Promoting Responsible Drinking Practices To Drinkers To Reduce The Risk Of Alcohol-related Harm
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$271,476.00
Summary
Australians are heavy drinkers by world standards, which places them at risk of a wide range of alcohol-related harms. Broad-based interventions are needed to address a heavy drinking culture that involves regular engagement in heavy episodic drinking. This study will use a multi-method approach to develop and test messages that can be used to encourage enactment of responsible drinking practices that can reduce total alcohol intake and discourage binge drinking consumption patterns.
Community Action For Smoking Cessation In Remote Aboriginal Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,162,650.00
Summary
Smoking rates halved in Australia over the past 30 years to below 20% in 2004. However, Indigenous Australians continued to smoke at more than double this rate. In remote Aboriginal communities in the NT's 'Top End', over two-thirds of the population smoke. Smoking tobacco causes the greatest burden of disease for Australians generally. For Indigenous Australians, it is the single most important reversible risk factor for morbidity and premature mortality. With no sign of reduction in smoking le ....Smoking rates halved in Australia over the past 30 years to below 20% in 2004. However, Indigenous Australians continued to smoke at more than double this rate. In remote Aboriginal communities in the NT's 'Top End', over two-thirds of the population smoke. Smoking tobacco causes the greatest burden of disease for Australians generally. For Indigenous Australians, it is the single most important reversible risk factor for morbidity and premature mortality. With no sign of reduction in smoking levels, Indigenous Australians remain at greater risk of hospitalisations or death from many tobacco-related illnesses. Smoking in Australia was reduced through individually-oriented measures, public education and supply control. These strategies have either not been tried or have not been adequately studied in Aboriginal communities. Effective interventions could provide major health gains for Aboriginal Australians and reduce health costs. The intervention we propose will be based on an agreement whereby four remote communities in the 'Top End' will make a pact with the researchers to jointly try to reduce tobacco smoking using community-wide mobilisation, training and education. The intervention with have multiple components. We will not evaluate each component separately. The effect of the whole intervention on smoking will be assessed. Tobacco sales for the whole community in these small isolated localities, a sensitive and reliable measure, should decline if the intervention works. Tobacco smokers will be assessed before the intervention in each community and followed up twice to assess quit rates. Quit rates should go up. Five years are needed for the study because smoking behaviour change does not happen quickly or at peoples' first attempt. With staggered implementation of the intervention, i.e. not starting in all communities at once, reductions in smoking in more than one community will make us confident that the intervention worked.Read moreRead less
Oxytocin Enhancement Of Social Learning In The Treatment Of Toddlers With Autism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,228,465.00
Summary
Oxytocin nasal spray has been shown to improve emotion recognition, social understanding, and social interaction skill. This project is the first to determine whether it enhances therapeutic outcomes when combined with an established social learning package for children with autism. This project continues our lead role in developing an effective and safe intervention for autism spectrum disorders.
Assessment Of The Efficacy Of A Brief Behaviour Intervention Designed To Improve Physical Activity In Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$691,206.00
Summary
The treatment options for patients with poor peripheral blood supply are currently limited. In particular there are limited means to help patients' to change poor health behaviours. This trial assesses the efficacy of a validated means to improve physical activity using motivational interviewing techniques in patients with poor peripheral blood supply.
A 21st Century Approach For Improving Self-Management Of Heart Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$862,350.00
Summary
After a heart attack, implementing lifestyle changes and adhering to prescribed medication reduces the risk of future heart events and aids recovery. However uptake and adherence to recommended cardiac rehabilitation is low. This study will see if a smartphone-delivered cardiac rehabilitation program improves people’s recovery following a heart event, and represents value for money. This approach could improve access to, and use of cardiac rehabilitation services for all Australians.
Physical activity has many health and psychological benefits, however many programs aimed at increasing physical activity have failed to show the expected results. This may be because when people increase their level of exercise, they decrease the amount of energy they use in other areas of their lives. This project will examine how two different exercise programs affect overall physical activity level. Findings may cause us to reconsider how to prescribe exercise.
An MRI Study Of Emotional Processing Deficits In Childhood
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,985.00
Summary
The ability to recognise and process emotions in other people is fundamental to healthy social interactions. Conduct disordered children with callous and unemotional traits have difficulty recognizing fearful expressions, possibly due to lack of attention to cues such as facial expressions that healthy people naturally attend to. This study will use neuroimaging to determine if brain activity changes to look more like typically developing children if their gaze is redirected to facial cues of em ....The ability to recognise and process emotions in other people is fundamental to healthy social interactions. Conduct disordered children with callous and unemotional traits have difficulty recognizing fearful expressions, possibly due to lack of attention to cues such as facial expressions that healthy people naturally attend to. This study will use neuroimaging to determine if brain activity changes to look more like typically developing children if their gaze is redirected to facial cues of emotion.Read moreRead less
Increasing Physical Activity Among Young Children From Disadvantaged Communities: A Group Randomised Controlled Effectiveness Trial.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,107,309.00
Summary
This project will evaluate the impact of a multi-level, multi-setting program to promote physical activity and movement skills among pre-school-aged children in disadvantaged communities. It will target the professional development of childcare educators and of parents. Childcare centres will be linked to the Early Start Facility at the University of Wollongong using state-of-the-art technology providing a unique opportunity to work with educators and parents in regional and remote areas.
Reducing Prolonged Workplace Sitting Time In Office Workers: A Cluster-randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$524,613.00
Summary
Groundbreaking Australian research shows that sitting for too long, which is routine for most office workers, contributes to overweight and to a greater risk of developing diabetes and heart disease. In over 300 desk-bound office workers, this world-first study will assess the effectiveness of an innovative workplace program aimed at reducing and breaking up sitting time. It will identify practical ways for Australian office workers to minimise unhealthy effects of sitting too much at work.
Can Reducing Sitting Time Influence Sustained Glycaemic Control In Middle-Aged And Older Office Workers With Type 2 Diabetes?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,367,213.00
Summary
Sitting for too long, which is routine for most adults with type 2 diabetes, contributes to the serious and disabling complications of living with diabetes. In a controlled experimental trial among middle-aged and older workers with type 2 diabetes, this world-first study will determine the long-term benefits of reducing and breaking up sitting time. It will identify further practical ways to reduce the burden of serious complications among those living with type 2 diabetes.