Smoking Cessation For Youth Project Booster And Cohort Tracking Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$135,550.00
Summary
Adolescence is a critical period for the establishment of adult drug use behaviours. If smoking does not commence in teenage years it is unlikely to occur. This innovative project not only continues to address tobacco control with this important age group but also builds on evidence from a randomised intervention trial involving over 4,000 Year 9 students tracked over two years. This project was called the Smoking Cessation for Youth Project (SCYP). Preliminary longitudinal analyses of the SCYP ....Adolescence is a critical period for the establishment of adult drug use behaviours. If smoking does not commence in teenage years it is unlikely to occur. This innovative project not only continues to address tobacco control with this important age group but also builds on evidence from a randomised intervention trial involving over 4,000 Year 9 students tracked over two years. This project was called the Smoking Cessation for Youth Project (SCYP). Preliminary longitudinal analyses of the SCYP data indicate that the intervention students were significantly less likely to smoke heavily (smoking five or more days per week) than the control group and that intervention students were also significantly less likely to have tried smoking than the control group. These results represent a world first in evidence that population-based smoking cessation interventions among teenagers can be successful. The proposed project will determine the extent to which these positive intervention effects are sustainable, two years post intervention, as our cohort moves into Year 12. In addition to tracking the possible decay of SCYP intervention effects, the proposed project will also measure the effects of a booster intervention delivered students when they are in Year 12 (2002). The Year 12 intervention will comprise an innovative self-help 'magazine style' booster and a supportive environmental intervention involving school nurses and local GPs. This proposal represents a cost-effective opportunity to measure the effectiveness of a Year 12 tobacco cessation booster intervention. Further data on tobacco smoking behaviour in 2002 will also enable us to determine how long the SCYP intervention appears to affect behaviour and whether 'boosters' are needed in later secondary school years to maintain the benefits.Read moreRead less
Modifiable Influences On Tobacco, Cannabis And Other Drug Use In Early Adolescence.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$198,434.00
Summary
High rates of tobacco and cannabis use by Australia s young people are a continuing concern. This study will explore the factors that influence the development of drug use from late childhood. The International Youth Development Study collected data from 5,769 students in Grades 5, 7, and 9 in Washington State, U.S., and Victoria, Australia. Findings will both increase understanding of adolescent tobacco and cannabis use in the Australian context and inform prevention policy.
Reconceptualising Health Promotion: The Role Of Values, Ethics And Evidence In Obesity Intervention.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$485,103.00
Summary
Obesity and overweight are public health priorities. Population-level programs, campaigns and regulations are required to prevent and reduce obesity. How should these interventions proceed? What is effective? What is ethical? How can we avoid doing harm? At present, we do not know. By studying current interventions in detail, and working with experts and practitioners in health promotion and ethics, this project will develop a new framework to guide overweight and obesity intervention in future.
Innovative School-based Interventions To Improve Mental Health And The Social And Emotional Development Of Australian Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$763,845.00
Summary
I am a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Western Australia and the Telethon Kids Institute. My research develops and delivers interventions that improve the quality of life, health, education, safety and social justice outcomes for Australian children. My work is particularly focused on ways to reduce harms from bullying and cyberbullying among children and adolescents.
Improving Adolescent Gate-keeping And Help-seeking For Risky Drinking And Depression: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$655,495.00
Summary
Young people with mental health and substance use problems are reluctant to seek help. There is a significant gap in health promotion activities which specifically target help-seeking skills, particularly teaching friends to help friends to access treatment early. This project seeks to demonstrate the efficacy of a school-based intervention that focuses on improving adolescent gate-keeping and help-seeking skills for risky drinking and depression, using a cluster randomised controlled design.
