2009;33(3):276-279, Impact Factor = 1.335.

17.Ho KM, Dobb GJ, Lee KY, Finn J, Knuiman M, Webb SA. The effect of comorbidities on risk of intensive care readmission during the same hospitalization: a linked data cohort study. J Crit Care 2009;24(1):101-7, Impact Factor = 1.687.

18.Ingarfield SL, Finn JC, Jacobs IG, Gibson NP, Holman CD, Jelinek GA, et al. Use of emergency departments by older people from residential care: a population based study. Age Ageing 2009;38(3):314-8, Impact Factor = 1.91

19.Williams TA, Dobb GJ, Finn JC, Knuiman MW, Geelhoed E, Lee KY, et al. Determinants of long-term survival after intensive care. Crit Care Med 2008;36(5):1523-30, Impact Factor = 6.283.

20.Teng TH, Finn J, Hung J, Geelhoed E, Hobbs M. A validation study: how effective is the Hospital Morbidity Data as a surveillance tool for heart failure in Western Australia? Aust N Z J Public Health 2008;32(5):405-7, Impact Factor = 1.335.

21.Redman TA, Gibson N, Finn JC, Bremner AP, Valentine J, Thickbroom GW. Upper limb corticomotor projections and physiological changes that occur with botulinum toxin-A therapy in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Eur J Neurol 2008;15(8):787-91, Impact Factor = 2.580.

22.Redman TA, Finn JC, Bremner AP, Valentine J. Effect of upper limb botulinum toxin-A therapy on health-related quality of life in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. J Paediatr Child Health 2008;44(7-8):409-14, Impact Factor = 0.896.

23.Ho KM, Knuiman M, Finn J, Webb SA. Estimating Long-Term Survival of Critically Ill Patients: The PREDICT Model. PLoS ONE 2008;3(9):e3226 (8 pages), Impact Factor = N/A.

24.Ho KM, Dobb GJ, Knuiman M, Finn J, Webb SA. The effect of socioeconomic status on outcomes for seriously ill patients: a linked data cohort study. Med J Aust 2008;189(1):26-30, Impact Factor = 2.537.

25.Ho KM, Lee KY, Williams T, Finn J, Knuiman M, Webb SA. Comparison of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score with organ failure scores to predict hospital mortality. Anaesthesia 2007;62(5):466-73, Impact Factor = 2.315.

26.Ho KM, Finn J, Knuiman M, Webb SA. Combining multiple comorbidities with Acute Physiology Score to predict hospital mortality of critically ill patients: a linked data cohort study. Anaesthesia 2007;62(11):1095-100, Impact Factor = 2.315.

27.Haynes A, Bower C, Bulsara MK, Finn J, Jones TW, Davis EA. Perinatal risk factors for childhood Type 1 diabetes in Western Australia--a population-based study (1980-2002). Diabet Med 2007;24(5):564-70, Impact Factor = 2.970.

28.Gazmuri RJ, Nolan JP, Nadkarni VM, Arntz HR, Billi JE, Bossaert L, et al. Scientific knowledge gaps and clinical research priorities for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiovascular care identified during the 2005 International Consensus Conference on ECC and CPR Science with Treatment Recommendations A Consensus Statement from the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation; the American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee; the Stroke Council; and the Cardiovascular Nursing Council. Resuscitation 2007;75(3):400-11, Impact Factor = 2.550 AND simultaneous publication in Circulation 2007;116(21):2501-12, Impact Factor = 12.755.

29.Finn JC, Bett JH, Shilton TR, Cunningham C, Thompson PL. Patient delay in responding to symptoms of possible heart attack: can we reduce time to care? Med J Aust 2007;187(5):293-8, Impact Factor = 2.537.

30.Bell LM, Watts K, Siafarikas A, Thompson A, Ratnam N, Bulsara M, et al. Exercise alone reduces insulin resistance in obese children independently of changes in body composition. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007;92(11):4230-5, Impact Factor = 5.493.

