The efficacy of a referral and physical activity program for survivors of prostate cancer. Although survival rates of prostate cancer are approximately 83 per cent with earlier detection and improved treatment modalities, prostate cancer survivors are at an increased risk of dying from co-morbidities, which may be prevented or ameliorated through participation in physical activity. This project aims to establish an effective and sustainable referral and physical activity program to improve the ....The efficacy of a referral and physical activity program for survivors of prostate cancer. Although survival rates of prostate cancer are approximately 83 per cent with earlier detection and improved treatment modalities, prostate cancer survivors are at an increased risk of dying from co-morbidities, which may be prevented or ameliorated through participation in physical activity. This project aims to establish an effective and sustainable referral and physical activity program to improve the health outcomes of prostate cancer survivors by utilising the influence of clinicians in their delivery of information to patients. This concept of a referral and physical activity program has the potential to translate across all cancer tumour streams to reduce the physiological and psychological burden associated with living with cancer.Read moreRead less
Improving the physical and oral health of people with severe mental illness: using Normalisation Process Theory to support new practices. The physical health of people with severe mental illness is extremely poor, often due to inadequate attention to their health needs by health professionals in primary care and the public mental health system. This project will focus on how practices can be changed to improve the health of this population and increase their access to preventative healthcare.
Improving safety and quality: psychosocial influences of managing medicines by consumers with chronic health problems. Many Australians have multiple chronic conditions that require complex prescribed medicine regimens to control symptoms and prevent further illness. Long-term health outcomes depend on how well consumers manage their medicines. This project will contribute to the development and evaluation of a medicine self-management training package to help consumers understand and manage the ....Improving safety and quality: psychosocial influences of managing medicines by consumers with chronic health problems. Many Australians have multiple chronic conditions that require complex prescribed medicine regimens to control symptoms and prevent further illness. Long-term health outcomes depend on how well consumers manage their medicines. This project will contribute to the development and evaluation of a medicine self-management training package to help consumers understand and manage their complex medication regimens. Optimal medicine self-management improves the consumer's general wellbeing and benefits the Australian community through promoting good health and reducing health care costs.Read moreRead less
Diffusion and dissemination of a mental health innovation in an educational setting. The aim of this project is to develop and evaluate sustainable strategies for disseminating mental health promotion programs into primary schools in Western Australia. The Aussie Optimism Program is a school-based mental health promotion program, which has shown efficacy in preventing anxiety and depression in young adolescents. These common childhood mental health problems, affect up to 18% of younger adolesce ....Diffusion and dissemination of a mental health innovation in an educational setting. The aim of this project is to develop and evaluate sustainable strategies for disseminating mental health promotion programs into primary schools in Western Australia. The Aussie Optimism Program is a school-based mental health promotion program, which has shown efficacy in preventing anxiety and depression in young adolescents. These common childhood mental health problems, affect up to 18% of younger adolescents in Australia. If the project's implementation and dissemination strategies are successful, school-based implementation of this program has the potential to reduce the prevalence of anxiety and depression in young adolescents by one third. Read moreRead less
Improving health and lifestyle of indigenous Australians in the Western Desert. This program aims to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes, whilst providing a supportive environment, to better the health of the Martu people though the provision of activities and services and strengthening of partnerships between service agencies and the local community. By developing the Indigenous workforce and building the community capacity to self-manage health, a reduction in the discrepancy in health ind ....Improving health and lifestyle of indigenous Australians in the Western Desert. This program aims to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes, whilst providing a supportive environment, to better the health of the Martu people though the provision of activities and services and strengthening of partnerships between service agencies and the local community. By developing the Indigenous workforce and building the community capacity to self-manage health, a reduction in the discrepancy in health indicators between Indigenous and other Australians can be achieved. The findings from this research will provide important information regarding methods to provide for better health for Indigenous Australians and develop a template for intervention design in other remote communities.Read moreRead less
Redefining body image for young women: Development of an Australian bibliotherapy program for adolescent girls. Body image dissatisfaction poses a serious health risk for adolescent girls and young women. Whilst this construct is highly prevalent amongst female populations, there are some who remain immune to the pervasiveness and subsequent development of these self-negating attitudes. However, little is known about the resilience processes utilised by those who are immune. This study aims to ....Redefining body image for young women: Development of an Australian bibliotherapy program for adolescent girls. Body image dissatisfaction poses a serious health risk for adolescent girls and young women. Whilst this construct is highly prevalent amongst female populations, there are some who remain immune to the pervasiveness and subsequent development of these self-negating attitudes. However, little is known about the resilience processes utilised by those who are immune. This study aims to develop an understanding of these resilience processes and utilise them in the construction and delivery of an innovative preventative program for adolescent girls. The outcomes of this research will provide young girls with an alternative voice, de-emphasising the objectification of self as a component of female identity formation and stem ongoing development of associated psychosocial risks.Read moreRead less
Research and action in medical practitioner wellbeing: Testing a conceptual model. Being a medical practitioner in general practice is a hazard to wellbeing. However, not all practitioners succumb. Factors that promote resilience as well as vulnerability have been identified and developed as a conceptual model. This research aims, firstly, to enhance this model by consulting directly with general practitioners. Secondly, this enhanced model will be evaluated on stratified samples within two soci ....Research and action in medical practitioner wellbeing: Testing a conceptual model. Being a medical practitioner in general practice is a hazard to wellbeing. However, not all practitioners succumb. Factors that promote resilience as well as vulnerability have been identified and developed as a conceptual model. This research aims, firstly, to enhance this model by consulting directly with general practitioners. Secondly, this enhanced model will be evaluated on stratified samples within two socio-economic regions and a rural area in Victoria. Thirdly, its heuristic value will be assessed by evaluating an intervention program based on the model. The outcome will help to enhance wellbeing and retain medical practitioners in under-resourced primary care settings.Read moreRead less
Changing disease patterns amongst migrants: a focus on the National Health Priority Areas. The proposed project will make significant practical and scientific contributions to Australians, especially to the health of the migrant population. It is particularly important to the aged migrant population, the people from disadvantaged socioeconomic groups and those with language barriers. The study results will provide a more complete and updated picture of migrant health in Australia. Such important ....Changing disease patterns amongst migrants: a focus on the National Health Priority Areas. The proposed project will make significant practical and scientific contributions to Australians, especially to the health of the migrant population. It is particularly important to the aged migrant population, the people from disadvantaged socioeconomic groups and those with language barriers. The study results will provide a more complete and updated picture of migrant health in Australia. Such important information is necessary to Federal and State departments in their policy making and resource allocation. The study results will be disseminated to local migrant community and migrant service organisation for their health promotion and health education campaigns.Read moreRead less
Enhancing health literacy to optimise health equality across Victorian communities. Health literacy—the ability to seek, understand and use health information—is a major influence on equitable health outcomes for Australians. This project will take a fresh approach to health literacy to understand vulnerable members of our community and develop supports and interventions that aim to assist services to reduce health inequalities.