The Use Of Web 2.0 Internet Sites To Undermine Tobacco Advertising Bans And To Mobilise Tobacco Control Advocates
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,531.00
Summary
With advertising bans eroding direct tobacco advertising opportunities, tobacco companies are embracing covert means of keeping their products and policies in current and potential consumers' minds. While the Internet is being used extensively to sell cigarettes, its largely unregulated status holds much potential as a vehicle for promoting smoking and tobacco products, as well as anti-smoking dialogue. This project assesses the potential of globally popular websites to promote and discourage sm ....With advertising bans eroding direct tobacco advertising opportunities, tobacco companies are embracing covert means of keeping their products and policies in current and potential consumers' minds. While the Internet is being used extensively to sell cigarettes, its largely unregulated status holds much potential as a vehicle for promoting smoking and tobacco products, as well as anti-smoking dialogue. This project assesses the potential of globally popular websites to promote and discourage smoking.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Trial Of An Intervention To Facilitate The Implementation Of Evidence Based Secondary School Physical Activity Practices.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$181,065.00
Summary
Only 15% of adolescents participate in adequate physical activity each day. Schools can be supported to adopt policies and practices which increase adolescent physical activity. This study aims to test a model of support to assist schools to offer a range of practices known to improve adolescent physical activity levels, within routine school practice. If effective, the model of support could be used to assist schools to implement a range of other policies and practices.
The Effectiveness Of A Clinical Practice Change Intervention In Increasing, On A Health Service Wide Basis, Community Health Clinician Adherence To Preventive Care Guidelines.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,290.00
Summary
The delivery of preventive care that aims to decrease smoking, risky alcohol use, physical inactivity and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption is less than optimal in community health services. The study examines the effectiveness of an intervention in increasing the delivery of such across an area health service. The findings will demonstrate the ability of community health clinicians to routinely provide preventive care, and hence improve the health of the community.
A Randomised Trial Assessing A Shade Development Intervention In Secondary Schools For Adolescent Skin Cancer Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$709,615.00
Summary
Skin cancer is a significant burden to health costs, and morbidity and mortality in Australia. Reduction of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in sunlight, particularly during childhood and adolescence is an important strategy for preventing skin cancer in later life. Adolescents have been particularly resistant to skin cancer prevention messages. Despite a high knowledge of skin cancer, the majority of Australian adolescents report a reliance on sunscreen, a resistance to hat wearing, and ....Skin cancer is a significant burden to health costs, and morbidity and mortality in Australia. Reduction of exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in sunlight, particularly during childhood and adolescence is an important strategy for preventing skin cancer in later life. Adolescents have been particularly resistant to skin cancer prevention messages. Despite a high knowledge of skin cancer, the majority of Australian adolescents report a reliance on sunscreen, a resistance to hat wearing, and commonly experience sunburn, an important indicator of increased risk of skin cancer. Psycho-social interventions have shown limited influence on adolescents' sun protective behaviours to date. The current research proposal explores an alternative approach to psycho-social interventions for adolescents. The study will assess the effect of increasing available shade at secondary schools. In a randomised control trial study design, the change in the number of students using certain outdoor areas at intervention schools will be observed 'before' and 'after' the installation of built shade sail structures. Our main hypothesis states that the number of students using these newly shaded areas in intervention schools will increase compared with use of equivalent unshaded areas in control schools. Shade development is increasingly becoming an issue for secondary schools and given both the high cost of providing shade structures and adolescents' resistance to other forms of sun protection it is important to establish that adolescents will use this form of sun protection. This study will determine whether adolescents actively avoid or seek shade and so provide evidence for informing decisions about further investment in shade provision in schools.Read moreRead less
Randomised Controlled Evaluation Of A Complex Intervention To Promote Uptake Of School-based HPV Vaccination
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$750,911.00
Summary
Adolescents have little understanding and high levels of fear about HPV vaccination in the Australian school program. We plan to evaluate a multi-strategy intervention (incorporating an adolescent education intervention, a parental decision aid, and procedural facilitators) to promote uptake and informed participation in the school-based HPV vaccination program. The intervention will promote understanding, reduce fear, and have minimum impact on school and teacher resources.