31.Ho K, Finn J, Dobb GJ, Webb S. The outcome of critically ill Indigenous patients: a retrospective cohort study. Med J Aust 2006 184(10):496-9, Impact Factor = 2.537.

32.Williams TA, Dobb GJ, Finn JC, Knuiman M, Lee KY, Geelhoed E, et al. Data linkage enables evaluation of long-term survival after intensive care. Anaesth Intensive Care 2006;34(3):307-15, Impact Factor = 0.896.

33.Lord HE, Taylor JD, Finn JC, Tsokos N, Jeffery JT, Atherton MJ, et al. A randomized controlled equivalence trial of short-term complications and efficacy of tension-free vaginal tape and suprapubic urethral support sling for treating stress incontinence. BJU Int 2006;98(2):367-76, Impact Factor = 2.751.

34.Finn JC, Flicker L, Mackenzie E, Jacobs IG, Fatovich DM, Drummond S, et al. Interface between residential aged care facilities and a teaching hospital emergency department in Western Australia. Med J Aust 2006;184(9):432-5, Impact Factor = 2.537.

35.Ho K, Dobb G, Knuiman M, Finn J, Lee K, Webb S. A comparison of admission and worst 24-hour APACHE II scores in predicting hospital mortality: a retrospective cohort study. Critical Care 2005 10(1):R4, Impact Factor = 3.834.

36.Williams TA, Dobb GJ, Finn JC, Webb SA. Long-term survival from intensive care: a review. Intensive Care Med 2005;31(10):1306-15, Impact Factor = 4.623.

37.Jacobs IG, Finn JC, Oxer HF, Jelinek GA. CPR before defibrillation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A randomized trial. Emerg Med Australas 2005;17(1):39-45, Impact Factor = N/A.

38.International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) (J. Finn: Co-Chair of the Interdisciplinary Committee and Editorial Board Member). 2005 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science with Treatment Recommendations. . Resuscitation 2005;67(2-3):157-341, Impact Factor = 2.550 AND simultaneous publication in Circulation 2005;112(suppl III):1-136, Impact Factor = 12.755.

39.Holman CD, Preen DB, Baynham NJ, Finn JC, Semmens JB. A multipurpose comorbidity scoring system performed better than the Charlson index. J Clin Epidemiol 2005;58(10):1006-14, Impact Factor = 2.565.

40.Hall SE, Holman CD, Finn J, Semmens JB. Improving the evidence base for promoting quality and equity of surgical care using population-based linkage of administrative health records. Int J Qual Health Care 2005;17(5):415-20, Impact Factor = 1.326.

41.Davidson PM, Worrall-Carter L, Finn JC, Stewart S. Beyond competition: A new paradigm for collaborative cardiovascular research in Australia. Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs 2005;4(3):181-2, Impact Factor = N/A.

42.Jacobs I, Nadkarni V, Finn J, Bahr J, Berg RA, Billi JE, et al. Cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation outcome reports: update and simplification of the Utstein templates for resuscitation registries. A statement for healthcare professionals from a task force of the international liaison committee on resuscitation (American Heart Association, European Resuscitation Council, Australian Resuscitation Council, New Zealand Resuscitation Council, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, InterAmerican Heart Foundation, Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa). Resuscitation 2004;63(3):233-49, Impact Factor = 2.550 AND simultaneous publication in: Circulation 2004;110(21):3385-97, Impact Factor = 12.755.

43.Finn J, Wright J, Fong J, Mackenzie E, Wood F, Leslie G, et al. A randomised crossover trial of patient controlled intranasal fentanyl and oral morphine for procedural wound care in adult patients with burns. Burns 2004;30(3):262-8, Impact Factor = 1.220.

44.Finn J, Jacobs I. Survival of people with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is not improved by equipping first responders with an automated external defibrillation. Evidence-based Health Care 2004;8:139-141,

45.Angel D, Sieunarine K, Finn J, McKenzie E, Taylor B, Kidd H, et al. Comparison of short-term clinical postoperative outcomes in patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy: Intensive care unit versus the ward high-dependency unit. J Vasc Nurs 2004;22(3):85-90, Impact Factor = N/A.

