Vital Meno Research - Flinders University

VITAL is the Virtual regIstry of peri-/menopause in AusTrALia.

The VITAL program aims to improve health outcomes across Australia, co-creating real-world impact via knowledge development, research, education and policy.

Our research uses cutting edge technology to gather information on the Australian community experience of peri/menopause.

The problem

Despite its natural prevalence, peri-menopause and menopause remain hidden conditions, with >85% of Australians experiencing significant symptoms mostly undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, untreated, and/or mistreated.

Embarrassment, fear of prejudice, lack of previous attention, poor research funding, and minimal (re‑)education of both clinicians and community contribute to misdiagnoses and overwhelming ignorance of this central stage of life.

Menopause: Hormones stop and no further eggs are released by ovaries.
Perimenopause: Ovaries gradually stop releasing eggs as hormones decrease.

The solution

VITAL is a registry that collects survey data to measure the actual burden of perimenopause and menopause across Australia. This data could determine how best to support the population, with a specific focus on extending past the standard metropolitan participants and clinical academic questions, to find out what really matters to the community.

The first and most critical step in this process is to ensure we are asking the right questions.

Our virtual clinical registry allows us to:

a. Estimate both the number and breadth of Australians affected more accurately.

b. Determine advice more relevant to our diverse Australian population.

c. Improve care pathways for all.

Our unique innovative solution

Designed and led by a perimenopausal Australian
Collaboratively codesigned across the country
Community driven via QR code entry
Ongoing opportunities for feedback and optimisation
Multifactorial to boost research, care and policy for broader health impact and real-life outcomes

The facts

50.7% of Australians (13 million) are born with a uterus.
3 million Australians are currently in the age bracket menopause usually occurs (40 - 60), of which 80% will experience symptoms of menopause.
A third will have such severe symptoms they’ll impede daily life, and increase risk of suicide.
Menopause is associated with a lifetime increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and dementia.

VITAL Participants

Who can participate?

Although the main focus of our questions are peri/menopausal and post-menopausal individuals, anyone in Australia is welcome to complete the registry as we aim to support the connect community (e.g friends, family, co-workers, policy makers).

How do I participate?

Participants can either scan the QR code, request a hard copy via email, or follow the link to our secure VITAL registry platform.

Participants will be asked to answer approximately 20 questions, taking between 5 and 20 minutes to complete. Most answers will be multiple choice with some free text also offered. Completing the survey is entirely voluntary.

Uniquely, participants will also be asked to give feedback on the questions themselves that form the registry (for example):

which, if any, should be mandatory
which, if any, should be deleted or edited
which, if any, should have an additional anonymity option
which, if any, should be added, and
which have the highest priority from your own perspective for a) yourself, eg hot flushes, and b) community, eg depression and suicide.

This community-driven registry will continually adapt with the flow of society and individual priorities, plus changes in therapies, policies, or other factors, making it a truly exceptional and unique design.

Will my data be kept confidential?

Our VITAL registry database was developed specifically to the highest confidentiality and security standards by our platform partner, with the new national clinical registry guideline recommendations in mind (Australian Commission on Quality and Safety in HealthCare) and exceeding state health data security requirements. There are no pharmaceutical companies involved with the design or conduct of the registry.

Any data entered into VITAL is identified purely to the level the participant is comfortable with, and can only be utilized as: individually selected, authorized by an appropriate research ethics committee, and approved by the governing VITAL steering committee in both format and purpose. Please contact us on hdct@flinders.edu.au if you have any questions about our Registry Policies, Standard Operating Procedures, and Committee Terms of Reference.

What are other voluntary ways to get involved?

We are grateful for every piece of information participants can offer - each response helps us build upon our knowledgebase so we can improve the way we recognise, understand, diagnose, treat, cost, and improve policies for perimenopause care and conditions in Australia.

Other voluntary ways to get involved:

spread the word about VITAL
participate in focus groups
become members of relevant registry committees
contribute time to VITAL
contribute loose change to further VITAL research
subscribe to e-newsletter

Leadership

Associate Professor Erin Morton is a medical researcher with over 20 years of experience in clinical trials and health data. She has contributed to improved community health outcomes on a local and global scale, utilising her skills to translate research questions into improved health - with a particular interest in digital health.

She is currently Director of the successful Health Data & Clinical Trials (HDCT) team under the auspices of the Flinders Health & Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), furthering research across Flinders University and its partners.

After experiencing peri/menopause she realised how little awareness there was about this stage of life. Associate Professor Morton was concerned about the lack of knowledge and support available, and the impact of symptoms, costs, and time commitments on daily function, employment, and family budgets. The concept behind VITAL arose from her desire to make a difference using her research experience.

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Meet the team

Health Data and Clinical Trials

Health Data and Clinical Trials (HDCT) provides professional, specialised and patient-centred clinical research support services to researchers.

HDCT brings together more than 70 years of clinical trials and health data expertise to support researchers and enhance research outcomes. Our team comprises multi-disciplinary specialists ready to help researchers refine proposals, collaborate, upscale, budget, design and deliver unique clinical trials and health data science.

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