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.
WALK 2.0: Investigating The Internal And External Validity Of Web 2.0 Applications In Promoting Physical Activity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$934,436.00
Summary
More then half of the Australian population do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity to achieve health benefits. Internet based physical activity interventions which include innovative technology have the potential to reach large groups of individuals and contribute to physical activity promotion. This study evaluates the efficacy and utility of Web 2.0 applications to promote physical activity.
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
Sociocultural Determinants Of Childrens Oral Health From Refugee And Migrant Communities
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$57,342.00
Summary
Refugee and migrant children experience significantly poorer oral health than the non-migrant population. Factors that impact on poor oral health include perceptions of tap water safety, dietary changes, access to prevention and treatment health services, and language barriers. This study will explore reasons for these factors and potential solutions. Communities involved are those which have arrived the most recently and those with large numbers of young children.
Promoting Protective Feeding Practices To Prevent Childhood Obesity: Follow Up Of A Successful Obesity Prevention Program Commencing In Infancy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$846,965.00
Summary
Almost one in four Australian children are overweight by the time they start school and at increased risk of becoming overweight adults. This study will evaluate if an intervention to equip parents with the confidence and skills to initiate and maintain positive early feeding practices can foster healthy food preferences, dietary intakes and eating patterns and growth up to five years of age. This is consistent with government focus on early childhood as the foundation for health and well-being.
Reconceptualising Health Promotion: The Role Of Ethics, Values And Evidence In Obesity Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$90,566.00
Summary
Overweight and obesity 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, 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 the future.
A RCT Of An Innocative Supportive Care Program Designed To Reduce Perceived Needs & Psychological Distress & Enhance
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$111,043.00
Summary
The diagnosis of incurable lung cancer is a very distressing event, and patients have a high level of psychological and informational needs. An innovative evidence-based program has been designed to address these unmet needs in an emotionally supportive environment at this critical time. This study tests whether the program meets the needs of these people, reduces their psychological distress and enhances their quality of life. If successful, it will be integrated into the standard care to impro ....The diagnosis of incurable lung cancer is a very distressing event, and patients have a high level of psychological and informational needs. An innovative evidence-based program has been designed to address these unmet needs in an emotionally supportive environment at this critical time. This study tests whether the program meets the needs of these people, reduces their psychological distress and enhances their quality of life. If successful, it will be integrated into the standard care to improve the experience of this large and under-supported group.Read moreRead less
Reducing Unintended Pregnancies Among Female Sex Workers In Kenya Using MHealth: A Cluster Randomised Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$730,028.00
Summary
This research in Kenya aims to improve the health of female sex workers, their children and their partners through increasing uptake of family planning methods. This cluster randomised controlled trial will generate valuable evidence to inform policies and public health interventions on the effectiveness of a mobile phone delivered intervention aiming to increase sexual and reproductive health service uptake among hard-to-reach and marginalized sex workers in resource-limited settings.
Physical Activity And Nutrition For Seniors (PANS)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$477,956.00
Summary
Research has shown that participation in physical activity and the consumption of a healthy diet for older people can produce significant health benefits. The aim of this study is to develop and evaluate a low cost, accessible, sustainable and replicable, home based physical activity and nutrition program for older people aged 55 to 70 that will ultimately reduce chronic disease (obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease), and improve mental health.
Mass Disseminable Approaches To Smoking Cessation In General Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$412,100.00
Summary
Tobacco smoking is the most significant preventable cause of mortality in Australia. At any one time, many smokers want to quit. There are several interventions that are known to work in research settings, such as advice from care providers, self-help materials, drug therapies and telephone counselling. This study wants to find out if these strategies work in ordinary general practice. Over 50% of Australian have access to the Internet and research suggests that seeking health information is one ....Tobacco smoking is the most significant preventable cause of mortality in Australia. At any one time, many smokers want to quit. There are several interventions that are known to work in research settings, such as advice from care providers, self-help materials, drug therapies and telephone counselling. This study wants to find out if these strategies work in ordinary general practice. Over 50% of Australian have access to the Internet and research suggests that seeking health information is one of the most common uses of this technology. The rapid growth of Internet use potentially provides access to a number of cessation aids for tobacco smokers, including online support through 'chat rooms'. It is also possible to tailor interventions to individuals according to their stated interests and readiness to quit. General practitioners, in addition to providing support and care to smokers attemtping to quit, can direct them to community services such as Quit Victoria, which now offers smoking cessation programs tailored to individuals' needs delivered either through telephone counselling or by the Internet. We want to know whether more smokers quit successfully if their GP refers them to Quit services in addition to their usual care. As well as assessing the effectiveness of broadly distributable interventions in smoking cessation, this project will also collect data about the use of the Internet for health research. Little is known about how to perform research on the Web. This project will allow automatic monitoring of how people respond to research endeavours in this environment.Read moreRead less