Roles, responsibilities and expertise

Clinical Epidemiology

Future research

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes
Pre-hospital clinical trials

Funding received

Since 2004
1)Reducing time to analgesia in the emergency department using a nurse-initiated pain protocol
Chief Investigators: Finn J, Rea A, Swift R, Watters T, Gibson N, Jacobs I,
Funding:Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Research Fund
2009 : $58,712
2)Monitoring population trends in incidence, medical care, and survival in persons hospitalised for heart failure
Chief Investigators: Finn J, Hung J, Arnolda L, Geelhoed E, Jacobs I, Knuiman M,
Funding: National Heart Foundation, Australia
2009-2010 : $137,750
3)Criteria-led discharge for short-stay surgical patients
Chief Investigators: Finn J, Young J, Wood P, Baxter M, Harrison L, Kennedy C,Geelhoed E.
Funding: WA Department of Health (Innovations Grant)
2008-2009 : $172,259
4)Evaluation of the clinical efficacy and cost-benefit of a Critical Care outreach service for facilitated ICU discharge and ward based care.
Chief Investigators: Leslie, G, Brearley L, Finn J, Laurie K, Coleman A, Day J.
Funding:WA Department of Health (Innovations Grant)
2008-2009 : $356,538
5)Criteria-led discharge for cardiovascular patients
Chief Investigators: Finn J, Hung J, Young J, Geelhoed E.
Funding:WA Department of Health (SHRAC Research Translation Projects)
2007-2008 : $150,000
6)Western Australian Intensive Care Outcomes Obtained by Linkage: A study of feasibility
Chief Investigators: Webb SAR, Finn J, Blythe D, Pinder M, Dobb G, Jacobs I, Palmer L.
Funding:The Intensive Care Foundation (Australia / New Zealand)
2008-2009 : $103,280
7)“Failure to Rescue”
Chief Investigators: Finn J
Funding:SQUIRE, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital
2007-2008: $120,000
8)Long-term health outcomes of critical illness in children – A PMH ICU Linked Data Project
Chief Investigators: AS Ramelet, J Finn
Funding:The Western Australian Nurses Memorial Charitable Trust
2007 = $10,000
9)Incidence and determinants of cardiovascular disease, and the use of revascularisation procedures among a cohort of urban Aboriginal Australians.
Chief Investigators: P Thompson, J Finn, H Alfonso, J Owens
Funding:NHFA Project grant 353523
2007 = $49,500; 2008 = $29,200
10)A population based linked data analysis of the prognostic determinants of out of hospital cardiac arrest.
Chief Investigators: J Finn, D Holman, I Jacobs, M Hobbs, S Stewart
Funding:NH&MRC Project grant 353523
2005: $94,5002006: $74,500 (Ongoing)
11)Population monitoring of coronary heart disease in the modern era
Chief Investigators:M Hobbs, M Knuiman, J Finn, J Hung, J Rankin, P Sprivulis
Funding:NH&MRC Project grant 353671
2005 - $273,313 2006 - $296,7502007 - $173,425
12)Long-term outcomes of critical illness in intensive care unit patients. A data linkage study
Chief Investigators:J Finn, G Dobb, S Webb, M Knuiman, E Geelhoed
Funding:BUPA Foundation (UK)
2005: £30,851 2006: £31,833.
13)A study to determine the optimum time to remove indwelling urinary catheters (IDC) in post-operative surgical patients to prevent urinary tract infections and other complications
Chief Investigators: E. Mackenzie, D. Nelson, J. Finn, K. Oliver, K. Allingham
Funding:NBWA Post Graduate Research Award.
2005: $5,000
14)Nurse-led discharge of surgical patients in an acute care hospital.
Chief Investigators: Deborah Sinclair, Sharon Willis, Marie Baxter, Teresa Williams, Heather Kidd, Annette Sweetman, Judith Finn, Sudhakar Rao.
Funding: Foundation for Nursing Research (RPH)
2004: $3,619.70
15)A population based study of the use of acute hospital services by elderly people living in residential care.
Chief Investigators: J Finn, D Holman, L Flicker, I Jacobs, G Jelinek.
Funding: NH&MRC Project Grant 254559.
2003; $60,000 2004: $60,000
16)The prevention of venous thromboembolism in hospital practice.
Chief Investigators: M Hobbs, J Finn, D Fletcher, M Knuiman, D Holman, J Semmens.
Funding: National Institute of Clinical Studies (NICS)
2003-2004: $240,000
17)A randomised double blinded placebo controlled trial of adrenaline in cardiac arrest.
Chief Investigators: I Jacobs, J Finn, P Thompson, H Oxer, G Jelinek.
Funding: NH&MRC Project grant 254537
2003: $72,000; 2004: $60,000;; 2005: $60,000

