Potential Avian Influenza-induced Pandemic: Minimising Public Panic
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$249,854.00
Summary
Communication appearing in the Australian media regarding a potential bird flu epidemic can serve to accurately and effectively inform the public OR misinform and contribute to panic and undesirable behavioural responses. The Australian Government has time to develop communication strategies and specific messages that can effectively convey desired information at different stages of the anticipated pandemic. This research team proposes to develop communication strategies (including specific mess ....Communication appearing in the Australian media regarding a potential bird flu epidemic can serve to accurately and effectively inform the public OR misinform and contribute to panic and undesirable behavioural responses. The Australian Government has time to develop communication strategies and specific messages that can effectively convey desired information at different stages of the anticipated pandemic. This research team proposes to develop communication strategies (including specific messages, media vehicles, spokespeople, images etc for the different target audiences) that government, medical authorities, NGOs and other relevant organisations can use to increase the public's understanding of the risk. Such strategies will ensure that we can minimise fear, refute misinformation the public may encounter from individuals (e.g., co-workers) or media sources, and enhance the likelihood of the public taking the recommended preventive and remedial actions should an Avian Influenza pandemic occur. Additionally, the research team will then utilise these communication strategies to develop evidence-based guidelines for communication strategies to be used in cases of similar serious health threats in Australia. Based at the University of Wollongong, the project team is a sophisticated and synergistically qualified team of experts. The team includes: a main media health promotions expert (Associate Professor Sandra Jones); two marketing communications experts, one of whom has an academic focus and the other a practitioner focus (Professor John Rossiter and Dr Max Sutherland respectively); a public health and medical expert in health behaviour change (Professor Don Iverson); a senior public health campaigns expert (Professor Chris Puplick), and an expert in communicable diseases and infection control education and programs (Professor Julian Gold).Read moreRead less
Identifying EHealth Literacy And Readability Issues For Palliative Care Consumers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$29,375.00
Summary
Access and use of health information can affect a patient’s health experience and potentially their health outcomes. Increasingly health information is being provided and sought through the internet and online resources. Palliative care patients and their carers have specific information needs relating to the nature and progress of their disease, their symptoms and their current and pending quality of life. However, their ability to find and use information relies on many factors such as individ ....Access and use of health information can affect a patient’s health experience and potentially their health outcomes. Increasingly health information is being provided and sought through the internet and online resources. Palliative care patients and their carers have specific information needs relating to the nature and progress of their disease, their symptoms and their current and pending quality of life. However, their ability to find and use information relies on many factors such as individual skills and experiences and how information is presented and made available. eHealth literacy is a measure of the mix of skills required by consumers to successfully access and understand palliative care information. Readability is one aspect of eHealth literacy and readability scales can be used to identify how effective websites are in providing appropriate written information for palliative care consumers. This research will help assess eHealth literacy levels and hence potential intervention needs of palliative care patients and carers as well as determining whether the readability requirement of palliative care websites and information is too high.Read moreRead less
Technology-enabled And Consumer-informed Approaches To Improving Mental Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$766,322.00
Summary
Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in Australia, the majority of Australians with a mental illness do not seek professional help and people with a severe mental illness live 25 years less than others in the community. This research aims to improve the quality of life of those with a mental illness, through an innovative research program that investigates new technology based models of mental health service and delivery and involves people with mental illness as part of the rese ....Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in Australia, the majority of Australians with a mental illness do not seek professional help and people with a severe mental illness live 25 years less than others in the community. This research aims to improve the quality of life of those with a mental illness, through an innovative research program that investigates new technology based models of mental health service and delivery and involves people with mental illness as part of the research team.Read moreRead less
If Australia’s health system is to benefit from the digital revolution, we need much more than new technology; we need research evidence, skills and workforce to translate these advances into effective working health services. The Centre for Research Excellence in Digital Health brings together for the first time the major Australian centres of e-health research to tackle the fundamental challenges that impede the creation of truly safe, efficient and effective digital health services.
I am a mental health researcher who focuses on the evaluation of webbased and other educational and self-help interventions for the common mental disorders, and on consumer informatics and consumer perspectives in mental health.
My Baby's Movements: A Stepped Wedged Cluster Randomised Trial Of Maternal Awareness And Reporting Of Decreased Fetal Movements To Reduce Stillbirth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,431,444.00
Summary
Stillbirth is devastating for parents and families. Many stillbirths occur late in pregnancy due to deteriorating health of the baby that can be detected by the mother through a decrease in the baby’s movements. 'My Baby's Movements’ is a personalised, user-controlled and interactive mobile phone tool provided as part of routine care to pregnant women to promote general awareness of their baby’s movements. This trial aims to reduce stillbirth rates by early reporting of decreased movements.
New Consumer Warnings To Counter Reassurance Based Tobacco Marketing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$974,713.00
Summary
This research will use consumer feedback to develop warnings about tobacco product attributes (e.g. cigarette filters, ‘smooth’ taste) that mislead smokers about the harms of smoking. We will assess smokers’ responses to these warnings, compared to current warnings on tobacco. The study will use a survey, group discussions, rating scales and an experiment with a follow-up to determine warnings with the greatest potential to correct persistent faulty beliefs about the harms of smoking.
E-health can improve the quality, safety and effectiveness of health services. The Centre for Research Excellence in Informatics and E-health will support the design, evaluation and use of e-health systems in 3 areas: monitoring e-health safety using incident monitoring, evaluating consumer e-health safety, and developing next generation evidence-based support tools.
Deconstructing DTCA: Towards A Differentiated Policy Response To Direct-to-Consumer Advertising In Australia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$190,760.00
Summary
Spending on prescription pharmaceuticals is the fastest growing part of the health budget. In recent years attention has shifted to the impact of direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) on consumer demand and drug costs. Although DTCA is prohibited in Australia, it is clear that different types of DTCA are occurring. This study will examine the nature and range of DTCA, review the benefits and harms of DTCA, and identify the perspectives of major stakeholders regarding DTCA. The study will culmina ....Spending on prescription pharmaceuticals is the fastest growing part of the health budget. In recent years attention has shifted to the impact of direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) on consumer demand and drug costs. Although DTCA is prohibited in Australia, it is clear that different types of DTCA are occurring. This study will examine the nature and range of DTCA, review the benefits and harms of DTCA, and identify the perspectives of major stakeholders regarding DTCA. The study will culminate in a national workshop which will develop a differentiated set of recommendations for responding to different types and modes of DTCA. This is likely to lead to better health policy and to resources that may assist consumers and health professionals deal with DTCA.Read moreRead less