A Multi-setting Intervention To Reduce Sedentary Behaviour, Promote Physical Activity And Improve Childrens Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$860,343.00
Summary
Sedentary behaviours and physical inactivity play a major role in the rising prevalence of obesity among children in Australia. This intervention study will take place in the school and family settings which play a critical role in shaping children's health behaviours. The objective is to determine whether a 2-year behavioural intervention reduces sedentary behaviour and promotes physical activity and results in improved health among 8-9 year old children.
Evaluation Of An Instrument For Management Of Behavioural And Psychological Symptoms Of Dementia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$598,468.00
Summary
Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) distress the patient and others. The behaviours, and not the underlying causes, are often treated with antipsychotics, despite side effects and low efficacy. An assessment instrument for care staff to determine and address causes of BPSD will be implemented. We predict training will reduce inappropriate prescribing and other reasons for distress. Where medication is required, detailed information will assist more targeted prescribing.
Impact Of An Infant Sleep Intervention On Infant Sleep And Maternal Wellbeing: A Cluster Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$205,500.00
Summary
Infant sleep problems and postnatal depression are common in the Australian community. Over a third of Australians report a problem with their infant's sleep in the second six months of life whilst 10-15% of Australian women will experience an episode of depression in the first year after their child is born. Both infant sleep problems and postnatal depression have been associated with serious outcomes including child abuse, child behaviour problems, maternal physical and emotional problems, fam ....Infant sleep problems and postnatal depression are common in the Australian community. Over a third of Australians report a problem with their infant's sleep in the second six months of life whilst 10-15% of Australian women will experience an episode of depression in the first year after their child is born. Both infant sleep problems and postnatal depression have been associated with serious outcomes including child abuse, child behaviour problems, maternal physical and emotional problems, family stress and family breakdown. This study builds on previous work conducted by researchers at the Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. In this work, a brief behavioural intervention significantly decreased infant sleep problems and symptoms of maternal depression, particularly for depressed mothers. The intervention consisted of controlled crying and removal of sleep associations such as a dummy which the infant had become dependent upon to fall asleep. Mothers who received the intervention reported 20% fewer sleep problems and a 45% reduction in depression symptoms compared with mothers who did not receive the intervention. The interention also improved maternal sleep quality and quantity and reduced the need for professional sleep services. It was acceptable to mothers, of low cost and was minimally disruptive to families - in contrast to many current strategies directed primarily at postnatal depression. This trial aims to determine whther a similar intervention delivered by Victorian Maternal and Child health nurses within their usual practice settings can replicate these important benefits.Read moreRead less
Assessing Sustainability Of Positive Outcomes In A Successful Child Obesity Prevention Intervention: Follow-up Of The Melbourne InFANT Program
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$882,700.00
Summary
Early intervention may be the most sustainable and effective means of preventing obesity and promoting healthy lifestyle behaviours (obesity preventive behaviours) including diet, physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviours. This project aims to assess whether differences observed between intervention and control groups at the conclusion of a successful obesity prevention program, the Melbourne InFANT Program, (child aged 18-months) are maintained across the important early childhood year ....Early intervention may be the most sustainable and effective means of preventing obesity and promoting healthy lifestyle behaviours (obesity preventive behaviours) including diet, physical activity and reduced sedentary behaviours. This project aims to assess whether differences observed between intervention and control groups at the conclusion of a successful obesity prevention program, the Melbourne InFANT Program, (child aged 18-months) are maintained across the important early childhood years, to 3.5 and 5 years of age.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Trial Of The Augmentation Of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy With Fluoxetine For Anxious School Refusing Youth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$539,191.00
Summary
School refusing youth consistently suffer from anxiety and sometimes depression. They become severely emotionally distressed when taken to school and experience social and academic difficulties in the short and long term as well as psychiatric illness in adulthood. Our program investigates whether treatment can be improved by enhancing psychotherapy (cognitive behaviour therapy) which helps over half of anxious school refusing children, with antidepressant-anxiety medication compared to placebo.
An RCT To Promote Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours From Infancy: An Intervention To Prevent Childhood Overweight
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$578,631.00
Summary
In Australia, one in four school-aged children is currently overweight and childhood obesity rates are continuing to rise. In the last five years it has become clear that rates of overweight and obesity are also rapidly increasing in pre-school age children. These are issues that are of concern to health officials as well as to parents. We understand that these rising rates in fatness relate to children's diet and activity patterns, and that these patterns, once established are likely to be patt ....In Australia, one in four school-aged children is currently overweight and childhood obesity rates are continuing to rise. In the last five years it has become clear that rates of overweight and obesity are also rapidly increasing in pre-school age children. These are issues that are of concern to health officials as well as to parents. We understand that these rising rates in fatness relate to children's diet and activity patterns, and that these patterns, once established are likely to be patterns for life. To date, there has been relatively little research regarding the chance to support parents to establish the eating and activity patterns that will protect their children from the very beginning of life. This project seeks to support first-time parents to establish healthy eating and activity behaviours in their children using the highly utilised Maternal and Child Health Centres first time parents' groups. We believe that these groups will provide a strongly supportive environment in which to provide parents with strategies and knowledge for promoting healthy eating and activity patterns for their children, and in turn, promote healthy weight gain. This project will assess the effectiveness of this intervention.Read moreRead less
Ascending Control Of Behavioural State And Cognition - Role Of Nucleus Incertus And Relaxin-3 Transmission
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$540,356.00
Summary
Mental illness and dementia are significant social and economic burdens worldwide and knowledge of their underlying causes and more effective therapies are required. Our research aims to use pre-clinical models to characterize a little studied neuronal network implicated in control of brain theta rhythm activity, which could lead to improved treatment of neuropsychiatric diseases such as anxiety and depression, and degenerative cognitive decline.