Understanding And Preventing Hepatitis C Transmission Within Sexual Partnerships
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$383,286.00
Summary
Transmission of hepatitis C among people who inject drugs occurs primarily as a result of sharing of equipment used to inject drugs, the majority of which occurs between intimate couples. However, there is little research in this area. This study will produce sophisticated and nuanced data able to capture the complexities of equipment sharing in couples and use these insights to suggest recommendations for hepatitis C prevention strategies.
Crystal Methamphetamine Use, Sex And Risk Practice Among Gay And Bisexual Men
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$597,476.00
Summary
The use of the drug “crystal” (also known as “ice”) during sex has become far more common among gay and bisexual men (GBM) in Australia in recent years. Diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C are easily transmitted between GBM who inject crystal during sex. This innovative study will interview GBM who combine crystal use with sex, and health promotion professionals, in order to develop effective ways of reducing harms and preventing the transmission of diseases in sexual contexts.
An Analysis Of Blood Awareness For The Purposes Of Hepatitis C Prevention Education And Health Promotion.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$196,113.00
Summary
This project will make a direct and major contribution to Hepatitis C prevention by addressing the need for blood awareness in prevention education. The need for measures to prevent the spread of HCV is based on the clinical implications of infection combined with its current prevalence and predicted spread within Australia. More than 200,000 Australians are estimated to be living with hepatitis C infection. Around 11,000 new HCV infections per year are estimated to occur across the Australia. H ....This project will make a direct and major contribution to Hepatitis C prevention by addressing the need for blood awareness in prevention education. The need for measures to prevent the spread of HCV is based on the clinical implications of infection combined with its current prevalence and predicted spread within Australia. More than 200,000 Australians are estimated to be living with hepatitis C infection. Around 11,000 new HCV infections per year are estimated to occur across the Australia. HCV is spread through blood to blood exposure. In the absence of effective medical treatment for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) education about modes of transmission presents as the most viable means of containing the spread of the virus. The promotion of blood awareness has been identified as a key strategy for such education as it may ensure greater care on the part of the general community in the prevention of blood exposures. However, the development of a heightened awareness of blood as a source of infection is fraught with social and health implications. A crucial concern for those directly involved in promoting blood awareness is the need to ensure that such a strategy does not contribute to the already existing stigmatisation of those living with HCV or, more generally, promote irrational phobias about blood. Findings of the research will assist in the development of public health education campaigns to prevent the spread of HCV. It will also contribute to education prevention for other blood borne communicable diseases including HIV and other viral hepatitides. Further, it will provide a model of inquiry for developing health promotion programs seeking blood, semen, organ and tissue donation.Read moreRead less
Can Self-management Education Programs Improve Outcomes Of People With Osteoarthritis?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$343,874.00
Summary
Arthritis is a very common disease associated with pain, disability and poor quality of life. An important way that people with arthritis can deal with the disease is through using a variety of self-management behaviours and coping strategies as well as becoming well informed about the best available treatments. A specific course was developed in he US to help people self-manage. It has been available in Australia for 20 years through Arthritis Foundations and has become their core business. Tre ....Arthritis is a very common disease associated with pain, disability and poor quality of life. An important way that people with arthritis can deal with the disease is through using a variety of self-management behaviours and coping strategies as well as becoming well informed about the best available treatments. A specific course was developed in he US to help people self-manage. It has been available in Australia for 20 years through Arthritis Foundations and has become their core business. Treatment guidelines used by doctors to treat people with arthritis regularly recommend that patients should be referred to such courses. Although the course is widely distributed, the evidence scientific evidence regarding its effectiveness is patchy, and some overviews suggest it is not useful at all. Confusion exists regarding the value of the course. While treatment guidelines advise doctors to refer patients to the program by very few GPs, Rheumatologist or Orthopaedic surgeons do refer. The proposed study is a large controlled trial which will provide essential evidence to inform patients, doctors and policy makers on the benefits of the course. It will involve people with well defined moderate to severe arthritis who have consulted a surgeon or rheumatologist. People will be randomised to receive the intervention (two hours per week, six session course including an 'arthritis self-help' book) will be compared with people in a control group (who only receive the book without instruction). People will be followed for 1 year to see if the course improves quality of life, health behaviours, and whether less health care resources (ie attendance at doctors or less medication use) are used. The results of this study will be influential in determining government policy as the number of people with chronic diseases like arthritis is rapidly growing and the acute healthcare system, including hospitals, are poorly equipped to deal with this growing problem.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Trial Of An Intervention To Facilitate The Implementation Of A State-wide School Physical Activity Policy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$586,396.00
Summary
This will be the first RCT of its kind. This study will test the effectiveness of an implementation support strategy in supporting schools to implement a physical activity policy mandated by the NSW Government. The trial could provide a model for supporting schools to implement school health or education policies, which seek to improve wellbeing of students.
Increasing The Implementation Of A Mandatory Primary School Physical Activity Policy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$177,197.00
Summary
This will be the first RCT of its kind. This study will test the effectiveness of an implementation support strategy in supporting schools to implement a physical activity policy mandated by the NSW Government. The trial could provide a model for supporting schools to implement school health or education policies, which seek to improve wellbeing of students.
Improving Health Promotion Through Continuous Quality Improvement
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$82,421.00
Summary
This research will investigate the impact of a continuous quality improvement (CQI) model on health promotion practice for chronic disease prevention in Indigenous communities. The aim is to improve health promotion practice by assisting health services improve their systems for providing and supporting the delivery of health promotion and chronic disease prevention strategies.
Advancing Population-based Approaches To Physical Activity Participation In Rural Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$443,964.00
Summary
Nationally the public health burden of inactive lifestyle is increasing; yet no research is being conducted in rural areas. My research will contribute new knowledge on best-practice physical activity programs designed to reach and meet the needs of people in rural areas. This is an innovative extension of my previous research that has produced programs that reduce the burden of chronic disease risk factors, by helping people to achieve optimal health and well-being through physical activity.
A Structured Systems Approach For Improving Health Promotion Practice For Chronic Diseases In Indigenous Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$666,592.00
Summary
This project will trial a model for continuous improvement, with the aim of assisting health services and community based organisations to improve the services they deliver to promote health and prevent chronic disease in Indigenous communities.
Effects Of Current And Plain Cigarette Package Design On Smokers Cigarette Evaluation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$654,339.00
Summary
This project proposes to better understand the role of cigarette pack design on consumers' judgements that some cigarettes are safer than others. Three experimental studies are proposed, which will evaluate the influence of pack branding and colours, the potential impact of plain packaging, and the effect of larger size health warnings on consumer perceptions of cigarette health risks.