Languages

English

Memberships

Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing Australia (FRCNA)
Member of the Australian Epidemiological Association (AEA)
Member of the American Heart Association (AHA) Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research
Member of the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses (ACCCN)
Member of the Australian Nurses Federation (ANF)
Member of the Australian College of Midwives (ACM)
Member of the “Heart Group” of the Cochrane Collaboration
Member of the Cochrane Nursing Care Network
Affiliate member of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ)
Affiliate member of the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS)

Honours and awards

2010Best Abstract Award for abstract presentation of "A Randomised Placebo Controlled Trial of Adrenaline in Cardiac Arrest - The PACA Trial", Authors: Jacobs, Finn, Jelinek, Oxer, Thompson. 8th annual Resuscitation Science Symposium (ReSS 2010), Chicago

2009Western Australian Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Award for WA Nurse Researcher of the Year

2009 The University of Western Australia Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science Teaching Excellence Award for Postgraduate Coursework Teaching

2009National Heart Foundation Research Award – “in recognition of your contribution to research in the field of heart, stroke and blood vessel disease in Australia” – presented by the Governor of WA, 26th March 2009

2007WA Department of Health’s "New Independent Researcher Infrastructure Support (NIRIS) Award" in recognition of “outstanding new independent medical and health researchers in WA.”

2006Nomination for the NBWA/ WA Nurses Memorial Charitable Trust “Researcher of the Year Award”

2005 The University of Western Australia School of Population Health Citizenship Award

Previous positions

Research Professor,
School of Nursing & Midwifery / Sansom Institute,
University of South Australia, Mar-Oct 2010

Winthrop Professor / Chair of Nursing Research
UWA School of Population Health / SCGH Nursing Services, 2007-2010

Senior Lecturer in Clinical Epidemiology, UWA School of Population Health 2002-2006

Nurse Coordinator – Nursing Research
Royal Perth Hospital 2000-2002

Research Associate
Department of Public Health The University of Western Australia 1997-2000

Senior Research Officer
Epidemiology & Analytical Services
Health Department of Western Australia 1996-1997

Lecturer (Nursing)
School of Nursing, University of South Australia 1995

Current external positions

Member of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) “Education, Implementation and Technology (EIT)” Taskforce.

Editorial Board member for the Journal “Resuscitation” Journal (Journal of the European Resuscitation Council).

Associate member on the Australian Resuscitation Council WA Branch Committee.

Member of the National Heart Foundation Australia’s “Patient response to Chest Pain” Working Party.

Peer Reviewer : “Resuscitation” Journal (Journal of the European Resuscitation Council).
Peer Reviewer: “Anaesthesia and Intensive Care”
Peer Reviewer : “Australian Critical Care”, (Official Journal of the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses).
Peer Reviewer: “Emergency Medicine Australasia”.
Peer Reviewer: “BMJ – British Medical Journal”.

Useful links

Australian Resuscitation Council http://www.resus.org.au/

International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR)
http://www.ilcor.org/en/home/

RFCD

111706 Epidemiology

Research profile

Research profile and publications